487
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1+1+1+1 = 103+
Four closest girl friends opened an eatery that offers their favorite fusion dishes and desserts; it is the 103+ Factory. I am not a fan of fusion food, even though my Soi Ari resident friends told me that their cooked food is wonderful, so I would just stick to their pastries and desserts, of which they are the best that I can find in Ari area. (Oops do I forget the other cake shop on Ari Soi 5? That pretentious one - cheap cakes sold at an expensive price in a haunted house ambiance. I don't pay any attention to it after the first and also the last visit; let them serve those cakes to their ancestors!)
103+ Factory ***1/2
24/4 Ari Soi 4 (North)
Soi 7 Phaholyothin Road
Phayathai, Bangkok 10400
Tel.: 081.495.1555
Open daily : 11 am - 11 pm
Pay (dessert only for one): around THB 150
* To follow Bangkok closely, please 'friend' Thaisclub in Facebook!
486
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Eat that display!
Waraku, at the downtown mega mall - Central World, offers Japanese cuisine with a European twist (yes, that means fusion!) and in an casual array. The food display at the shop front is gorgeous, sadly not the food itself! Their ambiance and service, on par with other dine-in fast food joints.
Waraku Japanese Casual Dining **1/2
7/F Zone A - Atrium, Cemntral World Plaza
Rajdamri Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.613,1750
Open daily : 10:30 am - 10 pm
Pay (food only for one): around THB 400
* To follow Bangkok closely, please 'friend' Thaisclub in Facebook!
485
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Cheerful and playful
Thailand's first London-meets-New York-meets-Bangkok gastro bar - the Hyde & Seek, was arguably the best gastro bar in Krupthep Mahanakon (the City of Angels), when I reviewed her one year ago! Food wise, not as good today as her booze offered!
Hyde & Seek Gastro Bar ***
65/1 Athenee Residence
Soi Ruamrudee
Lumpini, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.168.5152
Open daily : 11 am - 1 am
Pay (food only for one): around THB 500 (there, booze is the hero anyway!)
* To follow Bangkok closely, please 'friend' Thaisclub in Facebook!
484
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A day in New England
I really love this place - the Chocolate Ville, especially the scenic setting, so I would just show the ambiance of this restaurant instead of their food, as, to keep only the good memory be recorded.
Chocolate Ville ***
Thanon Kaset-navamin Km.11
Bueng Kum, Bangkok 10230
Tel.: 083.077.3738
Open daily : 4 pm - 1 am
Pay (food only for one): around THB 400
* To follow Bangkok closely, please 'friend' Thaisclub in Facebook!
483
.
Another palace to dine at
I am a fan of the Iron Chef Thailand (and also Iron Chef America), a TV program that puts chefs in the cooking contest arena, which was originated in Japan by Fuji Television Network. Earlier this year, when I witnessed two Chinese chefs from one of my favorite hotel chains - IHG, Crowne Plaza's Xin Tian Di and InterContinental's Summer Palace, beat the Iron Chef of Chinese cuisine from the Iron Chef Thailand, I had a mixed feeling.
I agree that Chef Lam of Xin Tian Di (Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park) deserved the victory in the Iron Chef Thailand contest, as I always enjoy his culinary service at his restaurant, whether it is home-style menu when I dine alone, or a banquet feast that I celebrate with friends. And for Chef Khor of Summer Palace (InterContinental Hotel Bangkok), I have a neutral view on that. I do sometimes enjoy food there!
Summer Palace Chinese restaurant 夏宮金殿 ***
InterContinental Hotel Bangkok
973 Ploenchit Road
Patumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.656.0444
Summer Palace
Open daily : lunch 11:30 am -2:30 pm, dinner 6:30 - 10:30 pm
Pay (food only for one): expect THB 2,500 or more
* To follow Bangkok closely, please 'friend' Thaisclub in Facebook!
482
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The Prawn kingdom
Krua Or Pochana served tomyum goong (spicy and sour soup with prawn) noodle and tomyum Sukhothai noodle in decent portions and at a very affordable price. Normally I don't review a restaurant that allows a cockroach to spy on my eating, but for Krua Or, I can make an exception, for once.
Krua Or Pochana ***
68/51 Soi Surao
Petchburi Soi 5
Phayathai, Bangkok
Tel.: 02.612.9013
Open daily : 11 am - 9 pm
Pay (food only for one): around THB 100
* To follow Bangkok closely, please 'friend' Thaisclub in Facebook!
481
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I am full
A sibling of See Fah Restaurant, im Thai Ramen is a Thai-Chinese style noodle bar at Life Center, serving street-stall noodles at a restaurant price, and in the comfort of air-conditioning. It is good for a fix of a quick meal or light meal before going to the gym upstairs.
im Thai Ramen ***
G/F Life Center, Q House Lumpini
1 Sathorn Road
Sathorn, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.677.7244
Open daily : 8:30 am - 8:30 pm
Pay (food only for one): around THB 100
* To follow Bangkok closely, please 'friend' Thaisclub in Facebook!
480
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A matter of tea
My favorite coffee shop at the Emporium - Salon de L'Oriental had gone, and is now replaced by the TWG Tea Salon and Boutique, a Singaporean tea vendor since 1837. There they offer food that can be elegantly stuffed into our stomach (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea) with a manner of a tea infused touch and a hint of French., besides their renowned selections of tea.
My friends and I found that their food was generous in sodium and pastries were high in sugar (higher than today's Bangkokian standards, and very high against top patisseries standards). Price is modest, and service is flawless since they kept the original team from the Salon de L'Oriental, except the trainees need an intensive training for their face movement - smile.
TWG Tea Salon and Boutique at the Emporium is definitely 'my cup of tea' to meet friends (or even to tea alone) during an afternoon tea hour at the Sukhumvit area, though it may not be my first choice to dine at.
TWG Tea Salon and Boutique ***1/2
G/F the Emporium Shopping Complex
622 Sukhumvit Road
Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02. 259.9510
Open daily : 10 am - 10 pm
Pay (food with tea for one): around THB 800
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