Hyde & Seek

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!) 

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Neil's Tavern Bake Shoppe

325
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Piece of cake

Arguably Neil's Tavern is one of the country's pioneer steakhouses, and the first (true) Western standard non-hotel steakhouse in the Kingdom. Fewer (people) aware that the little house adjacent to the steakhouse, is Neil's Tavern Bake Shoppe - one of Thailand oldest quality bakeries. The fact is, before a bunch of quality European cake shops sprawling to Bangkok (after the Millennium), Neil's Tavern Bake Shoppe was one of the first non-hotel bakeries that those cakes taste like cakes.


curry puff with minced chicken, THB 30+

mash potato with minced beef, THB 65+

green tea cake THB 105+, dark chocolate mousse cake THB 105+

Neil's Tavern Bake Shoppe ***

Ruam Rudee branch
58/4 Soi Ruam Rudee
off Wireless Road
Lumpini, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.256.6874

Asoke branch
G/F Prime Building
24 Sukhumvit 21 Road
Asoke, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.260.4391

Open daily : 9 am - 9:30 pm (Asoke branch close on Sunday)
Pay (food only for two): around THB 400

Circle

178
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California Dreaming

A friend from the West coast asked if there is any Californian cuisine available in Bangkok. CA? East meets west fusion twist in harmony!

Where in Bangkok we can find the likes of Mixed Sashimi, Pan-fried Goose Liver with Apple and Balsamic Vinaigrette, Fried Wonton Dumplings with Ginger Sesame Dressing, Angel Hair Pasta with Chiangmai Sausage, Grill Rib Eye Steak in Chipotle Chili Gravy and Deep Fried Grouper with Ponzu Sauce in one restaurant?

In Circle we found the answer.

The Asparagus Cream Soup, Baht 90++, thick and rich, a nostalgic taste so familiar with my old-school student lunch set at ABC Cafe. Came forward is the Spaghetti with Prawn and Ebiko in Vodka Sauce, Baht 250++. The dish is no more taste familiar to student lunch, pasta were cooked to al dente, sauce has layers of texture, a dish I may return for more. The miss is Circle shouldn't use CP frozen prawn as ingredients, who cares for a merely Baht 30 more in the bill. If we want something cheap, the noodle hawker outside the restaurant may serve such purpose.

Main course, the waitstaff recommended the Baht 320++ Crispy Half Chicken with double blanched Garlic Butter Sauce. The chicken claimed to follow the recipe of California celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck appears tender and flavorful, though compare to the Michelin two-star Spago in Beverly Hills our Crispy Chicken is definitely another story. But Circle only asked for $11, fair enough!

To round up the pleasant dinner, Home-made Green Tea Ice cream (Baht 120++) is the only choice of the night.

Service? Dee ma ma although a bit slow in reaction, but truly polite and the Siam-smile kind.

Circle California Fusion Cuisine ***1/2
20/27 Ruam Rudee Village
Soi Ruam Rudee, Ploenchit Road
Lumpini, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.650.8047
Circle

Open daily : Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm; Dinner 5:30 - 11:30 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 1,200

Neil's Tavern

111
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Steaks for the astronauts

With 40 years in business, Neil's Tavern is Bangkok's oldest and best non-hotel owned steakhouse.

Neil's Tavern - Ruam Rudee branch ***1/2

58/4 Soi Ruam Rudee

off Wireless Road

Lumpini, Bangkok 10330

Tel.: 02.256.6874

Open daily - Lunch 11:30 - 13:45 (except Sunday); Dinner 17:30 - 22:30
Pay (food only for two): around THB 3,500
Neil's Tavern

Neils's Tavern - Asoke branch ***1/2

G/F, Prime Building

24 Sukhumvit 21 (Asok Road)

Wattana, Bangkok 10110

Tel.: 02.260.4391
Neil's Tavern

Opem daily - Lunch 11:30 - 14:00; Dinner 17:30 - 22:00
Pay (food only for two): around THB 3,500

Christmas Eve

106
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Christmas Eve dinner
Bacchus

A feast of Italian/Japanese fusion X'mas Eve dinner in Bacchus.


* pictures on courtesy of Mr. Tony King

Our 5-course dinner:
1. Lobster Salad Wasabi Dressing
(/Crab Meat Avocado on Endive)
2. Lentil Soup
(/Spaghetti with Porcini and Mushrooms)
3. Christmas Roasted Ham
(/Grilled Black Cod)
* Lemongrass Sorbet
4. Season's Greetings Turkey Cranberry Sauce
(/Braised Oxtail in Beer with Dark Soy Sauce)
5. Celebration Cake
* Limoncello
* Coffee or tea
Baht 1,766 ($52) + Red Wine

Bacchus Wine Bar and Restaurant ***
Ruam Rudee Village
20/6-7 Soi Ruam Rudee
Ploenchit, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02-650 8986
http://www.bacchus.tv/index/introduction.php