November 29, 2004

Calderazzo, Soi Langsuan

Calderazzo
59 Soi Langsuan,
Ploenchit Road
Bangkok 10330
Tel: 02 252 8108
All major credit cards

Calderazza is justifiably a popular eating spot. The décor is modern with that clean, simple look that seems to abound today. However do not let the looks deceive you as this indeed a good restaurant with clever menu and generous wine list.
On my first visit, I nearly got it wrong and dismissed the place as modern and pretentious. However that meal persuaded me to go back again and again. That time we had the mixed starters and they were a pleasant selection of tasters. I then had tagliolini lobster which was very good, while my companion had maltagliati prawns. Mine was good but hers was better, well it looked particularly good with sheets of pasta á la large-made-on-the-spot ravioli. I am not the greatest pasta fan, but these were both first class, and, as importantly, different dishes. What had caught my eye was a selection of cheeses that had wine matched with it. I have never seen this before, although it is something I often do for myself. So we had Port Nicholson cheese for New Zealand. A soft cheese that reminded me of Port Salut. And some vintage Pecorino cheese that was similar to Parmesan. To wash this down I ordered the recommended Shiraz. A very pleasant treat to complete a simple, yet good meal.

Posted by Sam at 4:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 15, 2004

Bollywood Indian restaurant, Soi 4,

Bollywood,
20/11 Sukhumvit Soi 4,
Bangkok 10110
Tel: 02-656 9982-3
Open: 11am-midnight
Website

Bollywood has seen a few changes on management since it opened a couple of years ago. It is near to my heart as it is the restaurant nearest to my lair and therefore the place I slink to when I am having a quiet night. The décor is fairly typically Indian although it also has a big telly often showing Bollywood clips. The first owner used to use it as a karaoke machine and sing the numbers himself. Good singer he may have been but…….Bollywood, from what I have seen here seems to be cross between Mary Poppins and Pan’s People!
For we Brits, Indian restaurants have tended to be the after pub preferred choice rather summed up by the ‘Dynorod’ tag many curry houses get in the UK. In many this is at least a little unfair because by no means do all customers come straight from the boozer with a skinful of beer. So if I describe Bollywood as a very English Indian restaurant that is a plus, and I mean restaurant, not late night curry house. One of the best dishes at Bollywood is the tandoori because as you will see when you enter, there is indeed a proper working tandoori oven in the entrance area. That means the tandoori dishes are cooked to order from fresh meat, and that makes them way better than most places that simply re-heat. I love the tandoori chicken as it is succulent not dry, and those guests I have taken here have appreciated that dish. With that tandoori also comes a full range of nan bread and I have slowly worked my way through them and am very partial to a Peshwari nan - slightly sweet as it is stuffed with a mix of sultans and almonds.
There is also a good range of curries and other dishes and finally now, after I have fought both owners for this, some decent wine at affordable prices! All in all a good spot serving much better than standard Indian grub and with a good take away service too.

Posted by Sam at 1:48 PM | Comments (0)

Pomodoro Italian restaurant on Sukhumvit Road

Pomodoro
87 Sukhumvit Soi5
Between Soi 3 & 5 Sukhumvit Road
Bangkok 10110
Tel: 02-252 9090 & 02-254 5282
Open: Midday-11.30pm
Credit cards accepted
There are two Pomodoros on Sukhumvit Road and this is the restaurant as opposed to the pizza operation.
I must admit this has been one of my favourite restaurants for a long time: mainly because it is convenient and stays open all afternoon. It goes without saying that the food and service are first class. Among my favourites are the saltimbocca and some of the mixed starter dishes. Pomodoro is a good all round menu with something for all reasonable tastes. Of course it is also a great people watching place as it faces right onto this busy part of lower Sukhumvit.

Posted by Sam at 1:46 PM | Comments (2)

Ma Bi Ba Italian restaurant in Soi Langsuan

Ma Bi Ba
93 Landsuan Soi 5,
Bangkok 10330
Tel: 02-254 9595
Open time : Midday-Midnight
Credit cards accepted

They re-invented the word 'kitsch' when they built this place.
But once you get over the initial shock of this art nouveau deco extravaganza, it grows on one. An awful lot effort must have gone into the design and build. And in the end it is a comfortable high service restaurant that serves pretty good food. Last time I had two items which I thought were not quite right. The duck with mushrooms looked okay but the sauce killed any taste the duck may have had. And the Atlantic halibut had a good taste but was soggy in the middle, almost as though it was a Thai fish. The Chef and I conferred over this and it was only after he had gone I think I hit the solution. Halibut is a good solid fish that should flake: the chef blamed the inevitable freezing. I blamed the chef for not defrosting the fillet properly. But I know what his excuse for that will be!
All in all a pretty decent restaurant but be subjective when selecting specials in particular. Anyway it is worth a visit just to see the décor!

Posted by Sam at 1:44 PM | Comments (0)