Giusto
16 Soi Sukhumvit 23
Tel: 02 258 4321
Few restaurants have impressed me as much as this one did when I first stumbled upon it. I should have known it was there but I was simply strolling up Soi 23 looking for dinner, and lo and behold a positive mirage appeared. Fortunately it was not an illusion. Located in a pleasant old house with glass walls and pleasant garden out front, it gives exactly the sophisticated impression that is sought.
Inside there are confusing levels as the route to the restaurant proper is around the house rather than straight in. From the moment I sat down I knew I was somewhere I was going to enjoy. The menu is good and full of nice surprises and things that are different. Of course so it should be, but all too many restaurants in reality sell roughly the same dishes. I am not saying none of those are here but they are complimented by such dishes as Tuna tartare with oscietra caviar fried sea urchin and dill maionese sauce and Australian swordfish in balsamic sauce soft and juice with sauteed spinach as well as fresh fish and crustaceans from France. However the real star is the wine list: I spent twenty minutes marvelling at it, although I fear I did not feel the event justified a bottle of Romanee Conti at 90,000 baht! However there were more modest offerings such as an 82 Chateaux Margaux, or even a Mouton Rothschild of the same year! I did ask about the sale of these great wines and was assured they did move. Of course there is a proper glass-sided wine cellar with these precious jewels kept at the right temperature.
Needless to say there are two special people behind this operation the Chef Fabio Colautti and the wine expert Giulio Saverino. The restaurant is their dream and they deserve to get their true reward.
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