Smith

We heard that the famous chef Ian Kittichai opened a new restaurant on Sukhumvit soi 49.   We have had friends who went and did not like the food and decor.  We had friends who went and liked the food and decor.  So; it was decided I needed to try it out so I could settle the argument.

The name of the new restaurant is Smith.  At first I was like you...Smith?  Why on earth is the restaurant called Smith?  Then we heard that Smith comes from the word key smith, shoe smith, metal smith, etc. so they wanted to be known as food smith.  I thought it was clever.

The design is pure industrial feel and look; the combination of industrial steel, concrete and old wood, makes the place feel masculine and bold.  Everything from the furniture to the stair case has an amazing style and design element to them.  The room is dark with strategic spot lights here and there to give the place a moody glow.

The first appetizer was Calf's Tongue (180 baht).  This dish comprised of shredded calf's tongue with Mexican spice, pressed cabbage, millet & shallots.  The ingredients were fresh, good combination of colour, textures and flavours.  The only issue with the dish was that the Mexican spice overwhelmed the dish and it was too salty.  If Mexican spice is this strong and salty; they need to figure out how to use less so that it adds to the dish and not distract from it.

The second appetizer was Tuna, Braised Pig's Tail & Fois Gras Torchon (250 baht).  This dish was consisted of braised pig's tail and fois gras underneath the tuna and foraged vegetables, rosemary, citrus & peas.  Beautifully presented, the ingredients were fresh and vibrant in colour.  The taste and texture combination of cooked, raw and semi raw ingredients were lovely.

The third appetizer was Steak Tartare (250 baht).  This dish consisted of raw beef and a 65/65 slow cooked with egg, crispy capers & garden herbs. Nicely presented and well crafted.  The raw beef was of good quality and the ingredients well blended into the beef.  Good texture and flavours.  The only issue with this dish was that the slow cooked egg was also supposed to be blended into the tartare for extra flavour....but it was overcooked.  So, it was like trying to blend in a boiled egg into the tartare; you can imagine how difficult that was, so we just ate the egg separately.

Each table and chair is specially designed for the restaurant.  This kind of attention to detail helps Smith stand out and have its very unique charm and personality.

My friend's main dish was Verjus Glazed Pork belly (350 baht).  This dish consisted of a large chunk of pork belly with pickled stone fruit, spicy lentil, mint & coriander.  The pork belly was huge and well cooked...it was soft, tender and juicy.  I am not a fan of 'fat' so pork belly is a difficult dish for me to eat, but the meat itself was so so yummy.

My main dish was Lightly Smoked Salmon (395 baht).  This dish consisted of slow cooked smoked salmon with lime-creme fraiche froth, foraged mountain mushrooms & summer corn.  The salmon was cooked perfectly and the smokey flavour was evident.  The froth added a lovely but light flavour and texture.  The combination of the soft salmon with the more dense mushroom and corn was very nice.

We shared an order of Brussel sprouts & parmesan (120 baht).  We love brussel sprouts.  It was a second thought but I decided to order a side dish to accompany our meal.  The brussel sprouts arrived at our table in less than 10 minutes and I was already suspicious...and I was right to be so.  The brussel sprouts were cooked in advance and have been sitting in the frying pan all evening.  They were wilted, over cooked, dry and in a very sad & sorry state.  This was the most waste of money, time and space of a dish.

I forgot to mention that you need to call Smith if you want to get a table.  I actually went to Smith on a friday afternoon to reserve a table for that evening.  The very nice hostess told me that it was already 100% full.  I was very surprised.  She said that I should reserve a table for Saturday night but I should call before noon because the place will fill up very quickly.  My first reaction was...'WOW', this is not Bangkok anymore but more like NYC.  Reserving a table a day in advance for a table in Bangkok is very rare.

The shared dessert was Eton Mess (180 baht).  The dessert consisted of red berries, praline crust & fresh cream.  It sounded really nice from the menu; but for some reason it did not live up to its description.  The red berries were abundant and flavourful, but the praline crust was not effective in adding flavour dot he dish.  The fresh cream was room temperature which for me does not cut it.  The dessert is suppose to be composed of not not only colour, textures but also temperature.

Overall; the food was not 100% perfect, but non-the-less, it was still very good. There was a spice that overwhelmed a dish, or certain items that were over cooked, or an item that had more creativity put into it than rather than focusing on the execution.  However; the attention to freshness, presentation and good quality ingredients were evident and made up for the faults.

The unique decor and atmosphere was a great addition to the Bangkok dinning scene.  But Smith did not just do it because this kind of concept was missing; they really put a lot of thought into the concept and executed it with fine detail.

The prices for the food & drinks are very reasonable; especially for the quality of the ingredients.

The service was very nice and attentive; which was surprising since the place was 100% packed.  I have to congratulate them on the attentiveness of staff .  However; where they can improve is how they should not up-sale the menu...it really leaves a bad taste in the mouth because it felt like they were trying to cheat us.

Here is my short story made long...there was a Slow-Roasted lamb ribs for 2 on the menu.  I did not really pay attention that there were actually 2 different weights of lamb for 2 people...one at 1 Kg. for 1750 baht and the other was 1.5 Kg. for 2350 baht.  We decided we wanted to share the lamb ribs and I ordered it.  The waitress wrote it down and repeated our order.  Then my friend reminded the waitress that we wanted the 1 Kg. lamb.  The waitress said the 1 Kg. lamb out of stock and they only had the 1.5 Kg. lamb.

We were very upset about this...she should have told this to us right away instead of assuming that we could eat that much and that we were willing to pay that much.  So; we decided to order something else.  If it was not for my friend paying more attention to the menu than me; we would have had to eat lamb for several days due to the left overs.  This was not nice of the waitress and even dishonest.  This truly left a bad taste in the mouth with this experience.

In the end; we for sure will return to Smith; they just recently opened so for sure there are faults; but I am sure they will be cleared away as they get more into their stride (I hope).   The ideas and concept behind the place are unique and good; so for sure, Smith will be a popular place for a long time.

Address:  1/8 soi Sukhumvit 49, Bangkok 10110


Telephone:  02-261-0515-6

Roast Coffee & Eatery

We had friends in town and we all decided to meet up for lunch at Roast Coffee & Eatery.  We visited Roast about a year ago when they first opened and there was nobody and so we forgot about the place.  But since then; Roast has built an enormous following.  I was amazed at how packed the place was when we arrived.

The ambiance is bright and airy due to the ceiling to floor windows.  The high ceiling add height & volume to the space.  Bistro like wooden chairs and tables filled the center of the room while bistro like sofas filled the edge of the room.  The structure is a mix of wood, concrete, glass and brick.  All the elements work well together.  

The first dish was Prawn salad (260 baht).  Roasted prawns, tomatoes, celery and red onion dressing.  A simple looking salad but the prawns took the salad to the next level.  The prawns were very fresh and large.  Roasted well where the prawn was still moist & tender inside.  The prawn added good flavour to  what would have been a normal salad.

The next dish was Baby calamari (160 baht).  The calamari was deep fried with oriental seasoning and accompanied with aioli & lemon.  The calamari were fresh so that they were not overly chewy (a very good thing), they were slightly crispy due to the light oriental seasoning coating.  The oriental seasoning and lemon made the calamari tasty and actually the aioli was not needed at all.

The next dish was Buffalo wings (180 baht).  The buffalo wings were heavily coated with the rich house made bbq sauce and was accompanied with a cheese dip & celery.  This was my least favourite dish of the day; not that it was not cooked well, but I thought the home made bbq sauce was too sweet. It could have been that way due to them thinking that is the Thai taste; but for me, bbq sauce should be more spicy and smoky.

The next dish was Spinach dip with house made chips (140 baht).  The dip consisted of spinach, mozzarella, bacon & garlic.  This was not bad at all; very unique...the combination of all the ingredients tasted good together.  I liked the idea of home made chips to accompany the dip.  The chips were nicely done, very crispy but not oily (a very good thing).

My friends main dish was Crab cake benedict (330 baht).  Roast is famous for their breakfast foods...so their eggs benedict are also very popular.  The eggs benedict of the week was with crab.  The crab was fresh and abundant (which is a good thing; I hate it when a restaurant is so stingy with crab meat).  All the ingredients seemed to melt together and it turned out to taste very nice.  A unique way of serving this traditional dish but it was a big hit with my friend.

My other friend's main dish was Smoked salmon salad (300 baht).  The salad consisted of rocket, feta cheese, toasted almonds and tangerine vinaigrette.  Nicely presented...the burst of contrasting colours of  the orange salmon, very green rocket and the sprinkle of white almonds & feta cheese.  The combination of contrasting textures and flavours was another reason why this dish was a success.

My other friend's main dish was Roast club (260 baht).  The club consisted of roasted chicken, bacon, avocado, tomato & cheddar.  All the ingredients were abundant, fresh and had good flavour.  The contrast of colours & textures was very evident.  The accompanying french fries were also well done; crispy on the outside yet tender on the inside.  A good choice from my friend.

My other friend's main dish was Ceasar salad (240 baht).  The salad consisted of cos lettuce, grilled chicken, bacon & egg.  The ingredients were fresh and had good contrast of flavours & textures.

My main dish was Cubano sandwich (260 baht).  The sandwich was made with roasted pork, emmental, dill pickles & jalapenos.  The sandwich was grilled like a panini.  I chose this sandwich because I have never seen this type of sandwich.  I was very glad I did.  The sandwich had very nice The sandwich was very tasty.  I liked the extra kick of spiciness from the jalapenos.

Since we pigged out; we all shared the dessert…Strawberry waffle (190 baht).  Since this was one of their signature desserts; we had to have one.  The waffle was toasted to a light golden brown.  It was slightly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.  The strawberries were abundant and had good flavour.  The vanilla ice cream was was of good quality and also had strong vanilla flavour.

Another view of the dinning area.

The view of the counter where the food and coffee were coming from.

The entrance to Roast…it is on the second floor of SeenSpace.

Overall; the place is not bad at all.  I did not have any expectations before we went to Roast and I am glad Roast left a good impression for me.  Roast is really easy-going and relaxed.  The food is a good mixture of unique & basic hearty foods at reasonable prices..the menu is extensive with choices.  It takes it's coffee very seriously; I guess you can tell by their name 'Roast'.  Apparently; one of their own roasted coffee creations was voted one of the best in Asia...that is quite amazing.

Though it looked like there were enough staff in the place; the staff really need more training about being attentive to their own service area.  The staff are very nice; but since, Roast is a large place with many tables, it would make sense that each area have a team servicing it.  However; it seemed like, the staff were just servicing aimlessly.  I am not sure if they were not trained about serving their own area or because the place was so packed that they were helping their colleagues by serving in different areas.

In the end; we had to wave for the staff to notice us for menus, to take our orders, for water (several times), for napkins, for menus (we were really hungry), for coffee, for dessert, for the check.  You can imagine that my arm was going up a lot of times (more than I actually wanted).

Anyways; the service did not ruin our lunch date. My gang were too busy chit-chatting that I was the only one getting annoyed by the service (the job of the blogger to notice such things is never done).  Roast is a great addition to Thonglor's coffee & food scene.  It is unique in its offering which makes it very popular with both foreigners and Thais.  The parking situation is awful; so take a taxi if you can.  Also reserve a table on the weekend; it is always packed!   

Address:  251/1 soi Thonglor 13 (@ SeenSpace complex) Bangkok 10110


Telephone:  02-185-2865


www.roastbkk.com

Ni-Yom Phochana

A seafood restaurant that has been on Thonglor for ages is still as popular as ever.  If you ask people who love seafood; "do you know the seafood restaurant on Thonglor?"...they normally answer; "the one with no door?"…then they answer; "its sooooo good!".

We had friends in town and we decided to meet for dinner at Ni-Yom Phochana because we knew we could have great food and bring our own wines and wine glasses.

Ni-Yom Phochana is in a shophouse (you can't miss it; it really has no doors).  There is no decor, the tables are the foldable aluminum kind but they did spend a little bit more on they were the fake leather cushioned type.  The lighting is harsh & bright and it can get hot (though there are fans hanging on the walls).  But in the end; no one comes here for the decor or ambiance…we come for the seafooooooood!

The first dish was Hoi nang rom (fresh oysters).  The Thai oysters were fresh, large, good texture and juicy.  However; they were on bland side.  That is why we had to add lime and Thai chili sauce.  But they were refreshing non-the-less.

The next dish was Oar Suan (oyster hot plate).  They are the specialist on this dish.  I just looovvveee this dish.  It just makes all your sense tingle with joy.  The sound of the sizzling hot plate when it arrived at the table. The steam, smoke and aroma from the frying oysters and eggs.  The beautiful sight of the green, yellow, grey and white of the dish.  Finally; the amazing taste of the oar suan.  A fabulous dish.

The next dish was Gung che nam pla (raw shrimp).  A great way to start any meal...raw shrimps.  The shrimps were fresh, plump and tasty.  A little bit of mint and a dash of the spicy seafood sauce together with the shrimp...heavenly.

The next dish was Pu pad pong garee (curried crab).  This is the house special!  The crab was large and very fresh.  Cooked perfectly.  The curry sauce was thick, rich, and had an intense flavour (and probably very very bad for your cholesterol level).  This is the most incredible combination in the world.  This dish is truly a mess to eat but it is oh so finger licking good.  All the work to dig out the crab meat is so worth it.

The next dish was Taud man gung (deep fried shrimp cakes).  The shrimp cakes were cooked to a lovely golden brown.  They were crispy on the outside but hot, moist, juicy & chunky on the inside. A lovely contrast.  I do not like the sweet sauce that accompanies this dish; it is just so yummy as it is.

The next dish was Pad yod mara (stir fried bitter gourd leaves).  The vegetables were cooked very nicely, had a deep green color and with a slight crunch to them.

The next dish was Pla neung seew (fish with soy sauce).  The fish was so fresh, cooked perfectly (translucent in the center)...we do hate fish that is over cooked.  The meat of the fish was so tender, soft and moist.  The fish sauce was light but had so much flavor with the addition of ginger & green onions.  A lovely dish.

The next dish was Gung ob woon sen (shrimp glass noodle baked in pot).  I simply love this dish.  I could eat it all the time.  The mix of textures and flavours are so amazing.  The textures come from the glass noodles and the shrimp...with bits of pork.  The flavours come from the ginger, pork fat, pepper corns and herbs in the pot.  All cooked to perfection in the pot.  The pot is delivered at the table with the steam & aroma tantalizing all our taste buds.  Soooo nice!

The next dish was Khao pad pu (crab fried rice).  This was the worst dish of the evening which was too bad.  The rice was too mushy & sticky...meaning they used freshly cooked rice to make the fried rice; which is a no no.  There was a good amount of crab and it was tasty; but it was for sure unpleasant to eat since it was like eating oatmeal.  Too bad.

Overall; I am sooooo happy that Ni-Yom Phochana is so close to my home.  What would I do without it?  The food is absolutely amazing...so fresh.  The service is very good; but the staff could smile a bit more. There is no ambiance; but the food is not only so good but they are the start of all the conversations...so who needs the decor & ambiance when everyone is so happy eating and talking.  There is no parking; and if you know Thonglor...taking a taxi is a very good idea.

I have to apologize; my gang and I were so happy eating so much and ummmm; drinking so much, that I forgot to take the bill so that I could show you lovely readers how cheap and affordable it is at Ni-Yom Phochana.  Just believe me; the food is so so reasonable for the quality of the food.  

Address:  125-125-1 soi Thonglor Sukhumvit 55, Bangkok


Telephone:   02-291-1517, 02-392-8919

Hai som tam @ Convent

My colleagues and I decided to have lunch at one of the most famous som tam places in town…Hai som tam on soi Convent.  So off we went to enjoy great Isaan food.  Hai som tam is located in a large shop house and has three floors (we sat on the second floor).  The place is always so busy during lunch time because of the office workers on Silom Rd.  So, it is highly recommended to call and reserve a table.

Hai som tam does not have much ambiance or decor (typical for places that serve such affordable and yummy food).  The tables are the fold up aluminum kind and the chairs are the plastic stack type.  The curtains are even gastly (the type in horror movies)…but in the end, no one cared because everyone's focus was on the food.

Som tam thai.  

MaMa seafood salad.

Deep fried pork glazed in oil. 

Roasted Isaan sausage.  

Pork larb.

Pork rib soup.

Grilled chicken.

Grilled pork neck.

Pork nam tok. 

Grilled fish encrusted in salt.  

Som tam crab.  

Grilled fish encrusted in salt.

The som tam kitchen (facing the sidewalk).

The grilled fish kitchen (which was on the sidewalk).

Overall; the food was very yummy.  All the dishes were fresh, the tastes were well balanced and the dishes were well portioned.  The service is quite amazing.  Even though the place was packed and practically every table ordering the same time.  I salute the kitchen staff on their managing of getting all the orders right and getting the food out at a timely manner.  But not only that; we ordered every dish twice (we had 9 people) and the total bill came to 2,050 baht (including the drinks).  With the food being so good; there was nothing to complain about at all.  

Address: 2/4-5 soi Convent Rd. Bangkok


Telephone:  02-631-0216