Scala Restaurant @ Siam Square, Bangkok

Cuisine: Chinese

Map: Scala Restaurant @ Siam Square, Bangkok - ห้องอาหาร สกาล่า @ สยามสแควร์ กรุงเทพ

Visited: 25 November 2011

Price: THB650 per person without alcohol (what I paid for)

Food: 7/10

Atmosphere: 5/10

Value for money: 6/10

Services: 6/10

Scala Restaurant on happ-it.com 

Almost three decades that I from time to time give this restaurant a visit. This restaurant called "Scala" is situated under the classic Scala Theatre at Siam Square. Not many of you may have heard about this place. Most of visitors are old faces. I am fortunate enough that my family frequently visits this restaurant since I was young. This gem of Siam Square is famous for its Peking Duck which has really crisp skin and fat-less. The decoration of this place is somewhat old fashion but it does give a warm ambient. Personally, this is a must try restaurant.

Scala Theatre - โรงหนังสกาล่า

Entrance of Scala Restaurant - หน้าร้านห้องอาหารสกาล่า

Restaurant Ambient - บรรยากาศภายใน

This time we did order 4 kinds of Hors d'oeuvre. First one being Chicken Wine Sauce. This is one of the classic Chinese dish. Chicken was marinated with Chinese wine before being steamed. This dish is served cool. Chicken meat was really tender and savoury. The presence of wine was clearly noticed. Wonderful it was (7/10).

Second one was Fried Minced Shrimp on Toast. This is all time any children favourite. Basic dish but full of happiness when eaten. It does go really well with sweet plum sauce (7/10).

Chicken Wine Sauce - ไก่แช่เหล้า

Fried Minced Shrimp on Toasted - กุ้งโรยงา

The third one was Shanghai Noodles. This dish has salty and sour flavours as base which matches supremely well with Shanghai Noodle. This is a kind of dish that can be ordered every time of visit (6/10).

The last one was Shark's Fin Scramble Eggs. This dish was surely not one of the best here but still enjoyable. It is kind of dry comparing to the other restaurant. But many oldies may find it wonderful (5/10).

Shanghai Noodles - ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเซี่ยงไฮ้

Shark's Fin Scramble Eggs - หูฉลามผัดแห้ง

Next in line was the famous Whole BBQ Peking Duck. Not to mention the well roasted duck that goes perfectly with an ideal sauce, the skin was really crisp and I do mean crisp. Even more, the mentioned crisp skin contained no fat, thanks to the skilful staff who sliced the duck professionally. When wrapped in pancake with a piece of cucumber, you would just ask for more of this Peking duck (9/10).

Whole BBQ Peking Duck - เป็ดปักกิ่ง

Staff Slicing Peking Duck - พนักงานกำลังแล่เป็ดปักกิ่ง

This was then followed by Goose Feet in Earth Pot. In case you have never tried goose or chicken or duck feet, don't say "eiwww" and deny it. I say this dish is a treasure. Goose feet was well marinated and steam in a pot of various herbs until soft and tender and served with noodle and sea asparagus. Fantastic I say (8/10).

Goose Feet in Earth Pot - ขาห่านอบหม้อดิน

Fried Fresh Shrimp is another of my favourite since I was a kid. I is kind of light in flavour with hint of spring onion as base. However, this time I felt that the texture of shrimp was not as good as it used to be. Still tender but lack of crispiness (5/10).

Fried Fresh Shrimp - กุ้งแบบเซี่ยงไฮ้

Sweet and Sour Fish was kind of enjoyable. Nothing really special but cooked with good quality of ingredients. It was not that thick like Hong Kong style and with lighter taste. It did go well with steamed bun (6/10).

Sweet and Sour Fish - ปลาเปรี้ยวหวาน

Steamed Fresh Siam Goby Fish with Soy Sauce is something rather expensive these days. This restaurant still keep the price at reasonable level and also at reasonable size of fish. Of course, this was well cooked with great ingredients and steamed to just perfect level. Really smooth and tender, not too salty with a tiny hint of sweetness. Love it (7/10).

Steamed Fresh Siam Goby Fish with Soy Sauce - ปลาบู่นึ่งซีอิ๊ว

Last of the meal was Fried Egg Noodle Shanghai Style. This was a duck base dish. Duck meat left over from Peking Duck was used as an ingredient for this dish. Always savoury but a little oily. To me, this dish looks like another basic dish but once eaten you would just ask for more (7/10).

Fried Egg Noodle Shanghai Style - บะหมี่เซี่ยงไฮ้

Scala Restaurant @ Siam Square, Bangkok

Ground Floor of Scala Theatre

184 Soi Siam Square 1

Rama 1 Road

Pathum Wan, Pathum Wan

Bangkok 10330

Thailand

ห้องอาหาร สกาล่า @ สยามสแควร์ กรุงเทพ

ใต้โรงหนังสกาล่า

184 ซอยสยามสแควร์ 1

ถนนพระราม 1

แขวงปทุมวัน เขตปทุมวัน

กรุงเทพ 10330

Open Hours: 11:00 - 14:00 for lunch and 17:00 - 22:00 for dinner daily

Tel: +66 (0) 2251 2863

Wonton BBQ Pork Noodle @ Soi Saint Louise 3, Bangkok

Cuisine: Chinese (Noodle)

Map: Wonton BBQ Pork Noodle @ Soi Saint Louise 3, Bangkok - บะหมี่เกี๊ยวหมูแดง @ ซอยเซนต์หลุยส์ 3 กรุงเทพ

Visited: 22 October 2011

Price: THB80 per person (what I paid for)

Food: 7/10

Atmosphere: n.m. (street food)

Value for money: 7/10

Services: n.m. (street food)

Those who are familiar with Soi Saint Louise area or Chan area of Bangkok would probably recognise this legend of noodle. This place has got no name. But do not worry, it is pretty to locate. This Wonton BBQ Pork Noodle shop is situated just around the entrance to Soi Sathon 11 (Soi Saint Louise 3) Yak 11. However, you will need to find somewhere along the street to park: recommend driving as it is rather difficult to reach this place via public transport. Many years back, it was the old guy of this place who was in charge of preparation and cooking but now he just supervise the new generation. 

Wonton BBQ Pork Noodle St Louise 3

Atmosphere

Owner chopping BBQ pork

Looking on the menu board, you may probably think that it is rather expensive for a bowl of noodle in a shop on street. But what you really get is quite a large portion. We, this time, did have  Wonton Noodle without Soup - บะหมี่เกี๊ยวแห้ง, Wonton BBQ Pork Noodle without Soup - บะหมี่เกี๊ยวหมูแดงแห้ง, and Wonton Soup - เกี๊ยวน้ำ, all of which were THB45 per portion. They were all splendid. Big piece of wonton and great taste of bbq pork. The only let down was noodle that was a little oily, unlike one that used to be prepared by the old guy. Just keep in mind to tell them that not too oily, and you will be fine.

To us, we usually order just noodle with wonton and bbq pork and never go for crab meat as we felt that THB15 for a few pieces of crab meat does not add so much value to the dish. But personal taste though. ^^

Menu Board

Wonton Noodle without Soup (THB45)

Wonton and BBQ Pork Noodle without Soup (THB45)

Wonton Soup (THB45)

Wonton BBQ Pork Noodle @ Soi Saint Louise 3, Bangkok

181 Soi Saint Louise 3

Sathon Tai Road

Thung Wat Don, Sathon

Bangkok 10120

Thailand

บะหมี่เกี๊ยวหมูแดง @ ซอยเซนต์หลุยส์ 3 กรุงเทพ

181 ซอยเซนต์หลุยส์ 3

ถนนสาทรใต้

แขวงทุ่งวัดดอน เขตสาทร

กรุงเทพ 10120

Open Hours: ~ 10:00 - 17:00 daily except Monday

Siang Ki Khaotom Pla @ Yaowarat, Bangkok

Cuisine: Chinese

Map: Siang Ki Khaotom Pla @ Yaowarat, Bangkok - เซี่ยงกี่ ข้าวต้มปลา @ เยาวราช กรุงเทพ

Visited: 20 October 2011

Price: THB300 per person (what I paid for)

Food: 8/10

Atmosphere: n.m. (kind of street food)

Value for money: 6/10

Services: n.m. (kind of street food)

Undeniable that this almost a century old store called "Siang Ki" at Yaowarat is one of the legend of rice in soup with fish (khaotom pla or fish gruel). This little place is located just in Soi Bamrung Rat, just about 100 meters down on the left hand side. The old ladies and gentlemen owners are always there to prepare and cook food themselves. Pricing may be a little high for gruel but it surely worth what you get. Just keep in mind that you will need to find parking space on the street in case of driving and it is rather difficult. We, hence, recommend you to take taxi.

Siang Ki Sign - ป้ายร้านเซี่ยงกี่

Siang Ki from Outside - หน้าร้านเซี่ยงกี่

Owners Preparing Dishes

Menu Board - ราคาอาหาร

We did try both with and without soup this time. Pomfret without Soup - เนื้อปลาจาระเม็ดแห้ง was really tremendous. Fish was really fresh and supremely tender. We love it ^^. By the way, this Pomfret without Soup had no rice, just pure fish. The other one was Khaotom with Pomfret and Fish Maw - ข้าวต้มปลาจาระเม็ดกับกระเพาะปลาสด. Highlight was fish maw that was just tender, smooth, and tasty. Addition of some soy bean paste gave really splendid taste. There are also fresh oyster available if you love it. We highly recommend this place.

Pomfret without Soup - เนื้อปลาจาระเม็ดแห้ง

Khaotom with Pomfret and Fish Maw - ข้าวต้มปลาจาระเม็ดกับกระเพาะปลาสด

Pomfret Meat - เนื้อปลาจาระเม็ด

Fish Maw - กระเพาะปลาสด

Oyster - หอยนางรม

Siang Ki Khaotom Pla @ Yaowarat, Bangkok

54 Soi Bamrung Rat

Yaowarat Road

Samphanthawong

Bangkok 10110

Thailand

เซี่ยงกี่ ข้าวต้มปลา @ เยาวราช กรุงเทพ

54 ซอยบำรุงรัฐ

ถนนเยาวราช

แขวงสัมพันธวงศ์ เขตสัมพันธวงศ์

กรุงเทพ 10100

Open Hours: 16:00 - 23:00 daily except last Sunday each month

Tel: +66 (0) 2224 3600, +66 (0) 86 882 3675

Four Seasons @ Siam Paragon, Bangkok

Cuisine: Chinese

Map: Four Seasons @ Siam Paragon, Bangkok - โฟร์ซีซั่นส์ @ สยามพารากอน กรุงเทพ

Visited: 4 November 2011

Price: THB550 per person without alcohol (what I paid for)

Food: 5/10

Atmosphere: 4/10

Value for money: 5/10

Services: 2/10

photos of Four Seasons on happ-it.com

Here we are at last, the famous Chinese restaurant from London "Four Seasons" on ground floor of Siam Paragon. Many people have heard about its famous roasted duck, many have even tried, and many have fallen in love. If you have experienced Four Seasons before in London, you may probably notice that half of customers in London branch, especially at Bayswater, is Thai....interesting. For decoration of this place, just simply forget the cosy decoration: this place is just designed to represent some Chinese atmosphere and that's it: many small tables, pack and crowded.

Before giving this place a visit, we would like to give you a few suggestions. First, they do not take reservation, so do not bother give them a call to book and they do open everyday. Secondly, the queue can be long as it is newly opened but we are not sure what the situation would be in the future. What we did experience was 2 hours queue at 17:30hr T__T and there will be many people who try to get their queues cut. They may also tell you promising to give you a call when your turn comes but what we did find out was that they never gave us a call ~_~. Last but not least, it is a Chinese restaurant, hence, do not expect great and friendly services here: just go and enjoy your food.

Four Seasons @ Siam Paragon, Bangkok

The Long Queue T__T

Rather Crowded Atmosphere

The Red Menu ^^

The first menu of the meal was Deep-fried Beancurd with Salt and Pepper - เต้าหู้ทอดเกลือพริกไทย. This dish was rather impressive in terms of skill and technique. Each piece was crisp on the outside and soft inside with mild flavour of salt, pepper and springs (6/10).

Deep-fried Beancurd with Salt and Pepper

Deep-fried Squid with Salt and Pepper - ปลาหมึกทอดพริกเกลือ is usually one of our favourite dish. But deep-fried squid did let us down a bit. It was crisp but almost hard and the portion and size of each piece was rather small (4/10).

Deep-fried Squid with Salt and Pepper

For the famous dish that every table did order "Four Seasons Roasted Duck - เป็ดย่างโฟร์ซีซันส์", at the price of THB1,100 you get a whole duck as can be seen in the photo below. Each piece was tender with thick meat. The sauce was also enjoyable: salty base rather than sweetness. If the skin was more crisp, this dish would be more wonderful (7/10).

We do like this dish though many people say it is rather normal. But pricing is not totally attractive from our point of view. THB1,100 for a whole duck is pretty similar to fine cuisine in a hotel.

The Famous Four Seasons Roasted Duck

Thick and Tender Meat

Next in line was Aromatic Crispy Duck Served with Pancakes - เป็ดอโรเมติก. Thai people may be familiar with Peking Duck, this Aromatic Duck is something similar. Instead of wrapping crisp skin of duck within pancake, you also wrap meat into pancake for Aromatic Duck. We say we like it but we don't love it. Skin was indeed crisp which was good. But the meat was rather dry and coarse. If it was more tender, it would be fantastic. For the sauce, it was thick and a little sweet, not bad (5/10). However, taking into account of THB1,500 cost, we say (3/10).......rather expensive T__T.

Aromatic Crispy Duck Served with Pancakes

Aromatic Ready to be Wrapped ^^

Here it comes, our favourite dish: Double Cooked Belly Pork with Preserved Vegetables in Hot Pot - หมูสามชั้นอบหม้อดินผักกาดดอง. It is simply pork belly that is slow cooked with preserved vegetables. Rich taste of soy sauce base flavour with combination of sour hint of preserved vegetables. Pork belly was supremely tender. This went really with boiled rice. Fantastic dish it is (7/10).

PS. This dish is surely unhealthy though, but still nice ^^.

Double Cooked Belly Pork with Preserved Vegetables in Hot Pot

Lastly, we had Egg Noodle with Roasted Duck and BBQ Pork - บะหมี่เป็ดย่างและหมูแดงอบน้ำผึ้ง. It was just noodle topped with roasted duck and bbq pork, nothing else special. Of course, roasted duck was good but bbq pork was below our expectation. We felt that what we used to have in London was better and more tender. Noodle part was just any typical noodle you can find elsewhere (4/10).

Egg Noodle with Roasted Duck and BBQ Pork

Four Seasons @ Siam Paragon, Bangkok

Floor G, Siam Paragon

Rama 1 Road

Pathumwan, Pathumwan

Bangkok 10330

Thailand

โฟร์ซีซั่นส์ @ สยามพารากอน กรุงเทพ

ชั้น G สยามพารากอน

ถนนพระราม 1

แขวงปทุมวัน เขตปทุมวัน

กรุงเทพ 10330

Open Hours: 11:00 - 21:00 daily

Tel: +66 (0) 2610 9578

Web: http://www.fs-restaurants.co.uk/

Ki Shin @ All Seasons Place, Bangkok

Cuisine: Japanese

Map: Ki Shin @ All Seasons Place, Bangkok - คิชิน @ ออลซีซั่นส์เพลส กรุงเทพ

Price: THB400 per person without alcohol (what I paid for, lunch menu)

Visited: 21 October 2011

Food: 6/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Value for money: 4/10

Services: 5/10

More photos of Ki Shin on happ-it.com

At last, I have a chance to write something on this blog after a long time......so many reviews to catch up now T__T. Let us this time bring you to an elegant and luxury Japanese restaurant in the town centre: "Ki Shin". This restaurant is located on the 1st floor of M Thai Tower at All Seasons Place on Witthayu Road. This place does serve fine traditional Japanese food in wide variety as well as set lunch. This atmosphere of this place is somewhat contemporary Japanese with sushi counter at the front. There is also private rooms available.

During lunch time, this place can be packed with businessmen around this area but less customer for dinner. Pricing of set lunch here is somewhat in-line with other places but dinner menu can be very expensive without careful order. We were there for lunch this time and had set lunch. On the service side, it is just an average standard, nothing impressive for this kind of luxury restaurant though. If the service is more friendly, it would make this place much more attractive.

Entrance

Atmosphere

Menu

For this time, we had Steamed Rice topped with Grilled Eel Set - ชุดข้าวหน้าปลาไหล (6/10), Tendon Set - ชุดเทนด้ง (5/10), and Vinegared Rice topped with Seasoned Raw Tuna Set - ชุดข้าวหน้าปลาโอ (4/10). They were all rather nice and came in beautiful decoration, especially Grilled Eel Set, but not impressive. Grilled Eel Set and Tendon Set had rather good standard taste and quality but Tuna Set did let us down a bit from its small portion (say 7-8 slices of thin cut tuna T__T), comparing to the price. Side dishes that came with each set were just salad, typical miso soup, and a small portion of appetiser.

Personally, we prefer lunch of Suikin more for Japanese restaurant around Witthayu and Lang Suan areas. Ok.....if we are happen to be here during lunch time again, we may sometime give it another. Otherwise, coming here specifically to give Ki Shin a visit is perhaps not the case. Not sure if dinner menu would get better, let us try it for dinner and keep you updated when we have a chance then ^^.

Steamed Rice Topped with Grilled Eel Set

Tendon Set

Vinegared Rice Topped with Seasoned Raw Tuna Set

Ki Shin @ All Seasons Place, Bangkok

Floor 1, M Thai Tower

All Seasons Place, Witthayu Road

Lumphini, Pathumwan

Bangkok 10330

Thailand

คิชิน @ ออลซีซั่นส์เพลส กรุงเทพ

ชั้น 1 เอ็มไทยทาวเวอร์

ออลซีซั่นเพลส ถนนวิทยุ

แขวงลุมพินี เขตปทุมวัน

กรุงเทพ 10330

Open Hours: 11:30 - 14:00 and 17:30 - 22:00 daily

Tel: +66 (0) 2252 3866

Web: http://www.ki-shin.com/

Audrey Cafe & Bistro @ Thonglor 11, Bangkok

Cuisine: International

Map: Audrey Cafe & Bistro @ Thonglor 11, Bangkok - ออเดร คาเฟ่ แอนด์ บริสโทร @ ทองหล่อ 11 กรุงเทพ

Visited: 30 October 2011

Price: THB450 per person without alcohol (what I paid for)

Food: 4/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Value for money: 5/10

Services: 5/10

more photos of Audrey Cafe & Bistro on happ-it.com

Audrey Cafe & Bistro is another new talk of the town during recent days due to its lovely decoration and friendly atmosphere. This place is located in Soi Thonglor 11 and there are plenty of parking space hence no worry if you do drive. Many people may give this place a visit from the rumour that the decoration is lovely or cute, in fact, the atmosphere does suit a family meal more from my perspective. The space is large and there are 2 floors. It can surely hold almost 100 customers.

Audrey Cafe & Bistro @ Thonglor

Exterior of Audrey

Indeed the interior is pretty and lovely as rumour has said. Things are bright and soft. The decoration is in contemporary style. Even their staffs also dress like those who work in mansion of wealthy people. There are also balcony seats at the front of the cafe for those who love and enjoy fresh air.

Lovely Decoration

A coole corner

Balcony Seats

Selection of Cake

We began our meal with North Eastern Spicy Chicken Spring Roll - ปอเปี๊ยะลาบไก่่ to boost up our appetite. It was enjoyable though the same was just so so. It was crisp which was good of course. But the filling was a bit too little. It did taste ok, surely a bit of spice to ensure Thai style. However, we felt that it was not too spicy for foreigners also (5/10).

North Eastern Spicy Chicken Spring Roll - ปอเปี๊ยะลาบไก่

We are usually a fan of Tom Kha Gai - ต้มข่าไก่. However, it was a disappointment for us to order it here. Tom Kha Gai at Audrey was just not savoury. It tasted more like just putting pieces of boiled chicken into coconut based soup with a touch of lemon grass. Ok...you know what, we think Tom Kho Gai that is cooked with Lobo seasoning powder is better (2/10).

Tom Kha Gai - ต้มข่าไก่

Close up look

Now, let take a look at something more serious. I did try Fried Thin Rice Noodle with Shabu Pork - เส้นหมีราดหน้าหมูชาบูผัดพริกไทดำ. Well, it was just Radnah (ราดหน้า) to me. Nothing really special but the pork was tender and came in slices like shabu shabu (5/10).

Fried Thin Rice Noodle with Shabu Pork - เส้นหมีราดหน้าหมูชาบูผัดพริกไทดำ

Spaghetti Seafood in Thai Spicy Herbal Sauce - สปาเก็ตตี้ผัดขี้เมาทะเล is a pasta dish that is cooked in Thai style. Ok...everyone knows it would be hot and spicy. Ingredients were ok and tasted just like other places. A standard dish it is (4/10).

Spaghetti Seafood in Thai Spicy Herbal Sauce - สปาเก็ตตี้ผัดขี้เมาทะเล

Crackling Pork Fried Rice - ข้าวผัดกากหมูทรงเครื่อง was just ordinary fried rice but with loads of crackling pork. It is a dish that is enjoyable here. Just a bit too oily when we had it (5/10).

Crackling Pork Fried Rice - ข้าวผัดกากหมูทรงเครื่อง

For dessert, we did try 2 things. One was Strawberry Short Cake - สตรอเบอรี่ ช๊อตเค้ก and the other one was Blueberry Crumble - บลูเบอรี่ ครัมเบิ้ล. Both were just fine to be consumed. Short cake was soft for the texture but not as good as the one at Coffee Beans by Dao, while blueberry crumble came with vanilla sauce that was just sweet and too sweet in fact (4/10).

Strawberry Short Cake - สตรอเบอรี่ ช๊อตเค้ก

Blueberry Crumble - บลูเบอรี่ ครัมเบิ้ล

Overall, Audrey is another place for a good and relax family meal if taste and savoury are not big matters for you.

Audrey Cafe & Bistro @ Thonglor 11, Bangkok

136/3 Soi Thonglor 11

Sukhumvit Road

Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana

Bangkok 10110

Thailand

ออเดร คาเฟ่ แอนด์ บริสโทร @ ทองหล่อ 11 กรุงเทพ

136/3 ซอยสุขุมวิท 11

ถนนสุขุมวิท

แขวงคลองตันเหนือ เขตวัฒนา

กรุงเทพ 10110

Open Hours: 11:00 - 22:00 daily

Tel: +66 (0) 2712 6667 - 8

Web: http://www.facebook.com/Audrey.Cafe.Bistro