99 Rest Backyard Cafe @ Rama 9 Road, Bangkok

Cuisine: International

Map: 99 Rest Backyard Cafe @ Rama 9 Road, Bangkok - 99 เรสท์แบ็คยาร์ดคาเฟ่ @ ถนนพระราม 9 กรุงเทพ

Price: THB800 per person (what I paid for)

Visited: 26 June 2011

Food: 5/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Value for money: 5/10

Services: 6/10

We recently came across this lovely restaurant called "99 Rest Backyard Cafe" and decided to try out right away. Just like its name, it is situated within a relaxing atmosphere which is surrounded by garden. Ok...foods and choices of drink are just like other bistro & brasserie style such as Wine I Love You or Minibar Royale. However, atmosphere is the highlight here: lovely decoration in contemporary style with a touch of Thai mood and homely garden. Upon arrival, we were stunned by the beautiful scenery of this place, friendly yet relaxing. This is surely a good place to be enjoy with family. The restaurant is located just a few minutes from Thonglor by car.

99 Rest Backyard Cafe

The Interior

Table Setting

Just a little attention on the menu, we think that it is lovely such that there are many different good quotes about food in the menu. Taking a look at them, good quote good meaning they are.

The Menu

Some Good Quote

Though we did not have a chance to take note down this time, we wish that compensation of photos will give you enough feeling of dishes here. Overall most of items here are on par level (5/10).

We did try quite a number of starter including salads and fried dishes.

Basket of Bread

Crispy Calamari

Onion Rings

Caesar Salad

Rocket Salad & Spicy Italian Sausage

UFC - Unidentified Fried Chicken

A few of pasta and noodle types are also observed. They were up to standard on quality and taste.

Penne with Spicy Italian Sausage

"Bamee" Egg Noodle with Blue Swimmer Crab Meat

For main course dishes, we found that Duck Confit was rather good and was a better choice than others. However, this does not mean the others are not enjoyable though.

Duck Confit

99 House Banger & Mash

Tamarind Baby Back Ribs

Australian Sirloin 200 Days Short Grain Fed

Desserts were just ok and perhaps the most typical one like Thai Sundae was the star. The others can be delightful but not outstanding.

Crepe Suzette

Thai Sundae of Smoked Coconut and Pandan Gelato

Hot Green Tea Chocolate Fondant

Hot Brownie with Vanilla Ice-cream

99 Rest Backyard Cafe @ Rama 9 Road, Bangkok

99 Soi Rama IX 41

Rama 9 Road

Suan Luang, Suan Luang

Bangkok 10250

Thailand

99 เรสท์แบ็คยาร์ดคาเฟ่ @ ถนนพระราม 9 กรุงเทพ

99 ซอยพระราม IX 41

ถนนพระราม 9

แขวงสวนหลวง เขตสวนหลวง

กรุงเทพ 10250

Open Hours: Monday to Friday 03:00pm – 11:00pm and Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday 11:00am – 11:00pm

Tel: +66 (0) 2300 4339

Web: http://www.99-rest.com/

TongJingKung Ramen @ Sukhumvit 24, Bangkok

Cuisine: Japanese (Ramen)

Map: TongJingKung Ramen @ Sukhumvit 24, Bangkok - ทง จิง กัง @ ซอยสุขุมวิท 24 กรุงเทพ

Price: THB250 per person (what I paid for)

Visited: 23 June 2011

Food: 7/10

Atmosphere: 4/10

Value for money: 8/10

Services: 4/10

For many years that we have been visiting this ramen restaurant in the town centre of Bangkok, TongJingKung Ramen @ Sukhumvit 24. This may be just a small ramen shop, unlike those huge brand like Ramen Champions that we had mentioned before. It is operated by a Thai local owner. We could really say that everything here are just so good with reasonable price. One evident is that every single time we give this place a visit, there are always many Japanese popping by for ramen and hardly any Thai: this must surely be a good sign for authentic food. Nevertheless, parking here can be trouble as you will have to park your car somewhere in Soi Sukhumvit 24 and walk, else just come by other mean of transport. The nearest public transport is BTS Thonglor or MRT Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. 

TongJingKung Ramen @ Sukhumvit 24

The Menu

We managed to try quite a number of side dishes. Let us begin with Peerang Toufu - เต้าหู้กับไข่เยี่ยวม้าทรงเครื่อง. This definitely is one of the highlight of this place. Firm tofu with soft preserved egg and loads of spring onion to be eaten with soy sauce. This was really something (7/10).

Wakame Salad - ยำสาหร่าย was given to us as a complementary. Well, how much could you go wrong with Wakame Salad as long as it is fresh. Nice but typical (6/10).

Peerang Toufu - เต้าหู้กับไข่เยี่ยวม้าทรงเครื่อง

Wakame Salad - ยำสาหร่าย

Next was Karanegi Chachu - หมูชิ้นกับต้นหอมทรงเครื่อง. This is our most favourite dish of TongJingKung Ramen. Slices of pork belly to be eaten with well flavoured spring onions. This was wow. Really tender and flavourful (8/10).

Karanegi Chachu - หมูชิ้นกับต้นหอมทรงเครื่อง

Gyoza - เกี๊ยวซ่า was also a good dish to order here. Really crisp dough skin and juicy pork stuffing (7/10).

Gyoza - เกี๊ยวซ่า

Karaage Fried Chicken - ไก่ทอดคาราเกะ was also recommended. The dipping sauce was not an ordinary like other places. However, we felt that chicken were not properly fried to give such crispiness, otherwise this would be an enjoyable dish to accompany ramen (5/10).

Karaage Fried Chicken - ไก่ทอดคาราเกะ

Coming to our main dish of the night, Ramen. We did try 3 different ramen this time, one of which was a mini size: Tantan Ramen - บะหมี่ญี่ปุ่นซุปข้นใส่งาบด, Miso Ramen (No Vegetable) - บะหมี่ญี่ปุ่นใส่ซุปมิโซ (ไม่ใส่ผัก), and Mini Tonkotsu Ramen - บะหมี่ญี่ปุ่นซุปข้นใส่ขิงแดงเล็ก. We must say that they all were equally delicious, depending of personal preference. Each ramen, soup, and broth were well prepared with care. Pleasant and delightful (7/10). I would not be saying much and ramen here. All I would say is splendid, come and try yourself is the best way to find your favourite ramen here. Personally, we love the Tantan Ramen.

Tantan Ramen - บะหมี่ญี่ปุ่นซุปข้นใส่งาบด

Miso Ramen (No Vegetable) - บะหมี่ญี่ปุ่นใส่ซุปมิโซ (ไม่ใส่ผัก)

Mini Tonkotsu Ramen - บะหมี่ญี่ปุ่นซุปข้นใส่ขิงแดงเล็ก

TongJingKung Ramen @ Sukhumvit 24, Bangkok

Soi Sukhumvit 24

Khlongton, Khlongtoei

Bangkok 10110

Thailand

ทง จิง กัง @ ซอยสุขุมวิท 24 กรุงเทพ

ซอยสุขุมวิท 24

แขวงคลองตัน เขตคลองเตย

กรุงเทพ 10110

Open Hours: 11:30am - 02:00 pm for lunch and 05:00pm - 11:00pm for dinner, close on Monday

Tel: +66 (0) 86 772 5122

Web: http://www.tongjingkung-ramen.com/

Restaurant Riedenburg @ Salzburg, Austria

Cuisine: Austrian

Map: Restaurant Riedenburg @ Salzburg, Austria

Price: EUR25.00 per person without alcohol (what I paid for)

Visited: 9 April 2011

Food: 6/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Value for money: 6/10

Services: 7/10

Restaurant Riedenburg at Salzburg may have been a well-known place for both local and visitor. Being located near the centre of Salzburg, it is pretty easy to come around both public transport and self driving. At the time we were at Riedenburg, there seemed to be a lot of elderly guests. This could be because of the old fashion Austrian interior as well as choices of menu being served that were not so fancy like other award winning restaurants. Forget about creativity and gastronomy here but come and enjoy the traditional way that contains high standard. Services here are also friendly but lack of English communication skill though.

Riedenburg Restaurant @ Salzburg

The Front Yard

The Interior

We managed to visit Riedenburg for lunch. Today there are 2 sets of lunch menu: 1) the lunch menu of the day and 2) Nespresso Gourmet Menu. So we went ahead for both menu. Considering they were just lunch menu and the price we paid for, this was not a bad deal at all. But we did expect to have more of creation apart from quality though.

To begin as in other places, breads are served at the beginning of the course. Breads at Riedenburg were rather ordinary but butter was of great quality and taste.

Nespresso Gourmet Menu

Set of Breads and Butter

Breads

We began with Scallop Ravioli with Spinach Cream Sauce and Salad. The creamy sauce was really delightful with having with soft ravioli of scallop. Though it was not a surprise type of dish but enjoyable (7/10).

Scallop Ravioli with Spinach Cream Sauce and Salad

Grilled Atlantic King Prawn with Peas Pancake and Dandelion was well prepared with good quality of ingredients. Texture of prawn was wonderful. Nevertheless, I wish its taste would be more complex (6/10).

Grilled Atlantic King Prawn with Peas Pancake and Dandelion

For main courses we managed to have 2 types of steak, one being sirloin and the other was rib eye. But how much could this standard of restaurant go wrong with steak though.

Rib Eye Steak with Chips and Green Beans was really tender and juicy. This was surely a simple lunch menu that was well cooked but more than just a simple menu would be interesting (6/10). 

Rib Eye Steak with Chips and Green Beans

Sirloin Steak with Wild Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Young Carrots was again tender but firm. Nevertheless, I could sense some persistence of blood and flesh, otherwise a perfect piece of sirloin. Mashed potatoes and sweet crisp young carrots were also fantastic (7/10).

Sirloin Steak with Wild Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Young Carrots

For dessert, we had the traditional choice of Apple Strudel with Vanilla Ice-cream. This was indeed well made. Thin layer of soft outer skin that wrapped chunks of apple to go with creamy vanilla ice-cream was a perfect home-made (6/10).

Apple Strudel with Vanilla Ice-cream

For the Nespresso Menu, a choice of espresso to be chosen to end the course was pleasant. There were ranges of espresso from mild to very strong. The photo below was a mid strong type of Nespresso.

Nespresso Grand Cru

Restaurant Riedenburg @ Salzburg, Austria

Neutorstraße 31

A-5020 Salzburg

Austria

Open Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 12:00pm - 02:00pm for lunch and 06:00pm - 12:00am for dinner

Tel: +43 (0) 662 830 815

Web: http://www.riedenburg.at/

Gaggan: Progressive Indian Cuisine @ Lang Suan, Bangkok

Cuisine: Indian

Map: Gaggan: Progressive Indian Cuisine @ Lang Suan, Bangkok - การ์กัน: โพรเกรสซิฟ อินเดียน คูซีน @ หลังสวน กรุงเทพ

Price: THB1,950 per person without alcohol (what I paid for)

Visited: 8 June 2011

Food: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Value for money: 6/10

Services: 7/10

Talking about Indian food, you may probably think of curry, spices, or tandoori chicken: perhaps nice, some people may sometime find it difficult to eat. Let forget about the authentic and traditional way of Indian, Gaggan @ Lang Suan offers a truly new experience of Indian gastronomy. Being inspired by the world most famous restaurant "El Bulli", where he spent a year of training, Gaggan's culinary combines the charming taste and varieties of ingredient of Indian culture with the culinary technique of Western way to create a new episode of Indian food. This unusal restaurant is situated on Soi Lang Suan, opposite Lenotre, which is convenient to travel here.

Not to mention service quality of Gaggan, which is of course splendid, we found that atmosphere and the setting of this restaurant are very attractive. It is an old detached house that has been reformed to contemporary style using white colour as the base to give the present of warming and friendliness. For those who may give this place the first visit, the restaurant also offers a blind degustation menu at THB1,600 per person which comprises of 10 different dishes daily. I would not be saying much more, of course how much would I know about Indian and food, let the innovation begin then.

Gaggan @ Lang Suan, Bangkok

The Exterior

The Interior

The first one to arrive was Yoghurt Explosion. This is one of the most exciting dish of the night. It was made from milk and yoghurt and formed into an egg-like shape. Once cracking the outer shell, yoghurt inside would just explode in the mouth giving pleasant taste (8/10).
This was suddenly followed by Beet Edible Glass with Lettuce Mousse and Blue Angel Flowers. Well balance in taste with sweetness from mousse to combine with crisp beetroot (8/10).
Truffle Ravioli was great giving scent of spice within. However, we didn't find this one so interesting though (6/10).

Yoghurt Explosion

Beet Edible Glass with Lettuce Mousse and Blue Angel Flowers

Truffle Ravioli

Coming to the first serious looking dish, Char Grilled Chicken with Coriander and Ginger Sauce. Chicken was really tender and well marinated with spices. When combined with coriander and ginger sauce, it was a perfect dish with strong herbal taste (8/10).

Char Grilled Chicken with Coriander and Ginger Sauce

Next was Snow Fish with Lemon Foam and Chilli Oil. Chilli and spicy, no...not at all, this was rather sweet from my perspective. Not amazing but nice (7/10).

Snow Fish with Lemon Foam and Chilli Oil

An entremets to boost up appetite was Red Sangria Sherbet that was made from liquid nitrogen. It was a little sweet with strong taste of alcohol, too strong to be precise. I didn't find the purpose of using liquid nitrogen for this dish as there was nothing more special than other sherbet. Unlike the new entremets that we recently experienced from Chef Thibault of the Reflexions at Hotel Plaza Athenee Bangkok (4/10).

Red Sangria Sherbet (Nitrogen Cooled)

Clam with White Wine Sauce was great. Scent of white wine mixing with chilli oil were balanced. Let down by difficulty in the way of eating and size of clams that was small (6/10).
Next in line was Smoked Salmon Fettuccini in Chilli Cream Sauce. We found that this dish was just an ordinary Italian dish but with chilli sauce (6/10).

Clam with White Wine Sauce

Smoked Salmon Fettuccini in Chilli Cream Sauce

For the main course, we had Bhuna Mutton and Prawn with Curry and Coconut Milk to go with Butter Naan. These were more like the traditional Indian food, not the innovative fusion style. Rather mild flavour for both dishes. While mutton was tender, prawn was a little disappointed in term of texture (6/10).

Bhuna Mutton

Prawn with Curry and Coconut Milk

Butter Naan

Lastly, the dessert for the night was Scramble Egg with Mango Mousse. Scramble egg on top was cold, which fully covered sweet mango mousse. A tough of salt to balance the flavour. An enjoyable dessert it was (7/10).

Scramble Egg with Mango Mousse

Gaggan: Progressive Indian Cuisine @ Lang Suan, Bangkok

68/1 Soi Lang Suan

Ploenchit Road

Lumphini, Pathumwan

Bangkok 10330 

Thailand dddd

การ์กัน: โพรเกรสซิฟ อินเดียน คูซีน @ หลังสวน กรุงเทพ

68/1 ซอยหลังสวน

ถนนเพลินจิต

แขวงลุมพินี เขตปทุมวัน

กรุงเทพ 10330

Open Hours: 06:00pm - 11:00pm (last order) daily

Tel: +66 (0) 2652 1700

Web: http://eatatgaggan.com/