The Verandah @ Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok

Cuisine: International

Map: The Verandah @ Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok - ห้องวีแรนด้า @ โรงแรมแมนดาริน โอเรียนเต็ล กรุงเทพ

Price: THB1,150 per person without alcohol (what I paid for)

Visited: 11 March 2011

Food: 7/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Value for money: 7/10

Services: 8/10

Overall: 7/10

Despite being a cafe which serves a whole day international food, the Verandah @ Mandarin Oriental Bangkok also from time to time organises promotions of great culinary. During the month of March 2011, Chef Siegfried Klien of Romantik Hotel Goldener Stern is visiting the kitchen of the Verandah. He will be introducing Austrian authentic menu through out the month. The Verandah, itself, usually serves both Asian and Western dishes and is decorated in Thai contemporary. There are both indoor and outdoor seats of more than 100 seats. The outdoor seats are on the bank of Chao Phraya River. To travel here, it is rather convenient; Mandarin Oriental Bangkok can be reached via BTS (Saphan Taksin Station), from then there will be a boat provided by the hotel directly from the station to the hotel.

The Verandah

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Potato Soup with Croutons (Erdäpfelsuppe mit Croutons) was one of our appertisers. One of the most famous Austrian dish tasted really creamy and smooth, though you could feel very tiny bit of potato. It was thick and rich in the scent but not heavy. What more would you ask for such a delightful bowl of soup. Complexity within simplicity, I must say (8/10).

a Basket of Breads

Potato Soup with Croutons

The second of bowl of soup for the night was Beef Consommé with Austrian Cheese Dumplings & Pancake Stripes (Klare Rindsuppe mit Kaspressknödel oder Frittaten). This soup had light texture, sweet taste, and refreshing feeling. It was coupling with enjoyable pancake stripes, which were soft but glutinous. An additional piece of Austrian cheese dumpling was really delicate, while mild flavour of the cheese went really well with the consommé (7/10).

Beef Consommé with Austrian Cheese Dumplings & Pancake Stripes

Austrian Cheese Dumplings

Creamy Veal Goulash with Egg Dumplings (Kalbsrahmgulasch mit Nockerl) was a nice dish but did not meet my expectation though. Egg dumplings were pleasant, delicious and well cooked. But veal goulash was a little overcooked, it could be much more tender (5/10).

Creamy Veal Goulash with Egg Dumplings

Last of the meal was Fillet of Trout with Nut Risotto and Tomatoes (Forellenfilet mit Nussrisotto und Paradaiser). I have to say that this is one of the best risotto in town. The creamy risotto was really tasty and had some hint of cracked nut combined. Grilled trout was well prepared and fresh with crispy skin (7/10).

Fillet of Trout with Nut Risotto and Tomatoes

Not to mention friendly and well-trained services from staffs, the Verandah is surely a great place for any occasion meal. While the bill came out to be THB1,150 per person, it was a pretty good value for money indeed. With THB1,000 you can get much worse food in other restaurant. Consistency and delicacy can always be sought here.

The Verandah @ Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok

48 Oriental Avenue

Soi Charoenkrung 40, Charoenkrung Road

Bang Rak

Bangkok 10500

Thailand

ห้องวีแรนด้า @ โรงแรมแมนดาริน โอเรียนเต็ล กรุงเทพ

48 ซอยเจริญกรุง 40

ถนนเจริญกรุง

เขตบางรัก

กรุงเทพ 10500

Open Hours: 06:00am - 01:00am daily

Tel: +66 (0) 2659 9000 ext 7610

Web: http://www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok/dining/restaurants/the_verandah/

Minibar Royale @ Citadines Sukhumvit 23, Bangkok

Cuisine: Western (Pub & Bistro)

Map: Minibar Royale @ Citadines Sukhumvit 23, Bangkok - มินิบาร์ รอแยล @ ซิทาดีนส์ สุขุมวิท 23 กรุงเทพ

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

Visited: 6 March 2011

Food: 5/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Value for Money: 5/10

Services: 5/10

Overall: 5/10

Minibar Royale @ Citadines Sukhumvit 23 is a pub & bistro style cafe which is famous for its wide range of drinks and liquor as well as Western style dishes. Being located in the centre of Bangkok, I must say that this cafe is convenient to travel to: car parking available for those who drive, BTS and MRT Asoke Stations also nearby. Minibar Royale is decorated to resemble the Paris style brasserie a and New York cafe with cozy ambient. Furnishers are mostly in red oak from chairs, tables to doors. There is also a small bar at the back end and a Jazzy band introducing cool music surrounding. Outdoor seats are also available for those who prefer fresh air.

Minibar Royale @ Citadines Sukhumvit 23

Outdoor Seatings

First to arrive for the lunch was Minibar Creamy Clam Chowder. Ordinary creamy clam chowder with strong garlic flavour and fresh clam. Personally, I would prefer it to be thicker (4/10).

Meat Crab Cakes (crab meat patties with garlic mayonnaise sauce) was made from good quality of ingredients. Soft but firm, yet well fried and not oily (5/10).

Minibar Creamy Clam Chowder

Meaty Crab Cakes

This was followed by Eggs Benedict (poached eggs on baguette with home-smoked salmon and citrus hollandaise). Impressed with delicious french fries and creamy runny egg yolk (6/10).

Eggs Benedict

Eggs-in-a-Hole French Toast with Crispy Bacon and Sauteed Mushroom was a bit oily and soft. There was some sweetness from honey. This would be much better if the french toast was crisp (4/10).

Eggs-in-a-Hole French Toast w/t Crispy Bacon & Sauteed Mushroom

Rigatoni, Crispy Ducky Confit, Garlic, Dry Chili, and White Wine was ok. Rigatoni was well cooked, however, duck meat was a little tough. Nevertheless, the balanced flavour compromised the overall picture: strong garlic taste with a touch of chili scent (5/10).

Rigatoni, Crispy Duck Confit, Garlic, Dry Chili and White Wine

Last was Pan-fried Red Snapper with Cajun Style Cream Sauce. This might not be a splendid dish but it was delightful. Snapper was well fried with tenderness. Cream sauce was nothing unique but lightly salted spinach matched well with the fillet (5/10).

Pan-fried Red Snapper with Cajun Style Cream Sauce

Thinking of a place to hang out with friends, having a pint of beer, a glass of wine or even signature cocktails with enjoyable food in a good price, Minibar Royale @ Citadines Sukhumvit 23 is surely one of a good option. Given its almost 24 hours opening time, you could hardly find anywhere in the centre of Bangkok like this cafe. It is also a chill place to relax during weekend: having a good cup of coffee on a bright Sunday, what more would you want.

Minibar Royale @ Citadines Sukhumvit 23, Bangkok

37/7 Citadines, Soi Sukhumvit 23

Sukhumvit Road

North Klongton, Vadhana

Bangkok 10110

Thailand

มินิบาร์ รอแยล @ ซิทาดีนส์ สุขุมวิท 23 กรุงเทพ

37/7 ซิทาดีนส์ ซอยสุขุมวิท 23

ถนนสุขุมวิท

แขวงคลองตันเหนือ เขตวัฒนา

กรุงเทพ 10110

Open Hours: Breakfast 06:30am - 10:30am (for hotel guests), Lunch & Dinner 10:30am - Midnight daily

Tel: +66 (0) 2261 5533

Web: http://www.minibarroyale.com/

After You: Dessert Cafe @ J Avenue, Thonglor, Bangkok

Cuisine: Dessert (Japanese Style)

Map: After You: Dessert Cafe @ J Avenue, Thonglor, Bangkok - อาฟเตอร์ยู: ดิสเสิร์ทคาเฟ่ @ เจ อเวนิว ทองหล่อ กรุงเทพ

Price: THB150 per person (what I paid for)

Visited: 5 March 2011

Food: 2/10

Atmosphere: 4/10

Value for Money: 1/10

Services: 5/10

Overall: 3/10

At the end of parking space on the ground floor of J Avenue (opposite SeenSpace, Thonglor), Thonglor is where After You: Dessert Cafe situated. This is a tiny cafe, with ~ 25 seats, serving variety of dessert inspiring from Japanese style dessert which is ranging from simple cakes and cookies to the signature dessert "Shibuya Honey Toast". The cafe is simply decorated with wooden tables and chairs, while the decor of ordering counter is enlightened with menu board in hand written font. To travelling here, the most convenient way is by driving (parking at J Avenue). However, coming here with BTS is also one of the choice. But you will need to take a taxi from BTS Thonglor Station, otherwise 10 - 15 minutes walk.

After You: Dessert Cafe @ J Avenue

Having come to After You, I must certainly try the most famous dessert here, Shibuya Honey Toast. However, the portion is rather large, I decided to order a mini version. This dish was simply a big piece of oven roasted toast with layer of butter in between and on top with vanilla ice-cream and honey syrup. The toast was too oily and the taste of butter was really bad. Honey syrup was just sweet with strange scent, felt more like sugar syrup with honey odour additive. Coming the worst part, the vanilla ice-cream, it tastes like a cheap ice-cream from a supermarket. No scent of vanilla, not creamy but icy, all I could taste was just sweetness. A poor dessert I must admit (2/10).

Honey Syrup

Mini Shibuya Honey Toast

Coming along was Queen B Fudge Cake. This was a little better than Shibuya Toast. No need to mention about the ice-cream part as it was the same. The fudge cake was a chocolate fudge cake with marshmallow filling in the middle layer. The texture was decent but the taste of chocolate was poor. The chocolate fudge tasted just like those chocolate dip with bread stick you can find in any supermarket (2/10).

Queen B Fudge Cake

The last one was Choco Banana Pancake. Nothing fancy for this dessert but everyone favourite pancake with vanilla ice-cream and banana. The pancake was flavourless and dry. The best bit of this dish and perhaps the best part from this visit was the banana (1/10).

Choco Banana Pancake

Apart from a lovely service and friendly atmosphere, I personally find this place really unattractive. Nothing I tried here delicacy at all if I am not mistaken, otherwise there must be something wrong with my tongue. If I have to go back to this After You again myself, I rather ride a frog all the way to France to have something much more delicate.

After You: Dessert Cafe @ J Avenue, Thonglor, Bangkok

J-Avenue Soi Thonglor 13 (Soi Sukhumvit 55)

Sukhumvit Road

North Klongton, Vadhana

Bangkok, 10110

Thailand

อาฟเตอร์ยู: ดิสเสิร์ทคาเฟ่ @ เจ อเวนิว ทองหล่อ กรุงเทพ

เจ อเวนิว ซอยทองหล่อ 13

ถนนสุขุมวิท

แขวงคลองตันเหนือ เขตวัฒนา

กรุงเทพ 10110

Open Hours: 09:00am - midnight daily

Tel: +66 (0) 2712 9266

Web: http://www.afteryoudessertcafe.com/