Restaurant-Dining Critiques

Surface
107 Soi Sukhumvit 53
Kwang Klongton-Nua,
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel. 02 258 2858
Opening Hours: Lunch: 11:30am-2pm; Dinner 6pm-11:30pm
Credit Cards: Visa

The restaurant is difficult to find, as the main entrance is in the rear of a large parking lot at the dead end of Thonglor Soi 11 and from the soi 53 side it is only accessible by foot or bicycle. Once you find the entrance, and wind through a narrow passageway that leads to a lovely garden with day beds stretched out on one side, vegetables growing in wooden boxes amongst white umbrellas on the other, and then of course, the restaurant itself you will find the experience a pleasant surprise. Again, Thai-style bars (this time two of them) one outside and one within, with nary a bar-stool to be found and no real purpose for their existence. Jazz is playing softly as background music, and the whole scene is quite idyllic.

The menu is brief and that is all right, but the choice of starters, for no particular reason were not very appealing while the main courses in distinct opposition, were enticing enough to order them all. The predominantly California wine list, it seems, was chosen haphazardly by someone who fancied these unappealing wines for some unknown reason. I have rarely come across any of these selections on other wine lists in this city.

Following is a list of a few of the reasonably priced dishes:

Roasted game hen 320
Tenderloin on truffle risotto and black trumpet sauce 470
Tongue and cheek – ox tongue and veal cheek, sauce bordelaise 350
Braised lamb shank with parsnip puree 360
Monkfish saffron sauce 420
Linguini Crab tossed with tomatoes and salsa verde 490
Scallops with celeriac and Kielbasa 670

Waffle and berries pudding 180