Everything Random

Two “relatively” high-end food stops opened recently near Hua Lamphong Station, at Maha Phruettharam Road, just a few blocks away from Very Nice Bar. I was impressed by the industrial chic design that characterises the building (and both establishments) that I passed by one humid Saturday afternoon during my “knowing Bangkok by foot” rituals.

So are these two worth the hype?

Sàat

The restaurant features culinary creations by two chefs – a Japanese and Thai. The menu is Japanese-Thai fusion, with nothern influences (khao nam prik, sandwiches and crispy flat breads that go along with a shio koji ice cream and brioche desserts).

The place is quite neat – an open kitchen, glass walls, wooden chairs and polished concrete benches on the sides.

The food is another story though. While the cooking is decent, it is not unforgettable, and for its price, it is low on value-for-money. I was not there for main course. I wanted a drink and desserts as I just had lunch when I visited. So I got a Fluffy Pancake and Coconut Sugar Pancake and a hot latte (or maybe it was one of their hojitcha selections, I can not anymore remember). I paid for around 600THB including taxes (as prices in Thailand do not include service and tax, and the pancake dish was already at 320THB).

Verdict: It is not a FOMO moment. Really. There are other places out there that will be worth the buck.

Slow Butter

An alley separates Saat with Slow Butter. So you practically just have to transfer on the other side of the building. Both are on the ground floor. The place does not have a sit-down area. At least 70% of the space is the bakery and display section and people queue up in the remaining space.

As I have already eaten dessert, I dropped by for take-away bread. The selection is numerous – plain, pain au chocolat, tebirkes, cardamon bun, ham and cheese, bun with cheese – with prices ranging from 90 to 160THB a piece.

The bread is more greasy than my preferred croissant (well, slow butter is the name), and the baking is not consistent – but generally several of those that I got looked burnt. They have coffee too but did not manage to try.

Verdict: Nice to try. But not really something you want to go back to given that there are several good ones elsewhere.