The Metropolitan Bangkok recently renovated their Cyan restaurant on the first floor of the hotel and transformed it into the first overseas outpost for Australian David Thompson's Nahm restaurant, a Michelin-starred Thai restaurant at the Halkin in London. It was a pity the Metropolitan decided to do away with Cyan, instead of the lesser known Glow restaurant on the second floor, but I guess this meant there would be world-class Thai cuisine readily available, without even having to walk next door to the Celadon restaurant at the Sukothai.
I loved the soothing warm decor of Nahm, lots of hardwood, spot lighting and modern furniture. The tables were a bit of an annoyance because of the large diameter of the stem, which left little room for my feet to rest comfortably. But like I said, a small annoyance, really. I was very distracted by the extensive menu and the descriptions of each dish, and my stomach was starting to protest.
We picked the tasting menu, just so we could try as many of their signature dishes as possible. Everything else will have to wait till next trip.
The restaurant staff brought us an amuse bouse to start. Two pieces of pineapples topped with a sweet nutty sauce with chopped nuts and spices. Then the selection of appetizers followed - skewered oyster satays, fresh prawn salad, crispy fried rice noodles topped with seafood and vegetables, many with names that escape me. But they were all excellent in their own ways. Very fresh, tastefully balanced and not too spicy.
The main course selections consisted of grilled cod, minced prawn in coconut broth, tamarind smoked fish soup, a red beef curry that was astounding, and their signature dish of squid ink stir-fried snow peas with squid.
For dessert, we had stewed pumpkin, tapioca pearls and coconut puff pastries over coconut sauce.
By the end of dinner, I had no doubt Nahm would be one of my favorite dining choices in Bangkok from now on. For a start, it was much better than some of the more venerable Thai fine dining restaurants I tried last trip. And since the restaurant is still in its teething infancy, I can only assume there would be better things to come.
Nahm is at: Metropolitan Bangkok, 27 S Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120, Thailand. Tel: +66 2625 3333
No comments:
Post a Comment