From what used to be the grim, forgettable wine bar of Wine Me Up, the owners recently made the right choice to scrap the old idea and replace it with a bright and airy loft instead. Like its name, it serves up a good selection of Western food with a twist. With an emphasis on using fresh local ingredients and making everything in-house, diners can expect to taste sophisticated flavours in a casual atmosphere without being judged for wearing ripped jeans and flip-flops. Perching on the third floor of the popular SeenSpace area, the restaurant seems to be gaining the same brunch-loving crowd seen at Roast, expats and Thong Lorites who prefer their eggs organic and their juice hand-pressed.
Twist
Modern European
3/F, SeenSpace, Thong Lor Soi 13 11am-11pm 02-185-2455 www.fb.com/twistbangkok
THE MENU
The restaurant is proud of their home-made pasta and has every right to be. As proof to their testament, Black spaghetti pasta (B380) is made completely from scratch. Squid ink is mixed into dough, while squid and tiger prawns are braised in olive oil and all is tossed together with crushed tomatoes, capers, fresh parsley, garlic and chilli. We felt the pasta itself could have been more on the al dente side but, apart from that, the dish is a total winner. Mediterranean-style cuisine isn’t exactly popular amongst Thais; it’s as if we can’t comprehend the fact that there are other Western styles of cuisine beyond hamburgers and pizza. So Braised pork cheeks (B390) is a brave choice, and kudos to the chef for offering something else other than the overplayed pork chop on the menu. Cumin dominates the dish (in a fantastic way) with fresh and fragrant aromas, which is complemented by the succulent, melt-in-your-mouth pork cheek that has been braised for three hours. It is served with potato fondant, roasted carrots with poppy seeds and honey dressing. Puff pastry pot pie (B420) is nothing short of comforting. The puff is baked until golden brown, while fresh scallops and salmon simmer under the luxurious cream sauce. Served with broccoli and fresh greens on the side, you could tell yourself it’s healthy but it is well worth the guilt trip afterwards. Organic chocolate tart (B310) is a dream dessert for any chocoholic. The high-quality organic chocolate is not overly sweet, and crunchy biscuit crumbs balance perfectly with home-made yoghurt sorbet. An extensive list of beverages including cocktails, smoothies, red and white wine, beer and cider are available. Or if you want to feel like a kid again, order Cookie monster (B160) – a perfect concoction of vanilla ice cream, Oreo cookies and chocolate milk.
INSIDER TIP
The head chef here has worked with some of the big names in Bangkok’s dining scene including Le Beaulieu, Quince and Shuffle. Here, he combines his experience in other different kitchens to create his own take on modern European cuisine by using as many locally sourced quality ingredients as possible.
SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENTS
Twist’s bright and airy New York-style loft lets in a great deal of daylight, which creates perfect lighting without needing a filter – don’t be surprised if you end up with more likes for these snaps than your others.
VALUE & VERDICT
Twist’s price tag comes with the Thong Lor postcode, but we think it’s reasonable enough to be a weekly treat for you and your friends. It also offers dishes that are a little more adventurous than eggs Benedict and waffles served at its neighbouring brunch places.
