On a weekday afternoon, even during this economic downturn, Patio BKK at EmQuartier, this week's subject of review, is a popular spot for tea-time gathering among urban diners and expat housewives.
They flock to the 60-seater, decked out to portray the stylish comfort of a Parisian sidewalk cafe, for light meals, pastries and refreshments. The latter was said to be coffee, in particular.
Even I find myself highlighting coffee at the start of a restaurant review a bit out of place. But the drink was, unexpectedly, one of the most memorable parts of my recent visit there. So much so that I have ever since been longing to return simply for its lemon Americano.
Anyway, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that other offerings on the bistro's menu weren't worthy of a media space.
This section offers breezy patio dining.
Patio BKK is without a doubt a lovely all-day-dining restaurant where food is put front and centre.
Its cuisine has derived from a humble home style, back when the brand was first launched more than a decade ago, to lately add an international modern touch through new selections of pasta, pizza, East-meets-West dishes and creative vegan options.
The menu features over 100 dishes, desserts and drinks. Of it, Western-style light bites, salads, soups, pastas and mains occupy the savoury selection, yet there's a half-dozen choices of well-loved rice and noodle dishes also offered as alternatives.
The hearty salad of caramelised pumpkin and pickled beetroot.
My Tuesday late lunch there began excellently with a best-selling salad of caramelised pumpkin and pickled beetroot (280 baht). Fresh leafy greens -- namely lettuce, curly endive and arugula -- came tossed with cherry tomatoes, roasted pumpkin, spiced vinegar-cured beetroot, fleshy pomegranate seeds and house-made mustard vinaigrette dressing. The dish proved a heavenly must-have for vegan and ordinary diners alike.
From a collection of starters listing the likes of deep-fried calamari, pork nachos and cheese, assorted bruschetta, cold cut platter and truffled quesadilla, I settled on baked clams with garlic herb butter (260 baht) and was very glad with the decision.
Baked clams with garlic butter.
Crusty spherical scoops of clams crumpled with buttery garlic breadcrumbs and parsley were served on a ceramic baking plate, accompanied by garlic toasts. The dish was very scrumptious but light.
There are 15 pasta dishes represented through capellini, gnocchi, spaghetti and linguini pastas. The capellini with bacon, mushroom and chillies; and spaghetti with prosciutto with peas and Parmesan were said to sell best.
I, however, went for baked gnocchi with Bolognese sauce (320 baht) which proved enjoyable. The soft-dough pasta dumplings can also be cooked with mentaiko (Japanese spicy pollock roe) and cream, or as a mac and cheese dish.
Due to their extreme popularity, some main dishes have been permanent fixtures on the menu for years.
They include fish and chips (360 baht) and Cafe de Paris steak (980 baht).
The latter, the restaurant's number one all-time bestseller, features tender medium-rare slices of grilled wagyu beef rump drenched with the legendary Cafe de Paris sauce, a rich and briny mixture of butter, mustard and herbs, accompanied by a generous helping of potato frites.
Patio's dessert menu is built around crepes and Dutch baby pancakes. Choices such as classic crepe Suzette with vanilla ice cream; crispy black crepe with Kahlua banoffee; and Dutch pancake with peach, passion fruit and yuzu are available.
The crispy black crepe with Kahlua banoffee.
There's a dairy-free dark chocolate cupcake highly recommended for vegan diners.
When it comes to tasty beverages, Patio never fails to meet my high expectations.
For the restaurant's speciality coffee (120-150 baht per glass), a selection of single origin Ethiopian coffee and exclusively-blended Chiang Rai coffee are used.
My beloved lemon Americano (150 baht) features underneath its frothy cream surface a full body, iced coffee subtly flavoured with fresh lime and black syrup.
There are also nitro cranberry coffee, coconut Americano, Malay tea jelly latte, salted caramel frosty milk and icy matcha green tea that are truly worth sampling.
Office crowds and keen gluttons are seen taking up the dining space in the evening while families fill the eatery on weekends. Service was efficient and cordial.
- Patio BKK
- The Helix Quartier, 2nd floor
- Sukhumvit Road
- Call 02-003-6124
- Open daily 10am-10pm
- Park at EmQuartier’s car park
- Most credit cards accepted
