The Brunch Code
By Laurence Civil
Brunch by definition is a meal taken between breakfast and lunch. For most of us that can only be on a Sunday. It's the non-working day of the week when we are looking for quality time with family and friends. Mid morning is too early for most people so Brunch in Bangkok has evolved into Sunday lunch re-defined.
The dining style has to be more relaxed but without compromising service expectations and should be kid friendly. To be a successful family affair it must cater equally for the kids as it does for the grown ups, therefore some form of Kid's Club is essential. It's in everyone's best interest if they can have the space to do their own thing, eat their favourite food and chill the way they want to. It's just not fair to expect them on their day off from school to sit quietly; if they are happy so will everyone else be.
Brunch requires an attitude to indulge and doesn't mix with diets. It's a culinary jungle with too many tempting treats. Before you start eating do check the layout of what's on offer. There is no worse a feeling than to find the must have dish just after you have taken a spoon too many and are on the verge of bursting.
Brunch is more a series of culinary waves rather than fixed course; take a break in between them. It's long haul dining and can take two to three hours, dress comfortable preferably without a restricted waist as the tummy will temporarily expand a touch during brunch.
Rom Sai
The Sunday Brunch at Rom Sai, Banyan Tree is a popular family affair with a majority of attendance from locals. The Asian food items on the buffet are plentiful with Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes.
Start off your meal with a selection of spicy Thai salads or greens available for individuals to create their salad of choice. Besides the ample assortment of Asian dishes, guests would be spoilt for choice with the freshly prepared sushi and sashimi varieties, and pasta of your preference. Additionally, a selection of fresh seafood that is grilled to perfection in the kitchen and dished up at your table with hot sauces are also available. Dessert indulgences consist of the ever-popular homemade ice- cream, sherbet, pastries, Thai sweets and a selection of fruits.
There is a kid's corner with balloon making, magic show and other activities to keep them occupied while the adults enjoy themselves. This makes for a very comfortable atmosphere for adults and kids alike.
The brunch is served from 11:45 am to 2:30pm and is a good value for money, priced at B950++ with half price for the kids.
Tel: 0-2679-1200
Heights Cafe
Most of Bangkok's numerous Sunday brunches take place in the city's hotels. Since hotels specialize in out of town guests, the buffets often reflect the clientele using the hotel. The Pan Pacific on Rama IV by Silom Road is popular with Asian visitors and this is reflected in the buffet. The Asian food items on the buffet are topnotch, a fact that lures many of Bangkok's Asian families to the buffet.
Highlights of the buffet are many, but the Thai food is better and more plentiful than on many buffets. In addition the Japanese items are tasty and well prepared, as is the dim sum. European-style dishes are also plentiful, including a popular pasta table with items prepared to order. The fresh fruit selection is above average, but those who love calorie-laden cakes and other sweets aren't forgotten. Perhaps the best items on the buffet are the salads, especially the great selection of greens for those who enjoy creating their own garden salad.
Located on the 23rd floor of the hotel, the views of Lumpini Park and surrounding areas are spectacular. This is very much a family buffet and the Pan Pacific takes steps to make the kids feel welcome. There is a kid's show and other activities for the young ones.
The brunch is served from 11.30-14.30. At B950++ and half price for the kids, this buffet is a regular Sunday event for many Bangkok families and worthy of consideration by anyone looking for quality and value for money.
Tel: 0-2632-9000
Next2
On Sunday many Bangkok families head for NEXT2 Café & Terrace at the Shangri-la Hotel on the Chao Phraya. The reason? The buffet brunch is fantastic and there is always a lot to keep the kids occupied while mom and dad enjoy themselves.
The hotel and restaurant have created a "Kids Club"; complete with a membership card that even allows them free meals at some of the hotel's outlets. In addition to entertainment from Eckie the clown, activities include a magic show, face painting, balloon making, playstation games and opportunities to paint. Another highlight is the "kids only" buffet with dishes designed to appeal to the 12 and under crowd. Anyone for French Fries and ketchup?
Don't worry about adults being forgotten. NEXT2 has a fabulous buffet. The restaurant is large and spacious and the buffet takes advantage of this fact. Selections are found both inside and outside on the terrace overlooking the river. Highlights include the Asian dishes, including Mongolian BBQ items prepared on a massive slab of hot steel. The Indian curries are especially good as is the grilled seafood and steak. Indoors there are some great salads, a carvery with roast beef and lamb, and some of Bangkok's best desserts. NEXT2 justifiably prides itself in the numerous stations on its buffet that are presided over by a chef. This improves freshness and quality, a must for any good buffet.
Open from 11.30-14.30 with a price tag of 1350++ for adults and ˝ that for the 12 and under crowd.
Tel: 0-2236-7777
Trader Vic's
An intriguing Pacific Rim atmosphere, great views and some of Bangkok's best buffet food are the hallmarks of Trader Vic's perpetually popular Sunday brunch. Located in the Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa on the banks of the Chao Phraya, it is always an exciting brunch destination.
The buffet itself is massive and includes an astounding variety of dishes, many of which are prepared to order by the numerous chefs in attendance. The restaurant always seems to have some sort of promotion in effect. Recently it has been unlimited drinks, including a cocktail that you pick up at the door. The quality of the Chilean wine being poured was excellent, especially the Sauvignon Blanc.
Highlights include great Indian and Asian food and some of the city's best fresh seafood. Do it yourselfers can even make their own Caesar Salad or make a vodka shooter with a raw oyster. Diners also have the option of ordering cooked to order items that are prepared in the kitchen and delivered to the table. Another favorite with many is the cooked to order foie gras – it's fabulous.
For some reason the excitement and fun present at this buffet is invariably contagious. Maybe it's the quality of the live jazz or the fabulous views – who knows. In any case if you have the Sunday blahs, the Trader's Sunday brunch is the ideal cure. Open from 11.30-15.00, the current price is B1495++, a real bargain considering overall quality and the fact that drinks are free.
Tel: 0-2476-0022
Raintree Café
Enjoy elegant surroundings and spectacular food at the Rain Tree Café of Plaza Athenee during the hours of 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Take pleasure in a supreme feast of food for their Sunday Brunch featuring live cooking stations, a BBQ station, at least 8 variations of fish roe caviar, Alaskan crab, foie gras, sushi and all the astounding seafood you could possibly think of.
Upon walking into the Rain Tree Café you notice a distinct ice carved drinks bar where the attentive staff would provide you with unlimited drinks of choice whether its juice, beer, wine or cocktails. Start of with a wide assortment of breads accompanied by cold cuts, salads, caviar, and other appetizers. In a separate section from the rest, worthy of a visit is the Alaskan Crab along with oyster and Japanese shushi/shashimi.
Head on to where all the action is, but before you do that remember to take the marked clips from the table as what you order from the BBQ station would be presented at your table. The western mains were luscious with Steamed Snowfish in Saffron Sauce, Pan-fried Frog Leg with Garlic, and Grilled Lamb Chops. The span of dessert is equally matched with a crepe corner, white chocolate fondue fountain, Haagen-Dazs, and pastries. Not to be missed is the Cherry Glafoutie served warm for dessert. A great way to round off the meal is with some cheese and a Mocha YaYa Cocktail or a selection of tea/coffee served at your table.
The Sunday Brunch is valued at B2,100++ for adults with a half price for kids aged 12 and under.
Tel: 0-2650-8800
The Square
The Square at Novotel Bangkok has a cleverly used shape in the chic stylish décor design, light fittings and loft-style ceiling. A positive greeting by the service staff dressed in black with Larry King style beige braces and baseball cap. A team that has the confidence to serve and not to humble themselves to be a servant delivers efficient service. In an adjacent room the essential "Kid's space" with brightly fun dressed clowns and magicians to entertain kids of all ages.
Compact easily laid out food counters are easy to navigate. Our server skillfully opens our white wine pouring into pre-chilled glasses. To start oysters, mud lobster and prawns with all the essential relishes. Sushi and Sashumi with the wasabee playfully crafted into the shape of a pineapple. Freshly carved house smoked salmon trout and gravlax. On the freshly baked bread counter a hidden tasty vegetable quiche.
At the hot service station shezuan shark fin soup, individual crisp based pizza and a selection of pasta cooked to order. Fish and chips Thai style with Chang beer battered snapper. A carved Sunday roast of New Zealand rib with the choice of rare or well done and three different sauces. A selection of six Thai main courses and the Mongolian Wok cooked on request.
Divulge in freshly baked French bread and the choice of five cheeses before dessert where there is a subtle French influence, freshly made Crepe Suzette and Apple Tartan plus many others. A value for money brunch at B883 if two adults, then two children under 12 are free.
Tel: 0-2209-8888
The Pavilion
The new look of The Pavilion at Dusit Thani Hotel is much brighter and energetic, the perfect setting for a value added free-flow cocktails and sparkling wine brunch reasonably priced at B1,250 ++ (B499++ for children).
Dedicated bartenders shake Martinis to order, the classic dry with gin or vodka, maybe the more adventurous apple or butterscotch. Or how about Moscow Mule, Mojito, Cosmopolitan, White Lady, Margherita or the perfect layback Sunday cocktail a Bloody Mary, alternatively a Pinot/Chardonnay sparkling Cinzano.
The circular layout of food stations is a relatively progressive sequence that's easy to navigate. Not just French and US oysters but also a bottle of Stolli in ice, either for self-made shooters or just a drinking companion. Then the seafood crab claws, squid, soft-shell crab and mud lobster.
Brunch is about indulgence, and caviar is as good as it gets. A choice of four pike, salmon, trout and a vegetarian made from nori presented with mini blini, chopped onions, chives, separate hard boiled egg white and egg yolk and a lashing of sour cream.
Then the usual suspects six salads, 3 types of salmon and wide choice of hot dishes. The hotel's Mayflower brings its Peking Duck and Shark Fin soup while Il Cello provides some the best freshly cooked pasta.
Tapas are the rage now and what a selection Vietnamese spring rolls, ham wrapped Mozzarella, Vietnamese beef salad and Foie Gras terrine. Thick slices of foie gras are pan-fried to order and the delightful surprise of Swiss raclette. There is a choice of three carved meats Australian rib beef or rack of lamb and an Atlantic salmon.
Finally the trolley of six cheeses before the wide range of sweet temptations to finish.
Tel: 0-2200-9000
Tandoor
Tandoor at Holiday Inn Silom serves North Indian cuisine prepared by Indian Master Chef Brahmadas Sharma. The restaurant is stylishly elegant with white linen table cloths and classic silverware, built for a Maharajah with comfortably relaxed service. Very popular with family groups and this is possibly why, it's favourably priced at B450++. If your party is four, you will only pay for three. An extensive array of "deliciousness" both vegetarian and non-vegetarian await, so take your time and eat in waves. May be start with a bowl of Samber a spicy lentil and vegetable soup often eaten with dosa, the crisp South Indian pancake that's rapidly becoming the Indian alternative to finger food.
Many of the brunch dishes were originally street food in Mumbai that have found their way into restaurants such as Pani-Puri (or Gol Guppa) and Pao Bhaaji, a Western Indian vegetable bun. Guests can look through glass partition to see a large selection of tandoori items roasting on large metal skewers in the tandoor ovens. There is an extensive selection of non-vegetarian items with delights such as lamb rogan gosh and chicken curries and vegetarian items such as dahl and mutter paneer. Makki ki Roti is the perfect partner for sag. After snacking, a rest is recommended before moving onto the curries. They also serve special 'Jain' dishes – Paneer Tikka, Samosa, Methi, Matar Malai, Achari Paneer and Kadai.
Penfold's Chardonnay made a good match with the wide range of Indian dishes.
To finish, delight in the popular Bengali Rasmalai, cottage cheese balls in thickened milk and a cup of Masala Tea.
Tel: 0-2238-4300
Atrium
Long a favorite venue for buffet lovers, the Atrium Restaurant at the Landmark Hotel on Sukhumvit Road has become increasingly popular with the Sunday brunch bunch. The reasons for the increase in popularity are simple: good food, an attractive setting, and reasonable prices.
The food is well prepared and the "buffet theatre" concept – where chefs actually cook on the buffet – insures that food is fresh, curing a common ailment with buffets. Highlights include loads of fresh and tasty seafood and a comprehensive range of international dishes, insuring that everyone is satisfied. Particularly impressive are some of the Japanese items. In addition, the Landmark is noted for the high quality of its baked goods and desserts, a big selling point for those with a sweet tooth.
Located adjacent to the hotel's lobby, the interior of the Atrium is strikingly modern with massive windows providing a view of the Skytrain and the world out on Sukhumvit Road. Purpose built for buffet dining, it is easily accessible and everything is attractively presented and opened to view.
It is the pricing, however, that sells many people on the Atrium's brunch. At 1290++ and half price for children, it is the least expensive of the major Sunday brunches that include unlimited supplies of beer, wine, juices and soft drinks. An unlimited supply of wine included in the price of any meal is worth several hundred baht. If you are looking for a reasonably priced Sunday Brunch with a free flow of drinks, the Atrium's 11:45 to 15:00 Sunday Power Brunch is hard to beat.
Tel: 0-2254-0404
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