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RESTAURANTS WE RECENTLY REVIEWED

Ki Izakaya

Ki is a homegrown brand developed to offer the neighbourly vibe of an alleyway gastro bar commonly found in Osaka and Tokyo.

The kitchen is led by veteran Japanese chef Hiroyuki Yokoyama, whose career profile includes a chef de partie position at Paris’ three Michelin-starred L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon.

The single-page 25-item menu, although small, serves its purpose very well as communal pub grub. Most of the dishes came in small plates and are designed for sharing.

Highly recommended are charcoal-grilled stingray fin jerky (130 baht); chicken salad (200 baht); chicken liver pate with pink peppercorn and shokupan (280 baht); Kurobuta tonkatsu (230 baht); yakitori chicken thigh with yuzu salt and pepper (160 baht for two skewers); and cahrcoal-grilled Australian beef rump with grated daikon turnip, ponzu sauce (210 baht for two skewers).

Desserts of iced yuzu and chilli coconut snow with strawberry (100 baht) and matcha sponge soft chocolate with raspberry (100 baht) are heavenly.

● The restaurant is located on the 9th floor of Sindhorn Kempinski hotel in Soi Ton Son. For more information or reservations, call Call 02-095-9999.

iO Italian Osteria

Run by amiable Italian chef-patron Anna Borrasi, a Napoli native, the 120-seater is a folksy osteria, a wine bar (there’s also wine from barrels here), a bakery and a deli, all under one roof.

The menu is big, listing more than 100 dishes from various regions and culinary genres of Italy.

Among the bestsellers are homemade pizzas (110 baht for a small plate and 720 baht for a 20-piece, five-flavour assortment); and extraordinarily crispy, airy and paper-thin schiacciata flatbread with choice of stuffing (220 baht to 380 baht).

Crispy golden seafood fritto (260 baht); roasted porchetta pork belly roll (190 baht per slice); tagliolini pasta with prawns (330 baht); and Tuscan-styled Maremmana steak (2,190 baht) are truly worth having.

Pistachio tiramisu (290 baht); and Naples-styled flourless almondlemon cake (250 baht) prove heavenly desserts.

● The restaurant is located on the ground floor of Groove @ CentralWorld, Rama I Road. It opens daily 11am-10pm. For more information or reservations, call 063-639-1631.

Ang Morr

The brainchild of Yuki Srikarnchana,

Nara Thai Cuisine’s proprietor, and Bhanu Inkawat, award-winning designer and founder of Greyhound Cafe, Ang Morr is a cook-shop bistro with a dynamic “Chinois chic” vibe.

The menu is not just a blunt portrayal of legendary recipes but an improved version with a cosmopolitan attitude.

Among the 76-item selections are a few cook-shop classics including stewed ox tongue; deep-fried breadcrumb crusted pork chops; and macaroni with oxtail consomme alongside newly-concocted dishes such as Chinese whisky-infused lobster bisque; crab dumplings with sea urchin roe; foie gras pate with toast; and stir-fried beef on deep-fried Chinese dough. All come with a camera-ready presentation.

Highly recommended are drunken chicken with black truffle (480 baht); Chinese-style oyster pancake with bean sprouts (260 baht); and pan-fried flat rice noodles in brown gravy with Hong Kong kale and sirloin steak (500 baht).

While the old-fashioned salad of tenderloin steak with clear vinaigrette dressing (550 baht); and the ox tongue stew (280 baht) are worth having.

For desserts, either the Chinese-style toffee banana (320 baht); or Earl Grey and blueberry granita (180 baht) promise to delight.

● The pet-friendly restaurant is located on Sukhumvit 38. Open daily from 11am-10pm. For more information or reservations, call 02-118-3641.