Rossano’s

Looks can be deceiving, and despite the rather run down exterior, Rossano’s is not cheap. The price is less surprising when you consider that it’s owned by Gennari Rossano, former boss of L’Opera, a man with a long term commitment to offering Bangkokians the very best in Italian cuisine using the freshest imported ingredients. Inside, you’ll find a rustic vibe with distressed yellow walls, low beamed ceilings and brick archways. While it leans towards “cheesy” it saves itself with a warm, intimate atmosphere that’s helped by the friendly and efficient service, aside from their obsessive compulsion to top up your water. The menu is suitably comprehensive and there is an impressive mix of specials along with the traditional Italian courses. If you are feeling flush then don’t miss out on the foie gras for starters. It is delicious, offering the slightest hint of crunch before dissolving in your mouth and accompanied by a light, sweet sauce. For more modest budgets, the carpaccio di tonno agli agrumi, provides delicately sliced raw imported tuna, a lovely soft citrus dressing and plenty of crisp salad. The wide range of handmade pastas on offer is a definite highlight, with the standout being the divine cappellacci di ricotta e spinaci. The home made ravioli is literally stuffed with the freshest spinach and ricotta cheese and comes with a tasty meat sauce. The capelli d’angelo al granchio piccante, angel hair pasta sautéed with sea crab meat, and vodka flambé is an intriguing alternative, packed full of tasty seafood, but it does suffer from an overload of pasta. The pizzas are also good options and come with a crispy thin crust, though the capricciosa, tomato, mozzarella, artichokes, ham and mushroom is a little salty. Overall there are plenty of highlights to choose from and Rossano’s definitely stands apart from other Italian eateries thanks to its attention to detail, immaculate presentation, lightness of touch and freshness of ingredients. Of course that also does mean paying out for the privilege. Corkage B475.