The buzz: Le Café Siam gets a fresh lick of paint and a new chef. The 1920s building is elegant yet homely, and Chef Paul Anthony Quarchioni’s food is unpretentious French favorites at reasonable prices, along with a few creations for the more adventurous.
The décor: With so many retro-inspired themes popping up all over town, it’s nice to get the real deal once in a while. Blessed with an adorable tropical garden, this house is pretty and welcoming. The inside is just as tasteful, with classic furniture and old photographs.
The food: Just as refreshing is Quarchioni’s unabashed use of local ingredients. “You get good stuff here, so why not use it and keep the prices down. Nearly half of our ingredients are local,” he says. Apart from a couple of Asian touches (like the river prawn with basil oil wontons), the food is classic French. Quarchioni was sous-chef at Le Normandie and had various stints at Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe. A la carte, you’ll find dishes such as black cod meuniere and braised beef short rib in red wine sauce but there are also two set dinners: one at B1,200 net with an appetizer, soup, main, dessert and coffee with truffles—a fantastic deal—and a surprise menu where Chef Paul whips up 6 courses.
The drinks: Wines start from B220 by the glass and bottles are B980-3,400. Again, prices are net.
The crowd: Despite only being open for two months, Le Café Siam is already busy with expat and Thai foodies.
