Having operated as a bakery since 2011, the space in front of Sha Raku Japanese restaurant recently expanded into a proper cafe with an all-day dining menu. Amid a lush garden setting you’ll find salads, sandwiches, pastas, rice dishes and steaks as well as the original freshly baked items, served up either out on the terrace or in the cozy, home-style dining room.

Though we’ve found little remarkable about this new direction, there is one reason we’d recommend repeat visits to Iwane Goes Nature: its pancakes. The Marron Five pancakes (served with candied chestnuts and chestnut cream, B220) are fluffy and delicious, while the ricotta pancakes (B185) benefit from a soft, smooth texture and slightly salty taste.

Otherwise, it’s business as usual for a Bangkok brunch cafe, from egg dishes and salads to fusion pastas with Thai tweaks. Appetizers don’t stray far from the usual fried fare like calamari (B130) and French fries (B130), while more inventive creations lurk in the salad and sandwich selection. The Traveler’s Salad (greens, grilled baby corns, potato and asparagus, ricotta, egg, fried chicken and boiled shrimps, served with Japanese-style sesame dressing and mustard, B220) and Fisherman’s sandwich (creamy omelette with shrimp and squids, B215) are both original and comforting, if not outstanding.

The recommended spaghetti tom yum (B165) is a surprising highlight thanks to a delicate approach to spicing and the added punch of shrimp roe and olives. Sadly not all Iwane’s flavors are so impressive. The Popeye spinach pesto spaghetti (B160), for example, features a bland, too-dry pesto sauce covering overcooked pasta. Our Farmer’s set (fried potatoes, bacon and a sunny side-up egg served with cinnamon French toast, B135) also comes with a rather sad-tasting dry egg, although the overall mild flavors are just right.

On top of the regular coffee options, interesting drink surprises include the Canadian latte (with maple syrup, B120), Bulletproof coffee (with coconut oil and butter, B130) and HeineKafe (with beer, B150). Add in service that’s competent and friendly and Iwane Goes Nature makes a passable addition to Asoke’s brunch offerings. Corkage B500

This review took place in November 2015 and is based on a visit to the restaurant without the restaurant's knowledge. For more on BK's review policy, click here.