Ciao

SETTING

Right on the beach, this open-air restaurant has large beams, lashed building joints and a thatched roof. Subtle lighting, carved wooden chairs and clay pot shaped ceiling fans reinforce the image of a tiki hut along with the constant sounds of the surf only metres away.

FOOD

Billed as modern Italian cuisine, the menu here is compact and to the point. With less than 50 total items it nevertheless manages to offer diners red meat, poultry, many seafood dishes, about a dozen pastas and a like number of appetisers. Modern means dishes like roasted duck breast with a spinach, raisin, apple salsa; lobster ravioli with crawfish bisque and white truffle oil; or parsley crepe with crab meat, spinach and porcini mushrooms. A variety of textures and intensities is a trademark with items like wild porcini mushroom cappuccino that is bracing to the palate or crispy fried green tomato Napoleon that is subtle in taste blending a gratin and mozzarella base into the mix. Grilled snow fish has a light texture and a slightly nutty flavour that is enhanced by a strong tomato ragout. The well-conceived and executed dishes are the result of commitment to great food.

WINES

A good wine list is dominated by selections fromAustralia, but also contains a number from Italy and California. Many bottles are priced between 1,200-1,400 baht but can go higher.

SERVICE

Staff here is confident and relaxed with a good command of the basics and a very personal touch that is still unobtrusive.

PRICE

A meal for two is under 3,000 baht.

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