Le Bouchon

SETTING

Tucked behind a Patpong 2 beer bar, this friendly, narrow bistro decorated with impressionist prints is a piece of Paris – or rather Lyon, owner Serge Martiani’s home. It consistently serves excellent and unpretentious French cuisine and is popular with good-foodloving Thais and long-time expats.

FOOD

Friendly waitresses deposit chalkboard menus complete with daily specials. To start, lobster bisque is fragrant with evocative sea odours that waft from under a puff pastry, filled with chunks of lobster. Duck liver home-made pate is a powerful inducement to order more bread. For a main course, lamb shank in white bean sauce, served with roasted potato and grilled eggplant is consistently excellent, making you yearn for colder climes. Likewise, for duck confit. Salmon and cheese in puff pastry and tartare steak are also favourites. For lighter appetites, try goat cheese ravioli, flavourful and delicious, while goat cheese salad with grilled French bread on top is highly satisfying. To close, order coffee and a shared dessert of home-made espresso cake or apple tart served with fresh vanilla ice cream.

WINES

A satisfactory selection of a dozen French wines from 1,150-2,700 baht, supplemented by a half-dozen more interesting vintages, including premier Grand Cru Classe.

SERVICE

Unfussy, friendly trilingual female staff easily handles menu questions.

PRICE

Moderate. Two can enjoy a delicious meal without wine for about 2,000 baht.

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