Breeze (Bangkok) - HE

Breeze is located at the 53rd floor of the Dome of the gigantic Lebua in Bangkok, Thailand. Reputed for one of the finest Bangkok's gourmet Asian restaurant and its breathtaking view over the city, specially over Menam Chao Phraya. The place has as consultant the renown Sam Leong and at the kitchen's command we found executive chef, James Ho.


Service: 16/20
World class service, attentive, available and pleasant. Some minor details (e.g. sometimes explaining the served dish other times just dropping it and walking away) and the front-of-house staff excessive subserviency and interruptions had prevented it to have a higher grade on "Service".  


Restaurant décor and ambience: 18/20
It is classy modern looking restaurant almost on the top of one of the tallest buildings in town with an exciting view of town. The entrance through a colour changing bridge with indelible pictures of Bangkok all around us is true magic. The space between the perfectly tidy white cloth tables, the quiet diners and staff, the absence of "breeze" (which would be expectable at that height...perhaps not in humid and warmth Bangkok) and a melodious music sound on the background make this a must-go place if you are around.


Food: 15/20
If I said it was a the best meal I ever had my nose would grow as fast (but not as big) as Pinocchio's, however it was definitely on of the best eastern food experiences of my life. The detail and Asian flavours with different textures and colours combined with the modern looking plating are a trademark of Breeze's cuisine.  A chef's tasting menu and à la carte menu are available, we opted for the first.
As the show was about to begin the couvert was laid on the table along with a variety of exotic sauces to savour with the dinner (right picture).  


The starter was a trio of spicy oriental food, worked with detail named "Crisp soft shell crab with spicy nuts (middle) / Rambutan stuffed with marinated crab meat (right) / Bacon wrapped in Alaskan scallop with pumpkin and ossetra caviar (left)" (left picture). The crisp soft shell crab was spicy and crunchy, it would have been perfect if not for the slight oily flavour. The Rambutan was pleasant and filled with generosity. The bacon and scallop wrap was a wonderful adaptation of the bacon-scallop classic combination, the savoury bacon involving the tender and well cooked scallop with a gentle sweet touch of pumpkin and the precious display of caviar on top was the most remarkable food moment of the night.         


The "Chilean sea bass with Japanese kumbo, mushroom and Chinese cabbage", an international array of world ingredients used in an Asian style of cooking displayed on a plate with sophistication and elegance. The fish was perfectly cooked and was the king in a dish full of textures where the harmony reigned (right picture). 

The last main was a "Wok fried Australian grain fed beef tenderloin with homemade BBQ sauce and pineapple fried rice". It was spicy and a distinguished flavour of ginger erupted through the plate. The beef was fine, but this one is worth for it presentation (left picture).










The desserts were changed and we shared a chocolate overdose with a green tea and chocolate combination and a Valrhona chocolate presented with different textures and friends. Both were stunningly designed but in terms of flavour the latter was great (not a masterpiece) with powders, foams, crunchy bits of chocolate (right pictures)...




Wine list: 18/20
Although we had wine by the glass, the wine list was extensive and included the best world wines. Expensive though...    


Genre: Modern Asian
Price: Thai Baht 4300/person
Michelin: N/A
Date of visit: Autumn 2011


Overall: 16/20
Pros: View, service, food generally
Cons: Price, not recommended for people who do not like spicy and/or Asian food.


Breeze
1055 Silom Road
Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Thailand
Tel: (+66) 2624-9555
Fax: (+66) 2624-9554
http://www.lebua.com/en/the-dome-dining/breeze-bangkok

(§) Special thanks for the first and last photos to the Dome at Lebua and Breeze.