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Aldo’s Mediterranean Bistro & Wine Bar
It’s hard to find and not very large, but Aldo’s is worth the effort. It is located in the Ascott Sathorn Bangkok, a fancy serviced residence on South Sathorn Road. The only outdoor indication of its existence is a discreet sign in front of the Ascott.
Once inside the residence, you take the elevator to the 6th floor where you step out into the lobby of the Cascade Club, an upscale health club and spa. You then walk across some beautiful oriental rugs to a snazzy staircase and ascend to Aldo’s – whew!
The restaurant’s interior is modern and filled with wood and lots of earth tone colors. Two of the walls are glass and one of them overlooks a beautiful swimming pool. Although chic and trendy, the feel is casual and laidback
The wine bar, which fills almost half of the dining room, has 43 seats. Fifteen of them are at the bar and remainder at tables, several of which overlook Sathorn Road. The restaurant itself has an indoor dining area with 50 seats. In addition there are tables outside, including several private dining areas in salas that front the pool.
So much for the formalities; what about the food and drink? Let’s start with the wine.
There are over 120 different wines available, most of which are under 3000 baht a bottle. There is also a wide selection of wines by the glass on hand. In 2006, 2007 and 2008 Aldo’s was honored for having ‘one of the most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world’ by Wine Spectator magazine. In short, it has one of the city’s most comprehensive and balanced selections of wine.
Because of its location in Bangkok’s financial district, Aldo’s is an ideal place to escape for a relaxing lunch or to talk business while dining. The restaurant has responded with an excellent ‘Market Business Lunch’ served Monday through Friday from 11.30-14.30. The menu, which changes frequently, consists of three courses: a choice of four appetizers, five main courses and two desserts. If you choose two courses, it will cost 350 baht while three courses run 400 baht.
I started with a Quiche of mushrooms, parmesan and spinach, and although tasty, it came across more like a casserole dish. I was expecting something with a substantial crust holding a firm filling, but what I received was soft and with little or no crust.
My main course was a Mackerel fillet escabeche; a dish of seared mackerel fillet with orange, fennel, boiled potatoes, anise flavored sauce served with a side salad. The mackerel paired well with the orange and anise tastes; it was a unique and pleasant dish.
For dessert, I had a choice of Passion fruit and vanilla ice cream or a Pear tart with chocolate sauce. I chose the latter and wasn’t disappointed.
If you dine at dinner, you will have a choice of numerous a la carte dishes with a Mediterranean flair. Representative items include Fresh Italian basil, basil oil and balsamic vinegar at 280 baht; Scallops with cheese sauce and duchesse potato topped with parmesan at 250 baht; Caesar salad (main course) at 290 baht; Lamb shank tajine, a slow cooked Moroccan specialty at 490 baht; and an Australian lamb rack at 950 baht. There is also a good selection of steaks and, of course, a good choice of desserts.
Manager David Williamson also has created a reasonably priced ‘poolside and wine bar menu’ available from 11.30-22.00. It features a selection of pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, classic dishes like fish & chips and snacks for sharing.
Another innovation is a ‘desserts and coffee menu’ for people who simply want to relax, chat and have a light bite. Representative items include Aldo’s cheese cake at 160 baht and Crepe Suzette at 210 baht. There is also a good selection of Ronnefeldt teas and Lavazza coffee.
Aldo’s is open throughout the day. If you are looking for wine, a set lunch, afternoon coffee or tea with snacks or a substantial dinner in a romantic setting, Aldo’s should be high on your list. The private and relaxed surroundings make this one of the best places in Bangkok ‘to get away from it all.’
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