Bonjour - French Dining at Its Finest

In Bangkok, the finest manifestations of French dining are associated with a handful of restaurants. Bonjour, the latest addition to the select group, is located adjacent to the Fullerton Condo between Sois 59 and 61 on Sukhumvit Road.

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Set in a single house surrounded by an authentic French garden with rabbits hopping about and a soothing pond complete with a lovely white swan, the private and secluded setting provides a perfect escape from the frenetic atmosphere of the city of Bangkok.

Upon entering Bonjour, the feel is that of a restaurant, not of a house converted into an eating place. The floors are tile and gleaming brown wood; the tables have white starched table cloths and napkins; the cutlery and tableware are of signal quality; and the rich burgundy colored walls are dotted with pictures of automobiles – a passion of the owner. You can choose to sit in the picturesque dining room with views of the garden or in a more intimate private room.

Owner Xavier Bruzard-Grille is adamant about the importance of the products used in the restaurant. “We import most of our ingredients, Xavier told us, probably more than 90 percent. We use ingredients that are certified as French and that are ‘label rouge’ – an indication of the highest quality – whenever possible.”

The importance of ingredients was amply illustrated when we recently visited the restaurant for a special five-course press dinner featuring Rougie the famous foie gras from France. The dinner was designed to promote a foie gras promotion that is taking place at the restaurant for the next couple of months.

Although everything was splendid, it was the main course of Pan‑fried escalope of duck liver foie gras served with fondants salsifis. The dish provided an excellent opportunity to sample the delights of foie gras without the flavor being masked by other strong tasting ingredients. It was rich and buttery, seared on the outside and cooked to perfection.

Another highlight was the Warm duck liver foie gras soup with fresh fines de Claire oysters from Vendée. The oysters and liver proved to have an affinity for one another. It was memorable and if ‘oohs and aahs’ mean anything, everyone at the table seemed to enjoy it.

Foie gras for dessert? We finished the evening with a surprising Chocolate macaroon with milk chocolate and foie gras mousse served with dark chocolate ice cream and a foie gras bonbon. The amount of foie gras present was minimal and simply provided an evocative backdrop to some outstanding items that would put a smile on the countenance of any chocoholic.

The kitchen at Bonjour is modern and blessed with the latest in technology. Xavier is a slow cooking devotee and his equipment includes sous-vide, cooking with vacuum, equipment from France. This type of cooking according to Xavier best preserves the natural flavor of those all important raw ingredients.

Bonjour’s wine list must also be mentioned. Although relatively short, it doesn’t scrimp on quality and variety. The service is also exemplary. The servers are knowledgeable and helpful without being overbearing.

Bonjour has changed the Bangkok dining scene. Open for lunch, when an excellent and economical set lunch is available, and at dinner when it serves some of the finest French food in Bangkok, it is a restaurant everyone should visit.

There is abundant onsite parking and the restaurant is an easily managed walk from either the Ekkamai or Thonglor BTS Stations.

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