Living Room at Koi Restaurant

‘Spectacular peace and tranquility’ might sound like an oxymoron, but it is an apt description of the Living Room, a newly opened restaurant specializing in Mediterranean food.

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Located amidst peaceful trees and greenery adjacent to Koi, its well known sister restaurant, the Living Room is housed in a stunning glass and wood polyhedron that is unlike any other restaurant in town. And for those who like drinking and dining in the great outdoors, there is a large wooden terrace with numerous tables and chairs that feel like they are an integral part of the restaurant rather than an afterthought as is the case with many places.

To keep and make things cool in the restaurant, water runs over the glass, creating the feeling that it is raining outside. The floor and tables are of rich brown wood while the chairs are covered in a subdued mauve color that is a perfect match for the wood. Table settings are minimal and don’t overwhelm or detract from the wood. Wood, glass and water; the setting really is peaceful and tranquil, but at the same time spectacular.

When the owners decided to create a Mediterranean restaurant, they recognized the importance of obtaining a veteran chef versed in the art of Mediterranean cooking. Executive French Chef Eric Berrigaud is well known to Bangkokians and has years of experience producing both French and Mediterranean dishes under his belt.

Like all good chefs, Eric has strong opinions about what he wants to do. “I want to create quality food that is affordable,” he says. “The average dinner check here with wine should run about 1200 baht.”

At lunch Eric is currently creating two options with selections that change daily shown on ‘blackboards’ brought to the table by servers. There is a two-course lunch for 320 baht and four-course option with wine for 570 baht. Given the quality of what is offered, the four course lunch has got to one of the city’s greatest dining bargains.

Eric has equally strong opinions about wine. He believes it is something that should be affordable. “We currently are offering a lunch promotion of good quality wine for 120 baht net per glass. We also have good wines at 160 and 180 baht++ per glass in the evening.”

But what about the food? “We offer a variety of Mediterranean dishes,” Eric told us. “Mediterranean ingredients from areas like France, Italy, Lebanon and North Africa marry well with one another so I often mix ingredients found in different Mediterranean cuisines. The dishes are unique and different, but still balanced and enjoyable.”

An important part of the Living Room’s arsenal is its outdoor grill. It is fired up for both lunch and dinner. We sampled Lamb brochettes from the grill and found them enjoyable. Eric enjoys grilling fish and is currently offering a whole seabass at 280 baht++ and a whole imported sea bream at 550 baht++. Other dishes currently on offer include Nicoise salad 250 baht++, Lamb tajine semolina couscous 450 baht++ and Crispy fillo dough ‘baklava style’’ caramel ice cream 190 baht++.

None of this is written in stone as Eric is currently fine tuning his menu items in anticipation of the restaurants hard opening in November. But whatever the final outcome, given his experience and the resources Living Room is putting into its product, the results are bound to be spectacular.

Lunch is served from 11.30-14.30 and dinner from 18:00 ‑ 22:00. In the afternoons, it is an ideal place, for a snack and coffee, tea, beer or a cocktail, especially on the terrace. The restaurant is easily reached from both the Sukhumvit MRT Station and the Asoke Skytrain Station.

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