Films, Food and Lovely Dates

Imagine a hip, San Francisco style art dining space where creative types who are young, fun, frivolous, as well as romantic and happy come to eat. Add in live music, a fake grass terrace, good food and play romantic films twice a week. Welcome to De Lovely.

Visit De Lovely Cafe's Profile | Map

Hidden only in that it is upstairs above a renowned Thong Lor supermarket, De Lovely is more than a pleasant surprise and has a youthful, can-do attitude that makes you feel that life is good, easy and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. The high ceilinged restaurant takes in an upstairs too with big, exposed metal air vents and shafts visible as part of the décor. A huge chandelier hangs down from the surrounding warehouse style elements of the room. The overall effect is of a TV set, of a modern day, version of Friends, Thai style.

A 1960s style raised step holds 3 different bands a week. A giant screen rolls down for the early evening movie nights. The openness of the room, the theatrical stage-like setting, as well as the retro chairs and Victoriana banquette are not so much quirky as a reflection of the footloose and fancy free, modern day Bangkok Thong Lor foodies.

And before you judge that the food might be merely a prop it turns out to be surprisingly good both in taste and in value. Like the bright young things, which eat here, De Lovely hasn’t got the time or energy to bother entertaining bad food but the menu doesn’t have to have matured into fine cuisine either.

The grilled Italian sausage served with mashed potato and a balsamic flavoured sauce is decent enough for 200 thb but not a central character on the menu set. The tarako is a simple, creamy and a perfect pasta dish with salted Japanese shrimp roe, miso and cream with some shrimp pieces thrown in too, all for 220 thb. It is the film matinee idol of the food script.

The organic salad leaves with apple and strawberry, with a raspberry sauce and olive oil dressing, is about as basic as a salad gets but works well as a side for 120 thb. The pan-fried salmon filet with lemon butter and cream sauce and a choice of two side dishes is still good value at 260 thb and is soft and flavourful. The warm chocolate sponge with vanilla ice cream, at 150 thb, or free on the Friday night date nights, is just what a nice meal out needs to add a sweet and happy ending and make you want to come back and take part again.

De Lovely is a perfect date restaurant with its cozy lighting. It isn’t that De Lovely is off-limits to anyone over 30 but it is not for the jaded and serious and with a romantic chick flick playing on the big screen it really is for the young at heart who are not looking for a complicated plot when it comes to eating out.

Visit De Lovely Cafe's Profile | Map