Bo Lan Restaurant [Bangkok]

Having been to Bangkok on numerous occasions, I have yet to explore the fine dining scene in the Land of Smile. Accordingly to S.Pellegrino's Asia 50 Best Restaurant launched in 2013, several Thailand restaurants have been in the top 50 list every year. One of these restaurants is Bo Lan Restaurant in Bangok, Thailand, which I took the opportunity to visit during my recent trip.

Amuse Bouche

To keep things simple, we ordered the 4 Course Lunch Set ($980 baht per pax) which comes with a choice of starter, soup, stir fried and curry. Upon placing our order, we were served the Amuse Bouche. During our visit, the amuse bouche comes in a delicate glass of Thai Rice Noodle, Pineapple, Coconut, Dried Shrimp and Coconut Milk. Totally impressed with the combination of flavours showcasing the fundamental characteristic of Thai flavours.

The set menu actually only have a choice of two in the starter, soup, stir fried and curry, so it was quite a simple decision. We just choose each of them and get to have everything on the menu. For the first 4 course set menu, we have the Salad of Phang Nga Chicken, Wing Bean & Grilled Banana Blossom with Chilli Jam, Coconut Based Soup with Sustainable Seafood with a hint of Tumeric, Stir Fried Prawns with Paddy Oat Leaves and Red Curry of Phang Nga Chicken with Young Jackfruit.

For the other set menu, we had the Local Fern Salad & Phang Nga Bay Prawn with Shrimp Paste Dressing, Clear Soup with Chicken, Prawn and Young Coconut, Stir Fried Pork Neck with Andaman Shrimp Paste and Southern Style Yellow Curry with Pork Rib and Longan Fruit.

Last but not least the lunch experience is wrapped up with a refreshing Red Ruby Dessert with Jackfruit.

I am glad that I took the opportunity to visit for Bo Lan Restaurant for lunch. The 4 course set at $980 baht which is around $38 Singapore dollar is definitely worth every penny spent. The food was excellent, showcasing the refine side of Thai cuisine while still retaining the fundamental characteristic of Thai flavours. Furthermore it is easily accessible by the BTS station. However do make reservation to avoid disappointment since they are one of the top Asia restaurant after all.


Bo Lan Restaurant
24 Sukhumvit 53 Alley,
Khlong Tan Nuea,
Watthana,
Bangkok 10110,
Thailand
Tel: +66 2 260 2962
Facebook
Website
Nearest BTS: Thong Lor

Opening Hours
Tue-Fri: 6pm - 1am
Sat-Sun: 12pm - 2pm, 6pm - 1am

Direction: 
1) Alight at Thong Lor BTS station. Take Exit 1. Walk straight towards Sukhumvit 53 Alley. Turn right into Sukhumvit 53 Alley. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Esquina @ Jiak Chuan Road

Esquina located in the corner of Jiak Chuan Street has been known for its unique Spanish tapas since its launch in December 2011. From September 2015, new Executive Chef Carlos Montobbio helms the kitchen. At the same time, he also launches a new menu inspired by his fond memories of Spain and experiences in Singapore.

Oyster 4.5/5

Dinner at Esquina started with some Oyster ($7). The freshness paired with Jalapeno ponzu, salmon roe and pickled ginger flower works wonderfully on the palate, accentuating the whole enjoyment.

Esquina's Spanish Omelette 4/5

The Esquina's Spanish Omelette ($14) is Chef Carlos's modern interpretation of the classic dish. Comprising of confit onion, potato, olive oil caviar on a crispy bread, this is delectable especially the crispy bread giving an additional layer of texture.

Spanish Nigiri 4.2/5

How about some sushi at a Spanish tapas place? Well to be exact, this is Spanish Nigiri ($6), made from bacalao brandade and roasted bell pepper into a sushi form. The salted cod with garlic oil and the roasted bell pepper definitely is another unique experience to be enjoyed at a Spanish tapas place.

Chorizo Croquetas 4/5

The Chorizo Croquetas ($12) with piquillo mayo compared to the other dishes I have tried so far is rather straight forward in terms of textures and flavours. It just hit you like a bulldozer with its rich flavour and crispiness.

Grilled Spanish Octopus 4.2/5

A signature at Esquina is the Grilled Spanish Octopus ($28) which is first sou vide then charred for a tender and smoky enjoyment. It is accompanied with Jerusalem artichoke, burnt onion and oyster leaf.

Saffron Paella 4.5/5

The Saffron Paella ($24) is one of my favourite among the dishes I tried. The paella is not only flavourful but comes with a nice crispiness. I noticed the chef scraping the rice grains from the pan, which explains the crispy paella. The dish is further accompanied with pan fried red snapper, chorizo and snow peas for a complete meal.

Pigeon 4/5

I have tried pigeon before but they were deep fried. The Pigeon ($22) at Esquina is cooked to a beautiful pink and paired with forest berries escabeche, burnt rosemary polenta and crisp shallots. This is my first time having pigeon in this doneness and it tasted like having pig liver.

Beef Cheeks 4/5

Love the different play of textures in the Beef Cheeks ($18) with baked bone marrow, sesame pickled cabbage, wrapped in a corn tortilla. I thought a little Jalapeno will spice things up more.

US "Family Reserve" Beef Ribeye 4.8/5

The other memorable dish at Esquina is the US "Family Reserve" Beef Ribeye ($38) with charred leeks and romesco. It is cooked to a beautiful sear on the exterior while retaining the beautiful flavour and juiciness. This is pure heavenly enjoyment.

Sea Urchin 3/5

A classic from the old menu is the Sea Urchin ($22) with crab and lobster bisque, smoked herring ore and sea grapes. Unfortunately I felt disappointed with the dish. I noticed that the chef actually cooked the sea urchin before being served in the sea urchin shell. The result is a rather bland sea urchin with a cooked egg white like texture. In short, the unami flavour of the sea urchin is lost in the execution.

We were served some palate cleanser before moving to our dessert.

"BBC" Dessert 4.8/5

A real unique and surprise dessert is the "BBC" dessert ($15). It stands for Banana, Beer and Caramel. After many trial and errors, Chef Carlos finally found the right beer to his beer ice cream. I was really taken back by the distinct beer flavour in the ice cream. More so how the banana and warm caramel sauce work hand in hand for this amazing dessert.

Esquina definitely has live up to its name for creating unique Spanish tapas. I was really impressed with my dining experience. Chef Carlos has also brought in new refreshed idea to the menu that will delight both old and new diners.


Esquina
16 Jiak Chuan Road
Singapore 089267
Tel: +65 62221616
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Outram (EW Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Sun & Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit H. Walk straight down New Bridge Road. Turn right onto Kreta Ayer Road. Turn right again onto Keong Saik Road. Walk down Keong Saik Road. Turn left onto Jiak Chuan Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes.[Map]