Tongue Thai

A short walk from Charoen Krung Road, and a just around the corner from the Oriental Hotel, Tongue Thai is in an old two-storey shophouse. Walking in the restaurant one immediately feels the homely comfortable relaxed atmosphere. Decorated with old teak wood furniture, Thai and Chinese antiques put it in a class of its own. The uncluttered layout of the tables gives each their own space. On the white washed walls hang contemporary painting by local aspiring artists. Should one catch your eye, you are in luck, they are all for sale. While there will never be contemporary Thai Food, the same can't be said for this setting. This is a modern trendy caf? with an atmosphere to perfectly compliment the hot Thai Cuisine. The great Louis Armstrong jazz just rounds off the ambience.

The printed menu is attached to attractive sa paper made from crushed mulberry leaves. Should a diner be unfamiliar with any of the dishes a photo menu is available to help with the selection. It you cant take you food hot, do let the waiting staff know when ordering, otherwise the chef's policy is no compromise.

For a pre-dinner drink there is cocktail menu with some curious tropical selections, a perfect start to a great night. I tried their Oriental Back Street Cocktail, scintillating aqua marine concoction B190.

The food menu is extensive. In the past I've tried a wide selection of satays but the salmon was a first for me. Small pieces fresh salmon coated with coconut milk on a wooden skewer roasted on a charcoal grill. The initial taste was mild but followed by a pleasant spicy after taste at B 190. Dishes such as Pad Thai with deep fried prawn wantons B 120 or River Prawns tempted me for Baht 200 but I had to resist.

Vegetarians are well catered for. The Deep Fried Banana Flower caught my eye but I settled for Penang sweet curry with wild mushrooms with an assertive spiciness yet pleasant enough to ask for more. The taste lingers on the tongue and doesn't want to be forgotten.

Main course options range from the ever-popular Green Curry with beef, fish balls or chicken at B170 but should you prefer it with River prawns it will cost B 200. Another favourite Tom Yam Goong, a spicy lemon grass soup is B150 as a starter or B 400 as a main course. It you like it hot you are sure to enjoy Jungle curry with beef, pork or chicken at B170. Or maybe the Roast Duck curry with cherry tomatoes at B 170. I opted for Yellow Curry with Chicken and Potato, the creamy taste was sufficiently mild not to scare off someone trying Thai cuisine for the first time while having a subtle spicy after taste that stays in the mouth. The potato was nice and firm, not over cooked and mushy.

The dessert menu was a challenge with two of my favourites vying for attention. Should I take the Deep Fried Banana with Honey or the Fresh Mango with Sticky Rice both B120. After much contemplation I look the Fresh Mango, the slightly syrupy sweet fruit matches perfectly with savory sticky rice.

With the meal I drank Singha beer. Should you be looking for a wine I would recommend an Alsace in particular a Gew?rztraminer. The dry acidity of the wine is a perfect match to counteract the hotness of the chilies and spices. For other Thai dishes, especially the seafood, both Riesling, Tokay Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc are good accompaniment.

I enjoyed the friendly effective service and appreciated not having someone hover over me throughout meal ready to pounce. The staff is dressed in simple Issan style indigo denim.

Tongue Thai Restaurant,
18-20 Charoen Krung 38, Bangkok 10500,
Tel (66-2) 630-9918-9, Fax (66-2) 712-5943.
Open 11am-11pm, all major credit cards accepted, reservations recommended.