Boasting a forthright motto, "Without passion, life is nothing", you may say Flamenco Bangkok is nothing short of an exhibition of profound passion.
The 800m² establishment is an astronomically invested brainchild of EmQuartier's top executive Supaluck Umpujh to offer urban-dwellers an easily accessible destination for after-work escapism.
Reflecting her love for vivacity and detail-orientated flamboyance, every corner in the two-month-old venue portrays a convivial festive vibe of Spain's iconic musical culture that's at the same time mysterious and magical.
Behind Flamenco's rustic, almost-hidden entrance awaits a compound of restaurant, bars, entertainment lounge, cigar room and al fresco dining deck.
The warmly lit main hall is occupied by gold-trimmed vintage upholstery and wooden coffee tables on a sea of Persian rugs. There are also antique artefacts and framed paintings -- all from the owner's personal collection. That is with a glistening neon wall, live stage and dance floor to give to the bygone air some contemporary touches.
Guests preferring a breezier setting with natural light are advised to head to the back zone where additional dining areas -- indoor and open-air -- offer a laid-back tropical-island-resort feel with lots of greenery, woven textiles and tribal furniture, plus a panoramic view of Bangkok's skyline as a backdrop.
For ultimate exclusivity, there's a VIP mezzanine lounge designed for private gatherings. Connoisseurs of cigar and whisky can enjoy the sophisticatedly decked out cigar room and whisky chamber.
Culinary-wise, Flamenco serves up its own interpretation of Latin cuisine with flavours slightly adjusted to please the local palate.
The menu lists a 22-item melange of classic tapas and house-created light bites plus a few options of sharing main dishes.
Among the worth-having light bites is tuna tartare sopes (450 baht). Arriving on tortilla bread was sashimi-grade raw tuna coarsely diced and dressed with guacamole, sour cream, fresh-tomato salsa, fresh jalapeno peppers, sesame and frisée.
Just as popular and refreshing was the king fish ceviche, a cold platter of raw fish seasoned with finger lime, Spanish onion, jalapeno peppers and cilantro (390 baht).
If mild fieriness of the Mexican peppers suits your palate, I recommend that you try the jalapeno poppers (290 baht). The plump peppers, grown in Chiang Mai, are stuffed with various kids of cheese as well as Spanish chorizo sausage before being crusted with breadcrumbs and deep-fried until golden in colour and eaten with chipotle mayonnaise.
But, should you prefer a carb-based kick, go for the patatas bravas (180 baht). Bite-sized potatos, cut into cylinders and fried in duck fat, were served with bravas aioli and Parmesan crisp.
For the main course, I found the seafood paella (990 baht) delectable. Served on a metal pan, the dish was prepared with saffron-seethed bomba rice, Spanish mussels, squid, prawn, chorizo sausage, paprika and roasted capsicum.
The chimichurri beef (1,290 baht) showcased fillets of wet-aged Argentinian beef tenderloin, slow-roasted and then pan-seared upon ordering with butter. The super-lean but tender beef was nicely enhanced with chimichurri sauce, mancego cheese-infused mash potatoes, and grilled baby carrots.
Our party of three was so disappointed to learn that the restaurant, on the day that we visited, had no dessert on offer. The dessert menu was being developed, we were told by the service staff, who were sweet enough to offer a complimentary birthday cake instead.
At first I refused to accept. It wasn't because none of us were born on that date, but because I truly believe that any restaurant's courtesy birthday cake will be nothing more than a visual sensation and never a tastebuds pleasure.
But Flamenco's complimentary red velvet cake has proved me wrong. It was one of the best cakes I've had in months and another factor, perhaps, that will draw me back to the restaurant.
The drink menu lists aperitifs, gin, cachaca, rum, tequila, vodka, single-malt whiskey, and cocktails -- classic and house-crafted.
The live stage nightly features well-known DJs and music bands paying homage to Latin beats from rhumba to samba to Afro-Cuban jazz. Come on Thursday or Sunday for ultimate Latin night with Flamenco dance performances.
The clientele is a good mix of locals and expats. Brisk and affable service conforms with the clubby nature of the place.
