Langsuan Road is buzzing these days, and the massive hotel, residence, and retail development project known collectively as Sindhorn Village is certainly driving a lot of that activity. Among the handful of new dining spots to appear on the scene here is the Cafe Eiffel Langsuan, where the fare has a decidedly French flair. This charming and cheerful all-day dining spot is located midway down the length of Langsuan, right beside the sales gallery and showroom of The Residences at Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok (due to be completed in 2020).
Officially open since November 4th, this light filled, high-ceilinged casual dining spot offers seating for about 30 to 40 persons, including a pair of outdoor bistro tables overlooking the street. The room’s colour scheme incorporates a variety of blonde wood, tan, off-whites, and natural tones to create a warm and welcoming vibe. In addition to the table seating, customers can order a variety of coffees and tantalizing bakery goods to go from the coffee counter. If you’re already familiar with the original Eiffel Café and Bakery on Wireless Road, on the ground floor of the Sindhorn Building, Tower 1, you’ll be happy to know that this third and newest branch (the second branch is located near Bang Sue MRT Station) serves up the same delicious fresh baked breads, pastries, and yummy desserts that have made the original location so popular.
For sit-down diners the restaurant’s various menus offer a bit of everything. To start the day the breakfast menu has plenty to choose from - French omelette, eggs Benedict, club sandwich, etc. - but for me a simple Croque Monsieur (B150), the classic hot sandwich combining French ham, Emmental cheese, and béchamel sauce, always puts me in a Parisian state of mind. And if you’re not an early riser don’t fret, the items on the breakfast menu are available throughout the day.
For a choice of lunch and dinner starters and entrées, the All-Day menu runs the gamut from juicy burgers, to healthy salads, to delicious pasta specialties. If you want to keep it French, however, there’s nothing more apropos than traditional French onion soup (B220), which is here imaginatively served in a large, wide-brimmed coffee cup. The broth is hearty, the sweet caramelized onions are abundant, and the whole thing is topped with a slice of baguette with melted comte cheese.
For a satisfying lunch or dinner main course, the grilled Australian grain-fed tenderloin (B980), served with confit potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, vegetables, and a small side salad, is a definite crowd pleaser. The thick chunk of beef arrives nicely charred on the outside, but still well pink in the middle, topped with a light dusting of sea salt and finished with a very tasty red wine sauce. Pair it with a splash of 2013 La Carraia, Merlot, Fruili Veneize Giulia, from Italy (B220/990, glass/bottle), one of the four listed red and white wines available by the glass or bottle.
Local office workers and neighbourhood residents have also been flocking to the Cafe Eiffel Langsuan during the noon hours to take advantage of their very reasonably priced, 2-course daily Set Lunch. Although these lunch offerings change regularly, a sample soup or salad starter might go something like this: Your choice of mixed organic salad with sautéed seasonal vegetables, or a cream of spinach soup with butter crouton, followed by an order of spaghetti with crispy pork belly and Thai spicy sauce, or braised chicken with bell pepper and butter pilaf rice. For just 199 baht, including soft drink or coffee/tea, it’s filling and affordable, all in one.
In addition to the regular menu offerings and set lunch specials, diners can also take advantage of the café’s limited time Festive Menu with Wine Pairing, available from now until December 31st. The selections on this menu are priced individually, starting with a salad of grilled Italian sausage, arugula leaves, and balsamic dressing, paired with a 2016 Attitude, Pascal Jolivet, Sauvignon Blanch from Loire, France (B380). Of the two mains, the Salmon Feuillete - baked Atlantic salmon and spinach wrapped puff pastry served with beurre blanch - is paired with a glass of 2015 Thelema, Riesling, from Stellenbosch in South Africa (B650), while the classically French Coq au Vin-braised chicken thighs in red wine with potato gratin - is paired with the aforementioned Italian La Carraia (B650). For dessert, a whopping slice of the superb baked apple tarte tatin (B150), served with fresh strawberries, a dollop of vanilla ice cream, and a sprig of fresh vanilla, completes this festive feast.
Alongside the wines, the restaurant’s extensive drinks menu offers diners a variety of local and imported beers, as well as tempting smoothies and some healthy cold-pressed juices (whether you need an energy boost or a slight detox). However, this is a café at heart so indulging in a perfectly executed hot latte (B65), and savouring one of the bakery’s beautifully buttery croissants (B60), is definitely recommended if you’re just stopping by for a coffee and snack. Of course, if you’re trying to escape the heat, then try Cafe Eiffel Langsuan’s signature iced coconut coffee (B120). Served in a tall glass, the icy coconut water is topped with a layer of fresh poured espresso and garnished with a large slice of white coconut flesh. It tastes fantastic, and the natural sweetness of the coconut water means you don’t need any added sugar. It may not be authentically French, mind you, but - as they say in France - vive la différence!
Open daily: 7am-10pm
Festive Menu with Wine Pairing
Available until December 31st, 2018
Lunch: 11am-2pm; Dinner: 6pm-10pm
All prices subject to 10% service charge and government tax.
Cafe Eiffel Langsuan
Sindhorn Building, Languan Rd., Lumpini. Tel. +66 (0)2 045 3636. Email: info@eiffelbakery.com. Website: www.facebook.com/eiffelbakery
