Café Claire takes a step back in time with its classic French fare and setting that evokes the charm and panache of a bygone era.
Amid local a culinary landscape dotted with trend-driven hybrid genres and fanciful concept eateries, Café Claire is an oasis of classic old-school French dishes prepared with just a pinch of contemporary pizzazz.
Sitting just off the lobby at Oriental Residences Bangkok, the venue's vintage-tony motif takes its style inspiration from mid-20th century Parisian bistros, with an uncluttered black-on-white colour scheme, slatted-wood ceiling and an abundance of marble surfaces which impart an air of timeless stylishness that set the mood for the repast to come.
Our starters arrived as legendary French singer Edith Piaf warbled her signature Je Ne Veux Pas Travailler in the background, lending our repast a touch of… je ne sais quoi, but something delightfully apropos.
First to come under the fork was a Niçoise Salad (310++) featuring imported niçoise olives and slices of fresh tuna loin drizzled with olive oil vinaigrette. Taking up the soup spoon, we next sampled the Bouillabaisse (390), the aromatic saffron-seasoned potage brimming with chunks of seabass and fish ravioli.
Helping to temper the cuisine's characteristically intense flavours is a selection of original-recipe Mocktails (200/ea), some highlights of which include the carbonated blackberry-raspberry concoction Black Forest, and the refreshing Apple Mint.
The tantalising selection of mains was represented by a pair of perennial bistro fare favourites, starting with the Boeuf Bourguignon (750). This rich, intensely flavourful Parisian-style beef stew with baby potatoes and champignons was followed by Duck Leg Confit (410), the tender and meaty canard complemented with ultra cheesy (in-a-good-way) Dauphinois potatoes au gratin. Also recommended: the popular Miso Glazed Snow Fish (620) with white asparagus salad, the tender and flaky poisson prepared to melt-in-mouth perfection.
The dessert selection is a timeless wonderland of patisserie temptations, but the Hot Fudge Brownie (300) is a standout for its originality of presentation and sheer choco-phile appeal. The dense slab of ice cream-topped fudgy richness arrives in what appeared to be a cast-iron gravy boat. But before the "why?" could pass our lips, a small pitcher of dark chocolate sauce was decanted into the blisteringly hot vessel, creating a bubbling, sizzling cacophony of confectionary chaos deeply redolent of bittersweet cocoa bean essence.
Meanwhile, early risers will have a hard time choosing from the breakfast menu which includes all-time favourites Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon and Truffle-oil Hollandaise and Eggs Florantine Spinach and Mornay Cheese Sauce on Brioche Toast (370/each).
There is also the magnificent tea-time set that we found to be nothing short of utter brew-sipping bliss. Presented on an impressively detailed Eifel Tower-shaped serving stand, the Voyage À Paris Afternoon Tea (999/2 persons) offers a selection of scones, croissant sandwiches and sweets that include classics like Mont Blanc, Duchesse, Madeleine, Mille-feuilles and (our favourite) Chocolate Mousse Dome, along with a pot of premium TWG tea (includes 1 refill).
Located along a leafy, shade-dappled strip of the capital's coveted diplo-chic quarter, the venue's large picture windows look out onto a backdrop of lush greenery with nary a vehicle, whistle-blowing guard or even passer-by to be seen, making the Café Claire experience a palate-pampering celebration of culinary heritage in a setting of serene natural ambience.
Café Claire at Oriental Residence Bangkok
110 Wireless Rd.
Open daily
Breakfast: 6:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Afternoon Tea: 2:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Dinner: 6:00 - 11:00 p.m.
Phone: 02 125 9000
Website/reservations: https://www.oriental-residence.com/cafeclaire.aspx
