I am gradually sifting through the old forum and picking out Emdee's delectable restaurant reviews, reposting them here for posterity and linking them from the index I am slowly building in the sticky at the top of this thread. So: enjoy!


BASIL (The Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit)


In part I you may recall that I gave a high recommendation to this establishment’s buffet, which I rated the best in Bangkok.

The SGS’s Thai restaurant, Basil (not named after the infamous hotelier Basil Fawlty, but in reference to the aromatic Thai herb), I would rate amongst the best half dozen Thai restaurants in Thailand. It is expensive, but it is good, unlike a lot of other restaurants, where the fare doesn’t match the prices.

The décor could be described as modern or contemporary and the ambience is peaceful. This hotel has won several awards and deservedly so.

As a “farang” the wait staff will tell the kitchen “narn Prik” so that you will not be calling for a fire hydrant to be parked next to your table.
The soft shell crab with coconut and lime is exquisite and a true signature dish of this outstanding restaurant.

All of the traditional Thai favourites are here, but at elevated prices and superb cooking techniques.

This place is easy to find. Just get off the BTS at Asoke and there before your eyes on the right hand side (if you are coming from Siam) is the SGS.

Don’t bother about ordering wine here, despite the lavish surroundings and stratospheric prices. Wine with Thai food is not really compatible. Just order a beer, or if you don’t like beer a G&T, both go well with the rumbustious and bucolic flavours of Thai food and it will make the tab just that bit easier to justify as you wind your way out of the hotel.

So, if both of you can stick to beer and G&T or fruit juices, and order an entrée each followed by a main course each, and maybe a cooling dessert, expect the bill to be an Amex Gold Card job, coming out at around 2500 baht++.

There are many “splurge” Thai restaurants in this category, almost all of them located in Bangkok’s five star hotels. Some almost equal Basil, but none surpass it for the big “Thai” night out.

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We stayed at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit just recently, fanastic hotel but never had an evening meal there because of the cost, and if the breakfast was anything to go by maybe we should have spurged out a bit and had an evening meal.