Having lived in Bangkok for two years now and enjoying the variety of local culinary delights, it’s nice to find a place that gives you that certain fix when you are craving something other than Thai food. Italian is on my list for a good comfort food hit … and I think I may have just found the perfect restaurant.
Signor Sassi (Ground Floor, Siam Paragon, Bangkok, BTS Siam), located in the upscale Siam Paragon shopping complex, is a must! With its warm rustic interior décor and open kitchen display, I felt welcome the moment I walked in the door.
Originating in London in 1984, where their signature restaurant with the same name has been based for 30 years serving everyone from royalty to music and acting legends, Signor Sassi has now spread to three more locations across the globe including Beirut, Kuwait, and Bangkok.
It was 12 p.m. on a Tuesday when I ventured into the restaurant for what ended up being a visit I will remember. There were plenty of tables occupied and service was in full swing. I was lucky enough to sample eight of their dishes, some of them being stand-out signature choices.
To begin with, warm fresh house-baked bread greeted me with some Parmigiano and olives: a perfect way to start a comfort culinary adventure. There is nothing better than knowing that all the breads and desserts are made in-house and that 80 percent of the ingredients used are imported from Italy, with their vegetables coming from The Royal Project Farm.
The first course was Burrata Piccante Sassi at a very reasonable price of THB 450. The Burrata was fresh and creamy, and covered with a beautiful coating of extra virgin olive oil. On the side there was some thinly sliced grilled eggplant, along with some peppers and finely shaved garlic. Delicious – give me more!
The second course was one of my all-time favorite vegetarian dishes: Melanzana al Forno, an appetizing version of the classic eggplant Parmigiana – a great light lunch for THB 380. With this course, I was presented by the very professional and knowledgeable Swiss Italian restaurant manager with a glass of the Terri Sicilane Chardonnay-Insolia (bottle at THB 1,500 and THB 320 by the glass), which carried extremely well over the next two courses.
The third course was another fantastic choice Avocado Bernardo (THB 440), an excellent twist on the classic French prawn cocktail. Beautifully presented with a well-balanced cocktail sauce, this was a refreshing break in between courses.
Onto the fourth course of Spaghetti Lobster – WOW. Having been told this was their number one selling dish in London and Bangkok, where they sell over 100 kilograms of lobster per week, I had high expectations and was definitely not let down. Superb! With the price a little higher, at THB 850, you feel every little bit spent on this dish was well worth it.
The fifth course was Risotto Signor Sassi (THB 520) and is a new addition to the menu … for good reason. This was a delectable porcini mushroom risotto, which was presented wrapped in a nest of Parma ham. Creamy and wet, as a good risotto should be, this was a dish that made you want to lick the plate.
Then came the sixth course, Medaglione di Manzo alla Crema di Tartufo, a well presented modern version of beef medallions wrapped in Parma ham, with shavings of black truffle and an addictive red wine cream sauce. I had ordered this medium, and it was served to perfection. At a price of THB 1,150, this is a must-try for those wanting to spoil themselves. With this dish I went on to have a glass of La Carraia Cabernet Sauvignon (bottle at THB 1,200 and THB 250 by the glass), a great medium-bodied red, which was a perfect match for the exquisite dish.
For dessert, I was served two classic Italian dishes: Tiramisu (THB 280) and Pere “Al Chianti” (THB 280). Served with stunning modern presentation, they were definitely the perfect way to finish off this culinary journey through Italy that I had just had the pleasure of enjoying. A well-made espresso ensured I left feeling satisfied and comfortable. The Fifth Taste was 100 percent found in this adventure.
Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
