Brooklyn with a Bijou bite

The brainchild of a group of close friends who once lived together in the Big Apple, Minibar Royale on Sukhumvit Soi 23 combines the comforts of Parisian brasserie with the chic of a New York bar.

The deep-colour panels, French doors and dark wooden tables give the place a European flair, while the maroon sofas and velvet chairs in charcoal grey and black plead with you to sit. The mosaic floor provides the perfect canvas for chic accents like the deep-red European-style phone boxes and even a vintage bicycle.

The cuisine complements the decor, offering the perfect blend of Parisian and New York influences, which the owners like to describe as home-made comfort food. 

To celebrate its third birthday and welcome the festive season, Minibar Royale is offering 13 new specialities while remaining true to its home cooking roots. 

“Most of my fellow co-owners met in New York. I’m the exception – I was in France. With me, it was an integrated friendship that went beyond the Atlantic Ocean,” says Rattama Pongponrat, who’s in charge of menu development. “About 80 per cent of the items on our regular menu are American, but the new menu is based on the concept of voyage and combines savoury staples from Britain, France, Italy and Spain – what you’d expect when crossing the Atlantic Ocean.”

“As the co-owners are meat and cheese lovers, our dishes are heavy on these ingredients,” adds co-worker Nathinee Chirathivat. “To provide more choices, we also offer seafood and fish. We have fusion dishes like black mussels with curry cream sauce and spaghetti tiger prawn with shrimp paste and black fish roe.”

For finger foods, if you yearn for French fries but worry about the fat, parmesan-crumbed mushrooms with garlic mayo dip (Bt180) may be an addicting alternative. I say “may be” because the appetiser has three kinds of mushrooms - eringii, shitake and yanagi mutsutake - cooked with egg, milk, parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs – which are deep-fried until golden. They’re then tossed with cheese before arriving at the table with a pungent dip.

Love pizza but want something lighter and lower in carbohydrates than pizza bread, then try tortilla pizza topped with Spanish chorizo and garnished with rocket leaves (Bt190). For something pretty fiery, sassy wings with gorgonzola dip (Bt190) are deliciously spicy and perfect for those who like it hot.

While beef patties with gruyere cheese and sweet mustard sauce is all-time menu favourite with burger fans, Minibar Royale is now offering a seafood mini burger (Bt270) with individual patties of prawn, scallop and squid with black fish roe mayo, served with French fries on the side. If baby back rib with barbecue sauce from the main menu is your thing, you’ll be satisfied with BBQ pulled pork roll served with coleslaw and French fries (Bt200).

There’s plenty to choose from on the list of new main dishes too. Cheese lovers should not miss Devil Max Cheese (Bt240) - penne baked with cream plus gruyere, parmesan, mozzarella, gorgonzola and cheddar but without bechamel. 

Spaghetti, squid and green peas with saffron cream sauce tossed with powdered paprika (B260) is a new creamy alternative with a spicy fragrance for pasta lovers while spaghetti tiger prawn with shrimp paste and black fish roe seasoned with dry chilli and white wine sauce (also Bt260) is sure to please fusion lovers.

Minibar Royale’s meatleaf is second to none as it’s stuffed with boiled egg and wrapped with bacon. In its new incarnation, the meatloaf comes with home-made pappardelle, dry chilli, black olive and white wine (Bt220). 

Fresh from the sea is dory meuniere with home-made pesto sauce (Bt260) that goes perfectly with carrot mashed potato served on the side. The sweetness derived from the right mix of mashed carrot and potato tones down the slightly salty pesto taste.

Minibar Royale is one of the few private restaurants offering brunch from 11am to 3pm on weekdays and until 5pm on weekends. Now you can start the day with such classics such as eggs benedict, waffles and French toast or the latest additions – fluffy blueberry pancakes with fresh strawberries (Bt200) and omelette royale with mushroom, gruyere and truffle oil served with mixed green salad (Bt180).

 

SOME CHEESE WITH THAT?

Minibar Royale is on the ground floor of the Citadines on Sukhumvit Soi 23 (Soi Prasarnmit). It’s open daily from 11am to midnight. Call (02) 261 5533 or visit www.MinibarRoyale.com.