You deserve a rest

True to its name, 99 Rest Backyard Cafe is a sanctuary nestled in a delightfully peaceful garden. Such a homey eatery is a rare find in the bustling city. You can enjoy pleasantly slow moments in the shade with a comprehensive menu of local and foreign dishes designed for sharing, Thai style.

If the shade isn’t cool enough, the air-conditioned interior is also cosy and welcoming, and the floor-to-ceiling windows keep the garden and pond in view. Indoors there’s room for 30 people, and the garden patio can seat another 25.

The restaurant at the entrance to the luxurious 99 Residence is the first one operated by the Premier Group, which also runs the Seri market on Srinakarin Road and hotels in Krabi and Chiang Mai.

Celebrated chef Ian Kittichai was invited to create the initial menu of finger snacks and comfort food. Frenchman Cyrille Keyser, the new “group chef” for Premier Resorts & Hotels, has since added touches of his native home-style cuisine along with Asian, Thai and other Western influences.

“The menu focuses on family-style sharing,” says Keyser. “I try to keep the dishes simple, everything home-cooked.”

The popular finger foods include crispy calamari (Bt230), with the squid and zucchini coated in light semolina breadcrumbs and delicately fried, and rock corn-shrimps (Bt240), the shellfish bathed in pureed corn flakes. The sauce is garlic aioli blended with ground chilli and yuzu peels for a little spiciness.

Keyser’s pla talay – a crispy, spicy seafood salad for Bt290 – will surprise anyone who’s expecting something mild. He’s quite bold in his use of lemongrass and fresh herbs. “Personally, I enjoy spicy,” says the chef. “I’ve lived in Thailand for seven years!”

His tuna tartare served with a spoon of marinated avruga caviar on the side (Bt310) looks simple in presentation, but the fresh tuna, shallots and wakame salad drizzled with lime and olive oil make it outstanding.

In the beautiful green surroundings, Keyser sets up an outdoor barbecue corner every Friday and Saturday evening to grill fine-grade meats and seafood. A mixed platter of either is Bt890 and comes with an array of grilled vegetables and roasted baby potatoes.

The seafood platter presented in a cast-iron pan offers rosemary king tiger prawns, crushed black peppercorn tuna steak, salmon, rock lobster and a scallop skewer dusted with Lapsang Souchong tea, famous for its smoky flavour.

The meat platter has a thyme-marinated Australian lamb cutlet, chicken legs, Kurobuta pork loin marinated with Dijon mustard and garlic, and Angus beef sirloin with smoked paprika and rosemary. The dipping sauces are Isaan-style jaew and rosemary jus.

To make any day a picnic in the park, the restaurant will cater private parties, weddings and other special occasions for 80 people at a sit-down event or 100 people for cocktails.

You get an extensive selection of tapas, perfect for strolling around. Among the snacks: chicken skewers marinated with almond and garlic, crab cakes with white cheese and dill dip served in a paper bag, Kalamata black olives, cherry tomatoes bruschetta, and spicy green mango salad with grilled prawns.

There is also much choice in the way of desserts. Among the assortment are rose and French vanilla creme brulee and a black-and-white-chocolate mousse with Amarena compote that will wake you up with its kick of cognac.

TAKE IT EASY
<< Find the 99 Rest Backyard Cafe on Soi 41 off Rama IX Road. It’s open daily except Monday from 11 to 11.
<< Call (02) 300 4339 or visit www.99-Rest.com.