Mellowing out at Marshmallow

Bangkok may have one of the finest dining scenes in the world, with a variety of cuisines on offer in just about every corner of town, but residents of this sprawling city are always on the lookout for decent restaurants in nice settings. One newbie for Bangkok foodies to check out is Marshmallow on Sukhumvit Soi 11. The vibes are great, the food is tasty and the cocktails are yummy cocktails.

Located down the bustling soi on the corner opposite 7-Eleven, Marshmallow lures patrons with a cutesy, girlie attire that’s offset by a touch of mature elegance and stylishness. The bar and restaurant boasts two spacious floors with proper dining tables plus stools around the main bar in the middle and an outdoor area where guests can enjoy cigarettes or simply watch the world go by. As it’s perched on the corner with two sides of the restaurant exposed through glass walls, guests enjoy an almost panoramic view of Soi 11, Bangkok’s hotspot for clubbing and dining for the past 15 years.

Many guests come to Marshmallow to unwind and enjoy a few drinks before heading to nearby clubs. Besides a vast selection of wines, whiskies, sake and spirits, the bar offers a playful and creative cocktail menu. Most recommended are the sweet, sour and substantial Sakerinha, a classic capirinha with sake instead of rum, and the pretty signature Marshapillow made with sparkling wine, Sprite and strawberry. Classics like bloody mary and mai tai are pleasant tasting, too. Cocktails are served from Bt190, and a small beer is Bt90.

Most times, a warm up drinking session becomes a long stay at Marshmallow as the kitchen also serves an array of flavourful food, mostly Western in style but with Japanese and India flair.

Get your motor running with a selection of appetisers. Try the salty and sweet fried shrimps in miso glaze served with home-made thousand island dip (Bt180). Or if seafood’s your thing, there’s an excellent platter of mussels and Fine de Claire no. 3 oysters served fresh or cooked in various styles from Bt180. Sashimi plates start at Bt150. Healthy appetisers include the signature Marshmallow salad (Bt250) with a bed of green, sliced boiled egg, ham and vinaigrette dressing. The portion is not too big but generously decent; you can probably fill yourself and a couple of table fellows with just several starters.

The main dish menu includes hearty steaks and several pastas. Recommended is chicken and salmon cordon bleu (Bt380) where Norwegian salmon fillet is stuffed in chicken breast then pan-fried with breadcrumbs and Cheddar cheese – a real delight for cheese and meat lovers. For red meat fans, there’s a juicy 200-gram Australian tenderloin steak (Bt580) served with vegetable salad and savoury red wine sauce. Traditional spaghetti vongole (Bt250) is delectably simple. The pasta is cooked just right, then tossed with light white wine sauce, fresh coriander and clams.

Other must-try dishes include crispy salmon with vegetable and lime vinaigrette (Bt420), Indian-style chicken and yellow rice (Bt320) and 3 racks of Australian lamb with sauteed veggies and red wine pepper sauce (Bt780).

Don’t leave the restaurant without having a plate of its signature Marshmallow dessert (Bt120). The soft marshmallows are filled with whipped cream and caramel and served warm with chocolate sauce – a divine treat that is not sickeningly sweet.

There is no live band here, but chill out house tunes are played in the background and not so loud that you can’t enjoy a conversation over dinner and drinks.

GOOD VIBRATIONS
>> Marshmallow is on Sukhumvit Soi 11 near Nana BTS . It is open daily from 11am till 2am.
>> Call (02) 254 1971 or e-mail [email protected].