It's all in the degrees

Sporting the slogan “not just another spot to grab an ordinary burger”, the recently opened 25 Degrees offers a new twist on the traditional American burger joint, offering hungry workers and night owls a delightful selection of American fast food, desserts and beverages around the clock. 

Located in front of the Pullman Bangkok Hotel G on Silom Road, the sister branch of the famed Los Angeles hangout opened four months ago and is proving popular with trendies and tourists, as well as executive types looking for a different dining option. 

Decorated in the style of Old Hollywood, the bar boasts red floral motifs on satin wallpaper and black-and-white photographs of erstwhile superstars. Hit singles from the ’70s and ’80s add to the nostalgic ambience and customers can nurse their drinks – alcoholic or otherwise – sitting on red velvet stools at the long counter bar or in over-sized leather winged chairs at the tables.

Executive chef Sylvain Royer is in charge in the kitchen and guarantees all dishes are based on the original recipes. To ensure quality and traditional flavours, he uses only imported fish and meats, among them yellowfin tuna, turkey and Angus beef.

Named after the precise temperature difference between a raw and well-done hamburger, beef is the way to go and Royer’s traditional burgers are all made from prime ground sirloin steak.

Customising the burger is a little harder as there are so many additions from which to choose, among them 13 kinds of premium cheese. These include Benedictine, which is made from sheep, cow and goat milk, medium-dry Mezzo Secco Jack, creamy Point Reyes Blue, Swiss style Gruyere as well as mozzarella and cheddar. 

Not into cheese? Then check out asparagus, green chilli, caramelised onions, mixed mushrooms, roasted red pepper, jalapeno bacon, prosciutto, diced chicken, roasted tomato and fried eggs not to mention 14 different types of sauce.

“We want to be a new alternative for gourmets in Bangkok,” says Royer. “What could be fun than designing your own burger?”

Our meal starts with a Number One burger, a 200-gram chunk of grilled Angus beef with bacon, caramelised onion, crescenza and prelibato gorgonzola cheeses in thousand island sauce for Bt330. 

We follow up with a giant Sonoran hot dog (Bt330) wrapped in bacon and filled with diced tomato, pinto beans, onion, hatch green chilli, queso fresco cheese and topped with mustard and garlic Aioli. Fortunately, we’ve come in a crowd so there’s still room to try some Number One Scrambles (Bt310), eggs mixed with farmhouse cheddar cheese, caramelised onions, Nueske's bacon and Arugula, along with crispy curly fries (Bt80) and French fries (Bt100) drizzled in truffle oil. 

We hesitate over dessert but finally opt for French toast (Bt240) topped with sliced strawberry in sour and sweet strawberry sauce, forsaking both the banana and walnut waffles (Bt220) and the three berry pancakes (Bt240).

Royer tries to tempt us with chocolate lava served with vanilla ice cream (Bt250), which would probably go well with a Classic milkshake (Bt120) made from vanilla bean, double chocolate, strawberry, caramel and chocolate mixed with banana. 

The restaurant also serves a range of sandwiches, as well as egg benedict, congee boiled rice, salad, soup, cereal and coffee for those who fancy breakfast. Wines and champagnes from Italy, France, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand, America, Chile and Australia are also available.

 

NOT JUST A BURGER

25 Degrees is located on the ground floor of Pullman Bangkok G on Silom Road. It’s open round the clock. Call (02) 238 1991 or visit www.Facebook.com/25Degrees|Bangkok.