Finch is easily the life of the party.
By Mahmood Hossain
There are various species of finches around the world; small-to-medium-sized birds with small, sharp beaks, found in the spectrum of nature’s designs. However, this particular Finch, inspired by the colours of the elegant euphonia, is a vibrant restaurant and bar franchise that will transport you to the tropics of Central America. The Bangkok branch of this successful Indian chain, located in Sukhumvit Soi 11, provides a social yet intimate atmosphere filled with live music, and DJs at the turntables encouraging you to, according to the folks at Finch, “be your uninhibited best.”
One thing you will never miss out on at Finch is its delivery of a youthful, modern, yet nostalgic experience – a balance induced by its banging throwback playlists. You’ll be bobbing your head and dancing in your seat soon enough. If we had to describe the environment in more relatable terms, it’s akin to going to one of our Indian friends’ impressive and lavish homes for a house party on the weekend, for the sake of having a really good time. We assure you, our visit was definitely a blast.
First Impressions
The energy is palpable the moment you walk through the narrow entrance past the bar, leading visitors into a deceivingly spacious main hall and dining area. With LED lights strategically placed throughout, the second floor is the more private and intimate mezzanine, overlooking central seating and the DJ booth in front of a large drop-down projector screen. Border lining on sensory overload, you’ll be lucky to capture every electrifying interior detail in one go. But that seems to be its charm, as every corner of Finch provides different acoustics, a unique view, and an overall joyous experience.
As mentioned, the music is eclectic, something for everyone’s earbuds, urging you to sing along, be it by a DJ or a live performer. The art on the walls has unapologetic pops of colour, appropriately suited for an environment that leans heavily on the word fun – which seems to be the overall theme of Finch. It’s a warm welcome with plenty of elements that enable guests to engross themselves in conversation, while they shed the worries of the day away by eating and drinking merrily throughout the evening.
Food and Drink
Living up to the establishment’s energy, we were introduced first to their signature cocktails under their Art Series (all for THB 380), before we dove head first into Finch’s popular dishes. Their Bird Cage cocktail is a must-try, a concoction of blue agave spirit, orange liqueur, and honey-infused rosemary, over a huge rock of an ice cube made with red and green chillies. Equally enticing is the Birds Nest, a mix of macerated red wine with stone fruits, cold-infused smoked whisky, raisins, and rose syrup, garnished with dehydrated fruits. If you’re looking for something slightly different, sip on the Songbird, a glass of cold-infused spices and vodka, lychee, passionfruit, and macerated white wine with stone fruits, bitters, and cedar wood smoke.
The splash of colours is a running theme at Finch, from their interior décor to the plating of their food. We had a healthy dose of both veg and non-veg dishes. The Watermelon and goat cheese salad (THB 345), a plate of fresh watermelon, mint, goat cheese, and lemon honey dressing, is a wonderful and refreshing combination of ingredients. Our mood continued its ascending trajectory with the small bucket of crispy-on-the-outside and juicy-on-the-inside Chicken popcorn (THB 375), sprinkled with a secret spice blend and served with spicy mayo.
Next, we dove into something slightly heftier with the Basil pesto pasta (THB 395), which becomes an ideal choice if you feel the need to venture out of the South Asian persuasion. To balance things out, we were treated to yet another veg dish with the Grilled Tofu steak (THB 475), delicious tofu that’s so soft and light that it immediately captures your tastebuds’ attention, along with its accompanying tangy red sauce. Finally, we ended our meal with a very unique concept of a dessert, the Beetroot halwa canoli with rabri foam (THB 375), an acquired taste for some, but an exciting proposal for others.
Masala Recommends
It seems to be the usual suspect; an appetiser or starter that dares to steal the show from the main attractions. With the risk of becoming too gimmicky, Finch served their Dal makhani fondue (THB 325) in a row of shot glasses covered with mini rotis sitting pretty up top. Admittedly, we were a bit apprehensive, but we were proven wrong, as our base desires were met when we downed shots of daal we never knew we needed. Beautifully thick and rich, and tastier with each bite of the roti, to say we were pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. Without giving it a second thought, this will be the first item we order on our next visit; we’ll just make sure to get a second serving.
Finch
155/23 Sukhumvit Soi 11, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana Bangkok, Thailand 10110
Open daily from 8am to 4am
Tel: 095-771-1536
Instagram & Facebook:
@finchbangkok
www.finchbangkok.com
