CHARmed, I’m Sure!
BY GRACE CLARKE
A midst the hustle and bustle of the week, whether we find ourselves at the tail end of Friday’s euphoria or smack dab in the midst of the work grind, one thing remains constant – the need for a sprinkling of tender loving care. For me, navigating through the daily motions often calls for a little culinary therapy.
Hightail it to Char Restaurant at Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road, where the views are as mouthwatering as the menu. Here, the city skyline stretches out before you like a glittering invitation. But the real stars of the show are the eats. We’re talking globally-inspired dishes that sizzle on a contemporary grill. From melt-in-your-mouth meats to succulent seafood, each bite is a passport to a delectable voyage.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Stepping off the elevator felt like stepping onto a movie set! Char Restaurant on the 25th floor is a total time warp, channelling the glitz and glamour of old-school show biz. It seems they took a time machine straight to Wireless Road’s golden age, when Bangkok’s first radio station pulsed with life. Everywhere you look there are nods to this era – opulent gold, rich blues (inspired by the famous door of New York City’s Per Se restaurant, no less!), and even a mural of old-time stars to make you feel like a total A-lister. I was especially tickled by the little acoustic guitar statues on the tables – the perfect companions for serenading your taste buds with the deliciousness to come.
Now, let’s talk about the digs! Char Restaurant offers all sorts of seating to suit your fancy. They’ve got cosy nooks for intimate dinners, large tables for sharing plates with friends, and even private rooms for professional gatherings. And for the icing on the cake, the city views are unreal, especially at sunset. Head up to the 26th floor for the Char Rooftop Bar perched on the very top of the hotel. This fetching bar offers even more stunning city views. Plus, there’s a DJ booth to keep the beats flowing all night long.
FOOD AND DRINK
Always innovating, Char Restaurant is adding new editions to their à la carte menu**, packed with show-stopping starters, mighty mains, and desserts that’ll have you singing from the rooftops (or the rooftop bar on the floor above!). The mastermind behind this culinary adventure is globetrotting gourmand, Chef Jaime Rojas. With a near two-year tenure at Char Restaurant, he weaves his international experiences into each dish, transforming them into edible excursions. But Chef Jaime knows a meal is more than sustenance – it’s an experience. That’s why his menu is like a composition of textures and flavours, letting diners mix and match to create the perfect bite.
Our culinary adventure kicked off with delightful starters, beginning with the light and vibrant Crispy prawn salad – a symphony of textures and flavours resembling a miniature zen garden. Perfectly cooked prawns mingled with peppery rocket, pops of briny salmon roe, and dollops of avo-wasabi cream that provided a subtle kick. For a shareable starter, don’t miss the Mini beef birria quesadillas featuring tender braised beef birria, nestled in soft tortillas. A dipping sauce and refreshing lime wedges complete the experience, guaranteed to spark a friendly competition for the last piece! A personal favourite was the Chicken liver paté paired with slices of sourdough and a tossed rocket salad in sweet balsamic vinegar.
Moving on to mains, we first indulged in the delicate and fragrant Snow fish with confit potato, sweet onion bok choy, and smoky romesco sauce. This dish exhibited the perfect blend of flavours and textures. We then savoured the Salmon sambal matah, featuring a juicy salmon fillet topped with Balinese chilli sauce and served alongside some greens, achieving a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and savoury notes. For steak enthusiasts, a must-try is the Ribeye with mustard sauce. Charred to absolute perfection, this ribeye is the definition of ‘melt-in-your-mouth’. Meanwhile, the Gochujang ragu fusilli perfectly captures the essence of the restaurant’s international cuisine, blending Korean, French, and Italian flavours for a truly memorable dining experience. For those opting for a meat-free option, Char Restaurant offers a compelling choice in the form of Roasted pumpkin with hummus, zucchini, chimichurri, crispy rice noodles, and seaweed jus, promising to whisk you away to a textural wonderland.
No meal is complete without desserts, beginning with the Banana cake featuring chocolate, macadamia, and caramel ice cream. The gentle nuttiness of the macadamia seamlessly compliments the creamy textures of the banana bread and caramel ice cream. Just as tasty was the Millefeuille, served with aromatic coffee ice cream, reminiscent of an elevated tiramisu. The combination of the flaky millefeuille texture with the creamy filling and ice cream resulted in a heavenly dessert experience.
**All prices of dishes on the new à la carte menu are still to be confirmed.
MASALA RECOMMENDS
Char Restaurant’s take on the classic tres leches cake elevates it to new heights. The Raspberry 3 milk cake features a light and airy sponge cake soaked in a trio of milks. A tangy raspberry sauce adds a touch of vibrancy, while a dollop of whipped cream and a garnish of chopped nuts and fresh strawberries provide a delightful textural contrast. This dessert is a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness, with whispers of floral fragrance from the raspberry sorbet
CHAR RESTAURANT
25th floor, Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road 81 Wireless Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel: 02 207 4999
Facebook & Instagram: @Charbangkok
www.charbangkok.com/restaurant
