Stop and savour the flavours

By Shaan Bajaj

The most important decision of the day is usually, “what should I eat for lunch and dinner?” And as someone who derives a lot of joy from my food, I am constantly trying to curate a meal that hits the spot. This entails a lot of trial and error though, and I am always on the lookout for new restaurants and/or dishes. After all, the saying, “Variety is the spice of life,” rings true, which is why I was particularly elated to visit Savio, an all-day dining restaurant located on the ground floor of Chatrium Grand Bangkok; a space to eat, drink, and socialise.

At Savio, there is something available for everyone’s taste buds as they specialise in Thai, Pan-Asian and international cuisine. You can choose to order from a menu or go up to their live stations and buffet-style service. For this occasion, we chose to dine for dinner on a Friday evening (available Sundays to Thursdays for THB 1450++, and Fridays and Saturdays for THB 1995++), but you can also visit for breakfast (available Mondays to Fridays for THB 850 net) or lunch (available Mondays to Fridays for THB 995++, and Saturdays to Sundays for THB 1450++). During my visit, General Manager Daniel Kerr tells me that one of the core principles behind Savio is fresh ingredients, as they want guests to interact and see their food being made, which is why they offer a variety of live stations.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Once you walk into their dazzling lobby, Savio is located on the left-hand side. The restaurant has many seating options to choose from, with a small outdoor space available too. Even if you opt not to sit
outdoors, I recommend taking a stroll to see the hotel towering above. Their floor-to-ceiling windows combined with the high ceilings makes the space feel expansive, while letting in a lot of natural light. Besides the seating area, the layout of the kitchen complements the flow of service, making it simple for guests to retrieve any of the dishes they may like. Truly, the space has been designed with your comfort in mind.

FOOD AND DRINK
To start with, Chef Pravin Baban Gayke served us a colourful and summery plate of Beetroot salad with goat cheese cream (THB 340), with arugula leaves and a zesty lemon dressing. The tomatoes, beetroot and citrus were juicy, while the goat cheese cream cut through the sourness, giving the dish a balanced flavour. The second appetiser, Tandoori prawn (THB 510), is marinated with Indian spices and served with a cream cheese peanut chutney. My colleague informed me that it was sweet, spicy and smoky, while the chutney levels out the heat.

Next, I sampled their Paneer pasanda served with a malai gravy, a tangy and sweet sauce that coated the soft, fried paneer. The paneer itself was slightly nutty, while the dish as a whole was very aromatic. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a flavourful yet mildly spiced meal, and if you’re a fan, guests can get a plateful from the buffet. While I was busy working my way through the paneer, my colleague tried the Lamb biryani, another dish that is available at their buffet. Chef Pravin informed me that the lamb is cooked Hyderabadi style, before adding basmati rice and spices. My colleague chimed in to tell me the meat was super tender and the rice was cooked to perfection. Overall, he said it was fragrant and very well done. Next, he tried their Khao soi (THB 370) from the menu, a famed dish from the northern region of Thailand. The yellow noodles came with juicy chicken drumsticks, and a thick rust orange gravy that tied the dish together. On the side, you have the option of adding chilli oil, onions, and lime, to adjust the flavour according to your preferences.

Afterwards, we walked around the live stations to try some of the options available, including a delicious Penne arrabiata from their pasta counter. You can even opt to add fresh seafood, if that’s what you’re craving. The pasta was al dente while the sauce was light, making it an ideal lunchtime option. For seafood lovers, they have a variety of red lobsters, oysters, crabs, sashimi and sushi.

However, if you would like a plate of steaming hot dumplings, there are seven different types to choose from. Do not miss out on their expansive salad bar, with five different salads to keep you healthy and content. If you are serious about your meat, grab a plate of their Australian black angus op rib, or take advantage of the teppanyaki, where you can indulge in their grilled meats, cooked right in front of you. If that is not enough, take your pick of cheese, nuts, or dried fruits from the charcuterie board.

The options are truly endless, and that theme carries onto their desserts, with more than 10 dishes to choose from, including Tiramisu, Black sesame green tea cake, Red velvet cake, and more. They also have a live waffle and crêpe bar, along with an ice cream station, with a variety of toppings available.

MASALA RECOMMENDS

The Aloo tikka (THB 320) is as appetising as it looks. The buttery potato patty is stuffed with dried fruit before it is deep-fried to a crispy caramel brown texture, topped with a fresh mint chutney, tangy tamarind chutney, cooling sweet curd, and pomegranate seeds, that add little pops of flavour. Each bite is a divine combination of flavours and textures, making it very moreish.

SAVIO
Ground Floor, Chatrium Grand Bangkok, 728 Phetchburi Road, Khwaeng Thanon Phetchaburi, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400
Open daily, from 6.30am to 10.30am for breakfast; from 12pm to 2.30pm for lunch; from 6pm to 10pm for dinner
Tel: +66 (0)2 126 7999
Facebook and Instagram: @chatriumgrandbangkok