Baan Glom 'Gig

It’s a family affair at Baan Glom Gig, opened by TV host Kiat Kitcharoen, a.k.a. Sumo Gig, with his mother, Khun Sucha, in the kitchens. We originally went expecting a family meal cooked with love, but got steep prices and inconsistent quality instead; most of the items listed on the five-page menu are similar to what you can find at other restaurants, only they cost around B200-220. Even a no-frills dish like the fried rice with salted beef will set you back B180. Despite an otherwise rather limited selection, there are four varieties of green curry available, ranging from chicken to fish balls and sirloin beef. The gaeng khiew warn khun baworn comes with tender beef strips and crisp diced bamboo shoots. Though the portion is quite generous, it’s still rather pricey. Also, don’t get your hopes too high for the recommended khai jiew khun Sucha. The staff will tell you that this is not your typical omelet as it is specially flavored according to Khun Sucha’s personal formula but the result is hit-and-miss: on a good day, you get a fluffy omelet. On a bad day, the eggs are flat and oily. Either way, skip it and spend your money on worthier dishes such as the flavorful naam prik ong set (Northern-style dip with minced pork and tomato) and the golden-brown deep-fried sea bass in fish sauce. They use good produce: the beef is tender, the shrimp plump and the fish fresh. It’s just that the execution is inconsistent. The same goes for the service, which ranges from friendly and knowledgeable, when the restaurant is not crowded, to sloppy and absent-minded when it is. However, in spite of what’s coming out of the kitchen, Baan Glom Gig is bustling with well-off young professionals and a handful of expats. It’s probably thanks to the charming setting and a pleasant outdoor balcony. For average Thais, a meal at Baan Glom Gig is a pretty bad deal, but it is a good place to treat visiting friends who can’t take the heat of real Thai food. Corkage B300.