29/4 Thung Mangkorn Rd, between Soi 12 and 14, 02-884-0448.
A hybrid between a restaurant and a coffee shop, a café can be a hard proposition to get right. The result is normally great coffee, pleasant ambiance but distinctly pedestrian food. Café Casta, while not exactly an excellent café, is at least a charming neighborhood hideout with affordable home-style fare, friendly service and decent homemade baked goods. Despite its inconspicuous location on the outskirts of town, the one-story white wooden house still manages to draw quite a crowd. Sit indoors next to the bakery display or opt for a table on the outdoor patio if the weather allows. Our favorite, however, is the adjacent air-con living room, which makes a great spot for a casual date thanks to its lovely hand-painted walls, a few low-rise tables and a smattering of feminine touches. According to the waiter, the crowd pleasers here are “comfort, kiddie foods,” such as fish and chips and American fried rice. Fortunately, you can also have a proper, grown-up meal, just don’t expect complete authenticity. Café Casta is all about humble food prepared homestyle. Kick things off with Salad Casta, a combo of crisp greens, cherry tomatoes, lightly fried bacon in balsamic dressing and topped with generous grated mozzarella. Oozing with butter, the baked New Zealand mussels served with garlic bread also impressed, thanks to the plump, juicy shellfish. Pastas are cooked for Thai palettes. The al dente squid-ink angel hair with shrimps, for example, comes with a zesty tomato sauce, jazzed up with Tabasco sauce. We also like the simple-yet-satisfying spaghetti with shrimp and bacon. The highlight, of course, is the desserts. The recommended crepe suzette turns out to be just a glorified orange crepe, but for B65, we can’t really complain. Stick to the cakes—the selection rotates daily, but try the dark or white chocolate cranberry cheesecakes if they are available. The coffee is also decent and affordable. While it’s not worth driving across town for, Café Casta is a solid choice in a part of Bangkok not blessed with many decent cafés. Corkage B150.
