D’s is a pun on khong dee (good stuff) and this cutesy restaurant certainly knows how to strut its stuff. Decked out with feminine touches, D’s, while never packed, manages to attract a steady crowd of snappily-dressed female regulars. Walk past the impressively high floor-to-ceiling glass façade and you’ll find yourself in a roomy, nicely-lit dining area with faux brick walls, cozy booths and colorful cushions. The menu also looks to impress, offering everything you could crave for, from Isaan favorites to steaks and pastas. There’s even an autumn/winter special menu inspired by celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver. However, it might just be a little too long for the kitchen to get everything right. D’s does have a sure touch with pastas and savory crepes. The spaghetti carbonara is dependably al dente and flavorful, while the recommended spinach crepe with mixed mushrooms is love at first bite. It is filled with a generous mushroom stuffing and topped with luscious cream cheese sauce which is nicely balanced by the tangy balsamic dressing on the crisp accompanying salad. Meat also gets good marks as the grilled Australian beef fillet is tender. We could do with more zest in the ho-hum jaew dip, though. Where D’s stumbles is with fish. The seafood wontons suffer from an overpowering fishy taste and the cost is hefty for four tiny dumplings. Another flop is the deep-fried snapper fillet, bathed in an overly sweet sauce. The restaurant does redeem itself with desserts. Make sure you save room because they are big and filling enough to be entrées. Take the Martha Stewart-inspired strawberries with mint cream: the first few spoonfuls blew us away, but after that, the rich cream becomes a little too much. Order it for sharing. For a more refreshing option, opt for the grilled peach doused in a tangy suzette sauce and sprinkled with chocolate sauce. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it’s a nice treat, if a tad pricy. Don’t be intimidated by the distant, grumpy-looking servers, because they are actually pretty effective and knowledgeable. With a charming setting and good food, D’s makes a delightful spot for a first date or a girly get-together.
