Despite its French name, Harmonique greets you with a quaint Chinese-inspired décor and an extensive farang-friendly Thai menu, which makes it popular among tourists. Located on an unassuming lane that is also home to a temple, this converted old house is a nice little find for travelers making their rounds about town. For first-time visitors, Harmonique may visually surprise. The entrance is covered with a jungle of trees, statues of Chinese gods and dangling plastic plants, giving Harmonique the appearance of a joss house rather than a restaurant. You can also hear the muffled soundtracks of old wuxia films filling the air. Walk through a huge banyan tree and you’ll discover a smattering of round tables haphazardly scattered on a patio. The museum-like dining area is equally eclectic—filled with a multitude of antiques, woodwork and sculptures. It’s open-air, but thanks to the overhead fans, you can sit through the meal without sweating too much. The cooking, however, is not as random as the setting. The menu, as expected, is filled with the usual Thai specialties found at other touristy eateries. The taste is tailored to suit Westerners, but many of the dishes are very good nonetheless. The combination appetizer plate, which includes four daily starters served with deliciously aromatic buttery croissants, seems to be quite popular. On our recent visit, we had fried mushrooms stuffed with crabmeat, fish cakes, kai hor bai toey (chicken wrapped in pandanus leaf) and fresh spring rolls. Except for the so-so fish cakes, everything was delicious. The mushrooms, with generous crab stuffing, weren’t oily; the kai hor bai toey was tender and succulent; and our favorite, fresh spring rolls, were loaded with juicy shrimp and crisp veggies. For main courses, skip the toned-down tom yum goong and opt for the seafood—the house specialty. Among the best bets is the pan-baked king mackerel with butter that successfully transforms ordinary ingredients into culinary joy. The fish was crisp on the outside and succulent on the inside, bursting with natural sweetness. Prawns were grilled and served on a hot plate, yet they were fresh and deliciously juicy. Desserts are just passable, unless your ideal ending to a meal is chunky banana fritters served with sickly rich coconut ice cream. Though prices are a bit on the high side, the portions and the quality will leave you satisfied. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the auntie/owner saunters from table to table recommending dishes and taking orders. All in all, Harmonique is a nice option when contemplating where to entertain your visiting friends.
