The buzz: Inside a chic warehouse-like space typified by a large brick wall and floor-to-ceiling windows, Kitche serves up Western and Asian fare, with most recipes courtesy of the owners’ families in Australia and Bangkok. We suggest dropping in on a Saturday night for the lively atmosphere provided by the Gypsy Market at JJ Green.
The décor: Spacious yet cozy, the place goes for a conservatory vibe with a homey garage twist. The owners say they’ll be rotating the decorative items from their own collections from time to time to give the place a dynamic feel, while the outdoor seating area has dogs running around (your pooch is welcome too).
The food: The menu is laden mostly with Western fare like pasta, steak and salad. Many dishes might sound a little run-of-the-mill but they come out tasting pretty impressive, especially for the prices you pay. Start off with the green salad topped with soft-shell crab (B150) and baked eggplant and bacon in tomato sauce (B150). If you want to spice things up, try spaghetti with Italian sausage and dried chili (B180) or a Thai single dish like khao pad kua kling (stir-fried rice with pork and curry in Southern style, B80). One of the owners’ moms runs Vietnamese restaurant Red Basket, and you can see her influence on dishes like grilled pork with cha ploo leaves (B100) and shrimp and avocado spring rolls (B120). Check their special menu for regular additions too; for example, drop by soon for grilled salmon with barley risotto served with vegetables and blackcurrant sauce (B230).
The drinks: The cocktails here are pretty refreshing and, again, refreshingly affordable. The focus is said to be on fresh ingredients and, for once, this really seems to be the case. Try the cucumber option (cucumber, homegrown rosemary, gin and tonic, B130) or the recommended Somchai (Sangsom, triple sec, grenadine, B130). Also enjoyable are the smoothies, such as mint and peach (B70). Otherwise, beers are Heineken (B140) and Singha (B120) while there are red and white house wines to choose from by the glass (B150).
The crowds: Located in the new outdoor community mall JJ Green, the homey and casual vibe brings in a mix of families, young officer workers and fashion-conscious fixie crews. Pieng-or Mongkolkumnuankhet
