Soi Ari is no longer short on hanging and dining options, but Seventh Bar is still a good addition to the scene, notable for its homey ambience and laid-back Thai dinner service. The loud orange entrance contrasts with the all-white wood tables in the garden and terrace, and the earth-toned indoor dining room is filled with fashionably comfy couches and coffee tables. On the weekend, it’s not unusual to find the space abuzz with chatter, laughter and general bonhomie. The menu is the usual combination of competently-handled Thai food with some fusion pasta dishes thrown in, most of which are pleasantly satisfying. Their prawn omelet and fried fish with rice and apple sauce is an impressive and mouth-watering plate, and while the omelet itself is average, when combined with the lovely sweet and salty dipping sauce, it’s pretty delicious. We also like the unusual presentation of the fried prawn wrapped with egg noodle and tamarind sauce. Looks aside, though, the execution works too: crispy on the outside without overcooking the prawn inside, and the natural flavor of their tamarind sauce is equally noticeable. Their yam dishes don’t skimp on the boldness either. The yam sam sap (seafood salad with black preserved egg) has bits of pickled garlic and lots of fresh seafood like squid, oyster and prawn. Over on the pasta side of things, the signature pasta dish is a stir-fry of squid-ink pasta with green peppers, fried pork and salty egg, the later making the dish pretty full-flavored. For all the solid dishes, there are those that don’t work out, like the tom klong kung yang (sour spicy soup with grilled prawn) which, on our last visit, was disappointing, tasting more like a very watered-down tom yam. Their crab meat corn fritters can sometimes be a bit too soft and goopy, not to mention their cocktails, like the popular pai fah which is too sweet and seems to have little alcohol in it. We say stick to the beer and whisky. All in all, if you’re in the area, this is a relaxed, reliable and affordable option, provided you don’t expect fireworks (or a parking spot)—a rollicking vibe goes a long way in our book.
