Serving jazzed-up American comfort food amid an industrial chic setting, Shuffle could hardly be more on-trend. Situated in the thriving Rainhill community mall, the all-too-familiar décor comprises bare brick walls, steel painted black, lamps dangling from the ceiling and boiler room-like touches. It may not score too high for originality but, like most things here, it is all very well executed. As we’ve come to expect from the man at the helm, Krisda Chintakananda, former chef at Burger Factory, there’s also a genuine commitment to quality. Here, too, Krisda sticks to an artisanal approach, making everything from scratch, yet the menu stretches beyond his former joint’s burger obsession to slightly more sophisticated fare, including rotating specials. Start off with something from their menu of shared bites, which includes ever-popular nibbles like curly fries (B165) and chicken wings (B165) alongside more unique options like the battered string beans (B165). Crispy yet surprisingly light, the latter make for a delightful, not-too-greasy drinking snack served with a flavorsome garlic aioli. As for mains, it’s surprising that the burgers (served “pink” or “no pink,” B325-475) aren’t particularly exciting—we liked them better at Burger Factory. The lamb option (B375) comprises a nicely seasoned but overly dry patty, though the tasty harissa and yoghurt sauce go some way to making up for this. In fact, they make for a delicious combo in the grilled lamb and rice (B450), too. Even more impressive are the BBQ ribs (B400), which, although not fall-off-the-bone tender, are big on flavor and coated liberally in an addictive homemade BBQ sauce. Thankfully, amid all the protein (pork chops, B450, ribeye, B1,000), the salads are no afterthought and justify the kitchen’s emphasis on fresh ingredients; the bacon, roasted eggplant and quail egg salad (B225), with its contrasting smoky and citrusy flavors, and only sparse sprinkling of alfalfa sprouts, is a real highlight. In our experience, service has been mixed—no surprise with standalone restaurants’ best waiters constantly at the mercy of getting poached by big hotels—but things were looking up on our last visit, falling in line with the place’s rustic, home-cooked aesthetic (look no further than the warm and flaky complimentary croissant). Throw in craft beer selections from Beervana (B220), a decent cocktails list (B230) featuring spirit du jour Sangsom, plus an outdoor terrace overlooking Sukhumvit Road, and you’ve got one attractive, if not particularly ground-breaking, proposition. Corkage B500.
