The Most Amazing Restaurant in the World

Seafood Market and Restaurant- Bangkok-Thailand

We were at the midpoint of our trip to The Far East. Soon after we began this journey aboard Singapore Airlines in Los Angeles we had a hunch it was going to be pleasant trip.  All the cabin personnel on the plane measured up to the Singapore ads as did the meals and service.  

We had flown Singapore all the way to Bali and now from Bali to Thailand. We arrived at our hotel in Bangkok relaxed and refreshed at mid afternoon although we had left Bali very early that morning. Armed with information given to us by Peter Konenakeaw, owner of The Thai Ranch in Westlake Village, we were ready to hit the town. .

Two valet parkers leaped at us from the sparkling and jammed parking lot and escorted us to the entrance, which featured an open kitchen. There were about 25 white clad chefs furiously preparing dinners.  6 hostesses that looked like Singapore Airlines graduates quickly greeted us. One of them then turned us over to the young lady who would guide us through our meal.

The room is almost a large as your neighborhood Costco.  It seemed capable of serving 3,000 meals or more a day. Running about 200 feet along the back wall is the largest selection of fresh fish you have ever seen. Most of it is wiggling or in tanks. There are live lobsters, crabs, prawns, shrimp, oysters and clams along with all the finny stuff, many of whom were still flopping about. There was absolutely no odor of fish.

Our guide followed along with a shopping cart. We chose a 1 ½ LB sea bass for both of us. It was alive. Giant prawns the size of small lobsters were irresistible. We chose 4 as an appetizer. Slightly overwhelmed  by the entire presentation we groggily added 4 large Kumamoto oysters and a few giant sea scallops. Some large beefsteak mushrooms and lovely asparagus also went into the cart along with some fresh papaya, passion fruit and mangosteins for dessert.  

Our guide rolled up to a cashier who checked us out. The bill came to about 1600 Baht or $34 at an exchange rate of 44 Baht to the dollar. Another charming hostess then brought us to our table and asked how we wanted the food cooked. We opted for the fish to be simply grilled and the vegetables to be stir fried. That was another 600 Baht or $13.

Our food arrived 15 minutes later. Servers who attended to our every need surrounded us.  The quality and absolute freshness of the perfectly prepared seafood made it the best fish dinner we had ever eaten. With tip, the bill was a little over $50. Seafood Market and Restaurant is slightly touristy  and not cheap by Bangkok standards. However it is an experience unequalled worldwide and a comparable meal in the United States would be at least $90 for two but probably would not be equal in quality.  Wine is extra and overpriced by our standards.

Seafood Market and Restaurant   89.Sukhumvit Rd. Soi 24 Klongtoey.Bangok 10110 Thailand  Open 11:30 AM- 11:30 PM    Most Credit Cards   Large Lighted Parking Area  Reservations Suggested

Another Helping

Jester’s at the Peninsula Hotel in Bangkok

Bangkok is both very warm and very humid. We had spent a good portion of the day in the countryside, on the river and in the canals of the floating market outside of Bangkok occasionally tasting the remarkable selection of fare, in many cases, actually cooked in small boats. Thus we decided against a hot evening taxi ride in the impossible Bangkok traffic. While we generally don’t eat in hotel dining rooms, Asian hotels beginning with Hong Kong have always had a reputation for superior dining. The Peninsula group in particular has been a leader in maintaining fine restaurants. We decided to give Jester’s a chance.

After rejuvenation in our 21^st floor corner room overlooking the river and the city, we took the 8 PM elevator down to the restaurant. As soon as we entered the dining room, we were convinced we had made the right decision. Jester’s is breathtaking.  

The lush tones of a Stan Getz saxophone floated to our ears.  A 25-ft high window looked out upon the Chao Praya River and the skyline on the other side.  Intense Purple and Orange accents and subtle low lighting gave this very contemporary high ceilinged setting a sensuous feel. Attractive young Asian servers glided sleekly through the room to take the order.  We were transported from reality into an atmosphere that felt like a scene from a James Bond film. We expected Dr. No any moment.

The food measured up to the room.  My wife had light Thai spring rolls that were the best she had ever tasted. Sorry Peter.  I chose a cocktail of giant tiger shrimp freshly farmed in the Bangkok area.  She then had a beautifully prepared red snapper over garlic mashed potatoes.  I chose Thai duck served over layers of delicate freshly steamed greens and sliced into perfect medium rare layers. Dessert was an assorted plate of sorbets made with the subtle but dramatic flavors of different fresh tropical fruits and garnished with a few dark bittersweet chocolates.

Wines again appeared overpriced so my wife had a glass of Rosemount Australian Chardonnay and I had a very dry martini straight up with two olives. The total bill came to about $60.

We left the room stunned by the experience and had to walk around the grounds and near the river to settle back to reality. 

Jester’s  The Peninsula Hotel  Bangkok  -  Most credit cards. Take the romantic Peninsula boat across from the other side of the river.

Three and Out

Celadon Restaurant

We chose Celadon because we had seen the adjacent picture in an upscale travel magazine. It seemed enchantingly romantic. It was also only a 10-minute cab ride from our hotel so we could get out into the city on our final night and not get stuck in traffic. The magazine gave it a great review.

When we saw the actual open air setting in a beautiful lotus garden, we were sure we had made another great choice. We entered the room and were jolted. The room was overlit. Cigarette smoke emanated from most tables. Many of the diners were very casually although expensively dressed.  The servers were again the typical beautiful Singapore Airlines types but didn’t understand us and were rather amateur.

We decided to try to improve our luck by ordering a tasting menu of a variety of Thai dishes. It seemed an appropriate and interesting way to end our visit. The food was brought out indiscriminately and we were never made aware of what the dishes were.  The bill contained an overcharge of $10. We returned to our hotel, thankful for the night view from our room overlooking the river and the city.

Celadon  13/3 South Sathon Road, Bangkok 10120 Thailand.