Oriental Infusions Concept
Oriental Infusions, the brainchild of Josh, its Scottish owner, was devised to appeal to the Thai community who enjoy Western food. Having lived and worked in Thailand for 9 years, Josh's friends are largely local Thais, who recognised a gap in the market for European food, traditionally considered bland when compared to the vibrant, Thai flavours.
In recognition of this, Josh was keen to develop a casual dining concept, which celebrates European food, but with some Asian flair. Some of the dishes are truly fusion, where East meets West, where others are more traditional Italian style dishes, with intensified flavours, to appeal to the Thai palate.
The restaurant itself is bright and airy, with a charming, relaxing vibe. The chopped wood wall creates warmth, whilst the strung fairy lights, twinkling on the ceiling, elude a romantic and outdoorsy feel. Located less than a 5-minute walk from Wongwian Yai BTS, the restaurant attracts more locals than tourists, but for me, was certainly worth the effort to make a trip out of the hustle and bustle of Sukhumvit.
There is an elegant simplicity to the eatery, with teal-coloured wall sofas and matching chairs, without any pomp. This would be a perfect location for couples or groups of friends alike. It's the kind of place that will stay open for the last-man-standing (legislation presiding).
Oriental Infusions Starters
We begin proceedings with one of Josh's most popular dishes, the calamari (280 THB), deep-fried in traditional batter.
The accompanying sauce is based on the spicy green sauce to accompany fish, Nam Jim See Keow. To coin a phrase, the sauce 'sparks joy' and adds a homemade mayonnaise, to Westernise the local condiment. I would confidently say, that were Josh to bottle this sauce, he would sell it by the bucket-load! As well as the myriad of bright flavours, the dish is incredibly attractive, delicately decorated with local flowers, a recurring theme throughout the dinner.
The next delight for the evening, is the Italian sausage, thin crispy pizza (280 THB). From a personal point of view, the thinner the pizza base, the better and as one who can never manage more than a slice or two, this little 6-inch number is perfect as an appetiser for many, but a meal for me. As with so many of the dishes on Josh's menu, the ingredients are imported from Italy and France, Mozarella, balanced with a little cheddar to add a piquancy is topped with imported Italian sausage. A perfect sharing appetizer. As Josh eloquently explains, there are so many places to get fantastic pizza, that his offering is there for those who want choice, but not to dominate the menu.
Oriental Infusion Mains
For the main, we have Penne Truffle Cream with Pancetta (420 THB), prettily presented with flowers, herbs and Parmesan. Here is where we really experience the afore mentioned intense flavours, with the earthy truffle shining through, balancing the salty hit of bacon, sharp cheese and plump pasta. Although incredibly flavourful, the dish is not too heavy and a real winner.
Oriental Infusions Drinks
Trying to get a decent Margarita (280 THB) in the city, has proven to be somewhat challenging, assuming you are not interested in a large bucket of watered down cheap spirits, found in many lesser quality establishments. Oriental infusions manages to prove me wrong with probably the best Margarita I've had in Bangkok. The care and attention to the drink is extended to the presentation, which is pretty as a picture. The secret? 2 shots of quality spirit and home-made syrups.
Not reviewed here, we tried several other cocktails (for research purposes, of course), all of which seemed to take an original and add some kind of twist, nothing too over-zealous, but enough to elevate each cocktail to the next level. The Pina Colada being a particular stand-out.
There is also a modest wine list available, with some wine by the glass.
Oriental Infusions Desserts
No meal is complete without a decadent pud, which is exactly what is served up here. Oriental Infusions signature dessert is Pavlova with Passion Fruit and home-made ice-cream (320 THB). For us, we have Ferrero Rocher ice-cream, which immediately brought back childhood memories for my dining partner. The pavlova is expertly made, chewy on the outside and light and fluffy inside, topped with cashew nuts to add texture. The passion fruit is made into across between a compote and syrup and drizzled over the top, allowing the acidity to cut through the sweetness of the rest of the dish. The huge portion is plenty for us to share, but the sweeter-toothed readers may opt for one to themselves.
Oriental Infusions really is a charming little find, with a focus on elegant simplicity, good quality ingredients, intensified with an Asian fusion twist. A great spot for a relaxed evening and great vibe.
Reasons to visit Oriental Infusions:
Excellent cocktails; quaint setting; quality ingredients; East meets West for the local market.
Address: 35 5 Thanon Krung Thon Buri, Khwaeng Khlong Ton Sai, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600
Hours: 3PM Monday-Friday until last orders
12pm Weekends
https://www.facebook.com/orientalinfusions
Love this place