Masterpiece of Italian culinary flair

NAMED after the greatest artist who ever lived, this handsome restaurant does justice the wonderfully exciting Italian food of Leonardo da Vinci’s homeland.

It might not be Bangkok’s newest restaurant, but da Vinci is definitely one of its most charismatic. Looking out onto the hotel’s pool, its countryside-cottage design reflects rural Italy. The sleek tables, comfy seats, traditional wooden cupboard and terra cotta flooring exude the warmth of a typical Tuscan diner. On its walls are paintings inspired by da Vinci.

As with any fine Italian dinner, ours began with homemade bread accompanied by dipping sauces and a selection of scented olive oil in bottles carefully designed by the chef himself. We tried the Rosemary-scented olive oil, which proved an excellent choice when mixed with balsamic and eaten with crusty bread.

Fresh cold cuts and cheeses are always a great way to warm up for the main event. And we enjoyed a generous plate of wafer-thin cuts of Prosciutto Di Parma served with grilled Italian bread topped with slices of fresh tomatoes (600++ baht) plus a dish of original hand-made Buffalo Mozzarella in tomato salad (220++ baht). These were simply delicious.

Next was the highlight of the meal. Our main courses included Crispy Italian bacon and finely-cooked spaghetti made Carbonara (240++ baht) and a delightfully creamy Risotto with Chanterelle mushrooms (460++ baht).

Our favourite, however, was Branzino (270++ baht) featuring moist roasted sea-bass pieces, which were perfectly matched with pumpkin puree and braised shallots.

The restaurant has a good selection of meat dishes as well as a full Pizza menu such as Parma (450++ baht) and Hawaiian (240++ baht). If you’re still hungry, desserts include Panna Cotta (150++ baht) and Tiramisu (190++ baht). Don’t miss the latter as each bite of this delightful sweet just melts in your mouth.   

The service was sharp and friendly, while the ambiance is what you’d expect in a Tuscan restaurant. The menu is comprehensive and excellent value.

da Vinci has a good wine selection, featuring some 100 different labels from well-known sources. For lunch, you have a choice of a la carte or set menu, while dinner is all about a la carte.

Reservations can now be made via the hotel’s facebook!

da Vinci Ristorante Italiano Rembrandt Hotel & Towers Bangkok (4th Floor)
Sukhumvit Soi 18, Sukhumvit Road Klong Toei, Bangkok 10110
Open: 11.30am-2.30pm (lunch), 6pm-11pm (dinner)
Tel: 02 261 7100 ext. 7527
http://rembrandtbkk.com,
www.facebook.com/rembrandtbkk