REVIEW: il Tartufo - Twice the Italian charm

NOT so long ago, expats living or working in the Chaengwattana district of Bangkok had to drive into town every time they fancied some good Italian cuisine. Aside from getting Italian food delivered to their homes or offices, they had no other option.

This all changed last July when il Tartufo opened at The Avenue Chaengwattana. Owned and operated by the same people behind the popular il Tartufo on Sukhumvit 51, the restaurant finally brought fine Italian dining to the area, plus some lovely contemporary surroundings in which to enjoy it.

Located on the second floor of The Avenue, a bustling shopping complex, this second branch of il Tartufo may not possess the same sun-soaked Tuscan-style atmosphere as the branch in Sukhumvit 51 – after all, that branch is set in a wonderfully renovated villa with its own private garden – but it still does a great job of establishing an all-Italian feel. Its walls are lined with framed black-and-white pictures of romantic Italian scenes, warm colour tones of browns and creams set a relaxed ambience, and the tables are elegantly dressed with white tablecloths.

On our visit we opted to try only the newest creations and we found a great selection on offer.

The risotto would have been the star of the show if we didn’t opt to try two of the mains: Grilled Australian rack of lamb with Polenta served with mash potatoes citrus in gorgonzola cheese sauce (850 baht) and Grilled Australian beef tenderloin served with creamy truffle sauce, sautéed spinach and onion ice cream (850 baht). Both were presented superbly and tasted simply delicious. Full marks must also go to the Deep fried frog legs with spinach mousse (300 baht), which provided plenty of meat and a lovely crispy batter.

Until August 2012, the restaurant will offer a complimentary ice cream for every 500 baht spent. What’s more, a three-course set lunch will be on offer for only 300 baht, featuring soup, salad, pasta and pizza, and homemade ice cream to finish.

Tel: 02 574 1774, 080 804 1232 

email: chaengwattana@iltartufobangkok.com

iltartufobangkok.com

Open: Daily 10am-10pm