Jack's Bar — Restaurant in Bang Rak Subdistrict

Am coming to this spot for 6 years now, before it became the place to be and super packed. Yesterday was the worst. We all know that it's a busy place and that it is packed. But I made a reservation 1 week before to make sure I have the river spot for my family on vacation to enjoy ( I'm super happy to bring them here ! It's the best spot ever. Or used to be ! ..) , we arrive 5 min alearly and had to wait more than 15min to get the booked spot (other customers where there and the staff didn't wanted to move them, even if they knew it was my booking) so we ordered the drinks and at the time that we wanted to order food, we finally had a staff asking to clear the table for us to seat at our booking, one of the staff was super rude and told me off when i stand up to go to seat at my booking, so that was clearly unnecessary ! Please read the room and know your booking ! While seated, I asked if we could order, cause now it was time, and we started to get hungry after waiting. But I was a second time told of cause a large table of Thai cuatomers arrived (20 min after us), and they were privileged to order before all the Farang/ Tourists ... well, the nightmare started, while they received 20 plates of starters, fish, rice, and other ... On 4 dishes we ordered (not to share), we had 1 meal after 30 min, then 1 meat 30 min after... when I asked the staff if we could get the rice and soupe for my mum cause after 1h she had nothing. She told off with her hand and "explain" me that it is a queue and that I need to wait ! Well, I am an F&B manager. Hospitality is my job ! If none of the dishes where on the table that would have been a correct answer but after giving in 1 h hour 2 dishes on the 4 ordered that is a mockery and specially when the tables behind received more than 20 dishes on there tables, different courses. Am not a tourist and don't like to be taken for stupid, so i decided it was past time to leave ! I put on the money of what we drink and eat on the table and leave the venue ! as I said, I have been going to this place for 6 years! Some people can not manage to be in a spotlight ... that is a shame ! I will never go back to this place. Am shocked, and sadly, this place will lose all they customers while acting like this, rudely, and without consideration for the people who make them...

I cannot be bothered to find more pictures of the food. So today’s sample stands in for the years. Their fried pork larb, with a sour hint of lime blending with savory spice, is sublime. Among the best in Bangkok.

Once upon a time, this was a lost man’s noir bar just waiting to sink into the Chao Phraya. Bathroom visits were perilous. Conversations with more than a few patrons — equally tip-toed on the edge.

People chase authenticity, turning places like this into tourist haunts, and for the lovely owners, that is just fine. I’d be remiss not to admit that the current crop of customers are far kinder than the pirates and vagabonds who used to rule this drift wood libation station at night.

We are all grateful for the things we survived. Including the people ready to throw us over the rickety rails on an impulse.

For most folks, who don’t live and die for my dying vision of Bangkok, this is a great place to eat, drink and drink some more.

Let the sun set between Miami towers as you settle into the night.

The baby monitor lizard tongue lashing the dock was the most dangerous think I saw today. Oh, how things change…

Maybe all progress isn’t bad, even when it is.

This was the instantiation of a no-longer sliver of the Bangkok night. But what it is now, is still worth your time.

So take a load off and watch the world go by on water that is almost black even in the light.

Make your own mythology of this place. Make your own I remember when. Even if it will all be cast away, one day (and it will). Life has taught me one thing: That is...

A SURE SPOT

The Bangkok riverside is well-known and well-visited, so it's no surprise that the vast majority of prime riverside land have been snapped up by private developers. Yet like a mousehole in a crack between two walls lies this small, fisherman-style hut with it's own jetty looking like it has been around before Led Zeppelin was born.

The main attraction? - the view this place offers quickly turns you into a complete sloth.. sitting by the river and watching bangkok pass by with a beer or coconut in hand.

It's essentially a family-run restaurant which serves food + beverages. I've visited them on a few occasions and there's never a shortage of tourists sitting in. Food served is what you will typically expect off a Thai restaurant, good eating. Both that + beer are reasonably priced.

Without the view, this place will be like most eating houses in Bangkok. With it, they are unrivalled at this pricepoint.

Overall it’s perfect if you're feeling lazy, thirsty, hungry, and/or just tired from all that walking. Even mini Godzilla(see image) appreciates it.

Important: Reservations for the limited/coveted riverview seats are made daily during peak meal times. There’s more seating available but those prime seats are always in demand.. and dinnertime is high traffic, so plan accordingly. They also do take bookings for a private one hour or thereabouts boat ride up and down river. Last I checked it's...