Blackitch Artisan Kitchen — Restaurant in Chiang Mai Province

TLDR: I ordered the set course menu, and my experience was a mix of highs and lows, but mostly lows. The dishes and the quality of care and “artistry” they served today was quite different than the ones on the profile albums, if I had to explain it to someone I’d say street food without soul and flavor. Benefit of the doubt perhaps this is a new menu they are testing.

Here is my detailed review based on Michelin one star standards:

Food Quality:

• Main Courses: The main courses were the highlight of the meal, offering fresh ingredients and a higher standard of preparation. I would rate the main courses 3.5/5. • Seasoning and Flavor: However, the overall flavor profile was lacking. Despite the fresh ingredients, the dishes were notably bland and lacked the heat typically associated with Thai cuisine. One dish contained a bone and another a beetle. • Starters and Appetizers: The starters and appetizers were underwhelming, earning a rating of 2/5 and 2.5/5 respectively. • Dessert: The dessert was excellent, which is not always the case in Michelin-starred restaurants. It was the only dish that included a noticeable seasoning, with a chili or tamarind type powder that complemented the wild plum, tea, local cheese, lime, and orange flavors. This dish stood out and deserved a 5/5 rating.

Service Quality:

• Service Excellence: The service was impeccable, nearly deserving a 5-star rating. The staff were attentive and responsive. • Storytelling and Ingredient Information: The service fell slightly short due to a lack of detailed storytelling about the dish origins and the sourcing of ingredients. Many dishes were described generically, such as simply stating “fish” without any further detail.

Beverages:

• Non-Alcoholic Drinks: The non-alcoholic drink selection was exceptional, earning a 5/5 rating. The coconut flower drink was particularly memorable. Based on the quality of these drinks, one can presume the alcoholic drinks would also be excellent.

Overall Experience:

• Atmosphere: The atmosphere of the restaurant was pleasant, but the lack of seasoning and care in some dishes diminished the overall dining experience. You walk in through a dow stairs storeroom of sorts and the you almost feel lost. There were just two women on laptops at a bar/kitchen. • Rating Breakdown: • Starters: 2/5 • Appetizers: 2.5/5 • Mains: 3.5/5 • Dessert: 5/5 • Non-Alcoholic Drinks: 5/5

Potential for Michelin Star:

While the restaurant shows potential, particularly with its main courses, dessert, and drink offerings, I wouldn’t rate it at one Michelin star just yet. If it were to receive a Michelin star, it would likely be due to the quality and sourcing of ingredients from around the country. The challenge is that the food taste leaves some to be desired, especially when considering traditional Thai food.

This restaurant could easily earn a Michelin star in Japan, where chefs often focus on ingredients and harmony without heavy spices and curries. However, given its location in the mountains of Thailand, I expected it to be more Thai-styled. I could be wrong, as some people may prefer to taste the ingredients themselves. I felt that each dish with more traditional Thai flavor or even a curry spin would have been significantly better.

Final Rating:

Based on the combination of food quality, service, and overall experience, I would rate the restaurant 4/5 stars (normal) vs 2/5 (Michelin). The service and quality non-alcoholic drinks were significant positives, but the inconsistencies in the food and the lack of detailed ingredient information were notable drawbacks.

Reviewer’s Experience:

I have dined at 20+ Michelin-starred restaurants, so I hold them to a higher standard when I review, compared to just a small local eatery. My expectations for Michelin-starred restaurants are significantly higher, especially regarding the balance of flavors and attention to detail in both food and service. The unique drink offerings and the desserts saved this review to be frank as they were easily the best I’ve had in...

LOVE IT! Would go again the next time I'm in Chiang Mai.

Food was fantastic! Love how beautifully and delicately every dish was prepared and presented.

Booking. We booked one month in advance via email and was replied promptly to and they were very considerated towards the different food preferences and allergies we had.

Food. We had the Warm Summer Menu and every bite was like an orchestra.

The starters were Kuzu Tofu, Wild Mushroom Tart & Cashew Nut Miso with Fish of the Day. Refreshing, Umami and WOW. Pardon my lack of vocab but WOW. These 3 starters brought our expectation sky high and the remaining dishes did not fail us.

The Somtam Tomyam & Grilled Shrimp packed a series of powerful flavour punches and the Shrimp was grilled to PERFECTION. I wished they had given me a full shrimp instead of half. The Tomyam powder and Somtam though were 2 super familiar and distinctive flavours were beyond expectations. EVERY SINGLE BITE was a hit with spice, flavours & umami.

The Smoked Fish with Sumac and Akha style Peanut Relish was suprising to the tastebud. The fish was sweet with the added aroma from being smoked and the peanut relish was more refreshing and flavourful than expected.

The Sundried Squid with Onion. OMG. They served a beautifully fried onion ring in the dish. The onion added a crunch and sweetness to the tender squid.

The Pen Shell with Sa-Mee-Sam and Lychee was a good flavour break. The sweetness of the lychee broth with the pumpkin puree served with pen shell and lychee flesh was super refreshing and appetising. By this time I was soooooo in love with the food I was nodding like an idiot.

My NUMBER 1 FAVOURITE of the night, GOBY FISH WITH GALANGAL. It was like ASMR which gives you the goosebumps. The fish was super sweet and juicy, the scales and skins were super crispy. The white sauce was coconuty with just a compact drop of oil that changed up the whole flavour, the green sauce was freaking delicious and when both sauces mixed together, *ahhhhhhhh~ (enter the gates of heaven).

Baked rice with free-ranged pig farming with soup was earthy, with soft bone (or was it diced pig ear) mixed into the filling that give it a little texture. I am bias, so the pig liver was sooooooo tender and yummy.

My friends had kolae beef next and cause i don't eat beef, i was served king mackerel with a satay sauce (without peanuts). This was the only dish I was disappointed with. I was hoping they serve me meat (chicken or pork) but fish again, and the Goby fish was hard to beat so I didn't enjoy this as much.

We had the Karen Rice Porridge with wild herbs broth and free-range chicken. And our group of three finally had a divide in opinion, while 2 of us enjoyed this dish, and found it as a good hearty end, 1 of us didn't like the broth and felt that it tasted too "grassy". Personally i like the use of 3 different kind of grains giving it different textures and taste.

Hang in there with me! Cause we finally reach dessert. AROY MAK MAK! Not too sweet corn mochi, buckwheat and hojicha waffle ice cream and somshun panna cotta that tasted different with every single bite. Perfect end to the perfect night! WONDERFUL!

Drinks. We had our drinks recommended and both the Sake and umeshu were so smooth, naturally sweet...

A journey across Thailand … In one dining.

Incredible meal. Stunning presentation. And soooooo tasty. Yum! Got so lucky this trip in Chiang Mai that managed to go twice within a week! The restaurant is incredible and praised highly amidst foodies across the world, Thailand including… so getting the reservations is getting challenging.

Incredibly high quality of ingredients, lavishly extensive and ‘just right’ menu. And the wine pairing is unusually good. Coming from England and dining in places like L’Arpège, KOL and The Ledbury, I got used to the fact that Thailand has high tax on wine imports and I usually don’t expect much from wine options/pairings … however this time the wine pairing was just really good. I went for the wine pairing both visits. Also, rather surprisingly the price was really low compare to what I’d normally pay when dining in Thailand with wine pairing.

The meal in itself made me feel like my tastebuds went to the Disneyland! Some dishes were so yummy that I had to ask for an additional serving on my second visit, that I have actually slightly regretted as I struggled to finish my meal. Some dishes were really new to me and I wasn’t accustomed to the tastes.. even though I have had meals of various nature across Thailand… so I just went with the flow and eat them anyway… and then my body had this happiness. It’s hard to describe. My tastebuds didn’t know what to do about these new flavours, but my body felt at home, nurtured and somewhat deeply happy. A new level of food experience unlocked for sure!

I have been going to this restaurant every time I am in Chiang Mai, pretty much since they’ve opened. Yet I feel this trip round the restaurant truly exceed my expectations. I am very much into Bangkok food scene and particularly favour this year Soma Bangkok, and Ore… I have to say Blackitch Artisan Kitchen is a one of a kind… It’s Thai food yes, yet it’s so innovative and different (a little bit like Ore actually… yet different(!) so don’t expect similarities in food servings)… I feel you want to submit to whatever is given to you, consume it… and allow your body and eyes enjoy the feast on a whole new level.

What I particularly liked this time round: no extreme sharp tastes, the food flows beautifully together wine pairing is truly good even for any European fancy dining still extremely affordable (the prices in Thailand have risen sharply and I have to watch my budget this trip) … it’s not CHEAP! please! if you are used to paying 10 Baht for a plate of rice on a street market - this restaurant is not for you. It is fine dining! Just really affordable one. got lucky to eat twice within a week… :)

Ohhhhhh and DESERTS! ok, this is a whole another review … maybe next trip/visit … one desert I nicknamed “Christmas came early”… it was so good, I felt like I am opening Christmas presents… Ok, basically you can grasp that I am one very very happy eater/customer of Blackitch Artisan Kitchen. Thank you!

ps: I've exceeded the word limit here so shared tips...