ALATi — Restaurant in Pathum Wan Subdistrict

Kempinski has changed the concept of his all-day dining restaurant. It no longer offers a buffet but a Mediterranean cuisine. Unlike many other restaurants, Mediterranean here also includes North African cuisine. The menu is small, the prices are reasonable. There is also a good small wine offer. Seating is comfortable, it is quiet, and you are pampered by the service. Tuna and Egg Ball turns out to be a mixed salad with canned tuna and a hard-boiled egg. You don't need a chef for this, you can get it at 7/11. There is no dressing, only an industrial balsamic vinegar is served. Oil, salt, pepper are only available on explicit request - and it takes time. Water is served in metal cups - so the staff can't see when to refill. Next course was homemade Cavatelli Bolognese, a really excellent dish with a kind of gnocchi and a great Bolognese sauce. Then comes Roasted Seabass, an excellent fish, fresh and juicy, with a completely dried out, undercooked rice as a side dish. This dish is neither professionally designed nor professionally prepared. There is an open show kitchen. There you can see that the chef tasting the soup with a spoon and then putting the spoon into his jacket to reuse it for the next tasting. Hygiene is not his strength. As dessert then Classic Tiramisu Cup - really classic, excellently prepared, a feast for the palate! As only every second course is a pleasure, it is not exactly a recommendation...

Hats off to ALATi for continuing with a full menu of glorious food and a full complement of attentive staff during a time where many restaurants operate with a limited food selection and reduced headcount. This is our fifth visit to ALATi and my rating is a solid 5 stars each and every time.

As always, I had the Jack Creek Wagyu (THB 1290++ 250gm). Somewhat Chicago-style -- brownish black on the outside and pinkish red on the inside. Folks, this is not some oven broiled or pan-fried BS. Its charcoal grilled with the smoky flavor of vaporized drippings. To their credit, there is no seasoning on the meat and any thing on the steak would have spoiled the pure unadulterated taste of the melt in your mouth marbled A4 wagyu. Over our visits, we also have tried duck leg confit, gnocchi with truffle, lobster ravioli, etc. To be far, all very worthy dishes of about 4.0 to 4.5 stars. It just that they pale in comparison to the wagyu steak. The desserts are quite good but for their price (minimum is THB290++, some even 350++), my expectations are higher. Try Delizia Del Limone if you must, a lot is going on here but it is an innovative combinations of quite a few things, including lemon rind.

And last but not least – the service. English speaking, attentive to the details, masked/gloved, friendly...

We came for Sunday brunch at ALATi to check out their new buffet setup — you can now help yourself to the food, whereas previously, everything had to be ordered and served by the staff. There’s still a separate à la carte menu for main courses and drinks.

The food quality is solid, with a decent selection, though not quite as extensive as we expected. One standout was the roast beef — the first cut we had was tender and flavorful, but it ran out quickly. When they brought out a new piece (pictured), it was a different cut and not quite as good in texture. Most of the offerings lean toward Western cuisine. Dessert-wise, it’s mostly baked goods — we’d love to see more Thai dishes and traditional Thai sweets added to the mix.

The ambiance is pleasant, although there’s currently no outside view due to renovations. Service was excellent — the staff were attentive, efficient, and very professional.

An added bonus: they’re part of the Amex “Dine 2 Pay 1” promotion, which makes it an even...