Patara's Bangkok branch, now in an old house off trendy Thonglor, offers world-famous cuisine at local prices

By Kupluthai Pungkanon

Sunday Xpress

Renowned the world over for fine Thai cuisine, the restaurant chain Patara recently celebrated the move of its Bangkok branch from Sathorn Road to Soi Thonglor 19 off Sukhumvit. Served up at the grand opening party were the dishes that made the eatery famous, among them grilled aromatic beef and pork wrapped in betel nut leaves and preserved radish, and prawns and crisp Chinese beignets tossed in lime lemongrass salsa, which appear on menus in London, Taiwan and Singapore.

Patara Sira-Orn launched the restaurant back in 1973, and is also behind such well-known chains as S&P, Patio, Vanilla Industry, Mangkorntong (Golden Dragon), Siam Kitchen, and the Blue Cup coffee shops.

The relocated restaurant is in an old house with a large garden with the interior decorated in a cosy mix of Thai tradition and modern contemporary.

The food is never less than delicious and vice president Chandnibha Suriyong guarantees guests delicate Thai flavours and authentic tastes.

"I think one of the important qualifications for those who want to run a restaurant is that they like eating and cooking. We've created new dishes for added variety including grilled king scallop topped with spicy sauce, and pad thai with fried wonton shrimp," she says.

Other must-tries are the Thai relishes made from wild olives and minced pork, santol and lemongrass and the set lunch featuring a taste-bud teasing golden crispy chicken with som tam.

Prices range from Bt130 to Bt390 per dish and the set lunches cost between Bt250 and Bt350.

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The patter on Patara

>> Patara is open daily from 11.30am to 2.30pm, and 6 to 11pm.

>> Private rooms and al fresco tables are also available.

>> There's a vegetarian menu for non-meat eaters.

>> Call (02) 185 2960-1 or visit www.PataraThailand.com.