COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Who says Italian in Bangkok has to cost more than a trip to Venice? Only for special occasions, you say? Not at these prices. For about the same price as a lousy lunch at your office canteen, you can get a real, four-course Italian meal at Via Vai that will leave you feeling like you’re in the shadow of the Colosseum.
What Via Vai lacks in curb appeal they make up for with their lunchtime set bargains. You can choose a pizza or pasta, bruschetta, a cup of soup, and a salad all for THB292. Mama mia! Or you can choose a chicken or fish entrée with the other same side options for THB350.
Granted this is not five-star Italian that will melt your socks, but it’s hella better than anything you’ll get from Pizza Hut Company, Scoozi, Narai’s Peproni or whatever other sad excuse for Italian you’ll find in the malls or Big C.
Actually the food has a lot of potential for the big time. The pizza has all the makings of a perfect pie with good quality mozzarella with the right amount of sauce. You can choose between Margherita, Salmi or every Thai’s favorite: Hawaiian. The only thing lacking is a crispy crust. Perhaps just crank up the oven a bit hotter?
All three of the pastas are a solid, and the portions are huge. You can choose your favorite noodle with your choice of tomato, carbonara or oil-based sauces. The Caesar salad is properly topped with crispy bacon, freshly shaved Parmigiano and a yummy creamy dressing, but something just feels wrong with Eisberg lettuce in a Caesar salad. No criticisms of the Minestrone soup, which is chock full of fresh veggies in a zesty broth. The Bruschetta is pleasant as well and could actually be a meal by itself.
If you miss the lunch special and opt for a breezy evening meal on the patio instead, the prices are actually not much higher and still a relatively sweet deal.
Walking down Soi Sukhumvit 8, Via Vai doesn’t look like much, but once you get inside, it’s actually quite a comfy establishment. The service and extras here are what sets it refreshingly apart. A basket with all the necessary condiments you could ever hope for including chili oil and parmesan cheese are happily served to your table without even asking or charging extra, and for my Thai brethren, Roza ketchup to add that perfect touch to the Pizza Hawaii. Aloha!
Coconuts Hot Spots are based on unannounced visits by our contributors and reflect their opinion. No freebies here.
Via Vai
10:30am – midnight, daily
Soi Sukhumvit 8
BTS Nana
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