COCONUTS HOTSPOT – Many of us foodies would like to think that we know Thonglor through and through—that we’ve spotted every small eatery in each and every of Thonglor’s spider-webbed sois. We think, at the very least, we’d be able to recognize the awning of restaurants in this incredible neighborhood.
We all claim Thonglor is “our turf.”
But as much as you’d like to claim it yours, you will never be able to keep up with the ever-changing landscape that is this foodie mecca. With new places popping up like mushrooms and old places hiding out in-between unlikely buildings and dark corners; there is always an element of surprise to finding a place to eat here.
Perhaps one of the best-kept secrets of the Thonglor area for years is Tiny Room, a cozy little restaurant, and literally a tiny room. The place serves strictly no more than 10 guests at a time. Seriously, STRICTLY no more than 10 guests! Trying squeezing an extra person in, and your entire party will be asked to leave immediately.
No pity. No mercy. No soup for you.
There is a somewhat reasonable explanation to that. The entire place is run by one person, and one person only—a lady who does everything from the cooking, waiting and cleaning. Did I also mention, she also owns the place? With so much already on her plate, she simply doesn’t have the patience if you try to negotiate with her.
I will admit, sometimes it doesn’t feel quite like being a regular restaurant customer where the “customers are always right.” When eating at Tiny Room, I always feel like I should be thankful that she had the benevolence took me in.
I have been frequenting Tiny Room ever since I discovered the place a few years back. The location is superb and the food delicious. Inside, there is an open kitchen with a few seats situated around the counter. You are allowed to watch the cooking, and that’s indeed one of the reasons why I like it so much.
The menu is small but everything on it is absolutely delicious. If you want perfect examples of home-cooked dishes everyone claims to be making but fails to deliver on, book a spot at Tiny Room. I always start with my favorite appetizer—“Cold Beef Salad” (THB280). The dish is light and just flavorful enough to prepare your taste buds for the rest of the indulgences to follow.
On a lucky day you might have the option of“Grilled Vegetables Salad,” (THB280), which occasionally appears on the special menu. Other items on that list include the scrumptious “Smoked Duck Brest Salad” and the “Fresh Sausage with Baby Spinach” appetizers.
For the main course, Tiny Room has an amazing “Lamb and Potatoes” (THB550), which, unlike most of the lamb dishes elsewhere, doesn’t smell of rosemary or other strongly scented herbs. Instead it emits a scent of meat simply cooked to perfection. To accompany this dish, I recommend “Butter Sautéed Mushrooms”(THB180), in which you will find a mixture of multiple kinds of mushrooms.
Although there are not many options to choose from at this modest restaurant, there are just enough to make everyone happy. For the Francophile there’s“Foie Gras” (THB550). For the Italian a small inventive list of pasta dishes. “Mentaiko Spaghetti”is a Japanese fish roe pasta, “Bacon Shoyu Spaghettior,”a Japanese-Italian combination, and “Crabmeat Spaghetti.”
The rest is your stomach is for dessert. Either the “Caramel Custard” (THB60) or a simple serving of “Panna Cotta” (THB80)—or both—are great finishing touches.
Be sure to bring your own bottle(s) of wine. There’s no corkage charge added to your bill. As for other drinks Tiny Room has absolutely no interest in providing you with anything other than the iced water served free of charge at the counter. Don’t just bring anything in though; any food items—perhaps birthday cakes included—are strictly prohibited in this restaurant.
Tiny Room is almost always full. You’re strongly advised to call in for a reservation a few days in advance, especially if you are thinking about hosting a party at dinnertime on any day of the week. (Except on Monday when the restaurant is closed.) The owner speaks fluent English and is usually very eloquent around English-speaking diners; so don’t hesitate to call in even in English.
Before heading there, it is also a very good idea to look up on Tiny Room’s very own Facebook page first. The owner posts frequently about her special menu, and more often so about her urgent day-off announcements. As you can probably tell already, the business is pretty much up to the owner here.
25/5 Thonglor
Sukhumvit 55
Tel: 02 381 6788
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