COCONUTS HOT SPOT – Over a year ago, Snapper on Soi 11 brought authentic New Zealand fare to Bangkok through a small operation focusing on fish and chips – a culinary staple in the Godzone. After recently reopening following a major renovation, Snapper is bringing us even more NZ goodness. The restaurant’s new menu includes farm-raised lamb and beef from the island nation, as well as a wine list featuring over 50 New Zealand-grown wines.
A rustic, Maori-influenced theme has replaced the blue and white oceanic décor in Snapper’s dining area, which has more than doubled in size. A kiwi designer was hired to create a dining environment that reflects the pureness and organic nature of New Zealand, and the result is very interesting, with wooden imported antiques and furniture giving the restaurant a mood similar to a tree house or cabin.
The menu also received an expansion during the restaurant’s renovation; grain-fed beef and world famous NZ lamb make an appearance, as do an interesting selection of sauces to pair with the meats, including savory red wine and onion jam, and Snapper’s onion gravy.
New to the beer selection is Pure Blond, a smooth Australian lager that gives off coastal vibes. Snapper’s claim to fame is that it offers the largest selection of New Zealand wines in all of Thailand, with over 50 bottles. Try a bottle of the value-oriented Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc with the fish and chips for a genuine kiwi experience.
Blue Cod and Grouper are new to the menu, and as with all the fish at Snapper, both are caught and harvested sustainably in the waters of New Zealand. Despite the addition of land dwelling mammals to the menu, seafood is still the name of the game at Snapper. Some choice starters include the raw Nelson Bay oysters, wood smoked mussels and rollmops (pickled herring).
The dish that put this eatery on the map, fish and chips, comes either battered or crumbed, and while the garlic aioli is killer, it’s the homemade tomato ketchup that takes the award for best condiment. Rumor is that the recipe for this ketchup, which is sweet and lacks that cornstarch filler taste, comes from the owner’s mother.
FIND IT:
Snapper
Sukhumvit Soi 11, on the Cheap Charlie’s cul-de-sac
