Though Oskar Bistro is well known to denizens of Soi 11 as a hotspot on the nightlife street, it’s often thought of as a place to grab a drink. But its offerings extend far beyond wine and nibbles.
With Chef Julien Lavigne in the kitchen, Oskar is a full-service bistro with a large menu that includes some out-of-the-box offerings. And their upstairs level is cozier than downstairs, with dark wood, gray sofas on the deck, and a second bar, so you won’t have to wait to long to get a refill on your drink. Basically, if you want a crowd, sit downstairs; if you want a more intimate setting, opt for climbing the stairs.
We stopped in this week to try a few of their signature drinks and dishes.
From their cocktail menu, we ordered a Mexican Negroni (THB290) which swaps gin for tequila, keeps the Campari, and includes the addition of Kahlua. It was a tasty twist on a traditional fave.
The Rose Bramble (THB230) is billed as gin, violet, rose syrup, lime and chocolate bitters. But the violet is the star of the show in both taste and presentation. If you like floral-flavored edibles, you’ll love this and — if you don’t — then this isn’t the drink for you.
There was a collective wow when the Frozen Rosalinda (THB230) arrived at the table. A margarita glass with a mountain of frozen pink drink in it and a large, decorative cut wedge of watermelon, this mixture of tequila, triple sec, rose, watermelon, and lime was fruity, refreshing, and not too boozy.
For starters, the Salmon Tartare Vietnamese Rolls (THB190) and the Squid Skewers (THB180) caught our eyes. The rolls were pleasantly light with big chunks of raw salmon, helped along by the addition of fresh dill and a rich, tangy tartar sauce. The squid skewers were grilled well, just chewy enough, and with another well-made sauce for dribbling over seafood. This one was a salsa variation that went heavy on the tomatillos.
Other popular menu offerings, according to General Manager Harry Mutterer, are the Phuket Salad (THB300) with blue swimming crab meat, avocado, mango, and coriander, and the Oskar Salad (THB320) with seared foie gras, smoked duck breast, and melted emmental cheese.
Next up was a wood-fired Burrata Pizza (THB410) which comes with parma ham, burrata, artichoke, black garlic, and white truffle — we only ordered ham on half of the pie, hence the slightly naked-looking other half in our photo of it below.
In any case, both sides were wonderfully rich and had a satisfying, crispy crust, but we preferred it without the ham, since that allowed the burrata to really shine through.
Alongside that we ordered A La Mariniere Mussels for one (THB490). The straightforward dish tasted of garlic, butter, and the sea, just like it should. A shout-out also goes to the crispy steak-cut fries and garlic mayo that came with it. When this dish arrived, we thought they might have brought us the serving for two — it’s a generous portion.
For meat, we tried out the Kurobota Pork Striploin (THB480). It arrived in a puddle of flavorful truffle mustard sauce — the best sauce of the night (in a spot that seems to know their sauces). The pork was ultra soft and a bit salty with split peas, pancetta, and roasted vegetables filling out the plate. It was a satisfying entree indeed.
If you’re in the mood for dessert, Oskar has options like Black Cherry & Tonka Bean Tiramisu (THB175) and Tout Chocolate (THB240) with chocolate moelleux, warm gianduja granola, hazelnut praline, honey and chocolate ganache.
All in all, after trying several dishes, we consider Oskar a solid choice. The bistro shines with their sauces, and all the food arrived piping hot and freshly made. We’ll try those popular salads next time.
FIND IT:
Oskar Bistro
24 Sukhumvit Soi 11
Open daily, kitchen hours from 4:30pm-12am, until 1am on Friday and Saturday
BTS Nana
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