COCONUTS HOTSPOT — Ever consider rehydrated pizza? No, because that would be terrible. You don’t have to be a foodie to prefer your pies handmade from a brick oven.
We love Italian cuisine for its rich and elegant flavors but all too often enjoy them clinging to dry pasta that was boiled back to life. How often do we get to enjoy fresh pasta made by hand? Unless you’ve got a lot of extra free time and a well-equipped kitchen, the answer is probably a solid: rarely.
But not far from Asoke, such fare is within reach of the clamoring masses at La Cantina.
Before talking about the pasta, it’s worth mentioning this Italian restaurant also offers excellent organic salads. Their Parma Salad (THB260) has many little ingredients that come together, just so. We’re talking about chewy sliced Parma ham (the One True Prosciutto from the same Italian town famous for zesty cheese shaken onto everything) that meshes with the arugula, red oaks, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese shavings (see?) and almonds for the tastiest crunch in your mouth. The balsamic reduction and extra olive oil further enhance these intricate ingredients.
After every drop of balsamic is finished, the La Cantina Fettucine Pesto & Parma (THB240) is next. A dish exploding with bright green pesto is like a magnet for everyone’s eyes. The smell of the crispy Parma ham fresh from the fryers makes you want to just dig in. Although this pesto and Parma dish does not give you anything apart from pasta, pesto and a few bits and pieces of Parma ham, it surely will not disappoint you. Less is more. The fewer the ingredients, the clearer the taste of the soft and tender homemade pasta. The Fettucine pasta is the star of this dish. Another pasta plate showcasing their homemade pasta quality is the La Cantina Lasagna al Forno (THB250). The lasagna is balanced and flavorful. You will not regret ordering this dish because unlike other heavy lasagna dish, this is fluffy and very light.
After the savory lasagna dish, you will realize that the signature main course you have ordered has not arrived yet. The La Cantina Lamb Shank (THB520) takes quite a while to prepare, and though that suggests something extra special is coming, it was a let down. The slow-cooked lamb shank was stiff and very heavy. The menu says that aromatic herbs are added, but the salty gravy overpowers the taste of the herbs. After that unimpressive main course, the dessert course that followed was also lacking. The restaurant’s special Crêpe Suzette feels like it contains nothing but syrup and a hint of orange. The regular Chocolate Salami of the Day (THB140) is satisfactory, but would be better if the cake wasn’t so dry.
The food at La Cantina is good. If you go for pasta, you won’t be let down.
La Cantina has a pleasant ambience. Its medium-sized cozy bistro space makes for a pleasant chewing environment. It is furnished with modern furniture and soothing orange lighting. The restaurant is usually not packed, so you can take your time and enjoy the atmosphere. One of the best things about La Cantina is its service. The servers are very attentive and friendly. They instantly come to greet you and ask if customers need any help once they enter the restaurant.
Good service, homemade pasta, excellent salads. Those things make this restaurant great. As long as you don’t order that overly sweet crêpe, you’re good to go.
FIND IT:
16 Sukhumvit Garden, Soi Sukhumvit 16
Open daily 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm
