Although I had a disappointing lunch at Paste, I was optimistic for dinner at Eat Me, a well-known establishment for cocktails and Western food in Bangkok. While the venue has previously been included in Asia’s 50 Best, I can understand why it was not included in the 2019 list. Why? I’ll get into those reasons in a moment. Warmly greeted by the team, we started the night in the lounge downstairs with a round of Laab Moo, THB390, a cocktail I never knew I needed in my life. Why? Because it comes with Parma ham. Sigh. These are things I will never find in Dubai.
Moving upstairs, we’re treated to more than ten dishes off the menu — which is broken into three categories — fish, vegetables and salads, and meat. With starters, mains, bites, sides, and sharing dishes, there is certainly something for any appetite. As the dishes came out fast and furiously, the table readily agrees that star of the evening is the utterly out of this world Japanese Ohmi Wagyu A5 Tataki, THB1500 for a 100g serving. The beef is so incredibly tender, I could quite easily consume an entire plateful by myself. It was also one of the only dishes we ordered a second plate of (although, it’s worth mentioning that the next plate came out straight up cold in the center — watch the pass, guys!). Other standout dishes included the Red Curry Oxtail + Bone Marrow, THB1050, and the Grilled Abalone + Plankton Rice, THB1820 for 100g. Having had a fantastic tartare recently in Prague, while I liked the Spicy Wagyu Tartare “Laab,” THB460, it didn’t quite hit the same levels of my recent dish. Similarly, a plate of Lobster and Bucatini Pasta arrives, THB1200 and while it’s nice…it’s not breaking the rules in terms of plating or taste.
Overall, while the plating was all lovely, I consistently didn’t feel as if any boundaries were being pushed. The meal at Eat Me was perfectly pleasant, and all the dishes delivered as expected. There is no doubt that chef Tim Butler and his team know what they are doing. However, I think it’s when you compare plates to those that are included on ‘important’ lists like World’s 50 Best, etc. that Eat Me is simply a nice night out. The food isn’t particularly groundbreaking, and while the cocktails are fresh and mostly innovative, many of these dishes and drinks can be found elsewhere. Perhaps, as a resident of another international city – one where I can have almost any variety of Western food that I prefer – I’m judging Eat Me with a specific lens. Maybe if I were a resident of Bangkok, I would feel differently about not only Western food done well but also the sheer quantity of dishes available.
However, I wouldn’t ask at Me to change anything that they are doing. In fact, I would imagine there are very few places in Bangkok where diners could find this selection of Western food. For me, as a global diner in a city like Bangkok, I’m looking for more than burrata and lamb rack.
Would I go back to Eat Me? I’m not in a rush to return. While the cocktails delivered, I didn’t feel the rest of the menu was unique enough. There are just too many other restaurants to try in BKK!
Who is Eat Me best for? Anyone in search of a good cocktail. Good for just the Wagyu. Foreigners who are seeking a bit of home.
What’s your favorite place to dine in Bangkok?
A to Za’atar was a guest of Eat Me. Opinions are my own, just ask my husband.
