Perched on the 22nd floor of the Crowne Plaza Bangkok, Xin Tian Di overlooks the greenery of the Royal Bangkok Sports Club and Lumpini Park. The restaurant is renowned not only for its stylish atmosphere and views, but for its dim sum, set lunches and a la carte evening dining, including what many regard as the best Peking Duck in Bangkok.
Much of the restaurant’s success is attributable to Chef Lam Kok Weng, a nine-year veteran of the outlet and a winner in Thailand’s Iron Chef competition. His menu is noted for its excellent Cantonese faire and an imaginative selection of modern Chinese dishes with intriguing influences from a variety of cuisines. During the week at lunch time, shoppers and members of the business community come to Xin Tian Di for the set lunches and the ‘all you can eat’ dim sum (B900++), but in the evening couples, families and small groups arrive for the excellent a la carte dining and elegant atmosphere. For many Bangkok families, a Saturday or Sunday dim sum lunch at the restaurant has become a family ritual. The seven private rooms for 8-12 diners are especially popular with groups and those seeking a little privacy.
Dishes at the restaurant are served in three sizes (small, medium, large) so that they can be enjoyed by different-sized groups. During our feast, several dishes tickled our fancy. Perhaps our favourite was the deepfried pork spare ribs in superior sauce (B280++ small portion). The ribs, which are cut into 3-4 cm pieces are bathed in a divine sauce that is flavoured with honey. Equally impressive was the deep-fried prawns with wasabi salad dressing (B420++ small portion). The prawns are briefly cooked, leaving them fresh and crunchy, while the wasabi adds both a Japanese flair and a little zip. The Peking Duck (B800++ half duck) lived up to its reputation, but care must be taken to eat it immediately upon serving as it loses its crunch and appeal once it cools off. If you have never tried XO sauce, be sure to taste the chef’s pan-fried homemade bean curd with spinach in XO sauce (B160++). The bean curd is light and fresh and the sauce, with its heady combination of ingredients (but no alcohol), is sublime.
Bangkok has many hotel-based Cantonese-style Chinese restaurants, but Xin Tian Di stands out from the crowd because of the beautiful setting, the talents of its chef and the imaginative menu he has created.
Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park
952 Rama IV Rd | 0 2632 9000 | crowneplazabkk.com
11.30am-2.30pm; 6pm-10.30pm