Our dinner at Celadon, located within the luxurious Sukhothai Hotel in Bangkok, presented an atmosphere nothing short of exceptional. Known for its authentic Thai cuisine, Celadon offers a dining experience that is both elegant and deeply rooted in tradition. The restaurant itself is a serene oasis, with its setting in a beautiful garden pavilion that immediately sets a tranquil tone for the evening. In part, we chose Celadon because it is a Michelin rated restaurant.
As we were seated, we couldn’t help but admire the attention to detail in the decor—delicate lotus flowers, soft lighting, and traditional Thai elements that enhanced the atmosphere. The service was somewhat less impressive than the atmosphere. The staff made us feel welcome, but were not particularly attentive at times.
The menu at Celadon is a tribute to Thailand’s rich culinary heritage, featuring a wide array of dishes that highlight the diversity and complexity of Thai flavors. We started with a node to Thai street food, chicken wrapped in pandan leaves. Fried chicken is a staple at the street stalls in Bangkok. Celadon’s iteration is embellished with leaves, wrapped to form at pocket for the chicken. It is served with three dipping sauces. The chicken was delicious.
For our main dishes my wife opted for the pad thai, while I chose the green curry. I specifically asked if it was possible to order the green curry without fish, shrimp paste, fish sauce or anything related to seafood. I was assured that this was the case, so I proceeded with the green curry, which looked amazing. My wife thoroughly enjoyed her pad thai, but my green curry was not good. I am fairly certain it actually had fish sauce in it. Luckily, I am not allergic. But I didn’t eat my meal.
When the waitress inquired, she seemed confused by my concern. However, she also did not seem inclined to offer a replacement. Nor was a manager called over to assist. I didn’t press the issue, deciding instead to chalk it up to experience and find something light from a street stall later.
Dessert was an improved end to our otherwise unsatisfying meal. The rice-wrapped banana and coconut ice cream was tasty and refreshing. The presentation (as with all of the dishes) was as exquisite as the taste. If the attentiveness at Celadon were as impeccable as the presentation, this would have been an unforgettable experience.
Dining at Celadon left me with mixed feelings. The atmosphere and decor were amazing. The food presentation was impeccable. However, the service did not match the other facets of this experience. That was disappointing to say the least. At the price point for this meal, I definitely would have expected more.
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