A very interesting restaurant reviewed this week, and one
that has an interesting history and a move of about 100 meters! Magg’s
Restaurant was named after a Thai lad, and was in a single shophouse in
Thepprasit Road about 250 meters from Thappraya Road. Blink twice and you
missed it.
Around nine years ago, the restaurant was taken over by a British couple Val
(the chef) and John (barman); however, after six years the so frequently
heard situation of rents being jacked up occurred and Val and John began
hunting for more suitable premises. Fate smiled upon them and a much larger
double shophouse became available 100 meters up Thepprasit Road which had
been used as a showroom for Italian plaster ceilings, which were still
there, plus decorative columns, all reminiscent of the Sistine Chapel. John
and Val then added some very large statues, and now you cannot miss Magg’s
at all.
It is a superbly appointed restaurant with wonderfully
comfortable swivel chairs, large tables, excellent napery and quality
glassware. In the middle is a long sit-up bar with John at the helm, whilst
at the rear is Val’s kitchen. We were impressed by the restaurant, before we
even had anything to eat! Before you ask, the fire is not real!
The wine list is not extensive, but nor is it expensive. We had a bottle of
Penfold’s Bin 8 Cabernet/Shiraz (B. 1550), but there are some very
inexpensive house wines by the glass or carafe.
The menu begins with the daily specials, three courses with many choices at
B. 495 all up. Items in the specials include whole baked trout and ham and
cheese Chicken Kiev, for example.
The menu proper begins with cold starters (B. 160-265) with the smoked
salmon (B. 195) served with wasabi, capers and horseradish sauce
particularly interesting.
Eleven hot starters (B. 120-260) include crispy duck (B.
210) and a Chicken Tikka (B. 185). Plenty of choices once again.
Six soups (B. 100-155) include lobster bisque and a mushroom and porcini
cream soup.
Five salads are all B. 295 with the mango, prawn and blue cheese very
tempting.
Mains are up next (B. 275-695) with a Beef Wellington with port wine sauce
at the top end and an English sausage and mash with fried onion sauce at the
lower end. All the mains come with fresh vegetables and a choice of
potatoes.
Grills have their own section (B. 370-650) with imported Australian Wagyu
eye of rump at the premium end and a pepper steak with salad and
french-fries (B. 370).
Fish fans will not be disappointed with eight items (B. 240 for the
traditional beer battered fish and chips up to B.460 for the pan-fried
scallops served with fresh avocado and tequila sauce, which sounds very
interesting). On our next trip to Magg’s Restaurant, that will definitely be
one of my choices.
Finally there are some pasta dishes and desserts, with all the dessert items
home-made by chef Val herself.
From that rather large menu, I chose the Wednesday special and began with
the prawn spring rolls and two dipping sauces. A pleasant starter. Madame
went for the Portobello mushrooms baked with blue and cheddar cheese and
finished with a Parmesan sprinkle (B. 210). This was sensational, and came
with salad on the side, and the portion had two very large mushrooms.
In the selection of main dishes in the daily specials was a gammon steak
with broccoli and cheese sauce, french-fries and vegetables. This was again
a very generous portion and very enjoyable. Madame was delighted with her
choice of an Australian lamb chop (B. 425) with sauté potatoes and
vegetables and mint sauce.
Both of us were too full to contemplate desserts, no matter how appealing
they looked.
This restaurant has much going for it. A very full menu, and very reasonable
pricing for some well-cooked European fare. This is definitely one
restaurant which you should try, but ring for a reservation, as the
restaurant only seats around 30 people.
Magg’s Restaurant, 315/60 Moo 12, Thepprasit Road, telephone 038 251 164,
081 153 4733, open six days (closed Mondays) from 5.30 p.m., but open for
traditional roast lunch Sundays 1 p.m. until 5.30 p.m. Plenty of on-street
parking..
