From the same management of Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen's Park, who brought you docked dining ship Sirimahannop at Asiatique The Riverfront, comes Crystal Grill House.
Just a stone's throw away from the boarding pier lies the riverfront restaurant and, next to the entrance, a cocktail bar entices you to chillax inside a glistening glass dome with an open-bar counter. To enjoy a picturesque view of Sirimahannop from the bar, make sure you'll be there 30 minutes before the sun leaves the horizon, creating golden hour behind the dining ship.
Crystal Grill House takes you on a journey of destination-inspired food within striking glass houses and presents riverside dining with a Western-styled grill house that serves up a tale in every bite.
The bar's five signature cocktails (B400) pay homage to Thailand's trading history by naming them after historic trading routes, with ingredients that link drinkers back to each route's origin. India is aromatic and packs a punch of a chai spice mix in a dark-rum cocktail, while the buttered bourbon whiskey cocktail of America gives off smoky sips. Gin-based Japan tempts the tastebuds with a smooth matcha foam, but I think could have racked up another point had yuzu zest been used instead of lime.
The dining area boasts outdoor dining tables on a garden terrace and five glass houses for private dining. The glasshouses continue the globetrotting concept as each is decked in different decoration themes. The one I dined in is named Sasha, and she looks stunning with Persian glassware and pendant lamps, hanging from the ceiling and over a marble dining table.
The menu is surf and turf fare that has been reinterpreted into something more contemporary, departing from a traditional steakhouse.
I started with the Hokkaido scallop crudo (B580), and it more than did the job. The dish features fresh scallops on juicy slices of compressed watermelon. Green dots of creamy avocado wasabi purée and tangy yuzu kosho refine the presentation and enhance the overall flavours.
Served with remoulade sauce, Kataifi-fried tiger prawn (B460) reminds me of a classic Thai snack called moo sarong. Both dishes share a similar appearance, with the meat wrapped in noodles before being deep-fried to perfection. Grilled octopus (B630) features a trace of Spanish influence as it is served with romesco, accompanied by roasted baby potato and garlic confit.
Coming in hot from a charcoal Josper grill are steaks, which are Australian grass-fed beef, such as Tenderloin (B1,680/200g) and Wagyu rib eye (B3,800/300g). Surf dishes are Tasmanian salmon steak (B680) and locally-sourced Jumbo tiger prawn (B1,280/3pcs). Side dishes include Charcoal-roasted pumpkin agrodolce (B140) and Grilled broccolini (B160) with Parmesan garlic crumb.
While salt and pepper are usually enough to dress up a steak, trying it with the secret sauce is truly a chef's kiss moment. I won't spoil what the secret sauce is, but its flavour gave me a salsa-like hit.
To cleanse your palate of the meaty aftertaste, try the Mango pavlova (B180) with passion fruit curd that offers a sweet and fruity flavour. Dipping brownies into the Double Chocolate Mousse Pot (B180) is how the decadent dessert should be enjoyed. Chock-full of smooth richness.
If you missed the chance to book a table in the private glass house, you could get a similar dining experience in the shared dining room, which is also housed within a large glass dome. Plus, you can watch the chef in action from a long counter bar around an open kitchen, with a stunning view of the carousel.
The Crystal Grill House is open daily from 4.30pm to midnight. Visit fb.com/thecrystalgrillhouse.
