Rating Italian restaurants
Charlie's stories about his stay in the Northeast and the review of hotels and restaurants in Udon Thani are not only fun to read but also extremely useful. More of that!!
Since I was there anyway and am a fan of Italian food I visited La Sofia. Because Charlie already provided a lot of relevant information, I limit myself to what I observed and tasted. The interior is functional but not particularly cozy. If desired, the dishes will not be served at the same time, but in sequence. The house wine was fine for 150 baht. The skewer was also good. Tomatoes fresh and delicious prepared with oil and herbs. Maybe the bread toasted a little too long, but tastes can differ. The further menu was extensive, Italian and Thai food. Whether that combination is at the expense of one or the other I cannot fully judge, but the pasta I ordered was in any case given a hefty shovel of flavor enhancer, as happens in many Thai restaurants. I'm sensitive to that so I slept badly afterwards. Unfortunately, the tiramisu was already gone at 19.30:XNUMX pm. The tartufo I therefore chose was bullet hard, but as I am retired waiting is not a problem. After that the tartufo was OK. But the taste of ice cream comes into its own when the temperature is close to melting. In summary, I have an ambivalent opinion. Average.
Then my experiences elsewhere.
Bangkok, Big Mama 13.740375/100.561622 100 Pi Samakhom Alley at 10 min walking distance from the Subway stop Asoke. Parking difficult. Attractive interior, also covered outside with a fan. Extensive Italian and Thai menu. Wide choice of desserts. Customers mostly younger Thai. Pizzas OK, the pastas with flavor enhancer.
Khon Kaen, Vacca Italia 16.460194/102.78586 Luxuriously furnished with attractive seating areas. Close to the airport. Wide choice of Italian dishes and wines. Pastas very tasty and pizzas crunchy. Beautiful tableware. Prices bit up class. There is a resort within walking distance. Distance to the city approx 8 km.
Ubon Ratchathani, Sapori. 15.255091/104834998 Chaeng Sanit rd Run by Francisco, cooks himself, supervises the staff in the kitchen. Previously owned by Francisco under the name of Spago for 10 years. Decor new and attractive, no outdoor seating. Menu only Italian. All dishes are excellent, no flavor enhancer is used. If you cook well, that is not necessary! My favorite is the Parma ham pizza. Francisco can also improvise if you want something that's not on the menu. The only downside I found was that the tiramisu does not contain marsala wine but a coffee-based substitute. Prices at normal level, 2 people with 2 dishes, 2 drinks and espresso with sambuca total approx 950 thb. There is also a lunch menu for 550 tb where 2 people can eat a big belly. Medium pizza, Spaghetti carbonara, 2 mussel shells with mozzarella, 2 spicy ital sausages, piece of salmon and small pieces of bruschetta. In short, highly recommended!!
Ubon Ratchathani, Spago. 15.232334/104.85542 Upparat rd near the park with the golden ship. Has been open since 2018. First by Francisco together with an Australian partner. After Francisco stepped out of the deal, only the Australian. Prices at the level of Sapori. New decor, somewhat less attractive due to the high ceiling. Wide menu choice, only Italian. Good wine selection as well as beers and spirits. Dishes are tasty, some with flavor enhancers. Good service and attention from the owner. Parking in front of the door. My ranking isn't as detailed as Charlie's, but I arrive at the following ranking:
1. Sapori
2. Vacca Italia
3/4. Bangkok Mama (flavor enhancer)
3/4. Spago
5. La Sofia (flavor enhancer)
Hopefully there will be additions. Highly recommended!!
Submitted by Klaas
Hi Klaas,
Nice that you also give reviews about places outside Udon. Of course I certainly don't come across all, so it's nice if reviews are given about restaurants you've been to.
The Italian restaurant daSofia is indeed not decorated very atmospherically. I have also commented on this to management. Indicated that things could be arranged a bit "warmer". In particular, the indoor area (with air conditioning) is a bit chilly.
I look forward to further reviews with interest. Always welcome.
Yours faithfully,
Charly
I would like some more reviews of Italian restaurants in Thailand
Made a trip through the Esaan last week. I had never been there in all my years in Thailand. I liked it fine. I also visited Udon Thani. Dined at diSofia on Charlie's recommendation. Ok, the usual pastas. Main dishes: mostly schnitzel with all kinds of side dishes. But I couldn't find eg cannelloni or ossobuco on the menu. Finally ordered a pepperoni pizza with anchovies. It was mediocre Italian. Too much greasy cheese, base thin but rock hard, hard to find anchovies. Insalata mixta was OK, as well as the red wine.
The decor is really uncomfortable. Bare stuff, big cooler in the room, empty cask at the counter. Messy. The terrace is going. I have the impression that the owner is not Italian, but Swiss. A large Swiss flag hangs in front of the window. A six.
Ah, that Italian cuisine…have lived and worked in Italy for a while and have a taste for it…many pretend to be able to serve it, only a few can really live up to it. And bad pizza or pasta is terrible. Fortunately, there are some very good Italian restaurants in Bangkok, including:
About Eatery (organic)
Lenzi Tuscany Kitchen
Peppina (really great pizza)
Enoteca Italian
About Eatery (organic)
There is a price tag attached to this. A cheaper alternative is Rosso di Sera, excellent Italian cuisine at relatively reasonable prices.
In Hua Hin you have La Grappa and Andreas, where Andreas was the former chef at La Grappa.
In Pattaya I have eaten at Toscana, which was very good Italian. Not necessarily Italian, but Mediterranean/French and a real favorite is Chez Marco in Chiang Mai.
Last but not least: you don't have that much of Tripadvisor and other review sites unfortunately. Many people are not familiar with the real Italian kitchens and often give high marks to restaurants that have little to do with Italy. Tip: if you see 'pepperoni' or 'chicken Alfredo' on the menu somewhere, you can already assume that it is not a real Italian.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHJhB4pmPCg
In Khon Kaen you also have Pomodoro near the Pullman hotel. Simple, and easy. Everything fresh and delicious.
See, that was my goal. A nice addition to my bucket list. Certainly, making a distinction between the pizzeria and the restaurant is right, as Kees does. And that has its price. Nothing to the detriment of the pizzeria by the way!
In a side street of the chang klan road in Changmai there is a very good Italian restaurant. I can't remember the name but it is indicated on the chang klan. It is just before the park hotel on the left. It is advisable to make a reservation.