The buzz: Jones the Grocer is an Australian grocery chain with four branches in its home country as well as outlets in New Zealand, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. In addition to offering gourmet grocery items, each venue also serves as a cafe/restaurant.

 

The decor: Overall, the feeling is sharp and modern. The vast space is scattered with shelves filled with imported products like olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dried pasta, tea, jam and sauces. Much like Dean & Deluca Mahanakhon, there are high ceilings, loose table settings and plenty of natural light flooding in to make for a relaxing meal. The large food counter comprises a long bakery display on one side, a coffee counter in the middle and an open kitchen on the other side.

 

The food and drinks: This Bangkok branch seems to be less about the groceries and more focused on proper restaurant dining. On its two-sided paper menu you'll find all the comfort food staples like all-day breakfast items, salads, burgers, grilled meat, pasta, risotto and pizza. Highlights from abroad include the Jones burger (B495) made with an Australian wagyu beef patty, bacon, Swiss cheese, truffle mayonnaise, pickles, yellow mustard and caramelized onion, and the 120-day grain-fed Australian black Angus T-bone steak (B1,380). For something more refreshing and less fatty, try the Funky Beets salad (B265), in which poached beetroot is accompanied by whipped feta, white beans, hazelnut crumble and grape seed dressing. Among the range of cakes and tarts are some Australian classics like lamington (sponge cake coated with chocolate and desiccated coconut, B148) and sticky date pudding (B235) served lukewarm with salted caramel sauce and vanilla bean ice cream. To drink, there are both coffee and wine from down under on offer. Espresso starts at B75 while a glass of Australian white wine starts at B320.

 

Why you should care: While Jones the Grocer can’t quite compete with some of the other restaurant options in this food-heavy mall, it’s one of the few places to serve hard-to-find Australian desserts in Bangkok.