Sra Bua

Siam Kempinski, 991/9 Rama 1 Rd., 02-162-9000. Lunch Mon-Fri noon-3pm
The place: Sister restaurant of Copenhagen’s Michelin-starred Kiin Kiin, Sra Bua offers a hyper-modern deconstruction and re-presentation of Thai cuisine. Sound expensive? It is. The set dinner there will put you out B2,400 with an additional B2,400 if you want wine pairings. Not that we don’t recommend for everyone to save up and do it at least once.
The deal: B1,500, a fraction of the price of the dinner menu, gets you the same initial set of nibbles as well as a three-course menu with dishes like pad thai Kiin Kiin style, frozen red curry lobster and their wonderful ice cream platter inspired by three kinds of tea. And many of these dishes are also on the dinner menu, so you don’t feel you’re missing out by not going at night.

Gianni Ristorante

34/1 Soi Tonson, Phloen Chit Rd., 02-252-1619. Lunch daily noon-2pm
The place: Tucked away down Soi Tonson, Gianni has a lot of Old World Charm, from the décor to the affable Italian maitre d’ in the gray suit, as well as a large following of loyal customers who refer to the place fondly as “Gianni’s.” In addition to classic dishes, they also have a very extensive list of Italian wines, organized conveniently by region.
The deal: Impressively, a reservation is required here even at lunchtime, when the restaurant is packed to the brim with fancy Japanese, Thai and Italian business types, and a few hi-so ladies, all taking advantage of the luxurious two-course (B390) or three-course (B470) set lunches. Choose from simple, well-executed starters like lobster bisque and caprese salad and mains like risotto with green peas and Parmesan and homemade egg fettucine with bolognese sauce. Desserts include classics like tiramisu and slightly lighter fare like lemon sorbet with fruit salad. They do several wines by the glass, so you don’t have to blow your budget on a bottle.

D’Sens

22/F, The Dusit Thani, Rama 4 Rd., 02-200-9000. Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm
The place: One of the only places we’ve given five stars to, D’Sens is the jewel in Dusit Thani’s crown, an outpost of the Michelin-starred Pourcel brothers of Marseille, offering breathtaking service (and views) and contemporary takes on French food. Sadly, the prices reflect that, and the set dinner menu here is well over B2,000.
The deal: At lunch, there are cheaper option courses for B850 and three courses for B950, and the ingredients are sourced from the Royal Projects in Chiang Mai as Chef Julien has been consistently impressed with the quality of the produce. (Conveniently, it also keeps prices low.) Expect dishes like Provencale frog legs, seared sea bass with crunchy risotto and vegetable comfit and saffron and lemon mille feuille. The menu changes every few weeks, too.

Le Normandie

Mandarin Oriental, 48 Oriental Avenue, 02-659-9000. Lunch Mon-Sat noon-2pm
The place: A veritable Bangkok institution going back decades, Le Normandie requires gentlemen to wear a jacket to dinner, an indication of how fancy the place is. At B2,300, the three-course set dinner is well out of the price range of most people, except perhaps for very special occasions. Yet the appeal of sampling classic, fancy, heavy French fare is understandable.
The deal: Thankfully, the lunch deal (B1,150) offers much of the luxe experience without sacrificing on the gastronomic front. Also covering three-courses, the menu offers options like escargots fricassés with frog legs, yellowtail Provencale, braised duck leg with forest mushrooms and access to a dessert trolley—not to mention the famous Oriental macarons to go with your coffee. Oh, and the prices are net.

Le Beaulieu

Grand Mercure Asoke Residence, 50/5 Sukhumvit Soi 19, 02-204-2004. Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm
The place: A kind of French equivalent of Gianni, Le Beaulieu has a lot to get you excited about: a gorgeous space in a semi-standalone location (think lots of windows, a rustic sky blue ceiling and sketches on the walls), a knowledgeable clientele and a chef-driven experience, with the charming and talented Herve Ferard greeting you out front as well as busying himself in the kitchen.
The deal: There are two tiers of set lunches to choose from, both three courses: the Executive Set Lunch (B825) and the frequently changing Business Lunch (B525). But don’t think less of the cheaper option, as many of the dishes on it are even more exciting, such as the luscious goat cheese and poached eggs salad, the complex sea bass with beurre blanc and black truffle and the comforting sweetbread vol au vent. The Executive Set Lunch also has some hearty options, like the beef tartar with rocket salad and the fish bouillabaise. And when it comes time for your main course, the server helpfully brings a portable chalkboard listing their wines by the glass, even making a pairing suggestion. For dessert, we suggest the Alsacienne lemon tart.