The buzz: The first standalone Bangkok restaurant from AHMS Hotel group (Aleenta, Akaryn and Akyra resorts) claims to use 100-percent Thai-sourced produce, with which it tries to do a bit of everything: neighborhood coffee spot, lunch-friendly bistro, evening restaurant and even deli.

 

The decor: The entire place is modishly kitted out in black and white, save for some pink-and-white, neo-baroque upholstery on the seats. There’s a grab-and-go counter upfront right when you open the door, serving coffee and pastries. Inside, the intimate dining room, decorated with monochrome portraits of local farmers, seats about thirty people. There’s also a deli counter in the back, where locally-made charcuterie and cheese are soon to be on offer.

 

The food and drinks: AHMS group has an organic farm at Aleenta in Hua Hin, which yields chicken and eggs as well as herbs and chili. Using these and other local ingredients, the kitchen team creates what it calls new interpretations of Italian cuisine, with dishes like calamari frito (fried squid with chili powder, B300), smoked duck with mango and red onion jam and ribbon vegetables (B275), and buffalo poached chicken (poached chicken with mozzarella cheese, sundried tomatoes, grape balsamic and herbs (B260). The restaurant also makes pasta and pizza dough in-house, and cooks its pizza in a

wood-fired oven. The 4x Caprese pizza (tomato, cherry tomato, tomato sauce and sundried tomato, B320) is a real highlight. On top of coffee (from B100), juices (from B160) and cocktails (B270), the restaurant serves local wine from Monsoon Valley at B350/glass and B1,450/bottle (red and white). Stay tuned for the collaboration with the soon-to-open whiskey and cigar bar next door, as well as a longer wine list.

 

Why you should care: Italics is really making an effort with local produce, refreshing to see when so many new places brag about this from Italy and that from Japan.