Stop smirking. Yes, I know, I think Eat Me is a genius name too, and especially in Bangkok and only a stone’s throw from the Patpong Road area. However, whatever you’re thinking at the moment couldn’t be further from the reality of this excellent restaurant and cocktail bar.

Nestled on Soi Phiphat, just 20 metres off Soi Convent, you’d never find this place if you didn’t know it was there. How did I find it? Well, staying at the Metropolitan by Como, which is just a 5 minute walk around the corner, it is a recommended dinner option for guests. They’ll even make the reservation for you.

Set over two floors with a sleek, muted colour scheme, the restaurant houses a bar and a veranda, which is where I found myself on a Saturday night. It looked rather a large table in the middle of the balcony for one person, but doing the single diner trick of positioning myself with my back to the wall, I found that the position of the table was ideal to people watch as well as attract the attention of the staff. Ah yes, the staff. The staff, all of them, are friendly and know their menu, which is a delight. And if you need another reason, the bar serves fabulous cocktails (the fig and ginger martini is a favourite).

  
Dishes are characterised by unusual flavour combinations, which showcase a kaleidoscope of international ingredients with a distinct Asian flavour. Explore starters such as the divine pan seared scallops with roasted corn puree and lardo and grilled tiger prawns with tom yum infused olive oil.

 

 
The menu has a strong fish theme, but the meat is just as sublime. You can see the Australian influence of the owner in some of the dishes, with the tender and delicate wagyu beef being sourced direct from one of the best Australian suppliers and a salt bush lamb rack being on my list for the next time I go back. The vegetables are just as considered in their presentation, with the menu boasting a rocket, pear and parmesan salad with black truffle dressing.

 

 
If you don’t want to eat, then this place is well worth hanging at the bar and working your way through the extensive cocktail list. I’d recommend the Laab Mootini, About Town, Marrakesh Bellini and the Fig & Ginger Martini. Well, truth be told, they’re the ones I tried and none of them let me down. Sure, you could probably order a basic Mojito, but when you have the beautiful local flavours to hand, why settle for normal?

 

  

 Do leave room for dessert. If I had a choice between starter and dessert, I’d nearly always go for the former, but here, as I was treating myself, I managed both and was recommended the house favourite – sticky date pudding with hot butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream. Boy, was I glad I opted for that. Even though it meant that the walk back to the hotel was slow, the sticky date pudding with a glass of the Semillon dessert wine and a black coffee rounded off the evening perfectly.

  
Eat Me thoroughly deserves its place at No25 of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, and deserves  a visit. Or two.

[I’m told that there are plans for another venue – a rooftop – so watch this space for this great venue branching out]