The buzz: After getting experience in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s kitchen, Chef Phumirak Vanichstaporn is now running his own restaurant, serving up Italian and Thai favorites. The location right behind the U-Chu Liang Building has made it an instant hit with office workers.

The décor: A low-ceilinged shophouse with three completely refurbished floors: dining on the ground and third and a dimly-lit bar in the middle. They keep it pretty simple with high, red-leather sofas and mustard-yellow walls. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get to hear some live jazz from the members of the chef’s family as well.

The food: Keep it light with the rocket salad with smoked salmon (B380), or just go for it with the allo scoglio (mixed seafood in white wine or tomato sauce pasta, B450) or the grilled salmon with sautéed spinach served with white wine sauce (B590). If this hasn’t piqued your interest yet, the owner recommends the popular sirloin steak (B750 for 200g). For Thai food, expect the basics and hybrids like yam tua plu nuea puu (wing bean with crabmeat in spicy salad, B150) or spaghetti massaman (spaghetti in peanut curry with beef or pork, B280).

The drinks: Drink up at their happy hour, 6-9pm, with a buy-one-get-one-free promotion for cocktails (from B200) and beers (from B120).

The crowd: It’s a busy spot, with office workers dropping by for lunch and moneyed residents coming in for dinner. Pieng-or Mongkolkumnuankhet