This fine-dining establishment has long been one of our favorite spots to savor Italian fare and it has never failed to wow. But even tried-and-tested formulas need a tweak, which is why Medici thought to revamp its menu, this time combining the tastes and styles of cuisine from countries like France, Spain and Italy to give a more contemporary twist to Mediterranean fare. The kitchen is now helmed by Chef Bart Cywinski, who earned his culinary chops at several notable restaurants across the globe, including The Grill at The Dorchester in London, and the Michelin-starred JAAN in Singapore.
Those who have dined at Medici before will be familiar with its dark and dramatic neo-classical interiors. But for those who have yet to make a visit, you can think of the opulent glam of The Great Gatsby plus the bar scene from any ’70s gangster film to give you an idea. Pick a seat by the brightly-lit open kitchen if you’d to see your food being whipped up right in front of you.
Not long after you’re seated, a waiter will serve you pumpkin cappuccino, a complementary pumpkin parmesan soup layered with potato foam, and served warm in a shot glass. This soup prepares your palate for a culinary journey that can start off with the local mud crab and tomato cannelloni (B580), a signature dish that features tomato jelly stuffed with seasoned crab meat and quinoa, and topped with sturgeon caviar and avocado mousse. If you want something that’s along the lines of comfort fare, order the lobster linguine (B1,300). For protein-forward dishes, try the roasted snow fish (B1,200), a pan-seared fish dish served with parmesan polenta and puttanesca, or the 150 days grain fed Australian Angus beef tenderloin (B1,650), an indulgent course cooked in red wine and topped with fried foie gras.
The dessert here is as Italian as it gets, ranging from tiramisu (B300), to traditional cannoli (B250), to a modern interpretation of vanilla pannacotta (our favorite, B410), layered with strawberry gelatin and pistachio sponge cake, and served with sour strawberry compote and strawberry puree.
The venue also carries an impressive wine list that features more than 100 labels from around the world, although Italian labels hold court. The cocktails menu is also spot-on, highlighting cocktails made with a house-made gin mix from the Speakeasy Bar located upstairs. Our favorite was Ginlet (B370), a gin-based cocktail that features lime juice and elderflower syrup, and topped with a gigantic white chrysanthemum flower. If you want a more spirits-forward glass, try Kaffir Negroni (B390), a drink that combines Gordon’s gin, Aperol spritz, and Martini Bianco.
Drop by for dinner on Tuesday to Saturday if you want to enjoy an opera performance by Fivera, the only pop-opera band in Thailand. The group performs from 8:30 pm till 10:00 pm.