First thing’s first: Bambou is an incredible restaurant. An old textile workshop that amasses over 500m2, this Thai has proportions that are unusual for the otherwise tiny Sentier. Inside, you’ll find yourself wandering through different themed areas: a dining room with towering mirrors and plump sofas, and a spacious heated terrace. There’s also a billiard hall and a magnificant opium-style smoking room – the whole setup makes you want to return to explore all over again.
Once you’ve chosen which realm you want to dine in, one of very likeable waiters will ask how you are and what you’d like. But that’s when the joy ends. There’s little astounding on the menu, apart from a few. Notable mention to the beef cheek Massaman curry (€19), steamed Durado in spicy sauce (€21) or the Bochot mussel and curry jam starter (€9). The rest of the menu was made up of the usual Thai classics - curries, soups, fried things, dumplings - which hadn’t been particularly reinvented by the chefs Antonin Bonnet et Benoit Rolland. And despite the good quality, the portions are a bit on the small side. There’s no set menu option, and the wine price is higher than you’d find elsewhere so your wallet gets a bit of a spanking.
But all in all, Bambou is worth a trip for this insane déco.
TRANSLATION: ALICE WHITE WALKER