We stumbled across Levantini after a friend told us of the wonderful couscous
dish he had at this restaurant in The Village. For those who are unsure, The
Village is a very different shopping center on the corner of Sukhumvit Road and
Soi Chaiyapruek 1. After a period of not really settling down, that has changed,
and the future of this center looks very promising, and with different
restaurants such as Levantini, will attract new custom.
Go into the shopping center via the central entrance and turn
left around the building and you cannot miss Levantini, with its ‘boardwalk’
open section for families. We chose to sit indoors in the air-conditioned
section and were welcomed by mine host, Jacques (multi-lingual, but you can
brush up on your French while there, if you wish)! We were taken immediately by
the ambience of Levantini. Red and white walls with posters from Morocco, Spain
and other Mediterranean countries, red tablecloths, and black and white check
tiles imbue the restaurant with a Levantine feeling.
Jacques brought the menus over and we decided on pre-dinner
drinks while perusing what was on offer (wine by the glass B. 90 for Madame and
a Ricard for me B. 120). The wines are inexpensive with many B. 800 per bottle.
The menu is quite comprehensive and covers breakfast, lunch
and dinner as Levantini opens at 10 a.m. There is also a set lunch menu for B.
280 with four courses including Timbale of smoked salmon and a beef stew cooked
in tajine style with caramelized onion (tajine is a type of dish found in the
North African cuisines of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya, which is named
after the special pot in which it is cooked).
The “7 Vegetables Moroccan Couscous” is a specialty with
carrots, zucchini, cabbage, squash, eggplant, tomatoes, turnip, sweet pepper,
onions, and chickpeas in a home-made sauce, served with a steamed buttered
couscous and “harissa”, a Moroccan “hot” blend sauce. Lamb is B. 420, beef B.
390 and chicken B. 360.
Entrees include seafood sauté in garlic/lemon sauce (B. 140),
smoked salmon platter on toast, gherkins, salad (B. 150), and whole camembert in
fondue style for four persons (B. 450).
Mains are varied, with pasta and risotto including Penne
Rigatte in white sauce with salmon (B. 180) and Risotto wild mix mushroom and
parmesan cheese (B. 200).
Fish and seafood offerings have N.Z. Dory filet (St. Pierre)
in creamy sauce with seafood (B. 230) and sea scallops wrapped with bacon in
creamy curry sauce with spinach (B. 300) and the Provencal Bouillabaisse (B.
300).
Many meat dishes in the mains (B. 230-390) plus pizzas,
desserts and Thai favorites.
While contemplating, we were then presented with a
complimentary tapas plate, something that Jacques does for his customers. On our
night this included a leek salad with vinaigrette, a potato salad and an avocado
and shrimp cocktail with spicy sauce. I could have stayed there and eaten
avocado all night!
With the tapas behind us, we both decided on going straight
to a main course, Madame for the Provencal Bouillabaisse (B. 300), and the beef
kebab with pepper sauce for myself (B. 260). This was very good, served with
chips and salad and vegetables, but Madame’s bouillabaisse was absolutely
special, coming with several types of seafood including fish filets, clams,
squid and prawns as well as boiled potatoes, some Emmental cheese and the broth
itself. Jacques reminded us that the Moroccan way was to cook slowly and let the
aromatic items infuse the item. This dish was superb.
To have been given a free tapas plate was something almost
unheard of, and certainly sparkled up our appetites. The food was excellent and
the portion size more than adequate. The prices were not in any way exorbitant,
and with the outer area means that families can easily be catered for. We were
so impressed with this restaurant, we will be going back ‘en famille’ (as
Jacques, the French speaking owner would say). Definitely give this restaurant a
try. Highly recommended.
Levantini, The Village Shopping Center, corner Sukhumvit Road
and Chaiyapruek 1, Jomtien. Open 10 a.m. to last orders 8.45 p.m., closed
Sunday. Telephone 0826403366. Secure parking in The Village.
