Last week, I swung by the upcoming ~KIN KHAO~ for a sneak peek. If all goes well with final inspections, this exciting Thai restaurant from owner and Bangkok native Pim Techamuanvivit will be soft opening around February 17th-18th (I will let you know for sure!). While you can enter the restaurant through the Parc 55 Hotel, an easy way to access it will be through the entrance on Mason and Ellis (there are large windows that look out onto this corner).
The space has a capacity for 75 diners and a clean look, with handmade wood tables by the local collective Woodshop (there’s also a large group table made of elm and the bar is made of sycamore), a backbar of Heath tile, walls painted with soft tones of gray, and seating includes banquettes and two kinds of chairs (Pim wanted to keep it from looking monotonous). There is definitely some whimsy with the lighting: Pim describes the Artemide light above the group table as a cubist dragon, while the curvy ones in the dining room look like rice noodles.
Chef de cuisine Michael Gaines (Manresa, Central Kitchen) has been cooking Thai food with Pim for the past year. We linked to the sample menu in a previous post on tablehopper, and mentioned that a big twist is the very authentic dishes will feature high-quality and many local ingredients—almost everything will be handmade, from the sauces to the curries. Pim said the two things the kitchen won’t be making are fish sauce and fermented shrimp paste (for now—knowing Pim, this could change).
At lunch, you’ll be able to have a complete meal with a variety of small plates, almost like a bento box, except they will be served in Thai tiffin-like serving bowls (called pinto) that stack up.
There will be cocktails by the Bon Vivants (currently in development) and a small, focused wine list, with five whites, five reds, and two sparklers. Also look for some aperitivi and digestivi.
Hours will be lunch 11:30am-3:30pm, dinner 5:30pm-11pm or so, with the bar opening at 5pm for cocktails. Bar bites and cocktails will be served until 2am. Stand by for an update on the official opening date!
To the right is a pinto, a Thai tiffin (on the beautiful sycamore bar). Photo: © tablehopper.com.
