The buzz: After the huge success of Crystal Design Center’s Wine I Love You, what restaurateur wouldn’t want a repeat? So here comes Chocolate Ville, the most talked-about place in Bangkok of recent weeks. It’s out in the boonies but people have been driving across town, taking their big DSLR cameras to capture the “dining in the park” concept and queuing—500 people at some points—for the privilege.
The décor: Chocolate Ville is a mini themed mall designed to look like an old European village, complete with chapel, barn, clock tower, railway station and candy-colored shops. Or it could be New England with the Maine lighthouse and the ducks. There are more than a hundred outdoor tables and an indoor area is under construction, hoping to open before the rains hit.
The food: Wine I Love You’s management and kitchen team are cooking up the same 300 dishes you’ve had at Wine I Love You: nachos, pizza, steak, even fish and chips. Try the seared foie gras with peach blueberry sauce (B385), spaghetti carbonara (B195) or the popular spare ribs (B395 for half rack). Or go for the brief Thai and Chinese menu, with dishes like miang hoy crang mee muan (cockles with white noodles, B190), grilled squid with spicy sauce (B250) and fried laab (B165).
The drinks: More than 200 wines. Beers range from B80-B180, while draught beer is B125 for 300ml (Weihenstephan original and dark). For the kids, you’ve got a strawberry soda (B75) and watermelon shake (B80).
The crowd: Office workers pour in on weekdays starting from 5pm. Family, kids and dates come by on weekends for some out-of-town, faux-countryside excitement. Pieng-or Mongkolkumnuankhet
