Urbani

Urbani Truffle Bar and Restaurant, perched up on the 39th floor of the Sathorn Square building, occupies a superlative piece of real estate, facing the Bangkok skyline and boasting large windows from every table from which to look out on the city. Given the lofty position the truffle occupies on the food chain, it's a worthy pairing, and one that will certainly fit the bill for that special romantic night out.

The Urbani family is legendary, dating back six generations and controlling over 70% of the world truffle market, with shops in 68 countries around the globe. Here at their first and Bangkok's first restaurant dedicated solely to the truffle, diners are treated to a variety of five-course tasting menus in which they get to design their own dinners, choosing between an array of courses that all show off the fragrant imported truffles. The finest quality meats and seafood are used here, from Japanese Kobe beef to imported Spanish sea bass, halibut, or Australian tenderloin, all beautifully presented on creative plates in which the truffles have been grated, topped, or weaved into.

If you happen to be here during the fall season, when the prized white truffle becomes available, make sure to sample it, served best here in a homemade tagliatelle carbonara, served with sous vide egg yolk, bacon, and white truffle slices. As they don't shave the truffles at your table, it's worth asking to go up to the open chef's kitchen to watch the truffles being grated under bright lamps just before they are served. The earthy and pungent aromas and flavours of the truffles are released by the heat of the pasta, tasting heavenly enough to justify their Italian nickname of the "truffle of the white Madonna."

Chef Toey Saharat Tangthai heads a large team of cooks here (the lineup needed to create the outstanding and meticulous presentations is quite impressive), all of whom are visible in the bright open kitchen. Chef Tangthai is a young (33) rising star, who already has stints at two Michelin-starred Gaggan and Mezzaluna under his belt, as well as the Skye Beach Club at the Laguna, Phuket, before taking over as the Group Executive Chef here at Urbani.

In addition to the tasting menus, you can also opt for a la carte, and Urbani also serves a small lunch tasting menu for those who want to sample the wonders of fresh truffles without going all out for a dinner splurge.