A trip to Paris has never been so easy. Already from outside the Water Library at Central Embassy you feel transported to the city of love, and more precisely to the Eiffel Tower as the grandiose entrance does not try to hide. Opened in 2014, this is one of the last new additions to the Water Library Hospitality Group.  The Water Library follows the concept of a French bistro – a small and modest restaurant – set in the 1920s, making you feel like a character of Midnight in Paris, having a casual drink with Coco Chanel or Ernest Hemingway.

The decor definitely set the place apart from any other around the mall. As you enter you will be bewildered by the leather upholstery, the black-and-white tiles bistro-style, the height of the ceiling with racked bottles all the way up, and the dark tones of the walls – making the restaurant a cozy place to relax. Further down, a terrace is available with a stunning view of Ploenchit Road buildings.

All the French classics are available on the menu: beef tartare, foie gras, frog legs, cod brandade, onion soup, lobster bisque, beef bourguignon and crème brûlée, just to name a few. First start with Potato Bread accompanied by its whipped truffle butter, judiciously served up in a newspaper: Le Petit Journal. The bread is warm and allows the butter to lovingly melt. Just add a few sprinkles of salt on top, and this becomes blissful perfection with a kick.

On to the appetisers with the Cod Croquette. Generous fillings of fresh cod fish fried in breadcrumbs, the croquette sits on a base of slightly sweet and savoury tomato chutney with side of mix salad of rocket lettues and cherry tomatoes drizzled with tangy white wine vinaigrette. Simple, delicious and good beginning to a meal.

The Carrot Soup of apparent simplicity is rich, smooth in texture and creamy topped with honey cream. The root vegetable goes very well with the slight woody taste of the honey. Definitely a try for soup addicts, especially comforting on a rainy day.

Popular to try the Foie Gras Tortellini before the main course. Two large tortellini filled with luscious foie gras, cooked al dente and finished with hazelnut foam and spinach. The nuttiness from the light foam compliments well with the buttery liver flavours. Every bite into the tortellini releases a symphony of aromas created by the clever melanges.

If you cannot get enough of Italian noodles the Lobster Pasta will certainly satisfy. Capellini pasta is used with bits of chorizo, brocolli and massive amounts of de-shelled lobster meat. The lobster deliver delectable briny notes balanced well with the sliced robust garlic. Alas, the Australian Seabass is equally sublime. Steamed perfectly till the meat becomes an instant melt in the mouth goodness, The cream spinach elevates the preparation by complementing the tartness of the pickled onion and mushroom, allowing you to discover all the layered flavours that go into the recipe.

On this note, we move on to Profiterole. For this dessert, caramel ice cream is sandwiched in-between a small ball of soft, sweet choux pastry cut in half, on a base of chocolate sauce and roasted almonds. It is a match made in heaven.

The Water Library offers a large choice of wines from all over the world. With a particularly thorough list of red wines, if you are trying one of the big and beautiful reds on the menu, you are in for a treat. This is a great place in Bangkok for a lunch à la francaise with a twist. Make sure to reserve well in advance.

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