Nusara

My “research” led me to Nusara, ranked THIRD on Asia’s 50 Best list. Excited by the prospect, I immediately made a reservation about a week before my anticipated visit. Little did I know, this decision would lead to an experience I’d rather forget. I couldn’t help but feel regret for suggesting Nusara to my group of friends, as it turned out to be a culinary catastrophe. I feel compelled to make it clear: AVOID AT ALL COSTS – dining at Nusara was a dreadful ordeal.

Our table was reserved for 7 pm, and upon our arrival, we were initially seated in the welcoming lounge area, where we received a welcome drink and proceeded to order more drinks. Instead of the culinary journey we had hoped for, we found ourselves being relocated to a peculiar ‘kitchen’ space to sample an amuse-bouche. While it sounded intriguing, the experience was anything but pleasant. The kitchen emitted an overpowering odour reminiscent of a fish market on a very hot summer day with no AC. We even inquired whether we could enjoy our amuse-bouche in the more comfortable lounge area, but the chef insisted we remain in the kitchen for the ‘experience’. There, we sampled a dish featuring jelly with sea grapes and shrimp tart, which, to be honest, failed to captivate our taste buds. It came across as rather ordinary, lacking the desired allure.

The next chapter of our odyssey led us back to the lounge to finish our drinks before ascending to the roof. However, the elevator, positioned conveniently near the restroom, emitted a foul odour reminiscent of a crowded public toilet cubicle at a 3-day music festival. In an elevator the size of a small fridge, 3 of us managed to squeeze in uncomfortably, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. The prospect of being stuck in this claustrophobic space weighed on my mind. Upon our exit from this minuscule contraption, we had to ascend one more floor, and it was here that the atmosphere finally took a turn for the better. The view from the top was nothing short of breathtaking, offering a captivating panorama that overlooked the majestic Wat Pho Temple – absolutely adore. Our enthusiasm was momentarily rekindled when we were presented with another amuse-bouche, this time featuring caviar. This specific spot, with its extremely low tables, appeared better suited for post-dinner digestifs, as dining on such low surfaces proved to be quite uncomfortable. I must admit, the cocktails were quite delicious; I had already enjoyed three of the same ones by the time we finally got to our dining table (which took over an hour).

Fast forward two and a half hours, and we were still lingering at the starters of our meal. Glancing at the menu, we discovered that a whopping ten additional courses awaited us – five main dishes and five desserts. Now, I do enjoy fine dining, especially when a degustation menu artfully showcases the chef’s culinary prowess, using the finest ingredients to represent the region in a balanced manner. However, the experience at Nusara seemed more focused on quantity than quality. The extensive menu included a multitude of small, uninspiring dishes that predominantly shared a monotonous fish sauce flavour. To make matters worse, our orders for wine and cocktails were met with lengthy delays, leaving our glasses empty for extended periods.

As I sit down to recount this experience, I’m hard-pressed to remember a single dish from the evening, save for one – a passable ice-cream dessert. The meal felt like a prolonged journey of disappointment and monotony, failing to meet the expectations set by its prestigious ranking. Once more, restaurants like this serve as a poignant reminder of why I originally started this blog. Travellers, like me, venture to new countries and cities with the excitement of experiencing excellent cuisine, only to be left sorely disappointed.

Address: 336 Maha Rat Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Khet Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand