After having the opportunity to get to know AMAYA Food Gallery for the first time at Amari Koh Samui at the end of November 2016, this time I received another great opportunity from Amari to try the "AMAYA Food Gallery" in the heart of Bangkok at Amari Watergate Bangkok (Pratunam). After being renovated and opened for about 1 month, we were invited to join a buffet dinner as media.

Note: Used the service on March 3, 2017.

AMAYA Food Gallery is a prototype restaurant for the Amari group. Amari will convert all restaurants in the group's hotels to AMAYA, which will be similar or different from the one at Amari Koh Samui that we have already experienced. I will tell you about it in this review.

Reference Amari Koh Samui review >> https://goo.gl/yozAhV


AMAYA Food Gallery -- Amari Watergate Bangkok
https://www.facebook.com/AmayaBangkok/

Similarity ....

AMAYA Food Gallery: A Culinary Journey Through Southeast Asian Street Food

AMAYA Food Gallery embraces the vibrant essence of Southeast Asian street food, capturing its unique culinary spirit. Inspired by the region's ubiquitous food carts and roadside stalls, AMAYA presents an "open kitchen" concept, inviting guests to witness the culinary artistry firsthand.

This interactive dining experience allows patrons to engage with the chefs, requesting personalized dishes crafted from available ingredients. This bespoke approach empowers diners to co-create their culinary journey, fostering a sense of ownership and delight.

Beyond the open kitchen, AMAYA's décor bursts with vibrant colors and playful elements, reflecting the inherent joy and energy of Asian culture. This aesthetic aligns with Amari's brand identity, which celebrates "the colors and rhythms of modern Asia." The recent rebranding initiative across various Amari properties has further accentuated this contemporary aesthetic.

A Culinary Distinction:

Unlike its counterpart at Amari Koh Samui, which focuses on a la carte dining with themed evenings like Beach BBQ, AMAYA Food Gallery at Amari Watergate Bangkok specializes in international buffet experiences for both lunch and dinner. Notably, Friday evenings are dedicated to a special "Seafood Night," while Sundays feature a delectable "Sunday Brunch."

Our recent visit focused on the "Seafood Night" buffet on a Friday evening. Let's embark on a culinary exploration to discover the treasures that awaited us.

The AMAYA Food Gallery is located on the 4th floor of the Amari Watergate Bangkok.

The central area of the dining room is an open hall, offering a view of the lobby below. The high ceilings contribute to a spacious and airy atmosphere. The design features tall walls and strategic lighting, creating a grand and impressive ambiance.

Each cuisine section is allocated and divided into the space perfectly.

The food court is spacious, with various sections to prevent overcrowding. The Thai food section features vibrant walls adorned with vintage movie posters. The selection includes ready-made dishes like spicy banana blossom salad and marinated pig ears, as well as made-to-order options like papaya salad and seafood noodles. A small Chinese food corner offers dim sum items like dumplings and steamed buns.

The next corner, "Grill Station," focuses on hot, grilled dishes ... with a variety of lamb, beef, and other options.
There aren't many pictures of this corner because it's so popular that we couldn't capture it in time.

Next up, we have the "Indian Food Corner." I must confess that I didn't try any of it myself, as I'm not familiar with Indian cuisine. ^^" However, I did gather some information for you. This corner features the essential naan (Indian flatbread), along with Indian lentil curry and Indian cheese curry. While the selection of Indian dishes may not be extensive, it's certainly not lacking. All the food in this corner is halal.

++ Naan ++

After circling the restaurant, we arrived at the corner where we had taken the most rounds. We walked around several times... Well, it was Friday night, which was Seafood Night. The highlight was right here, which was the "Seafood Corner"!!!

Giant crab legs, blue crab, oysters, mussels, scallops, clams, squid, river prawns (medium size but plump), mantis shrimp, etc. ... Oh my! I'd gladly accept the cholesterol increase for this! It's simply delicious for a seafood lover like me. I've had giant crab legs at other places that were a bit too salty, as if they had been soaked in salt water, but this place is excellent. The taste is perfect, and the seafood is fresh.

Oysters come in a wide variety of types.

Both from our local seas and imported, such as Korean Oyster, Irish Oyster, Australian Oyster, etc.

The crab menu includes both Alaskan king crab legs and blue crab.

In my opinion, adding a soft-shell crab menu item would significantly enhance the dining experience.

The mantis shrimp is divided into two groups: Andaman and French.

Let's take a look at the diverse family of shellfish, including oysters, mussels, scallops, clams, and more. However, my personal favorite is the "cockle." This might seem unusual, but as a huge fan of buffets and seafood, I rarely encounter cockles in buffet settings. Therefore, I particularly appreciate this menu item. The cockles are perfectly cooked, with plump, red flesh that complements the chilled or on-ice presentation.

In addition to the wide variety of seafood, the same counter also offers a Japanese food corner with sushi and sashimi.

Moving on to the next counter, we encounter the "dessert corner." However, hold on! We haven't finished describing the savory dishes yet, so let's skip this corner for now and move on to the **"Italian food corner."** It is somewhat secluded and separated from the other food corners, and the dining tables have a distinct style and identity of their own, unlike the other corners. It is also located near the wine cellar.

If you desire privacy,

The venue also boasts a private dining room for larger groups, accommodating up to 20 guests. This room is conveniently located near the aforementioned zone.

++ Private Room ++

The most eye-catching dish in this corner is the lobster baked with cheese. ... In addition, there are a variety of cheeses to taste, and the indispensable Italian food is spaghetti and pizza. One of our favorite menus is spaghetti carbonara.

A cheese lover at heart, I requested the chef to prepare a special dish for me (as mentioned earlier, we can create dishes according to your preferences, if possible, the chef will arrange it for you!!!). So I ordered a cheese-baked shellfish dish. The chef presented me with both scallops and mussels. Eating them while they were hot and the cheese was melting... Oh my, it was truly delightful.

After indulging in a wide variety of savory dishes, we concluded our culinary journey with a delightful selection of desserts. These included refreshing shaved ice, decadent cakes, traditional Thai sweets (such as thong yip and kluay bua chi), fresh fruits, creamy ice cream, delectable crêpes Suzette, and a rich chocolate fondue.

Among the dishes I had never seen before and tried for the first time was the "Gulab Jamun."

Intrigued, I inquired with the staff about the dish. It turned out to be an Indian dessert. The round, doughy balls, made with a mixture of milk and flour, were deep-fried in ghee and then immersed in a sweet, syrupy liquid. The dish had a subtle warmth from the spices, reminiscent of black sesame dumplings but without the ginger heat.

The highlight of the dessert section is the "shaved ice," which features a wide variety of flavored syrups and over 40 different toppings, including but not limited to: cendol, ruby-red water chestnuts, coconut jelly, candied sweet potato, palm fruit, shredded egg yolk, longan, ginkgo nuts, taro, sago, candied jujube, grass jelly, basil seeds, and more. I've heard that the Sunday brunch offers an even wider selection of toppings.

The sheer variety is enough to make anyone's mouth water, and I can't help but wish there was a dedicated shaved ice buffet. As a dessert enthusiast, I'm always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to indulge my sweet tooth. While I've seen plenty of cake and ice cream buffets, a shaved ice buffet would be a truly unique and refreshing experience.

After the savory and sweet courses, let's end with a look at the drinks at "AMAYA Bar". The highlight here is the "Sharing Cocktails".

The beverage options here go beyond the typical large-sized containers. You'll find massive options, including round jars and oversized apothecary-style bottles, that can easily serve four or more people. However, if you're dining solo or want to sample a variety of flavors, fear not! You can choose the portion size that best suits your needs, whether it's for one or multiple individuals.

Please note that beverages are not included in the buffet price. You can order them separately according to your needs. For example, the "Our Sweet Earth" drink costs 250++ baht per glass for individual orders or 500++ baht per large carafe. The vibrant colors and Thai cotton candy make it look more like a dessert than a cocktail. (I took this photo from a nearby table as I didn't try it myself.)

We ordered this batch to try it out. "Is this love?" is priced at 500++ baht per dozen, similar to sangria. The appearance is strikingly similar to sangria, a popular Spanish drink, but from what I've tried, the alcohol content is not as strong as sangria.

The ingredients list does not include red wine, which is different from sangria. However, this bottle stands out with rose petals sprinkled on top. You need to shake the bottle before pouring it into a glass. From what I tried, it can pour at least 8 glasses, averaging 50++ baht per glass. We think it's very worthwhile for those who want to drink with a large group of friends and share it.

Having reviewed the large-sized menu items, let's move on to the smaller glasses. I had the opportunity to try a cocktail called "A Shore Thing" (apologies, no accompanying image as I didn't capture one). This cocktail has a very fragrant aroma due to the addition of saffron. The lingering aftertaste of the fragrance left a lasting impression, making it a highly recommended choice.

++ The image depicts a champagne bottle and a mocktail called "mellow-up". ++

If you're not in the mood for a full meal, you can stop by the "AMAYA Bar" just to try out some of their stylish and unique drinks. You can find a corner to relax and have a light drink, chat with friends, or escape the evening rush hour traffic... whatever you prefer.

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Amari Watergate Bangkok is not directly connected to a BTS station, but it is located between the Chit Lom BTS station and the Ratchaprarop Airport Link station. It is also close to the Platinum Fashion Mall. Guests can walk from CTW in approximately 10 minutes. ... Guests with private vehicles can validate their parking tickets at the restaurant for up to 4 hours.

For those interested in dining at the AMAYA Food Gallery, here are the details and prices for each day:
* Lunch buffet: 950++ baht per person (food only), served Monday to Saturday from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM. * Dinner buffet: 1,200++ baht per person (food only), served Monday to Saturday (except Friday) from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM. * Seafood buffet: 1,500++ baht per person (food only), served only on Fridays from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM. An additional 650 baht++ per person is required for unlimited drinks (including house white and red wine, soft drinks, juices, and water).
* Sunday brunch: served only on Sundays from 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM. // 1,800++ baht per person (food only) // 2,499++ baht per person including soft drinks, juices, tea, and coffee // 2,999++ baht per person including soft drinks, juices, red wine, white wine, and unlimited sparkling wine // 3,500++ baht per person including soft drinks, juices, red wine, white wine, unlimited sparkling wine, and champagne
Note: Prices ++ do not include 10% service charge and 7% VAT.

Reservations:
Phone: 02-653-9000 ext. 355 or 356 (Amaya Food Gallery)
Email: [email protected]

** Special !! 40% discount promotion on buffet prices from now until March 31, 2017 **
Simply make a reservation in advance and mention "Nina's Journey" to receive a 40% discount on the regular price (buffet only, drinks not included). There is no limit on the number of people. You can go with 10 ... 20 ... 30 people or more!
http://www.facebook.com/NinaJourney

Finally, I wish you all a delicious meal.
Thank you and goodbye.