When we heard of The Baxter Brenton, the name sounded so posh that we thought it was yet another pretentious fine-dining venue. Rather, it turns out to be a modish-yet-humble Chinese-themed bistro in Charoenkrung serving up healthy Thai-Asian fusion comfort food.
Nestled on the edge of Soi Charoenkrung 70, the restaurant is the flagship of Baxter Brenton Corporation, a respectable food and product distributor and supplier founded by Dr. Donn Pjongluck. In an area lined with shophouses of little significance, it’s almost impossible not to get drawn to the restaurant’s charming black gate printed with the contrasting red Baxter Brenton logo. In contrast to the British-sounding name, Chinese motifs and accessories dominate the shop’s first-floor canteen: traditional lanterns, worn-out brick walls with peeling plaster and old-school refrigerators storing a variety of snacks and drinks. (The over-the-top Chinese theme gives the place the air of a heritage center rather than that of a restaurant.) Come late afternoon, the dining room and co-working space on the second floor are packed with tourists, curious passers-by and parents waiting to pick up their children from the nearby international school.
The Baxter Brenton looks to please health enthusiasts by serving Thai-Asian dishes using organic and healthy ingredients. Ease yourself into a menu that includes pineapple fried brown rice (B80) and fried brown rice with shrimp paste and topped with fresh and succulent shrimps (B80). The rice bowls may look slightly watery, but they taste surprisingly better than how they look. As for mains, choose between an astonishingly delicious chicken in galangal coconut soup (B80) or a Thai pomelo salad that features big chunks of fruit (B80). Don’t forget to quench your thirst with The Baxter Brenton’s signature lemon iced tea (B60).
The restaurant also offers delivery and plans to serve mocktails on the chillaxing rooftop terrace in the near future.