Salt

Another great reason to visit Ari - cheers to this site for this photo.

I'd been eager to dine at this new'ish Ari joint for ages and thank buddha it lived up to expectations (this rarely happens).

In many ways, it's a slightly trendier cousin of Pl Dib, which is just around the corner on Ari Samphan. For example, the Salt menu is chock full of Japanese and other Asian influenced dishes and flavours and sports the same industrial-minimalist interior look - there's even a 'towering inferno' wood fired pizza oven near the kitchen.

Whether you are enjoying the "alfresco aspect" in the cool backyard, lounging in the daybed section or sitting in the glasshouse front dining area, Salt offers a fun, funky and chic eating experience. My nephew, sister-in-law and me especially enjoyed looking out the big windows to get an up close view of Ari street life.

Our attention was quickly diverted when the first of our many orders arrived. Every dish was well cooked and presented and received a thumbs up from the junior and senior members at our table. My bro-in-law described the moist, beautifully cooked snow fish as 'joy on a plate.'

Other top picks? A fresh and zesty salmon carpaccio; a hearty beef shank platter served with cute spice cubes (like Oxo stock cubes but red and spicy); delicious tuna and fried salmon skin sushi and a juicy, cheesy margherita pizza that my bro-in-law declared to be as good as anything encountered during his many years of eating in New York.

Only an overcooked duck confit failed to impress - but one disappointment out of eight ain't bad. Given the other interesting and mouthwatering options available including beef ragu ravioli, frogs legs and a spicy lamb dish we'll most definitely be back.

Finally, a word on the atmosphere. We loved Salt's inclusive vibe - while it's one of the most fashionable new entries on the BKK dining landscape right now it's a place where everyone can enjoy.

BK magazine's review
Salt's Facebook page

Before..

And after 10 minutes in the wood fired oven

The flavoursome tuna and fried salmon skin sushi roll that offered a nice crunch factor

The Thai-styled beef shank and its spice cube condiment

The snow fish described by my bro-in-law as 'joy on a plate.'

Pla Dib

Good times and eats guaranteed.

Memo to Tourism Thailand, your next "Amazing Thailand" promo/campaign should include Pla Dib restaurant.

This Ari dining gem is one of our most loved and frequently visited eateries in BKK. A place we bring many of our overseas visitors - as we did on Friday - with good friends from Singapore.

Over the past couple of years we've also shared fantastic meals with other visiting food lovers including the hungry Samoan, close pals from Indonesia and the Netherlands and family members from New Zealand. Pla Dib has never failed to deliver a memorable and special night.

We love its stripped back, industrial-styled decor and laid back charm.

Most of all... we dig the food.

The incredible seafood ceviche.

While I loathe the "fusion" tag, Pla Dib does fusion superbly, better than any "modern Asian" eatery that we've ever been to. Rather than mixing recipes and ideas to shock or show off, the Pla Dib chefs subtly blend predominantly Japanese and Thai flavours and ingredients to produce interesting, original and most importantly, bloody delicious food.

Regular orders include the seafood ceviche - cubed salmon, tuna, prawns and octopus topped with a Japanese dressing; goyza; salmon laab, soft shell crab salad, beef salad and the blowtorch salmon sushi. Other notable dishes include a perfectly cooked duck confit, crispy wood fired pizza and more.

Pla Dib also boasts a pretty diverse drinks list with a good selection of wine and beer (Stella and Hoegaarden on tap).

Music is a final ingredient that takes Pla Dib into our BKK restaurant hall of fame - specifically, the in-house DJs who provide an awesome mix of soul, reggae, dub, funk, jazz and mellow electronica sounds. A great change from the endless bossa nova endured at other trendy BKK eating and drinking establishments.

Bookings are are must - Pla Dib Facebook page