Senor Pico – Where the Tequila Sunrise Never Sets!

It was another Monday morning and I was already planning my evening, ready to travel across the city to Ram Intra and discover what the latest satellite of spectacular beer house chain Tawandeng had to offer when my telephone went. To cut a long story short, I never made it so far off my traditional city-centre beat and eventually headed instead a few sois down Sukhumvit where I suddenly found myself virtually transported to distant shores thanks to the music on offer, and the arrival of my host from the deserts of Arabia .

I was resigned to staying downtown if a little miffed that I could not finally visit one of the mega Ram Intra gigs, but as it turned out, I had a great evening even though I did spend most of the evening in Dubai so to speak. That's because I was dining with my friend Rajesh Iyer who apart from being a great musician with Indian rock sensations 13AD, is one of the UAE's greatest fans.

He lives and plays there after all, and as he told me at least once, Dubai is a city that is simply larger than life and in every respect. He even likens the awesomely outré airport to New York's swanky Bloomingdales.

He was here in Bangkok on business and insisted I meet him at his favourite hotel - the Rembrandt on Sukhumvit Soi 18. Of course, and ‘just by coincidence', the band at the hotel's Senor Pico restaurant comprised four Cuban friends of his who just happened to have spent the last 10 years playing their smooth Latin grooves, as resident musicians in Dubai of all places.

But I am not complaining because Senor Picos is a very pleasant evening out in what comes across as an authentic South American cantina , replete with gingham-clad senoritas and very authentic Latin music serenading the throbbing roomful of diners comprising local and hotel residents.

And it's a fun atmosphere too, a kind of party atmosphere even, helped along by groups who dine here and the various families scattered around the room which could probably comfortably seat 260-300 diners. There really is the genuine hustle and bustle of a busy Mexican cantina with loads of fresh-faced, brightly dressed, smiling lads and lasses hurrying to and fro with jugs of margaritas, trays of tortillas and all the other trappings you might expect at any South American dining extravaganza.

And always the music.

Fascinacion – the Spanish spelling of fascination - are a four-piece group of gifted Latino musicians from Cuba featuring flute, Spanish guitar, double bass and bongos with soft and delicious vocals complimenting the cool and classy South American standards and favorites they deliver. They are indeed the perfect compliment to the food and the fare on offer and no one can deny they are at the very least in the right place at the perfect time. The combination of food, music, the hustle and bustle is all so typically Latin and the ambience has a wonderful authenticity.

And in case you thought I was bought and paid for and have gone a tad far in praising the place, my buddy Rajesh would not be pleased as he swears they make the best Margaritas here that he has ever enjoyed after a lifetime of gulping the tequila/lime/lemon juice/triple sec/syrup combination down.

By the way, a jug of frozen Margaritas will cost you 980 Baht, two for 490 and one for 250. Original recipe unfrozen Margaritas cost will set you back 800 for a jug (4 punters), 440 for two and 220 for a single.

A Senor Pico Tequila Punch will set you back 190 as will a Calvados, a Grappa or a Kirsch. A Sonora Daiquiri (the real deal) slips down after you have parted with 200 for one, 440 for two and 880 for a jug for four.

A Tequila Canyon - which is the obligatory Tequila, with Triple Sec and Cranberry Sauce over ice – will set you back 250 baht, but after a jug or two of Margaritas, who's counting.

There is a nice little dance floor and eventually as the evening and the jug count wore on, there were a few punters attempting their Mardi Gras steps and feeling no pain.

Arriba!

But we were busy enjoying the great food which is simply the best Mexican and South American food in town and we buried quite a few kilos of tacos, nachos, tortillas, refried beans and gorgeous Mexican salads done the way only Thai cooks can.

The hotel outlets all feature their Wines of the Month and November/December saw them host some fruity Italian Villa Cornaro Soave and Valpolicella, the latter of which was not bad at all. But you need to go the hotel's more Europena outlets if you want to spend the evening pouring over the wine lists and trying a snifter of this or that from the vineyards of the world.

But if you want a simple night our with the family or friends and a good feed try Senor Pico – he will not let you down!

SENOR PICO
Rembrandt Hotel
Sukhumvit Soi 18
02 261 7100
Music every night from 8:00 pm