No Cabin Fever Here As Log And Roll Combine To Catch Eye And Ear!
Amazingly, most people drive past the monstrous Log Cabin on Soi Thonglor - one of the real folies of the eighties and nineties consumer frenzy – without ever noticing it or the Moslem radio station next door for that matter.
This massive wooden edifice is built entirely of logs imported from the U.S. And if you don't believe me, turn to the Guinness Book Of Records who have confirmed that yes indeed – Thong Lor or Sukhumvit Soi 55 is home to the American logger's single wonder of the world – the errr…Log Cabin as it is not surprisingly known - the biggest log construction ever built on Earth – right here in Bangkok!
Built I guess out of an unforgiveably ostentatious desire to be noticed beyond simply owning the largest Mercedes Benz dealership in town, it was originally home to said dealer ‘Benz Thonglor'. But as their crown slipped and BMW stole a march on the once-premier German car maker, the timber edifice was abandoned as an eye-popping car showroom and sold instead to someone crazy enough to fill it with four restaurants and a pub.
Thus today it is home to Grill'N More Restaurant, Teppanyaki Restaurant, BBQ Shabu Shabu Restaurant, Mori Japanese Restaurant and the reason for our visit, the Log Cabin Pub And Restaurant which features two bands a night and a potentially splendid variety of food and drink.
So this is a hostel of mega dimensions but keeping it simple, the pub bit is a huge L-shaped room, with booths, darts, a central bar, a huge television with silent sports, and a very generous stage covered with state-of-the-art gear and sound equipment, and not quite so state-of-the-art musicians. Unless of course you like Uriah Heep, the Moody Blues, Toto, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and the like. And you really need to like loud music, because this very tight and musical rock band rocks big time, with decibels to spare to prove it!
I mean we all know a quiet rock band is not a real rock band, so the quandary faces you immediately you enter after nine o'clock when the house band Balloon are already on. If you have come here to wind down, charm the pants off your girl, or impress your boss, prepare to do so with a megaphone! The band is loud and proud and takes no prisoners, although apparently that's fine by the dozen or so customers there when we fronted up for a bevvy and some rock and roll!
To be fair they do throw in a sprinkling of country and Eagles too, so there are moments when you can talk amongst yourselves about the ranch-like décor and the sixties music posters and even discuss what you want to eat. There is an Issan menu of spicy stuff, a traditional Thai menu with all your favourites, a pasta menu, a noodles and rice menu and even a few Western favourites to tempt you away from the music. But there is no escaping the fact that this is a music pub and while spacious and comfortable and well lit with loads of waiters and waitresses, methinks it is an after dinner getaway and the nearer the weekend you get there, the better.
There is a wine list too dominated mainly by French offerings. The most expensive of those is the '93 Premier Cru Chateau Margaux at Baht 12,800 a go. The cheapest is also a Produit De France – a modest Bodeaux Demaine Des Chenes Les Magdaliens at Baht 1,200 a throw. Are we impressed? Well maybe, but there are a few Italian favourites and the usual culprits from California , Oz , Chile and South Africa . And all this in a pub which favours draft Chang and draft Chang Lite beer.
There are two bands every night and the first band – whoever they might be - is always followed by Balloon, the house band. So take pot luck and bring your own earplugs if you want to munch your steak and chips as the joint gets a rockin'!
Log Cabin
Sukhumvit 55,
Thong Lor Soi 18
Live music Tuesday through Sunday
8:00 pm to 12:30 pm
Tel: 02-714 7810
