Set deep inside leafy soi Tonson, Le Pre Grill is a charming little French restaurant in a vintage teak house. Serving to mostly French expats and Asian tourists, the half-Thai, half-French owner/chef, Khun Jai, spent 16 years in traditional French kitchens. And the most striking characteristic he has brought to the food is it's lightness, contrasting to common notions of rich and heavy French cuisine.

The prices are slightly on the weightier side, though most wouldn't mind forking out for the intimate atmosphere, precise service and fresh fare. Khun Jai tries to use as many local ingredients as possible, while importing only the most necessary items like foie gras and cod liver oil.

However, the duck confit is home-made and the tender grilled lamb in red wine sauce is surprisingly home-grown in Thailand. Finishing off with a fluffy meringue-like dessert, which translates as "floating island" from French, you most certainly won't go home feeling like Monty Python's Mr Creosote.

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