This is a treat for only those who are obsessed with gourmet food and have stopped counting calories since the 1980’s. As you may have noticed, Mumbai’s restaurant scene is hotting up and over last few months, the city has seen the kick off of plentiful eateries around the city; from Palladium Hotel’s Yuuka and Sahib Room & Kipling Bar to Joss reopening with a bang in Santacruz. No more are we indulging in conventional Asian or Mediterranean fare, now it all about the era of molecular gastronomy and fusion culinary delicacies.
While we appreciate new places like Yuuka opening and taking the city by storm, but it is also nice to know that some of Mumbai’s most famous restaurants still have the ability to reinvent themselves (as Joss has done) and to maintain the standards they have been known for over the years.
Here are our top picks of 2014’s most interesting restaurant openings.
6. Aqaba, Lower Parel
For Aqaba, the newly opened Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern fine dining joint in Peninsula Business Park, its 3,000 square feet area impressed me. Unlike restaurants these days which cramp four tables in a space for one, this one is decently spread out. Though Aqaba has an all-day menu with lots of salads, sandwiches, pastas and pizzas, We would personally recommend dining at night; more so, the restaurant has a splendid view of the city. Including a handful of delicacies from Greece, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt and Italy, Aqaba’s menu certainly impressed me.
Meal for Two: Rs.5,500 inclusive of cocktails and taxes.
Address: Aqaba, Club House, Level P5, Peninsula Business Park, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai
5. Joss, Santacruz
The closure of Kala Ghoda’s premium eatery, Joss was definitely a disappointment. Luckily for those of you who dying to feast your taste buds on the Oriental delicacies from the Joss kitchen, make way to Santacruz. The presentation of food items will certainly impress you. The cocktails and dishes use the technique of molecular gastronomy and dress to impress. The dim-sums and sushi’s are simply delightful. The Massaman Red Curry is a must-try. If you have stopped counting calories and have a sweet tooth, treat yourself to The Big Bang Theory.
Meal for Two: Rs.5,000 inclusive of cocktails and taxes.
Address: Joss, Savoy Chambers, Next To Mini Cooper Showroom, Linking Road, Santacruz West, Mumbai
Garnering a reservation at the Ankit Gupta’s eatery is almost impossible. I was quite surprised considering this is an entirely Vegetarian Burmese eatery but the restaurant is definitely worth a visit. I am not really a salad fan, but relished the Mandalay Laphet Thoke Tea Leaf Salad and the Tayat Thi Thoke Raw Mango salad. The extreme attention to detail given is quite commendable. If you are a Khow Suey fan, order the Burma Burma Oh No Khow Suey.
Meal for Two: Rs.2,500 inclusive of cocktails and taxes.
Address: Burma Burma, Kothari House, Allana Centre Lane, MG Road, Behind Mumbai University, Fort, Mumbai
Finally another place in the city offering delectable sushi’s and Japanese delicacies! Radhika & Archana Agarwal’s eatery is all marble and metal spotted with wood tables and plush furnishings. If you are one to crave sushis, indulge in the not-so-conventional Plum Maki and To Die For Sushi. For mains, go with Basa Filets and Chicken Katsu Donburi. I’ve heard the Japanese joint is the hottest flavour of the season so consider making a reservation in advance.
Meal for Two: Rs.5,000 inclusive of cocktails and taxes.
Address: Saizen, 41/42, Minoo Desai Marg, Behind Radio Club, Colaba, Mumbai
Conceptualized by Chef Ting Yen (a renowned chef from Boston), the authentic Japanese luxury diner perched on the higher floors of Palladium hotel, combine flavours on a platter that cannot be ignored. Since the hotel occupies a prime space on the 37th floor of the South Mumbai hotel, you can be sure on a stunning view of the city’s landscape. Though Japanese-inspired cocktails and regular drinks are on the menu, we would suggest you stick to the Sake, just to maintain the atmosphere. Yuuka is decorated in gold and wooden panels, with origami design adding the Oriental flavour. Since we were invited to an exclusive tasting with the chef himself, we would recommend the chef-inspired Japanese Yam Teriyaki Maki and the Green Tea Layer Cake.
Meal for Two: Rs.8,000 inclusive of cocktails and taxes.
Address: Yuuka, Palladium Hotel, Lower Parel, Mumbai
Here at Palladium Hotel’s Indian bar and restaurant, you’ll find yourself starting with cocktails named after Kipling’s poems and story characters. The kebabs and grills are definitely worth experimenting with. During our exclusive tasting at the opulent diner, we treated our taste buds to the succulent and tender Sahib Room Nalli Nihari and Nadroo Ke Shammi. Dishes that cannot be ignored are the Lahori Chaampein and Kolkata Meetha Pan Ice-cream. From opulent chandeliers and Venetian crystals to the finely curated prints, the venue’s spacious dining space is ideal for an occasion.
Meal for Two: Rs.6,000 inclusive of cocktails and taxes.
Address: The Sahib Room & Kipling Bar, Level 9M, Palladium Hotel, 462 Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai
