The Oberoi Group may be several decades old but it continues to be a trendsetter. After the success of its gorgeous French cafe called Cou Cou in the Jio World Drive at Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, the group has now crafted Amadeo By Oberoi, a unique independent restaurant inside the expansive Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) at the Jio World Centre nearby.
Despite being spread across 14,600 square feet, the beautifully laid out restaurant that seats 140 guests exudes an intimate and relaxed vibe. The design by EDG Singapore allows the restaurant to morph seamlessly from cheery day to atmosphere-filled evening to cosy night. Subtle touches in the selection of artifacts and decor elements hint at the diversity the diner can expect from the versatile menu.
Four’s a charm
A formidable kitchen team headed by the capable and versatile Executive Chef Kayzad Sadri ensures that you can choose from not one or two, but all of four cuisines in one menu, which they call The Counter Collection. Before you pooh-pooh this as one of those old-school multi-cuisine restos that are jack-of-all-trades-and-master-of-none, think again.
Since it’s the Oberoi, you know the service and food will be of the highest standard and the culinary heritage of each cuisine well researched and represented. There are special live stations for the Japanese, Chinese, and Italian chefs to showcase their skills and interact directly with the diners, while the Indian culinary team has a large area in the kitchen dedicated for their use.
A pasta bar where you can watch your tagliatelle being hand cut, a sushi station where you can chat with the chef while they roll your maki, and the drama of the fiery Chinese wok, all make for a memorable experience.
Chef Gregorio Oblena is their Japanese specialty chef, Chef Bali Hardik’s forté is progressive Indian, while F&B manager Alisha Rampal leads the team that helps create a personalised experience for every guest.
Health conscious diners will be pleased to see that every dish on the menu displays its weight and calorie count alongside. The Italian section features handmade pastas and risottos, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas. Their Truffle Tagliatelle ticks all the boxes — elevated comfort food that you will probably order again and again. The Chinese section has a unique ‘make your own bao’ segment, apart from a wide array of small and large plates. Their pork belly is beautifully spiced and cooked, and so soft that you don’t even need to chew it! The Japanese menu is extensive, offering everything from a wide variety of sushi, sashimi, gunkan, crispy rice with toppings, and even grills off the robata. Among the Indian dishes, their succulent Duck Seekh Kebab with a tomato prune jam and the Kale Avocado Chaat are definite crowd pleasers.
The counter-side seating at each show kitchen is very au courant and will appeal to younger guests. The more relaxed seats facing the Fountain of Joy (the lotus flower-inspired spectacle that captivates visitors with its high-on-technology sound, light, and water performances each evening) are likely to draw multi-generational families or business people and their top clients. There’s even a private dining room that can be reserved in advance for a party of upto eight guests.
The cocktail programme is on point, dovetailing perfectly with the cuisines on offer. The signature cocktails, in fact, not only align with the food, but are also inspired by the arts that are showcased at the NMACC. The Counter Collection thus showcases Theatre through Chinese drama, Paintings through Indian colours, Music and Cinema through classic Italian flavours, and the precision of Sculpting and Architecture through Japanese techniques.
In keeping with the spiritual feel of the NMACC and yet positioning itself with a global outlook, the name Amadeo is derived from the Latin word Amadeus, and symbolises receiving the love of God via its culinary offerings. Mumbai is certainly blessed to be the first Indian city to witness The Oberoi Group’s experimentation and expansion in their constant quest for continued excellence.
Where –
Amadeo by Oberoi,
NMACC, Jio World Centre, G Block BKC, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East,
Mumbai, – 400051
