MAPPING THE FOOD SCENE
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN NAVIGATE YOUR WAY THROUGH MUMBAI’S MAZE OF NEW RESTAURANTS
When chef Hemant Oberoi launched his eponymous restaurant in Mumbai last month, he deemed it a ‘dream come true.’ Mumbai had always lauded him and this is where his heart has always been. The BKC restaurant features some of his most signature dishes, but each with an evolved, advanced upgrade. Food trends and catchphrases sometimes become a formula for success for the misguided— we’re currently seeing an alarming number of “brasseries” in the city, after Bombay Brasserie’s return we have Luca in Lower Parel, Off The Grid in Andheri and Hopscotch in Bandra. But it’s also true that diners are now presented with more variety, authenticity and innovation than ever before.
For two years or so, the city seemed to be making a sincere attempt at exploring the regional as well as modernising traditional vegetarian cuisine. Opening mid-July, Juhu’s +91 continues this trend. Keeping gimmicks to a minimum, the plan is to serve the classics “from Kashmir to Kanyakumari” . Over the past month or so, the food of the coast has been in the limelight too, with Thangabali and Fish N Bait opening in June. But as note-worthy are city restaurateurs’ attempts to offer food lovers a taste of the exotic. A first for the city has been AD Singh’s ode to Tokyo’s colourful pop culture and food Hello Guppy in BKC. The most exciting newcomer is Slink and Bardot, Chef Alexis Gielbaum and Nick Harrison’s modern French restaurant and lounge. Read on to find out why you must head to the Worli restaurant, where else to go and what to eat.
Hello Guppy
Tokyo is where the world’s greatest chefs are looking to for inspiration, so why should Mumbai’s best be left behind. The city’s latest Japanese café and bar Hello Guppy truly exemplifies the exuberance, kitschyness and the flamboyance of Tokyo’s popular culture. Between the décor and the delicious food, there’s not a colour you won’t spot here. The Spicy Salmon Miso Soup is highly recommended as is the Hello Guppy Salad. The devil’s in the details and you’ve got to love that the soy sauce is served in a spray bottle, so you can mist your sushi rolls instead of drowning them in Kikkoman. The ramen burger, extra messy be-
cause of the runny egg but packed with flavour, is going to be joined soon by other ‘café’ items like sandwiches that are inspired by Japanese food. What To Order A Donburi bowl for a quick lunch, a ramen burger if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty Look Out For The new cafe menu Meal For two Rs 2,200 plus taxes At Ground Floor, Godrej-BKC, G-Block, BKC, Bandra (East) Tel 26534720
Slink and Bardot
Thadani House at the mouth of Worli Village, now home to Slink and Bardot, has housed several of the city’s popular restaurants from Cool Chef Café to Café Nemo. But its location is certainly not the only thing going for Slink and Bardot. The charming French restaurant and lounge has a warm, welcoming feel to it and is very much like a home. Sam Cooke’s voice fills the living room-like lounge the night we visit. The walls are decorated either in tropical wallpaper or an azure blue of the South of France. It might seem an unusual match, but it works well. Just like Chef Alexis Gielbaum’s unconventional use of mango or turmeric in his “modern” French dishes. Ninety per cent of the menu relies on local ingredients, but Gielbaum attempts to stay as authentic as possible. Even the steak tartare is made with local buffalo meat. This is why the meal is not likely to burn a hole in your pocket. You can choose from the cold picnic section, a rustic and a classic section, but they serve only small plates; I see this as a good thing though—it allows you to sample more of the menu.
What To Order Steak tartate and the citrus-cured rawas gravlax
Look Out For Daily specials, inspired by fresh produce Meal For Two Rs 3,000 At 329/A, Thadani House, Opposite Indian Coast Guard, Worli Village Tel 9967115800