Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, Balraj Sahani Marg,Juhu Beach,Mumbai – 49.
Tel: 66394444
Cuisine: Italian and Mediterranean.
A slippery wooden floor, a splash of orange and a bit of red, open kitchens and a wine rack taking up an entire wall make up the rather disappointing ambience. The sunny smiles of the efficient staff manage to light up the rather drab, and surprisingly noisy, atmosphere.
Their fascination for olives comes through with the image being embroidered on the napkin, embossed on the plate and the actual thing being added to every dish we ordered.
Hummus (Rs 185) the hummus suspiciously tasted like it had come out of a can.
Penne Chicken (Rs 630) If you want to find out how a restaurant can go wrong with a simple dish of penne with chicken in cheese sauce, come to Olio.
Chicken and Pickled Lemon Tagine (Rs 650) served with couscous. Ho-hum…
Raspberry Chocolate Bombe (Rs 295) Summon Hercule Poirot, I want to find out where the raspberry disappeared to, from this dessert!
Olio was hugely disappointing. From the dull ambience, to the below par food and its presentation, nothing seemed to impress. The only saving graces; the able and cheerful service and the dessert trolley which they bring around at the end of the meal, for you to choose your dessert from.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Salt Water Café
Rose Minar Annexe, 87, Chapel Road, Next To Mount Carmel Church, Bandra Reclamation, Bandra (W), Mumbai. Ph: 022 26434441.
Insipid ambience – Drab limestone floors and uncomfortable backless wooden benches.
Just a fancy Udipi-joint style seating and decor, really. And yes, you can also work on your tan if you sit by the huge windows overlooking a busy road.
Pathetic and S.L.O.W Service – Disinterested waiters who can’t seem to know what to suggest and then refuse to improvise with the menu. I asked for a simple grilled chicken in a lemon butter sauce with vegetables on the side (all items picked from varied dishes on their menu, mind you) and was promptly declined.
The soup I ordered had way too much salt while the other dishes ordered had none. The waiter had to be reminded to bring in the bread which was an accompaniment with a Chorizo dish. The Tiramisu served had gone bad.
The food took a little over an hour to arrive at the table and wasn’t worth the wait either. With exactly 3 occupied tables the entire time we were there, I wonder what their excuse could be.
Bad day, maybe?
Insipid ambience – Drab limestone floors and uncomfortable backless wooden benches.
Just a fancy Udipi-joint style seating and decor, really. And yes, you can also work on your tan if you sit by the huge windows overlooking a busy road.
Pathetic and S.L.O.W Service – Disinterested waiters who can’t seem to know what to suggest and then refuse to improvise with the menu. I asked for a simple grilled chicken in a lemon butter sauce with vegetables on the side (all items picked from varied dishes on their menu, mind you) and was promptly declined.
The soup I ordered had way too much salt while the other dishes ordered had none. The waiter had to be reminded to bring in the bread which was an accompaniment with a Chorizo dish. The Tiramisu served had gone bad.
The food took a little over an hour to arrive at the table and wasn’t worth the wait either. With exactly 3 occupied tables the entire time we were there, I wonder what their excuse could be.
Bad day, maybe?
Friday, July 17, 2009
The Tasting Room
The Tasting Room, The Good Earth Company, Raghuvanshi Mansion, Raghvanshi Mills Compound, 11-12 Senapati Bapat Marg, Mumbai – 13.
Tel: 24951954. 24953840.
Valet Parking: No.
Nestled in the commercial environment of a busy compound is this haven of tranquility. A roomy expanse, lofty ceiling and an abundance of natural light pouring in from large windows create a languid atmosphere which puts you at ease instantly. Wooden beams running across the ceiling and unfinished walls add charm to the interiors.
Take your pick from the eclectic seating, from tables and chairs of diverse heights to comfortable sofas. And if you like what you see, you can walk away with it for a price. Located inside the very posh furniture and lifestyle accessory store Good Earth, everything in the restaurant is for sale.
Soak in the atmosphere and munch away on the tray of goodies placed before you, various types of bite-sized breads, crisp breadsticks and a sinful swirl of garlic butter, as you wait for your order to arrive, which does take an age to appear.
You’ll most probably polish off the enitrie tray by the time the food does arrive, and realize the wait has been worth it. Elegantly served in large square plates and earthen bowls, feast on the presentation before you feast on the food itself. My tastebuds rejoiced at the delicate flavoring of the Paprika Grilled Chicken (Rs 325)
Do try the delectable desserts, especially a wedge each of the A.B.S.O.L.U.T.E.L.Y S.I.N.F.U.L. Mud Pie (Rs 110) and Philly Cheese Cake (Rs 160) (When they say cheesecake, they mean cheesecake!)
The Tasting Room is also Mumbai’s first wine bar.
Average meal for 2 (without alchohol): Rs 900
Tel: 24951954. 24953840.
Valet Parking: No.
Nestled in the commercial environment of a busy compound is this haven of tranquility. A roomy expanse, lofty ceiling and an abundance of natural light pouring in from large windows create a languid atmosphere which puts you at ease instantly. Wooden beams running across the ceiling and unfinished walls add charm to the interiors.
Take your pick from the eclectic seating, from tables and chairs of diverse heights to comfortable sofas. And if you like what you see, you can walk away with it for a price. Located inside the very posh furniture and lifestyle accessory store Good Earth, everything in the restaurant is for sale.
Soak in the atmosphere and munch away on the tray of goodies placed before you, various types of bite-sized breads, crisp breadsticks and a sinful swirl of garlic butter, as you wait for your order to arrive, which does take an age to appear.
You’ll most probably polish off the enitrie tray by the time the food does arrive, and realize the wait has been worth it. Elegantly served in large square plates and earthen bowls, feast on the presentation before you feast on the food itself. My tastebuds rejoiced at the delicate flavoring of the Paprika Grilled Chicken (Rs 325)
Do try the delectable desserts, especially a wedge each of the A.B.S.O.L.U.T.E.L.Y S.I.N.F.U.L. Mud Pie (Rs 110) and Philly Cheese Cake (Rs 160) (When they say cheesecake, they mean cheesecake!)
The Tasting Room is also Mumbai’s first wine bar.
Average meal for 2 (without alchohol): Rs 900
Friday, April 24, 2009
Mochamojo
Classic Corner Building, Next to Holy Family Hospital, Hill Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai - 50.
The former Mocha Bandra has recently reopened with a new name ‘Mochamojo’ . The Café has been given a makeover, and how! Retro is the flavor used, with bright psychedelic colors and print adorning one wall and Warhol type cartoon strips adorning another. The rear of an ambassador car has been converted into a sofa
even as a cozy red fur lined cubicle is tucked away into a corner. The seating outside was eclectic as well, with a swing set and some pretty eye catching furniture spread around.
The descriptive and colorful Menu, which has a vinyl record for the cover, is a delight to go through.
The food and drinks have only got better.
I had a Bailey’s Irish Cream shake (Rs 135) and a Multigrain Bread Chicken Panini (Rs 165) both of which were super-yum!
They serve their smoothies and juices in jam jars which we thought was a cute touch.
Their unusual custom made cutlery was another thing we noticed, and found delightful.
Regular water is served in a bottle with a sprig of basil in it.
Service was good; with attentive waiters who guided us through the vast menu and helped us choose the right dishes.
Mochamojo is vibrant explosion of color that delights you with every discovery you make.
The former Mocha Bandra has recently reopened with a new name ‘Mochamojo’ . The Café has been given a makeover, and how! Retro is the flavor used, with bright psychedelic colors and print adorning one wall and Warhol type cartoon strips adorning another. The rear of an ambassador car has been converted into a sofa
even as a cozy red fur lined cubicle is tucked away into a corner. The seating outside was eclectic as well, with a swing set and some pretty eye catching furniture spread around.
The descriptive and colorful Menu, which has a vinyl record for the cover, is a delight to go through.
The food and drinks have only got better.
I had a Bailey’s Irish Cream shake (Rs 135) and a Multigrain Bread Chicken Panini (Rs 165) both of which were super-yum!
They serve their smoothies and juices in jam jars which we thought was a cute touch.
Their unusual custom made cutlery was another thing we noticed, and found delightful.
Regular water is served in a bottle with a sprig of basil in it.
Service was good; with attentive waiters who guided us through the vast menu and helped us choose the right dishes.
Mochamojo is vibrant explosion of color that delights you with every discovery you make.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Sammy Sosa
Shop N0 18, Meera CHS, Oshiwara Link Road, Near Mega Mall, Andheri (W)
Phone: 65278722/8744.
Cuisine: Mexican and Continental.
Serve Alcohol: Yes
Valet Parking: No
Ambience:A small and cozy little restaurant, with two levels on the inside and the option of open air seating on the outside. They play good music which, when coupled with all the talk around, does get a tad noisy when the restaurant fills up. A strategically placed flat screen TV played the IPL match while we were there which had most eyes glued to the television and most mouths glued to draft beer. Seating is really close but comfortable.
Service: The service was great. The slim slat-like menu is descriptive. (Going through the menu was like reading a very interesting book :) The waiters, dressed in cowboy hats, are prompt and polite. The Maitre de was conversant and we loved his recommendations. The owner, Samrat Kapoor, is a lively presence as when he wasn’t stopping by every table to exchange a few words, he was whizzing around the restaurant busily checking the orders or placing them. Our desserts took a while to arrive and the waiting time was studded with profuse apologies from the Maitre De and the owner.
What we ate and drank:
Starters;
Nachos Chico’s (Rs 120) Cheese nachos and chilli and with sour cream and salsa dip on the side (The crispest, most delectable Nachos I’ve had in a while)
Charmulla. Chicken slices coated in thick coriander sauce, served on individual skewers (Rs 180. 6 skewers) (The distinctive sauce made this dish really outstanding)
Main Course:
Rick Onion Chicken (Rs 230) Chicken slices suffused in Onion sauce with boiled potato disks smothered in sour cream and onion sauce on the side (HEAVEN!)
Mama’s Enchilada (Rs 190) Chicken and beans with sour cream and salsa dip on the side (This was okaish. Found it to be a wee bit dry)
Ranchado Chicken (Rs 220) Chicken bathed in tangy dressing with Mexican rice, with just the perfect hint of sweetness, on the side. (Unusual and delish!)
Mama Sita Chica (Rs 240) Chicken with mushrooms covered with a medium spicy sauce on a bed of Mexican rice and mashed potatoes in sour cream and onion sauce on the side. (Really good)
Desserts:
Mud pie with ice cream (Rs 130) Piping-hot scrambled mud pie served in a martini glass with a table spoon sized scoop of vanilla ice cream (Delightful! Though a regular sized scoop of vanilla would have worked better)
Belgian Delight (Rs 130) A layer of brownie sandwiched between two pancakes and generously drizzled with chocolate sauce (Loved the unusual dessert!)
Virgin Kiwi Margarita (Rs 130) (Really good)
Pepsi (Rs 30)
Total Bill for 4: Rs 1800 (including the VAT charge of Rs 200 @12.5%)
All the dishes were presented beautifully. The portion sizes were really good. The chicken used in all the dishes was succulent and the cheese they used was simply delicious.
Phone: 65278722/8744.
Cuisine: Mexican and Continental.
Serve Alcohol: Yes
Valet Parking: No
Ambience:A small and cozy little restaurant, with two levels on the inside and the option of open air seating on the outside. They play good music which, when coupled with all the talk around, does get a tad noisy when the restaurant fills up. A strategically placed flat screen TV played the IPL match while we were there which had most eyes glued to the television and most mouths glued to draft beer. Seating is really close but comfortable.
Service: The service was great. The slim slat-like menu is descriptive. (Going through the menu was like reading a very interesting book :) The waiters, dressed in cowboy hats, are prompt and polite. The Maitre de was conversant and we loved his recommendations. The owner, Samrat Kapoor, is a lively presence as when he wasn’t stopping by every table to exchange a few words, he was whizzing around the restaurant busily checking the orders or placing them. Our desserts took a while to arrive and the waiting time was studded with profuse apologies from the Maitre De and the owner.
What we ate and drank:
Starters;
Nachos Chico’s (Rs 120) Cheese nachos and chilli and with sour cream and salsa dip on the side (The crispest, most delectable Nachos I’ve had in a while)
Charmulla. Chicken slices coated in thick coriander sauce, served on individual skewers (Rs 180. 6 skewers) (The distinctive sauce made this dish really outstanding)
Main Course:
Rick Onion Chicken (Rs 230) Chicken slices suffused in Onion sauce with boiled potato disks smothered in sour cream and onion sauce on the side (HEAVEN!)
Mama’s Enchilada (Rs 190) Chicken and beans with sour cream and salsa dip on the side (This was okaish. Found it to be a wee bit dry)
Ranchado Chicken (Rs 220) Chicken bathed in tangy dressing with Mexican rice, with just the perfect hint of sweetness, on the side. (Unusual and delish!)
Mama Sita Chica (Rs 240) Chicken with mushrooms covered with a medium spicy sauce on a bed of Mexican rice and mashed potatoes in sour cream and onion sauce on the side. (Really good)
Desserts:
Mud pie with ice cream (Rs 130) Piping-hot scrambled mud pie served in a martini glass with a table spoon sized scoop of vanilla ice cream (Delightful! Though a regular sized scoop of vanilla would have worked better)
Belgian Delight (Rs 130) A layer of brownie sandwiched between two pancakes and generously drizzled with chocolate sauce (Loved the unusual dessert!)
Virgin Kiwi Margarita (Rs 130) (Really good)
Pepsi (Rs 30)
Total Bill for 4: Rs 1800 (including the VAT charge of Rs 200 @12.5%)
All the dishes were presented beautifully. The portion sizes were really good. The chicken used in all the dishes was succulent and the cheese they used was simply delicious.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Royal China
192, Turner Road, Bandra (W) Mumbai – 400-050. Ph – 26425533, 26425111, 67049553
Serve Alcohol: Yes
Parking: Valet available
Ambience: Plush, spacious,comfortable and serene. Beige and red are the basic colors used with a dash of purple adding some more color. The restaurant is warmly lit which adds to the decor. Comfortable furniture is spaced apart well, through the two levels of this restaurant.
Service:Quick, efficient, intelligent and courteous. While placing the order my friend mentioned she was allergic to seafood and would prefer vegetarian, to us. The Maitre de taking our order made it a point to specify if seafood or eggs were a part of any of the dishes we were considering ordering. ‘The Mud pie contains egg, Ma’am, I think you should know’ made us smile.
What we ate and drank:
Creamy Sweet Corn Soup (Rs 275) (Nice)
Thai Veg Tung Yum Soup (Rs 215) (Nicer)
Chicken with Vegetable Clear Soup (Rs 225) (Nicest, and very filling)
Starters were;Stir-Fried Chicken with Chilli (Rs 375) (Finger licking good!)
Dim-Sum: Chicken Cheung Fun (Rs 285. 3 pieces) (Good)
Main course was;Sauteed Chicken with Chilli (Rs 395) (Very nice, but tasted a lot like the stir-fried chicken starter)
Greens with Black Mushroom (Rs 400) (Really nice, if you love your mushrooms)
Chicken Fried Rice (Rs 350) (Delish)
Dessert of the day:Mudpie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (Rs175) (Y.U.M.M.Y)
Caramel Custard (Rs 175) (A wee bit eggy, felt some)
Coke (Rs 60)
Total: Rs 3,106 (including a 6%(Rs 176) service charge) for 4 people
The delicious aromas that emanated from the food whetted our appetites even as we were being served. The dishes were garnished and presented well and the portion sizes were good. They are known for their dim-sums and though the dim sum was good, I’ve had better.
Serve Alcohol: Yes
Parking: Valet available
Ambience: Plush, spacious,comfortable and serene. Beige and red are the basic colors used with a dash of purple adding some more color. The restaurant is warmly lit which adds to the decor. Comfortable furniture is spaced apart well, through the two levels of this restaurant.
Service:Quick, efficient, intelligent and courteous. While placing the order my friend mentioned she was allergic to seafood and would prefer vegetarian, to us. The Maitre de taking our order made it a point to specify if seafood or eggs were a part of any of the dishes we were considering ordering. ‘The Mud pie contains egg, Ma’am, I think you should know’ made us smile.
What we ate and drank:
Creamy Sweet Corn Soup (Rs 275) (Nice)
Thai Veg Tung Yum Soup (Rs 215) (Nicer)
Chicken with Vegetable Clear Soup (Rs 225) (Nicest, and very filling)
Starters were;Stir-Fried Chicken with Chilli (Rs 375) (Finger licking good!)
Dim-Sum: Chicken Cheung Fun (Rs 285. 3 pieces) (Good)
Main course was;Sauteed Chicken with Chilli (Rs 395) (Very nice, but tasted a lot like the stir-fried chicken starter)
Greens with Black Mushroom (Rs 400) (Really nice, if you love your mushrooms)
Chicken Fried Rice (Rs 350) (Delish)
Dessert of the day:Mudpie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (Rs175) (Y.U.M.M.Y)
Caramel Custard (Rs 175) (A wee bit eggy, felt some)
Coke (Rs 60)
Total: Rs 3,106 (including a 6%(Rs 176) service charge) for 4 people
The delicious aromas that emanated from the food whetted our appetites even as we were being served. The dishes were garnished and presented well and the portion sizes were good. They are known for their dim-sums and though the dim sum was good, I’ve had better.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Del Italia
This review won the 'Favorite Review of the Week' award on www.grubhogs.com AND a cash prize with it on the 10th of Feb '09!!:))
Opp Juhu Beach, Juhu Tara Road, Mumbai 400-049.
Tel: 022-26184050/26184040
Ambience:
Using a rustic décor as a theme has allowed the people at Del Italia an excuse to use faded upholstery, badly laid wood flooring and barely a lick of pain on the walls. The seating is uncomfortable, to say the least. The lighting was a tad too dim as well.
What appalled me the most was that the glass fronted side of the restaurant, that hugs the corner and faces Juhu Beach, wasn’t sound-proofed at all, as I had assumed it would be! The result; blaring traffic noises and pedestrians looking in at you like you are a species in a zoo. A very distracting, and unpleasant experience. If that wasn’t enough, some crazy, tuneless music began blaring out of the speakers, suddenly in the middle of the meal, startling us.
Service:
The waiter attending our table looked spaced out. To top it he had a heavy vernacular accent which made it very difficult to understand what he spoke and the Sunday traffic cacophony outside added to the confusion. After much hand gesturing, pointing to the menu, straining our ears and trying to read lips we managed to place our order and hoped that’s what we would get on our table.
The staff is slow and seemed rather unenthusiastic, untrained and ill-informed.
And we were the 2nd of the only two tables that were occupied in the entire restaurant, on a Sunday night. The service was S.L.O.W.
What we ate;
Tetrazzini (Rs 310) The sauce was unnecessarily rich and heavy.
Sautéed Mushrooms (Rs 250) The caramelized mushrooms were delicious!
Woodfried Chicken (Rs 210) The chicken was dry, almost leathery and the sauce was insipid.
Pesto Gnocchi (Rs 310) Once again, the sauce was unnecessarily rich and heavy. The dish could pass off for a new fangled version of palak-paneer.
Mushroom and Onion Rotolo (Rs 280) Strictly okay! The pasta was overdone and dry.
For an Italian themed eatery, and the prices charged, their serving sizes are surprisingly small.
Dessert was;
Pannacotta with warm wild berries (Rs 150) Airy, creamy and just perfect! Btw there were exactly 4 ‘wild berries’
Mascarpone Torte ( Rs 150) Really good!
Chocolate and Grappa Torte (Rs 180) The best dessert! Gooey chocolate layers with a hint of coconut laced with a generous amount of grappa.
The desserts were the best part, and the saving grace, of this disastrous and overpriced meal.
Opp Juhu Beach, Juhu Tara Road, Mumbai 400-049.
Tel: 022-26184050/26184040
Ambience:
Using a rustic décor as a theme has allowed the people at Del Italia an excuse to use faded upholstery, badly laid wood flooring and barely a lick of pain on the walls. The seating is uncomfortable, to say the least. The lighting was a tad too dim as well.
What appalled me the most was that the glass fronted side of the restaurant, that hugs the corner and faces Juhu Beach, wasn’t sound-proofed at all, as I had assumed it would be! The result; blaring traffic noises and pedestrians looking in at you like you are a species in a zoo. A very distracting, and unpleasant experience. If that wasn’t enough, some crazy, tuneless music began blaring out of the speakers, suddenly in the middle of the meal, startling us.
Service:
The waiter attending our table looked spaced out. To top it he had a heavy vernacular accent which made it very difficult to understand what he spoke and the Sunday traffic cacophony outside added to the confusion. After much hand gesturing, pointing to the menu, straining our ears and trying to read lips we managed to place our order and hoped that’s what we would get on our table.
The staff is slow and seemed rather unenthusiastic, untrained and ill-informed.
And we were the 2nd of the only two tables that were occupied in the entire restaurant, on a Sunday night. The service was S.L.O.W.
What we ate;
Tetrazzini (Rs 310) The sauce was unnecessarily rich and heavy.
Sautéed Mushrooms (Rs 250) The caramelized mushrooms were delicious!
Woodfried Chicken (Rs 210) The chicken was dry, almost leathery and the sauce was insipid.
Pesto Gnocchi (Rs 310) Once again, the sauce was unnecessarily rich and heavy. The dish could pass off for a new fangled version of palak-paneer.
Mushroom and Onion Rotolo (Rs 280) Strictly okay! The pasta was overdone and dry.
For an Italian themed eatery, and the prices charged, their serving sizes are surprisingly small.
Dessert was;
Pannacotta with warm wild berries (Rs 150) Airy, creamy and just perfect! Btw there were exactly 4 ‘wild berries’
Mascarpone Torte ( Rs 150) Really good!
Chocolate and Grappa Torte (Rs 180) The best dessert! Gooey chocolate layers with a hint of coconut laced with a generous amount of grappa.
The desserts were the best part, and the saving grace, of this disastrous and overpriced meal.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)