Twitter
Advertisement

A European fiesta

SoBo serves some of the best European food on a platter

Latest News
article-main
Salt Water Café at Churchgate
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Wearied by a particularly heavy orchestral performance at the NCPA? Step into Amadeus at the NCPA for Spanish food done to a perfect turn. The restaurant is packed with regulars that seem to have tumbled straight off the stage and into the restaurant. And so they may have.

Far from the madding tourist swarms of Colaba is Imbiss, a tiny eatery with a focus on affordable German cuisine. Hunker down and plough through the hearty Bratwurst, crisp Weiner Schnitzel, swollen German sausages and succulent Kassler (cured and smoked pork chop on the bone). Vegetarians should shy away or make do with an Eggplant Schnitzel that comes doused with cheese.

To reach Di Napoli, you have to trudge past droves of soaring concrete office towers in Nariman Point. Peering from behind Dalamal Tower's forbidding façade are Di Napoli's welcoming lights, twinkling away. Inside, in their open kitchen, Neapolitan-style pizzas are tossed into a handmade oven and emerge with plump crusts, clouded with fresh San Marzano tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil. Owner Jai Thakur loves the Diavola Pizza and Fettuccine ala Funghi.

Indigo in Colaba is a pretty interlude in our stodgy, concrete-filled lives. The tinkle of wine glasses, the sunshine slanting in from the wide windows, the crisp napery—all add to the experience. This is the place where Mumbai's well-heeled diners flock to, strutting in their beautiful plumage; perfect for dawdling the hours away. The food is largely European, accented with Indian and Asian flavours. Dig into the Gruyere Cheese Soufflé served with truffle sabayon or the succulent Grilled Lamb Chops with Ratatouille and Boulangere Potato.

Many love Indigo Deli's tissue-thin pizzas and crisp batter-fried fish and chips. And it's impossible to resist the velvety melt of their homemade Dulce de Leche Ice Cream. But equally, their excellent deli counter at the Colaba outlet draws tourists and locals alike. "I came here many years ago for my birthday," grins Perveze Mirza of Breach Candy, "I haven't been able to stop returning since."

Smoke House Deli's environs are a splash of whimsy. In the prettily-lit Lower Parel café with playful art crayoned across the walls, it's easy to leave behind the soggy cares of the outside world. "I like the Mushroom Risotto and soup and sandwich combo at Smoke House Deli. I enjoy the ambience too," says Peddar Road resident Neeti Mehra. City chef Glyston Gracias is all set to unveil a new menu soon. "My favourite European dish is Spanish paella. This dish, in particular, has seafood, mixed meat and vegetables. It is a well-balanced dish, prepared in a traditional vessel called paellera. It is cooked on an open fire and smoked with orange and pine branches. The soon-to-be launched new menu at Smoke House Deli will include a Spanish paella," he smiles.

Mehra's other favourite is Salt Water Café, where you can spoon your way through a panoply of European classics with a dash of innovation. At this charming café, Chef Gresham Fernandes, Group Executive Chef, Fine Dine, at Impresario Entertainment and Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., manages to retain classic European flavours while gently shifting boundaries. Think Spanish omelette swollen with vegetables; tenderloin carpaccio, seared with pepper and served with smoked oyster salad; and pan charred duck breast. Chef's favourite dish? "Scallop Congee with Black Truffle Vinaigrette. It was a thin slice of raw scallop on a creamy umami congee with black truffles; the creaminess was offset with a bisque chip and micro coriander. One of those dishes where you get up in the middle of the night thinking how it was pulled off. Simply amazing!"

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement