Bombay Vintage - Colaba,Mumbai.

The scoundrels attacking us were inexperienced and desperate men. Since they were imitating our every move, we baited them by deliberately firing a blank vertically upwards and then triggered an explosion in their midst making it appear that the vertical shot made the hit. The fools used the little powder they had to fire vertically upwards and well what goes up comes down. Their foolish shot took them out, well most of them. Our landing party got hold of Cuvo who was trying to crawl away with his rather slow first mate Aruso. 

Bombay Vintage is a place that has been around Regal cinema for close to a year. Admittedly, I was not well informed about the place till I actually arrived here to sample their grub and grog for their curry and cocktail festival. The place has a nice classy vibe to it. The decor is a mix of Victorian and the early 1900s. The music is either instrumental or 80's greatest hits, both genres which I adore greatly.

Their regular menu feels very much like a mix of English, a bit of Mediterranean and the like. However this special menu features many famous curries from India and around the world. It also includes a small cocktail menu which has unique drinks which will no longer be offered after the festival concludes. The Festival runs till the 18th so if you are a curry connoisseur, treat your hungry self to the curries at Bombay Vintage.

Cocktail in Caribbean was a mixture of White rum, Vodka, Tequila, Malibu and some fruit juice. This was a mildly potent and largely sweet cocktail whose flavor was largely dominated by the coconut flavored Malibu rum. The color probably came from the orange juice and drink felt very much like a beach cocktail.

Cucumber and Basil martini was a fun cocktail made out of fresh cucumber, vodka, basil and lime. The flavor felt like liquor made out of cucumber itself. The cucumber's flavor dominated the drink. My first time with a cucumber martini.

Jamaican Curry with Rawas(Indian Salmon). I went by the staff's recommendation and chose Rawas as the protein. The menu lets you choose your own protein and roughage. Now I have never had Jamaican curry before, so I cannot be a good judge but traditionally its eaten with huge chunks of chicken and not seafood. The flavor was salty and mildly spicy with Thyme, Allspice and veggies thrown into the mix. I read up a few blogs and it seems that the curry itself was accurate in flavor. Just that I should have chosen chicken instead of fish.

The curry was light on the tongue and should be eaten before you try any spicy or stronger flavored curries. Jasmine rice concerted well with this curry.

Since it is Jamaican, I wonder if this could be called a soul curry.

Try and not have this with Indian items like Appam, Dosa, Boiled rice or Vada unless you want to destroy the authentic Jamaican experience completely. There are always risks of giving the patron complete control over the ingredients and elements of a fine dish.

Korean Curry or Kare Raiseu is meant to be had with rice. Bombay Vintage's Jasmine rice option is ideal for this curry.  The flavor felt a little flat. But that could be due to my taste buds wanting something strong on flavors. I had this with Prawns but this goes better with red meats like mutton of beef.

Little Cuvo : This isn't over. I am called Little Cuvo for a reason. Big Cuvo will not forgive you for this.

Captain : Look at you, gigantic size but lesser of a mind than Hodor. You seriously think I'll fall for that lad?

Little Cuvo : (Cries) Aruso save me.

Captain : Your gluttonous friend is a little busy at the moment. But worry not lad, you will join him soon.

Mongolian Curry was perfect on all factors - Aroma, spices and the choice of chicken as protein. There are several variants of this curry. Some are on the yellowish side while some are reddish. Some are dense while some are thin like Bombay Vintage's version. This was a spicy curry with the flavor of Hoisin sauce and oyster sauce being most prominent. It had an earthy flavor and felt very oriental.

Do note that if you have a low spice tolerance, go for a milder curry. This curry was hot.

The service was cool. The servers were dressed up as dabbawalas and were professional. It does feel weird to see a dabbawala speak good English though ha. The only flaw was that I was given inaccurate protein recommendations for the Jamaican curry.

Bombay Vintage's pricing seems ideal for this part of town. A course for two including two curries and two cocktails works to about INR 2200 which is lesser than what it may cost in other fine dine places in Colaba. Heck, it is even cheaper than some uptown Cafes.

The curry and cocktail festival is a limited feature which concludes on the 18th of August, 2016. The event menu is large. I just sampled three curries and there is a whole unexplored world out there. The food is good provided you know your curry combinations well.

The Captain's Score : 8/10

"

(Captain and a team go off the ship with the prisoners and return after sometime.)

Firsty : Out of curiosity, what did you do with them mate?


Captain : Well it was difficult to row to the shore with all these sharks in the water.

Firsty :  So you...

Captain : Aye, those toxic little scallywags gave them poor sharks a serious case of food poisoning ha.

Firsty : Guess we are free to explore the next mark then. 

Captain : Aye but lets be careful. There could be more jokers like Cuvo and Aruso around.


"

Map Co-Ordinates
Bombay Vintage
Opposite Regal Cinema,
Regal Circle,Madame Cama Road,
Colaba, Mumbai

-I was invited to sample the event menu by the Restaurant. My review however remains objective.-

Boveda Bistro - Andheri Lokhandwala, Mumbai

The sun shone upon the high seas. The battle was upon us. The flags were raised. Our cannons against their artillery and bazookas. My cannoneer was a much better marksman hitting the enemy ship hard. They had advanced weapons but poorly trained gunners. One of my cannonballs pierced the hull of the enemy vessel effectively sealing its fate. The rogues then steered their sinking ship towards a small isle. This battle will now move to the land. But hark, what does my looking glass see? A small restaurant on the island. Battle does make me hungry.

I had visited Boveda(Catalan: Vault) a few months back. A lot has changed since then. Boveda has transformed itself into a bistro from its past bar avatar. Hence, its more in the food mainstream now. I received a mail(My inbox is really tasty these days) from Syesha Kapoor to come sample the grub at her restaurant - Boveda. Not privy to the developments, I mentioned that I did visit Boveda a while back. Syesha however told me of the redevelopment and requested that I give the new place a try.

The establishment retains its ambiance. The walls look more elegant with a touch of subtle artistry. The lighting is still dim from Boveda the Bar days. The restaurant is located in the popular food district of Andheri Lokhandwala. It is surrounded by dusty lanes which are quite parched in the summer. As such, the restaurant tends to feel like a calm, cool, dim and comfortable retreat. It is almost like an oasis in the middle of the desert. The bar with its cage like woodwork and bright lighting mimics a rock concert stage.

One new addition to the interior is a live counter fashioned like an American food truck. It feels like a novelty to the ambiance.

Oldies from the 30s and 40s echoed in the premises when I entered. I actually liked that, though I was told that the music was random. In my opinion, the music added to the tranquility of the Bistro.

The culinary commander(because that sounds cooler than head chef) Swapnil Mulundkar helped me with my choices for the main course. Vinod(The resident Captain) helped me choose the new appetizers and cocktails. So lads and lasses, time to move on to ze grub.

Maiden's Prayer - Legend has it, that once the Gods fought the Titans at the edge of the world. Their thirst was significantly weakening their abilities against their enemies. Seeing this, Hera the sister of Zeus prayed to the heavens and out poured a pink elixir that instantly energized the Gods. Since that day, the elixir came to be known as Maiden's prayer.

If you believed that, then my story telling ability is improving. Coming back to reality, this is a concoction made out of vodka, pomegranate, passion fruit and lime. It feels sweet and tangy while its kick feels spicy. This is not to be confused with 1930's New Orleans cocktail by the same name.

Captain : A battle makes a man thirsty and crazy, this pink elixir be me savior.

First mate : We must find those ruffians. They are hiding somewhere.

Captain : They are after the blue compass, they must be in one of the eateries.

Unkempt Stranger : Psst. Heard ye folks are looking for someone.

The classical Pina colada was perfect with its flavor and proportions. This sweet cocktail cooled me completely. Wait, has Summer started already?

Aioli Scented Chicken was among the establishment's top sellers. This chicken was marinated in aioli and delectable flavors would simply burst out the moment I thrust my teeth into the meat. The flavor was quite addictive. This entree was served with a side of paprika based sour cream. The protein went well with the dip. I am glad I listened to Vinod.

Captain : We are looking for a bunch that appears beat up and smells of defeat.

Unkempt Stranger : Name's Narakdu, I saw the men you describe hiding in an alley. 

Captain : Good, can ya lead us there mate?

Unkempt Stranger : Of course.

First mate : And ya don't want anything in return?

Unkempt Stranger : A piece of chicken would be nice.

Bacon wrapped Chicken was served with lyonnaise potatoes, pesto jus and a ton of French beans. The Bacon tasted well, though the chicken felt a little insipid. The beans were far too many for my liking, it affected the plating. In my opinion, the quantity of the beans should have been halved and probably chopped into smaller pieces. The pesto jus rescued the day as it countered the chicken's blandness. This dish however does need improvement.

Chorizo Ragout and Mascarpone pizza - This pizza was loaded with stewed Chorizo pieces and loads of mascarpone cheese. The pizza felt creamy, savory, smoked and slightly sweet in flavor. It was an interesting use of Chorizo, the flavor was a first time for me. The pizza was delectable but I felt that there was scope for improvement. For example, a bit of increase in the savory content would work wonders.

Chocolate Gooey Cake looked really pretty and tasted well. I however felt that it was a bit pedestrian in flavor. The cake itself wasn't very gooey rather being a bit dry and crumbly. This could however be because I was comparing it with the Gooey cake that I had last week. The last one set the bar really high.

The service was perfect, Vinod was very professional. The crew appeared a little small and could be under strain during rush hours.

The pricing is variable. Some items appear on the higher side like the sandwiches for example but then the pizzas feel cheap. The costs come to roughly 1400 INR for two people which makes it par with most pub cum restaurants across town.

Boveda is located in a locality where people are spoilt for choice and faces intense competition especially from Brewbot next door. Come to Boveda for their cocktails, their innovative pizzas and well researched European mains. Come to Boveda for the calm, privacy and fine dining.

The Captain's Score : 8/10

"
(Party walks to a dark alley)
Captain : Where are the people we talked about?

Narakdu(laughs) : You don't get it do you?

Peter the Cheater(approaches from the shadows) : Gullible lads walked right into my trap.

Rocky : We are going to end this here. And we will take yer ship in exchange for sinking ours.

First mate : (Takes out a sword) My my, things keep getting interesting don't they?

Captain : Peter, Rocky and Narakdu. I offer you a last chance to walk away. Your lives will be spared. 

Peter : (Laughs with Rocky and Narakdu) Fat chance Captain, yous gonna leave this world and yer map, ship and treasures will be mine.
"

Map Co-Ordinates
Boveda Bistro
G 04, Morya Landmark 1 ,
Off New Link Road, Lokhandwala,
Andheri Lokhandwala, Andheri West


 -The meal was on the house as I was invited by the owners. My review however is objective.-

Escobar - Linking Road, Bandra West

Me voyage to the Emerald isle left me with fool's co-ordinates. Fool's co-ordinates are locations which don't exist on a map. I should not have trusted the old scammer. But yet there was something intriguing about the numbers. Besides how did that old man know about my quest for the Blue compass? I kept staring at those numbers as if hoping that they will reveal something, anything. The Engineer came into me cabin and told me to take a break. We climbed back to the top deck as I saw lights in the distance.

We were approaching a coast. The strong winds made the sails flap like a bird's wing. The smell of the warm coastal seas filled the ship. Maybe some good grub will get me head thinking. I directed the crew to find a cove to dock the ship at as the landing party got ready set out. At the same time I wondered what happened of the hostile ship with the black sails, we haven't seen them for days.

Escobar is one of India's largest bar. It boasts of an impressive golden lit indoor area and a gorgeous rooftop area from where one can see the entire Bandra skyline. But despite its humongous size, it can be a wee bit hard to find for a first timer. It is located on the fourth floor of a building that looks more residential than commercial. Escobar was the victim of an unfortunate incident last year causing it to close down. But like a magnificent phoenix, it rose from the ashes and it is a beauty to be admired for those who can find it.

Once found, the comforting ambiance will make one feel truly special. One can sit for hours inside Escobar enjoying the grub, the grog or the skyline.

The Twisted Chocolate Martini caught my eye instantly. This beautiful drink was made of Vodka, Chocolate liqueurs, white chocolate, dark chocolate and cream. It had a mild kick to it and felt much like a Chocolate milkshake meets martini kind of thing. The Iceberg in the middle slowly melted away supplying the drink as a glacier supplies a river. The chocolate wafer added a nice visual touch though did not seem to blend in with the drink. In totality, this was a very relaxing drink.

Captain : This be one of me favorite drinks.

Crewmate : Vodka on Chocolate, looks like the barkeep read yer mind.

Captain : If only he could tell me where the Blue compass is.

Jack Punch was a mix of whisky and ingredients one would find in a fruit punch. The punch was heavy and hard. It contained passion fruit, pineapple and a hint of angostura bitter which provided a subtle twist to the punch. A more suitable drink if you like your cocktails rough. But strangely the weight of the world felt lighter after having this.

 
Escobar calls itself a Tapas bar. Drinks and small plates for those uninitiated with the global lingo. The small plates pack big power into them. These were some of the best bar nibbles I have had.

Smoked Salmon Maki Roll or Sushi was a soft subtle creation with the perfect mixture of salmon, sticky rice, and greens. I enjoyed this a lot, though I was a little disappointed with the meager quantity of wasabi served. I enjoy my Sushi with wasabi.

New Zealand Lamb Chops - The Kiwi know how to feed their sheep. The meat was tender, juicy and delicious. The cuts were made in such a manner that there was a lot of meat and it fell right off the bone. These were rubbed with Indian spices and roasted in a clay oven. This added the flavor of a Tandoori Barbecue to the meat. Each bite was an explosion of addicting flavors. Tandoori nights with hearty grog, me likey.

Captain: I love juicy tender Kiwi lamb chops.

Crewmate : Wish I could say the same but you never leave any for me.

Green Herb Roasted Rawas was like a Star Batsman getting dismissed on a duck on the very first ball. This tender boneless salmon was cooked in a coriander sauce and spices. So far so great. However it suffered from two problems. It was too green, too brilliantly green. It is not supposed to be Chicken Hariyali. The other problem was that it was too salty. Even water felt sweet after it.

Roasted Cheesy Chicken - This was a tender chicken kebab, filled with cheese and marinated in yogurt and spices. It was then slow roasted in an oven giving it a mix of tandoori and western flavors. This was among the best things of the night. A dish so tasty that one could fight with the most beautiful woman for the last piece. The core hid a treasure trove of flavor which was released as soon me teeth reached breached it.

Captain : Cheesy goodness...I wonder what those black sailed scallywags are upto.

Crewmate : Lets hope they died or something in a sea storm. Their attacks were so troublesome.

Captain : Battle and endurance is part of every sailor's life.

Crewmate : Its hard with yer Captain eating all yer grub too.

Chorizo Tapas was another one of the better items of the night. The salty savory fried sausages went well with the drinks. The garlic bread underneath felt like a bit of a mismatch, perhaps a smaller and thinner portion of bread would have worked better. I found myself separating sausages from the breads.

Smoked Cottage cheese in Chilly Oil was an amazing dish in terms of visuals, aroma and the flavor. This paneer had an earthy flavor which complemented well with the chili. It was sprinkled with black and white sesame. It was presented stylishly with some rice noodles.  This would easily go well with drinks of all kinds.

Burnt Garlic and Thyme Rubbed BBQ Chicken was simply stupednous. I did not expect a place specializing in Tapas to have a main that would taste so well. These juicy chunks of chicken were smoked and then char grilled giving them a tongue seducing BBQ flavor. If one is a big fan of BBQ then this is must have dish for sure. The Porcini mushroom risotto was also quite earthy and delectable. Both the rice and chicken were scrumptious together. A marriage made in a kitchen.

The Excelsior - Imagine all the cream on top of dark chocolate pastries being condensed to form a dessert of its own. The Chocolate Excelsior was exactly that. This little hexagonal prism despite looking pretty was overly sweet and a little sickly with all that chocolate. This comes from someone with a sweet tooth and penchant for overdosing on desserts.

Chocolate Gooey Cake was ultra dense, sweet, decadent and the best thing since sliced bread. I never thought that I would say this in an era of Cheesecakes and mousses but this Cake was absolutely heavenly.  An old favorite super perfected by the good folks at Escobar. I have not had a good and "real" dessert like this in a very long time. I scrapped the plate clean, not even leaving a single crumb behind.

Captain : Good Sealord, this is chocolate heaven.

Crewmate : Are you going to go high on dessert?

Captain : No lad, those were the old times. I have adapted.

Crewmate : About time.

Tiramisu was sweet and bitter, soft and creamy and absolutely well made. Though not the best I have had by a long shot, this Tiramisu was perfect by text book definition. It may pale in front of the Chocolate gooey cake especially if one is having both like yours truly. Best make this your first dessert.

Escobar may be on the higher side of the pricing scales. But the ambiance, the food and the drinks are worth every penny spent. The place is a luxurious retreat. The moolah is well spent here. Like Godiva is to cadburies, Escobar is to most watering holes.

I cannot comment on the service since this was an on the house meal and we were personally attended to by one of the managers. However, observations suggest that the place is well staffed and the servers are usually polite and pleasant.

Escobar was one of my best experiences in Mumbai and makes it to my personal Top ten bars for Mumbai. The place is the complete package. Captain says, go forth and chug yer grog at Escobar.

"Captain: Time to take the ship out...


(Loudspeaker from Black sailed ship)
Rogue Captain : Found you, you won't get away from us now. 
I am Captain Peter, Peter the Cheater.
Hand over yer map and all yer hard earned treasures. 

Captain : Sorry, can't hear you over the sound of how I awesome I am.

Rogue Captain : Prepare for Battle then.

Captain : Bring it on cheater.
"

The Captain's Score : 9/10

Map Co-ordinates
Escobar
4th Floor, VN Sphere,
Turner And Linking Road,
Bandra West, Mumbai.


 -The food was on the house as I was invited by the restaurant's PR to sample the grub. My review however is objective.-

Please Don't tell - Lower Parel, Mumbai

We had sailed to a rather strange area in the sea. The map showed no land but yet there was a small island with a village over here. It wasn't just this ancient map but all other maps had nothing here. Bizarre! A small red rectangle and a number were scribbled on the supposed spot. I wondered what it meant. Was it some riddle or a joke the map maker played on us? One of me mates then pointed at a red colored phone booth and mentioned that those kinds of booths had not been seen for decades. 

Red Rectangles, Red booth! Could this be our clue? Lets find out if its true.
I went inside the booth which was facing a wall. I picked up the phone and dialed in the number scribbled on the map. Suddenly a wall moved and a secret tavern was revealed behind it. What in the sweet name of sweet Calypso just happened? Moreover, how does an ancient map point to a telephone booth which is a modern invention? The Blue compass mystery deepens.

Please Don't tell pays homage to the 1920s when the Prohibition act banned alcohol in the United States. Grog could only be obtained in hidden breweries and pubs which operated beyond the Government's knowledge. Getting caught meant jail and alcohol lovers had to go through great risks for their favorite brews. Ah the adventure of being a rebel.

An innocent looking Paan shop with a telephone booth next to it is the first thing you find at the perceived location of PDT. At this point, I wondered if I was at the wrong address until one of the staffers asked me to step inside the booth. He then picked up the phone and punched in a secret number.

And presto! The wall adjacent to me was revealed to be a secret door. A large tavern was completely hidden behind the booth and the paan shop. Oh yes, the hidden den thing is real and not just a namesake novelty. Though it only works the first time.

This large dim lit pub is excellent for an evening binge. The furniture seemed like an archetype of the early twentieth century and the chairs resemble those found in old underground gambling dens. The music is nice although the volume could be a little lower since loud music tends to blow the cover of a hidden society(get it?). The lighting is comfortable and time can pass really fast in here.

The food is great but totalers and the purely vegetarian folk may find lesser options. That doesn't deter me of course since I am neither. I was here to sample some goodies from their new grub menu. But before that, I sampled some of their Grog.

Mary Pickford named after a famous 20's actress is a prohibition era cocktail made out of White Rum, Maraschino(Cherry) liqueur, grenadine syrup and pineapple juice. PDT managed to replicate this perfectly. The cocktail was not too strong and had a mix of tang and bitter sweet flavors inside it. It paired well with the appetizers. It was a great experience for a Rum connoisseur like yours truly.

Puzzle Guzzle is a mystery that you gulp down with yer grub. Though it was a lesser experience compared to the concoction above, it still had its highs. This was a moderately strong Vodka cocktail mixed with ginger, grape fruit juice, lime, mint leaves and some cinnamon. Potency aside, I personally was peeved with the mint leaves floating at the top. The leaves may work with some drinks but not this.

Captain : Could this puzzle be a hint to our next clue?

Quarter master : Who cares mate? Drink hearty.

Captain : Yeah, ye are right :D

Squid Pro Quo was an average calamari. I felt that the batter coating on this was far too much than required. More than calamari, I felt as if I was eating salted fried batter with Louisiana sauce and Mango salsa.

Chicks on Sticks were teriyaki skewers served with a dip made out of peanut butter. These felt like something in between Yakitori and Satay. I love skewered chicken and these juicy bits were quite sumptuous. Though the lack of saltiness may trouble Indian palates not used to this kind of food.

Shroom with a view was an open sandwich with mushroom and cheese. Rosemary rock salt focaccia adds a dominant savory flavor but rejects saltiness. The balsamic reduction enhances the savoriness further along with some sweet tones. I quite enjoyed this sandwich and its unique bitter savory flavor. It felt very earthy and very Mediterranean. However, once again this may not appeal to a person who likes their food salty. But it works well for those who enjoy authentic western food.

The Keema Pav took a long time before finally making it to our table. And this platter was well worth the wait. The heavenly aroma was both mesmerizing and appetizing. Soft minced meat mixed with spices inside a soft fresh bun was a combination meant to please. This was the best Keema pav I have had in recent times. The only flaw was the liberal use of whole spices. It is a major turn off to encounter cardamom bags while chewing. Other than that, this item is not to be missed while at PDT.

The special Vada Pav platter is a treat for herbivores and carnivores alike. These bite sized Vada pavs were artistically plated with sweet chutney, spicy chutney and onion garlic powder. The patties melt in the mouth and feel very homemade in flavor.  Though not as amazing as the Vada pav at Ashok or Mithibai, this is good comfort food. Additionally, these weren't oily at all.

Captain : This is quite beautiful. The vada pav platter almost looks like six mountains facing four rivers ha. 

Quartermaster : Who Cares? Eat hearty.

Captain : Ya, you are right. Hey aren't ya being repetitive now mate?

Quartermaster : I had too much grog mate, gimme a break.

Butter chicken Risotto successfully combined two of my favorite dishes. The Butter chicken was A-ok as far as flavor was concerned. The meat was soft, juicy and savory. The butter was just right as the dish was not greasy. The tomato did not overpower the curry as in most places. The spices were used in moderation. The aroma was delectable, the kind that makes you dash across the room to grab a bite.

The risotto though overpowered by the chicken felt authentic. I forgot to observe whether it was Arborio or not but I enjoyed this dish too much to care. This dish was the highlight of the night. A successful marriage of Indian and Italian. Two of the world's best and ancient food cultures rolled into one.

Captain : The soft chicken and heavenly rice. Mmmmm.

Quartermaster : Stop wastin yer time and hunt for the next clue.

Captain : What the barnacles? Who was being the hearty one?

This Chocolate cake was soft, rich, creamy, decadent and full of sweet ganache. It was plated well but its dark coloring on a dark plate made it a challenge for photography. But trust me on this, it looked GOOD.

The Baked Cheesecake had amazing optics but the flavor was a polar opposite. The cheesecake felt close to a caramel pudding in taste, strangely. The typical cheesecake flavor was absent. And I could not associate any of the three cheeses(Cream cheese, Ricotta, Mascarpone) used to make different Cheesecakes with it.

The service was decent. Since the place wasn't full, we were attended by two people. As were other tables. Though, one of the servers was not very well informed about the food.

The pricing seems to be tilted towards the higher side. While many items such as the chicken skewers or the Calamari seem to be at par with similar pubs across the city, the drinks and the mains were priced higher. While the food was great and the drinks were simply amazing, I am of the opinion that the prices could be a wee bit lower.

To round this up, PDT is an amazing theme based pub which lives up to its deal. Visit this place for the vibes, the feeling of an underground community, prohibition cocktails, Keema Pav and Butter Chicken Risotto. Given its unique offerings, I suppose that all food lovers should at least visit this place once.

The Captain's Score : 8/10

"
Captain : No sign of the next clue. And the puzzle has gotten even more complex. How does an ancient map have a telephone booth marked on it?

Quartermaster : I be pondering on yer six mountains and four rivers thing.

Captain : What of it?

Quartermaster : There is an actual place like that.

Captain : Is it on our map?

Quartermaster : Doesn't seem to be marked but the co-incidence is too much. Don't ya agree?

Captain : I don't but what choice do we have mate? That is the only lead we have. Six mountains and four rivers ha. Must be quite the fertile land.

Quartermaster : A Land of farmers and their sons.

"

Map Co-Ordinates
Please Don't Tell
Kamala Mills,
Lower Parel, Mumbai


 -I was invited by the restaurants PR to sample the new menu. But my post is objective and neutral.-

The Daily Bar and Kitchen - Bandra West, Mumbai

"The roaring winds filled up me ears as I studied a new map. Legend has it that the mysterious blue compass will always point to the best dishes in the world. This compass was largely believed to be an old sailor's tale, until today. A sunken ship dating back several centuries suddenly resurfaced in front of us. While exploring this wreck, we discovered many ancient maps. 

Among them was a map, which had a route to...the blue Compass. The map however was incomplete and merely pointed us to a place which will provide us with next clue to this legend. We docked our ship in the port of a large island. A beautiful tavern stood at the place marked on this map. The next clue to the Blue compass was hidden somewhere inside. "

I have passed the Daily bar on several occasions oft wondering what exists behind its perimeter walls. Well, I finally got an opportunity to go behind those mysterious walls. This tavern has a small indoor area and equal sized al-fresco area. As I am not a fan of humidity, pollution and sounds of the busy road - I chose to go inside.

The ambiance feels classy despite the monochromatic themes. The drapes on the ceiling altered the light coming down creating zones of low and high luminosity. The effect of the variable light and the B&W themes created an atmosphere which was both comfortable and strangely mesmerizing.

I was greeted by the Assistant Manager Rohit Hegde. I requested him to suggest me a good course for the evening. And a good course he did suggest.

The Gypsy queen was an elusive beauty that played with my tongue, mind and senses. This whiskey based cocktail mixed with clove and cinnamon was infused with smoke from burning apple wood. The result was a cocktail with strange sensations. I could smell the apple wood with every sip that I took. The clove and cinnamon added a cooling high to the whiskey. The Whiskeys kick, the coolants and the apple smoke created a medley of emotions within me. The Captain recommends this grog. This Gypsy Queen made a Tipsy King out of me.

Smoked Barbecue Chicken Filo was an absolute delight. These slow roasted Chicken pastries with BBQ spices and sauce were a sweet juicy affair. The thin filo pastries provided an excellent crunch without becoming an impediment to the chicken experience. These were incredibly light as well. I gobbled up these in record time. I would probably come back for these someday.

Captain : These are incredibly good, Mmm.

Crewmate : Do you think that the clue could be hidden inside these pastries? Just like fortune cookies?

Captain : Only one way to find that out mate.

Drunken Prawns were flambeed with Anisette, draped in a creamy sauce and served with bread. These were good ol' prawns for a prawn lover. But as far as the fancy sounding additions go, I could not perceive anything different about these prawns. Maybe the enhancements produced too subtle a flavor.

Pulled Pork sliders were little burgers with loads of pork. The slow cooked pulled pork was drenched with BBQ sauce. I personally adore Pork with BBQ sauce hence I enjoyed these sliders very much. Each bite caused meat, jus and Scamorza to leak out. I think that these were some of the most generously made sweet and juicy sliders that I have ever come across. Small burger outside, Big messy burger inside.

Captain : Tasty, mmmm. Juicy mmmm.

Crewmate : Uh Cappy, why are we not looking for the hidden clue?

Captain : Well lad, I can't hunt clues on an empty belly. Can I now?

Crewmate : Sigh.

Smoked Scamorza emmental stuffed chicken sounded longer than a Power Ranger's battle cry. This chicken blob was stuffed with bacon and cheese. Upon cutting it, I was met with a flood of cheese which was meant to please. The dish had an amazing aroma too. A mixture of cheese, chicken and bacon is quite divine. The dish was very satisfying and its surprising to come across such good mains in a bar. The Daily bar thus earns its "And Kitchen." part.

Panna Cotta. Though not very creamy, this was a decent panna cotta. It was well set and plated in an artistic manner. It resembled a white island surrounded by a sea of orange juice and rosemary. The tangy and fragrant liquid augmented the flavor and made the entire dessert experience a very pleasurable one. It marked a flavorful and an apt end to the whole experience.

Captain: This drawing on the Panna cotta looks like a tree on a hill.

Crewmate : What of it?

Captain : I have seen it somewhere. (Removes map from coat) Over here! A place with a tree on a hill.

Crewmate : Sweet Poseidon.

Captain : Indeed, we now have our next mark. Saved by the dessert.


The service is professional and the main barkeep himself serves you your grog. The servers will explain your dish to you in case if you are wondering what that fancy sounding thing on the menu really is.

The pricing is on the higher side as compared to many pubs but the food's quality is remarkably higher as well. I have been to several pubs and on comparison, The Daily positively offers superior grub.

Good grog and grub covered. There was just one question left to be answered. The Daily sounds like some kind of a newspaper. Why is this place named that way? The wall adjacent to me had newspaper clippings of local papers. These were full of positive news and contrary to what mainstream media and loud mouthed news anchors feed us with. I assume that these positive news snippets are linked to the name "The Daily".

The Captain's Score : 9/10

"Stock up the cellars lads. We have our next destination. Who knows what awaits us on our quest? We sail at dawn. The Blue compass awaits us."

Map Co-Ordinates
The Daily Bar and Kitchen
Linking Road,
Bandra West, Mumbai.

 -I was invited to the restaurant by its PR. My review however is objective.-