El Toro Cantina - Reclamation, Bandra, Mumbai.

El Toro Cantina may sound Spanish due to its obvious naming and it does use the two words most Indians associate with Spanish. Cantina however is a term rarely heard of in India, I first heard of it in the 90s while watching Star Wars -  a New Hope. A Cantina in Mexico or Spain usually serves drinks and small plates or Tapas. Literally, it could mean an equivalent of a canteen or a mess. However El Toro Cantina is a mix of a cantina, a sophisticated cafe and a fine dine.

It had a pleasant ambiance which felt very European in decor. Thankfully, it hadn't used any annoying stereotyped cultural props like most foreign cuisine restaurants in India now days do. I arrived here on a rainy afternoon for a late lunch. The place felt quite comfortable. The bar was radiant and looked straight out of a popular pub.

The food was very continental. It was a mix of Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese. Do note that there is a difference between Spanish and Mexican food. Spanish food is made out of native and European influences while Mexican food is a mix of Spanish, South American and Texan influences. The Mediterranean flavors suit Indian palates very well and as such I can see El Toro becoming quite popular in the future. 

Here is what I sampled.

These colorful citrusy cocktails were ideal for a summer afternoon which was still hot despite the rain. The colors of these cocktails blended well with the vibrant ambiance of the Bar.

Beetroot Carpaccio was an Italian appetizer that worked well as a vegetarian version of the meat based Carpaccio. It added green to the red and white themes commonly associated with Carpaccio. The Beet was marinated in liquor and was the hero of the dish. Its addicting flavor made me gobble down this salad in no time. Crumbled Feta provided a salty depth to the sweet, tangy and candied beets.

Chicken Liver Pate. I will admit that Liver is one part of any meat that I vehemently avoid. However the pate here was a balance of both bitter and savory. The Pear Jam drizzle and the Melba toast helped augment the flavor profile. I could eat a substantial portion of it but I'd still stick to avoiding liver in the future.

Pollo, aceitunas y chorizo was a mix of spice rubbed chicken chunks tossed in Chorizo oil and mixed with Spanish Chorizo and Olives. This was quite a delicious snack. The flavor seduced my taste buds to no end. I love Chorizo and it was a nice change from the Goan chorizo that I am so used to. The flavor was subtle, less spicy and quite savory.

Gambas al Ajillo is a famous prawn dish from the region of Catalonia. Made with a mixture of native Catalonian, Spanish mainstream and Italian influences - this dish was a bowlful of flavor. Its garlicky and subtly spicy flavor will pamper Indian palates quite a lot. The dish went well with the drinks, although it could use a bit of improvement on the presentation part.

Braised Lamb. This delicious slow cooked lamb looked like a mountain of meat surrounded by a forest of vegetables sitting on top of a potato mash island surrounded by a sea of black pepper gravy. Maybe that's my travel seeking self drifting away while writing this though ha.

Risotto of the day. As the name suggests, this one changes everyday. The Arborio was topped with a ton of fried lotus stalks. The dish was delicious though I have had better.

Sticky Toffee Pudding. Pretty sure this was the puddin' Harley Quinn keeps jabbering about. This has to be one of the best Sticky Toffee Puddings that I have had anywhere and I'd say this was the best that I have had in Mumbai. The Toffee sauce was deliciously rich and the cake was soft and fresh. The Ice cream was of premium quality. All elements worked well over here. A sweet alchemy well orchestrated.

The service was good and the staff knew the menu well. Despite the place being new, the servers made it feel that they have been running the show for years.

The pricing is slightly on the higher side but if you have made it this far into reading this article, I am sure that you can tell that the grub was well worth the moolah.

To wrap this up, El Toro Cantina delivers well with its Pan European food, ambiance, drinks and service. But can it sustain itself in an area infamous for open and shut eateries? Time will tell but from my side I'd say it was a rainy afternoon well spent.


The Captain's Score : 8/10

Map Co-Ordinates
El Toro
ONGC Lane, Opposite Lilavati Hospital,
Next To Broasters & Doolally,
Bandra West, Mumbai.


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

The Oriental Blossom at the Hotel Marine Plaza - Marine Drive, Mumbai

Marine Drive is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in urban Mumbai. And Hotel Marine Plaza overlooks a prime area of this coastal stretch. The restaurants within this five star property scale with the locality and are quite posh. My destination for the day was The Oriental Blossom - A Chinese restaurant on the first floor of the Hotel, overlooking the sea and the neighborhood. The restaurant has recently introduced Asian styled set lunches and I was there to sample the fare. So will the restaurant deserve praise shouted from the rooftops or criticism a la Anton Ego? Lets find out.

With a mix of formal Chinese themes and the classical five star fine dine, Oriental Blossom spoke of both luxury and exuberance. One could enjoy a quiet formal meal as well as have a joyful meeting with friends over good food and drinks. Gentle Asian themed music, clean air and a refined crowd sets this place in a different world from the realm of loud cafes and pubs.

The first thing that caught my eye was the price tag of Rupees 1099. I sat, rubbed my eyes and thought. I am in the classiest part of town. I am inside one of Mumbai's best Hotels. 1099 is amazingly cheap. You don't need to be born in money to be able to afford this. I think that this was the friendliest pricing that I have seen in Mumbai. Set Menus usually cost twice of this in other five star Hotels in Mumbai. Even if I am to go to one of the numerous Pan Asian mediocrities that have sprouted all over Mumbai and order a soup, appetizer, main, a bowl of noodles and a dessert - the tab would still be over 1500 easy.  This part alone makes the restaurant attractive.

The menu is developed by the chefs at Hotel Marine Plaza led by executive Chef Huang Te Sing. Chef Huang is of Chinese origin but he has lived in India for so long that he has even developed an Indian accent. He is also well acquainted with local food and flavors. Combining his knowledge of Chinese food with the understanding of Indian gastronomes, Chef Huang has crafted Chinese food that is adapted for Indian palates. The food's base structure is very Chinese but the spices and flavors have been adjusted a bit. Chef Huang is very friendly, down to earth and as pleasant as the food he makes.

Lung Fung Soup - The actual Lung Fung soup is a mix of Snake and chicken but in India no one would ever eat snake. Hence the Lung Fung soup in India is always made of Chicken and vegetables. The flavor of Oriental Blossom's version was sweet and sour and resembled the Asian soup mixes in many fine and casual dines. It was somewhere between a Sweet & sour soup and an Eight treasure soup in terms of flavor.

In case if you are wondering what Manchow soup on the menu is. Its a soup with origins in the Indian state of Meghalaya but often believed to be a Chinese soup.

Crispy Chicken was a delicious and an addicting appetizer.  It felt like the love child of Chicken popcorn and hot cheetos in flavor. Its spice mix seduced the taste buds while its crispy chicken made it very much like a snack. Easily the best of the appetizers and would always be my choice in the set meal.

Chicken Dumplings were average in flavor. Nothing much different from variants that I have had in most other places. But then again dumplings are supposed to be a staple in today's times.

Fish in Chili black bean sauce was a pretty little appetizer. Though the usage of Basa initially put me off, the batter coating was quite delicious. The black bean sauce too had been drizzled carefully. Neither too much nor too less. It had a ginger like earthy appearance but a delectable flavor and aroma.

Fish in Hunan sauce was a Basa based main. One has to appreciate the skill of the chefs as this was some of the best Basa that I have had. Far from the pedestrian Basa fare that we have grown accustomed to in the past half a decade. Pleasantly fragrant and visibly appealing, this dish went great with the Hakka Noodles. I would recommend this if you want Fish in the set. One could ditch the Fish appetizer, take the chicken and settle for fish in the mains. The flavor profile is subtle though the salt is slightly higher.

Prawns in Chili garlic sauce was something that I would not pick in the set menu for an order. The flavor was uninspired and median. This could use improvement.

Red Cooked Chicken was a decent main. If one prefers chicken over fish then this is the to go item. The chicken was juicy with vibrant flavors and had a spicy undertone which could be perceived while swallowing. It also paired greatly with both the rice and the noodles making it an all around good main.

The set priced at 1099 is a decent fare for anyone with an Asian craving and the desire to eat at a beautiful place. It does have its shortcomings too. No Chinese fare or set meal is ever complete without the inclusion of a pork based dish. The lack of any pork option was conspicuous by its absence. Maybe this can be rectified in the future.

The Honey tossed Noodles with ice cream served as the sweet part of the menu though I would have preferred a different dessert. This was far too common place now days across Chinese menus.  Something like Grass Jelly, Red Bean soup or almond Jelly would have made better options.

The Ambiance, service and the pricing are all excellent. The food has its ups and downs but in all completeness, this was a great experience. I am still amazed at how the restaurant manages such an easy on the pocket pricing given that its within a five star in a super prime location. All good for us, the food loving folks. Though it should be noted that it is for Lunch only.

The Captain's Score : 8/10

Map Co-Ordinates
The Oriental Blossom,
Hotel Marine Plaza,
29, Marine Drive,
Mumbai


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

Thalassa Greek Taverna - Khar, Mumbai.

'Thalassa' meaning "The Sea" in Greek is well known to travel enthusiasts as one of the iconic eateries in Northern Goa. Thus ask any one of those well-travelled fellows and they will always draw a comparison between Mumbai's and Goa's Thalassa. As a person who is less into partying and more into adventure and relaxing, I have always favored the quieter Southern Goa more. As result, I have never been to Goa's Thalassa so far. Hence for me the Thalassa experience was a completely fresh one.

The Goan Thalassa is more of a sea/beach themed place while Mumbai's Thalassa is a more of purist Greek Tavern. Understanding this distinction actually helps one appreciate the work put behind Mumbai's Thalassa.

Thalassa has four different seating areas - a front road facing Al fresco which is more suited for parties and big functions, A classy indoor, a Basement lounge and a backyard Al Fresco which is probably the most Greek themed space of the four. The indoor area is a mix of modern and a bit of Baroque. Snapshots from Greece adorn a wall as well. The backyard tavern has a bit of Santorini's white theme and a bit of a party vibe. In the day time, it wears its clothes of serene white beauty but at night its totally different and quite amazing.

Thankfully, the restaurant sticks to its theme and plays Greek music and not Kenny G, Bollywood or EDM as in cases of most other restaurants.

Chicken Souvlaki Skewers were juicy meat chunks wrapped in spices and served with Pita, salad, sundried tomato paste and Tzatziki. Souvlaki has been eaten in Greece for thousands of years with excavation records putting it as early as 17th century BC. These are uniquely Mediterranean in flavor and very different from Shish Kebabs, Yakitori or Satay. A few Turkic influences can be felt though since the meat tastes close to a Doner Kebab. One could eat the meat right off the skewer or place it in a pocket styled out of the Pita.

Thalassa Special Salad looked a bit dull when compared to the Souvlaki. The visuals could clearly use improvement as Salads are always supposed to be visibly enticing. The sensations that stood out were the subtly savory baby potatoes, a crunchy element from the pomegranate, sweetness from the caramelized onions and the salty Feta. It was a decent salad but would perhaps work better for a vegetarian.

Chicken Gyros is perhaps the only Greek dish that an average Indian epicure would know of. This however makes it more important as one finally has a dish which one has sampled before.  The presentation initially confused me as Gyros is traditionally a Pita based sandwich or a variation of Pitawich. Thalassa however lets you create the sandwich yourself. This allows one to style the sandwich themselves . Though it does run the risk of an inexperienced customer ruining the set up and then blaming the restaurant. We do live in an era where a scapegoat solves all problems. 

I ended my meal with this Amore Chocolate Gelato. Though Thalassa did have Baklava, it did not visibly stand out to me and I chose to play it safe with a frozen dessert.

The service is one of the high points of the restaurant as the crew is well trained, well kept, knowledgeable and professional. They can efficiently cater both local and expatriate patrons.

The pricing however feels on the higher side. A meal for two with drinks could easily top Rs 2500. I think that the prices could be a little lower than what those are now.

Thalassa offers the complete Greek package - The food, feel and the ambiance. I'd greatly recommend a dinner trip so that one could savor both the food and the feel of the place.

The Captain's Score : 8/10

Map Co-Ordinates
Thalassa
21st Street, Off Carter Road,
Khar (West),
Mumbai


-I was invited to sample the grub by the restaurant but my review is objective and free from bias.-

Christmas menu at Gaylord's - Churchgate, Mumbai.

Mumbai's vibrant and diverse social environment often reflects well in the city's food culture too. Like all major festivals, Christmas also brings its own unique festive cheer and food. This is also a time for many a restaurants to feature limited time Christmas menus.

Gaylord which happens to be one of my regular places also had a limited time Christmas menu which featured a mix of North Indian winter favorites and Western dishes. In an era of foodporn and Instagram - It is easy to miss out on a lot of delicious food just because Instagram did not deem it pretty enough to discuss.

The offerings on Gaylord's Christmas menu were among some of the best food that I have had, but it wasn't very camera friendly. So I took it upon myself as a mission. Words shall achieve what the camera couldn't. I shall chronicle my delicious voyage at Gaylord and my encounter with their Christmas menu.

(This menu stays till the 4th of January, 2017 so do make sure not to miss it.)

In Gaylord's own words Eat, Drink and be Merry. The menu may not completely follow the Christmas theme but be rest assured that the food is enough to bring the festive cheer.

Choco Flakes Colada was a bitter sweet drink inspired from the Pinacolada. It had a lot of tangy flavor from the Malibu and Pineapple. The drink felt like I was on the beach at sunset with partly clouded skies and a party vibe. It had a tropical feel to it and reminded me of my time at the pristine Sri Lankan beaches. The chocolate flakes did not feel necessary but complement well with the Kahlua.

The Xmas Fig and fruit Salad was a lighter option to the appetizers. This one in particular felt clean and healthy. There were sweet, salty and mildly spicy flavors in there.

Boti Parathe Pe. It would not be Gaylord without their trademark North Indian dishes. This was a special edition dish with paneer stuffed parathas topped with lamb nuggets. The parathas were soft and the paneer stuffing was spicy and aromatic. The meat topping was tender, savory, succulent and just the right rare. It exuded a pleasantly smokey flavor owing to it being coal grilled. This is definitely something that I would recommend.

Roast Turkey reminded me of Thanksgiving but there is Christmas Turkey as well. This was a slice of stuffed turkey with sausages styled like flowers. It also had a pleasantly sweet undertone thanks to the usage of cranberry sauce. Served with Broccoli, carrots and potato mashing - this was a complete meal in itself.

The pricing is on par with Gaylord's general pricing structure. I would say that its a good buy for the money. Gaylord does not believe in presentation theatrics and serves only good food.

I have skipped ambiance, general information and service from this review but if you have been following me - I have covered these in an earlier post about Gaylord. You can read it here.
Gaylord's earlier Review

Do note that you too can savour this menu. It stays on till 4th of January, 2017. 

The Captain's Score : 8/10
 

Map Co-Ordinates
Gaylord,
Mayfair Building,
VN Road,
Churchgate, Mumbai


-I was invited to sample the Christmas menu but I have been here enough on my own. My post is objective and free from any biases.-

The Irish House - Lower Parel, Mumbai.

Anyone who has been to an actual Irish pub in Ireland can tell you that The Irish House is a good emulation of the real thing. The dim lit ambiance, the wood and brick themes, wooden bar in the middle, wooden furniture, the posters and plaques all make the ambiance very typical of a Western Irish Pub. The place makes a good watering hole whenever one feels like taking a few pegs down. So I was at The Irish House for lunch. Lunch? Yes you read that right.

The Irish House, Lower Parel is a neat Irish Pub. It emulates the real thing in every way imaginable, even has the famous smoking ban that hit Irish pubs in Ireland a decade ago. The place can get quite crowded at dinner times. The dim lit ambiance is the perfect place to be part of the crowd yet be seen by no one. In the afternoon however, it feels like a dusty western Tavern but that also is a fun feel in its own way.

For INR 325+Taxes, a three course meal is quite a good offer. This makes the food cheaper than fast food chains. The quality also being far more superior than fast food places. Though, I was peeved with the lack of a dessert option and very limited drinking options. Being The Irish House, I was sure they could have designed in a larger choice for drinks.

I tried the Beer add on option. I am not really a beer guy (Don't hurt me Beer lovers pweese) but a light beverage does feel refreshing in the noon. I would have definitely preferred a Mojito or something virgin over this.

Chicken Involtini can best be explained as the Italian version of the French Roulade or vice versa. Thin slices of meat were wrapped around a vegetable stuffing. This was struck with the same problem as most Roulades in Mumbai. The meat was slightly overdone and a bit chewy. This main was drizzled with flavorful Pomodoro sauce and served with some herbed rice.

I also chose Garlic bread as my side and Chicken Popcorn as my appetizer. Strangely, all three were served together. It is understandable as they want the lunch done quickly but still I am not fond of eating two courses together. The main and the side together were normal but the appetizer should have been served earlier. This bit needs to be worked out. The chicken popcorn or softcore chicken nuggets were delicious. The Garlic bread tasted as it does anywhere else.

These messy Smokey BBQ chicken sliders were included amongst the appetizers but they seemed to me as the best item on the lunch menu. The Irish House is well known for its Burgers and these little burgers were as messy as big whoppers, delicious and had juicy patties.

Since I dropped by at late afternoon on a weekday, the restaurant was almost empty and I had the entire service to myself. So it would be difficult for me to comment on the service. As far as their serving etiquette goes, I do think they were professional.

The pricing seems all right to me. Though autograt could be avoided. Seems like a good option for a quick lunch with good quality food.

To wrap this up, a lunch option by a pub seems like a move to diversify and target non popular time zones as most pubs are empty during daytime. The limited options may feel troublesome but they ensure effective logistics and quick meals especially when lunch time is limited on an office day.

The execution could have been slightly better but overall it is a better choice and money well spent. The food is far better as opposed to eating a McD or a burger King meal.


The Captain's Score : 7/10

Map Co-Ordinates
The Irish House,
High Street Phoenix,
Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel,
Mumbai


-I was invited to sample the grub by the restaurant but my review is objective and free from bias.-

The Spare Kitchen - Worli, Mumbai

After wowing the suburban audiences in Juhu, The Spare Kitchen(TSK) finally opens its doors in the town at Worli's Atria mall. Though the deserted mall may feel a bit awkward to the patron, rest assured its still better than an overcrowded mall coming in between you and good food. Atria has recently been a magnet for a few big name eateries and this pleases me a lot.

The place is huge with close to about 150 covers. I am pretty sure this means that one will mostly never have a reservation hassle. The ambiance is mix of formal and informal. It feels very modern. The silver and grey theme infuses classiness while the furniture makes it look like an evening place. There is even Salvador Dali hidden in the walls. The lighting is dim lit which feels like a running theme in all restaurants from Chef Rakesh Talwar's stable.

The food is a mix of North Indian with a bit of western and the Far East. There are some classical Indian favorites on the menu too like Dal Makhani. There is also a Pizza section with a lot of Indianized pies.

Fennel Infused Martini - A sweet and sour drink. Though the fennel could not be felt, it had the pleasant calm of cucumber in it. A sober drink (if that oxymoron makes sense) for the refined masses.

Planter's Punch. A mix of Dark Rum with orange and pineapple - This was a polar opposite of the one above. It had a candy like spunky flavor and a party vibe in it.

Fish cooked in Papillote  - This was Basa baked in parchment paper. The visuals were a perfect emulation of the French delicacy. The flavor was mildly spicy and salty. Though I did feel that another fish could have been used instead of the gooey Basa.

Chowpatty on TSK platter is a crowd favorite at the Juhu installation so it was imperative that we try it here too. It was a mix of Mumbai's popular street food on a single platter given a bit of a fine dine make over. Potato Vadas, Bhel, Pav Bhaji and Pani puri adorned the platter. While everything else tasted like their street food namesakes, the pani puri felt a bit different as it used an oatmeal like mix instead of the classical pani puri mix.

Fish cakes were pan fried fish cutlets with a serving of coconut rice. The flavor felt salty and very coastal. There was a Konkani essence to it. The fish cakes were soft and delectable. The pairing with the rice seemed to work well.

Khepcha rice with prawn tasted very Burmese in construction. The flavor was smooth, the aroma inspiring and the perfect rice really caressed the tongue. Its appearance looked ordinary in a restaurant obsessed with deconstruction and plating. However, the dish let its flavor do the talking. It was food for the soul. The dish of the night.

Strawberry Rasmalai Cake was high on the optics but timid on the flavor. This was a "no bake" variety of cheesecake with subtle strawberry flavoring and bits of rasmalai in and around the thing. I have definitely had better.

Sea salted caramel Kulfi was the unsung hero among the desserts. Whilst its appearance did not match the flair of the Cheesecake above, its sweet flavor was quite a treasure trove. The sea salted caramel had blended perfectly with the Kulfi and did not feel like an external add on. The kulfi itself was very creamy, soft and yet retaining its identity and not becoming an Ice Cream. This was by far the best Kulfi that I have had in a long time. Regardless of what one eats in their other courses, this Kulfi is the ideal finisher.

The service was excellent and the staff was well trained for a new restaurant. Service has always been one of the strongest points of Rakesh Talwar's restaurants and TSK at Worli was no exception.

The pricing is definitely on the upper side however I will be honest and admit that it felt lower in comparison with other fine dines in this side of town.

The menu diversity, the deconstructions and the fusion food are the restaurant's top selling points. It is a place where one could try something completely new on every trip. I always respect creativity and chefs who like to promote avant garde. If you are in Worli then TSK is a great place to drop by. If you love good food then TSK is worthy enough to travel to.


The Captain's Score : 8/10

Map Co-Ordinates
The Spare Kitchen,
Atria Mall, 4th Floor,
Dr. Annie Besant Road,
Worli, Mumbai


-I was invited to the place along with a shipload of bloggers and influencer folks. As such the meal was on the house, however my review is neutral and based of my eating experience alone-