Belstone - Lower Parel, Mumbai

As we camped near the coasts that night, it started to rain heavily. There was a storm nearby. It be a good thing that we were near the coasts but the seas were incredibly turbulent. There was always a risk of the ship being pushed onto dangerous rocks near the coast. I sat in me cabin resting as the thunder and the rough seas deafened the sounds from outside. Suddenly my radio came alive breaking the passive moment. It was firsty.

"All hands on deck mate, we are under attack."

Belstone used to be a small restaurant near the Palladium mall. I had passed it countless times but never actually been in it. So when my inbox received a mail from their rep about their "opening", I was a little bit confused. It turned turned out that Belstone had actually opened a new place in Raghuvanshi mills. A much larger place and a completely new restaurant so to say.

Belstone is large with a lot of empty space. The decor looks very spartan and the place may resemble a large lunch home. It kind of reminded me of thali restaurants in Surat, Gujarat. The decor, motivational slogans and lighting have completely been done by the owner Vinay Jain who happens to be an interior designer by education.

There were also these private rooms which can be booked by groups for a private meal. The low lying table reminded me of Japanese private lunch rooms though the North Indian roll-a-pillows added a very Indian feel to it.

The menu at Belstone is as large as their dining area. There are a lot of options covering Indian, Chinese, Italian and Mexican options.

The Kiwi Lychee cooler was suggested by the serving staff. The drink was cool, sweet and slightly tangy. Worked well as a cooler though not as a mocktail. The restaurant is purely vegetarian and doesn't serve alcohol so coolers among other drinks are your best options to accompany food.

Lemon grass soup was slightly on the saltier side but that could just be me with my over sensitivity to salt. (I love Japanese food and low salt). The lemon grass was not immediately perceivable but as I dug deeper into the bowl, the flavor got better and I got a subtle and "just right" flavor of lemon grass. The soup worked well in creating a food appetite.

Paneer Hariyali was as good as they come. The flavor was perfect. The paneer was soft and fresh with great texture. The vegetables complemented the chunks perfectly. I am used to having this nibble with a cocktail in pubs, mostly with a Pinacolada or Mojito. Would be a cool idea if the restaurant adds virgin versions of popular cocktails to the menu.

Belstone Sandwich was the restaurant's specialty that fared quite well in its older avatar. It seemed to be a crowd favorite too as this image(Different angle) became kind of viral on my instagram. It does have the street food vibe to it. The flavor was smooth, savory and simply delicious. The cheese and the greens were in a balanced proportion and it was topped with a light layer of butter, cheese and paprika. Whether you are a food writer or a regular patron, this sandwich is a must for both visuals and flavors.

Captain : Who would be attacking us on the sea in the middle of a storm? Those yellow bellied cowards. 

Crewmate : The leader calls himself Little Cuvo. Imbecile ordered us to surrender the ship and disembark.

Captain : I am gonna carve up this Cuvo scallywag.

Fusion Nachos was the best dish of the night. These green colored nachos were the result of spinach being added to the the tortilla mixture. Vinay states that he encountered the dish while traveling abroad and thought of bringing it to India. And he did well. The Nachos were among the best I have had, these were loaded with generous amounts of cheese and had an island of vegetable Manchurians in the middle. Though not the best combination, the two savory delights did seem to work together in this Fusion dish. There was even a little lake of sour cream in the middle of the manchurian island.  Definitely a must have.

Enemy Fighter : Boss, what do we do? We haven't really fought a real battle in our lives.

Little Cuvo : Just see what they be doing. And do the same.

Enemy Fighter : That cannot work, they will always be one step ahead of us.

Little Cuvo : I have lived my entire life like that. We will kill them and take their ship and bux.

Enemy Fighter : Bux? You mean their Gold right?

The Menu does not have many desserts at this point but I am told that the restaurant plans to open a separate patisserie somewhere on the property.

The service was fine though this being born out of a press invite, a server always kept a watchful eye on my table appearing instantly whenever the need arose.

The Pricing is similar to other premium vegetarian places in this part of town. Its kept pocket friendly for salary men and students alike.

Belstone shows potential. There were ups and downs but the overall experience was good. There is a lot that can be improved and I look forward to that patisserie being added.

The Captain's Score : 7/10

"

Captain : These fools are attacking us for real? They are just trying to imitate our moves. 

Firsty : Their powder is wet mate. Ours isn't, we can attack them from the cannon deck.

Captain : This ought to be fun. I want this Cuvo guy captured alive and brought before me.

Gunner : They way these scallywags are going, that shouldn't take us too long.

"


Map Co-Ordinates
Belstone,

Raghuvanshi Mills,

Senapati Bapat Marg,

Lower Parel, Mumbai

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

The Korner House - Khar(west), Mumbai.

What in the name of Poseidon? This wall, it vanished away as if it never existed. The mist began to lift and the ship began to drift ahead on its own. This sea is quite strange with some creepy magic inside it. As we sailed towards our next mark, the sea was relatively calm. Finally we will make it to a marked spot on the map without unnecessary stopovers. But the question that did not concern me earlier was making me anxious. Why did the mirror show me that memory and how did Nina manage to get inside it?

The Korner House (TKH) is a classy restaurant located in the interior lanes of Khar and Bandra facing Out of the Blue. Trust me, I do not toss around the word "classy" without good reason. The restaurant is helmed by renowned Chef Vicky Ratnani and it brings to the table the very definition of the term "fine dine". When you enter the restaurant, you pass a rain shaded al-fresco with a singer and live music. Good place to be during cooler weather and if you are in for the music. If however, you are the quiet type who just wants some good food and wine then walk right inside.

The dim lit golden ambiance is very typical of most fine dines across town. Lights resembling new buds on a plant hang from the ceiling and the place feels cozy.

TKH offers fine grog and a collection of fine foods made from locally sourced ingredients. I would greatly recommend something from their Garden, farm or sea sections if you want a good meal. I was here on a Sunday to experience their newly launched Sunday brunch which has its own special menu.

Quite a diverse menu for The Bruncheon.

This sojourn started off with some Chandon sparkling wine which was the welcoming drink. I like places which offer sparkling as a start off. Who wouldn't, right?

Gambas A la Plancha was grilled shrimp tossed in garlic confit, Thai chilies and parsley. This was a classical Spanish Tapas that goes well with any chilled liquor. The flavor was juicy, savory and went quite well with the sparkling. You can't have a better start to your Sunday than this.

Captain : The wind is too steady and the sea too calm.

Navigator : Not all calms mean a storm.

Captain : This one does. I can feel it in me bones.

Fresh Cheese and Market table. It is a clean feel salad with plum tomatoes, pickled beets, Burrata, roasted carrots and a bit of molecular gastronomy with olive puree. But it does not come off as a satisfying eat. Sure it works well as a wine accompaniment but its little too less for its price.

Spinach Shakshuka is a North African poached egg skillet which fits ideally into any brunch menu. While the egg, spices and the cheese at TKH were spot on - I did feel that this had a lot more tomato and less spinach. Not much of an issue in terms of flavor but if the menu states it to be a spinach variant than the tomato could be lesser. The dish was on the tangy side with subtle undertones of savory. Goes well with the pita.

Pulled Pork Burger rarely fails to impress me. And TKH had taken their variant to the next level. The soft bun was stuffed with pulled pork drizzled with BBQ sauce and caramelized onions. It also had pickled chilies at the bottom. The burger was messy, juicy and simply too epic to write about. The flavors were sweet and savory. This was one thing that had me licking my fingers.

Lookout : Land ahoy.

Captain : There better be some good restaurants there.

Navigator : Unlikely, this one be uninhabited. 

Slow Cooked Lamb Osso Bucco was a twist of the original recipe. This Milanese specialty used slow cooked lamb shanks instead of veal. And it was served with Millet couscous pilaf instead of Risotto. The only thing traditional about it was that it was garnished with Cilantro gremolata. The experiment was a success as this was definitely the best dish of the day. The flavor had several shades of savory and was simply a juicy party in the mouth. The couscous pilaf complemented the gravy well and completed the alchemy. Definitely a worthy main to order if one is fine with lamb and couscous.

As my drink was over and the desserts were taking a bit of time, I decided to sample TKH's Sea salted caramel milkshake. One sip and the world would never be the same again. This shake was absolutely the best caramel shake that I have had in Mumbai. Thick, creamy and loaded with caramel - this was like a glimpse of heaven, a taste of nirvana or liquid rainbow so to say. This makes a good accompaniment to food if you are going dry and works well as a dessert.

Choco Lava Cake had a soft crust and was full of rich chocolate within. Went well with the ice cream and whip cream. The ingredients were of premium quality hence the flavor easily surpassed run of the mill lava cakes.

Tiramisu was the best of the sweet options that I tried. Was a bit creamy but otherwise tasted great and balanced. The desserts rotate everyday and if you happen to see this on the daily menu, go for it.

Captain : Landing party ready to row down to the beach. 

First mate : I am getting an odd feeling mate. 

Captain : Hmm, Its as if we are being surrounded.

The service was professional and the servers knew the brunch menu well. The place was crowded for a late Sunday afternoon so the service was a bit slow. Though the servers and their etiquette seemed to resonate well with the fine dine theme.

The pricing is definitely on the higher side but seeing that the restaurant was packed late into the afternoon definitely suggests that the people like the vibe and the food.

Wouldn't call TKH perfect but it does score highly on all factors from ambiance to service. Its the place to be at if one really wishes to savour a true fine dine experience. If you know your choices well then you will most likely be pleased.

The Captain's Score : 8/10

"

First mate : That beach has a lot of debris on it. From wrecked ships, no doubt.

Captain : That be troublesome. It means that the island may be inhabited by the survivors of those wrecks.

First mate : Why is that a bad thing?

Captain : They may have not seen a ship in while and might be desperate to get off the island. 

Quartermaster : I think we should stay out of sight and land at night.

"


Map Co-Ordinates
The Korner House
21, Union Park,
Khar West, Mumbai

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

Vedge - Andheri Lokhandwala, Mumbai.

My navigator was studying Arianna Silvers' antique charts carefully. Nina was running around his legs like the adorable furball she was. He looked up and said that we were not just facing any wall of ice but something called as the mirror of memories. Arianna must've been a romantic lass coming up with names like that. However, something strange began to transpire. Suddenly the mist was gone and I was standing inside a restaurant. I could not spot the rest of my crew save one person and Nina. 

Crewmate : Captain, we have been here before.

Captain : Holy Arianna Silvers. I know this place, I was here before. Its Vedge.


Vedge would always be special to me. Almost two years ago when I was a struggling blogger, a nice lady by the name of Chandni Tolani invited me to this place. And that is how Grubzone came into existence. Now, both Vedge and me have grown from what we were back then. I used to feel that Vedge would cave in to the contest of the eateries in Andheri Lokhandwala and I used to feel that I won't survive long as a blogger either. Jeez, I sure was a poor sod back then.

Flash forward to present, Vedge has not only survived but it has got multiple awards and has recently upgraded its menu to bring a truly vegetarian fine dine experience to the table. As for me, I would love to tell my tale over a cup of hot chocolate another day.

Vedge still looks the same as far as ambiance is concerned. Beautiful lamps hang from the ceiling. An eclectic mix of modern art design adorns the wall. And then there are the antiques. At this point, I would request you to have a glance at the first blog post I ever made. Ok actually the second.

There is a new chef in town so a new menu was apt. Vedge simplified its menu, removed some "not so favorites" and added a whole lot of new things encompassing Indian, Italian, Chinese and Mexican.

Here is what I tried from this diverse menu.

Paan Mocktail was refreshing, minty and sweet. It did not actually contain Tobacco or betel nut. A simple drink that was delectable. It reminded me of the Paan shots that I had in my last Vedge trip. I had longed for a full drink rather than shots.

Captain : Did this memory get upgraded or something? I don't remember this the last time.

Crewmate : It was there as a shot last time, Cappy.

Nina : Nya :3

Captain : If this is a memory being replayed then only me and you have to be in here. Why are you in here Nina?

Chili Honey Potato emulated the Honey Chili chicken that I love so much. This wok tossed potato did not make me miss my favorite protein. An emulation well done. It was juicy with flavor oozing out of every bite. The flavor felt like a mix of spicy, sweet and had a bit of tang.

Laksa Soup was a simple affair. The flavor was earthy and spicy. It had a lovely aroma as well. They do offer the option of making it less spicy but that would kill the flavor. This soup is very appetizing so expect yourself to be quite ravenous after eating this.

Tex Mex Lasagna was the piece de resistance of the Vedge experience. Initially I was disappointed to see that it was not a classical Lasagna. Pasta sheets were replaced with Tortillas, Italian veggies and spices with Mexican beans, rice and spices. But the flavor was quite something. The crunchy sheets with spicy savory mex beans tasted amazingly food. It got over and I didn't even realize it, it was that good. I wouldn't call it a Lasagna, preferring to call it a Nacho sandwich. But semantics aside, it tasted great.

Captain : This is too good. And this was definitely not there last time.

Crewmate : Maybe this memory is getting updated from the real Vedge somewhere in the world. 

Captain : I like this memory, its tasty. Fine food in the middle of nowhere. Thats magic.

Massaman Curry was pungent, savory and tasted similar to Thai green curry minus the color and Kaffir lime. While it tasted well to me due to its similarity to Thai green curry, its important to note that this dish is difficult to replicate in a vegetarian environment. Without the seafood's inherent flavors, this curry tastes closer to Green curry or Khao Suey as coconut milk becomes dominant.

Magic Chocolate Pot was reminiscent of the popular chocolate bomb that I am seeing at many places. This contained praline, hazelnut mousse, chocolate, brownie and caramel sauce. It was a tasty dessert but a heavy one at that.

Captain : Cannot afford to go high within a trance. What would that make it? A trance within a trance.

Crewmate : Ince..

Captain : Don't say it. 

Crewmate : ception.

The service was fine and the servers even accommodated my constant shifting of the dishes to a table with daylight( for food photography). This bit is always annoying for the serving staff.

The pricing felt a bit on the higher side. But seemed to be on par with premium vegetarian eateries like cream centre or the like.

Vedge has definitely come a long way since it opened shop. They do seem to have a good menu on the table. All that remains is consistency. I enjoyed my meal experience despite being a carnivore and I think that itself speaks a lot about the place's caliber. Vedge is a must try if you are a vegetarian.

The Captain's Score : 8/10

"
Captain eats the dessert and wakes up back on his ship. The crew is staring at him in shock.

Captain : My head hurts. Did I pass out?

First mate : No, you had completely disappeared. Along with the deck sweeper and your furball.

Captain : The dessert woke us up, apparently the mirror of memories doesn't support inception yet. 

Crewmate : But why did only that memory play? Could have been anything else. Is there a reason?

Captain : Huh who cares. I am tired of waiting. Row the ship backwards if you have to and blow this damn wall up.

Navigator : That won't be necessary.

"

Map Co-Ordinates
Vedge
Fun Republic Mall, Ground Floor,
New Link Road, Andheri Lokhandwala,
Andheri West, Mumbai.


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

MRP - Dadar East, Mumbai

This be a strange day. There was a strong wind blowing but we were surrounded by mists. Winds usually clear the mist. The only reason the mist could still persist is something blocking it from being blown away. Even a large island with huge mountains isn't big enough to stop the winds. All of a sudden, Nina started meowing very loudly. She must have sensed something. I asked the mates to reef and fold the sails. The ship must be brought to a stop. As the ship stopped, I heard a gentle thud near the bow. Did we hit ground? Firsty walked up to the bow and extended his hand out. 

"Gentlemen, we are facing a wall of ice."

MRP or My Regular Place is another star from the Pritam Hospitality's stable. These are the same people behind ventures like Pritams Dhaba, Grandmama's Cafe and Please Don't Tell. Located inside the group's star Hotel in Dadar east, this bistro promises 3G - Good Grog, grub and games. As opposed to the Cafe and pub kind of food in PDT and Grandmamas, MRP promises a fine dine experience.

The restaurant is large, dim lit and has a party vibe to it. The bar is like an illuminated island. The decor is full of bar game themed artwork. The place offers many bar games like Jenga, Mini Foosball, Shoot the ball in cup, Uno etc. It even offers a giant Jenga which requires your muscles rather than your fingers. This makes the place a fun hangout for weekend binges.

The restaurant is a bright star in the otherwise quiet and lackluster Dadar east neighborhood. I expect it to join the list of famous themed bars across Mumbai.

The place offers good booze at cheap rates. Far lesser than most places of the same level. The variety is great but one must honor a place by trying its specialties.

Japanese Onsen was a strong drink with salty and mildly sweet flavors. I somehow perceived myself standing near the sea during a rainstorm while having this drink. This was made by mixing Gari(Young ginger) infused Tequila, peach puree, lime and salt foam. The salty foam dominated the drink and gave the sea like feel to it. The other ingredients had more subtle effects and provided a bit of sweet and sour tones. I loved this mix.

Captain : A wall? Lets break it and move ahead.

First mate : That may be hard. For the wall to block the winds, it must be both large and thick.

Navigator : We are stuck here until the fog lifts Captain.

Tiki Torii was a candy like sweet drink with subtle bitter undertones to it. The flavor was excellent and the three Rums were mixed appropriately into the drink. Presence of cranberry and pineapple increased its sweetness. The only thing that peeved me about this drink was the large amount of ice. Though not as mesmerizing as the Onsen, this was still a decent drink.

Sesame Ginger Chicken Dimsum was made with finely minced chicken in a thin dumpling wrapper. The taste felt slightly like curried chicken with subtle amounts of Ginger. The dumpling melted in my mouth. While not the best, this was a decent dimsum comparable to those found in most upscale Chinese restaurants.

Prawns Ajilo was prawns soaked in a thin curry which contained Kaffir lime butter. The curry itself was delectable but the alchemy wasn't complete without the melt in your mouth soft Baos. Stuff your prawns and curry into the Bao and have a bite of heavenly grub. The flavor pampered my taste buds. Easily the dish of the day.

Captain : (Lifts Nina up) Love, you know a lot about this sea. Don't you? 

Nina : Nya :3

Captain : If only you could tell us how to get out of here.

Quartermaster : Losing your marbles already mate? What will talking to a cat achieve?

The Boneless Lamb shanks were a testament of the restaurant's fine dining caliber. These were tender delectable shanks which were juicy in every bite. These were well complimented with a side of kimchi flavored arborio. The meat was drizzled with Tamarind jus which added a zingy flavor to the savory base. The dish combined a lot of food cultures like Korean, Chinese and Italian. It is extremely pleasant to the palate. I would greatly recommend this to the reader. MRP's Lamb Shanks is one of the best lamb dishes that I have had till date.

Drunken Chocolate Sundae was my second choice after my original choice deconstructed Cheesecake was not available. It was a mixture of Waffles, ice cream, a bit of mousse, chocolate syrup, Banana and Caramel sauces, Caramelized popcorn and Bailey's sauce. Was a good mixture though I felt that the caramel popcorn felt a bit harder than desired.

Captain : What if the fog never lifts? We cannot leave ourselves to the weather's mercy.

First mate : What do you suggest we do?

Captain : Lower a dinghy, time to explore this part of the sea.

Navigator : I wouldn't advise that Captain. You can get lost in the mists, plus we don't know what is in the water. Sharks? Kraken? Rabid News Anchors?


The service was decent for the most part. My entire course was suggested by my server Akshay Kumar. Cool name right?

The pricing felt easy for the drinks but on par for the grub with most pub and bistro like outlets. I would place MRP at a higher rank than most Pubs in town so I feel that the grub is well worth the moolah.

MRP felt special because of its vibes, music and its offerings. For any person who calls themselves a gastronome of any measure, this place is MUST visit.

The Captain's Score : 8/10

"

Captain : Its night already. We wait till morning, after which we will have to find a way out.

First mate : That I agree with. We don't want to die facing a wall.

Gunner : If only we were a few paces away from the wall, I could have tried firing at it with the cannons.

Engineer : If you fire at this close range, there is a good chance that ice shards from the wall would destroy the ship itself.

Gunner : Yes, that is why I need the distance.

"

Map Co-Ordinates
Inside Pritam Hotel,
20, Dharamputra,
Pritam Estate,
Dadar East, Mumbai


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

Chai Pe Charcha - Prabhadevi, Mumbai.

After a day long trek in the ascending passages, we finally made it to the surface. We were tired as we had been up all night walking. I was worried that firsty may get the wrong message and leave without us but he was waiting for us. Turned out that Firsty had found from the townsfolk that there was a passage that connected the strange undersea city with the island above. As the sea was normal again, we set out to sail. On to the next mark. One can only wonder what more surprises will the sea of shipwrecks throw at us?

Chai Pe Charcha is a simple concept but quite a popular one. After the roaring success of the brand's Lower Parel outlet, CPC comes to my neighborhood in Prabhadevi. Its located in a connecting lane between two main roads and is thus not very easy to find for a person not living in this area. It is bang opposite the Prabhadevi Mandir. If you are into the Pokemon craze, then it is right opposite a Pokestop. However, don’t let its unpopular location fool you. This little café is as popular as its Lower Parel sibling. Who knows, it may even be more popular.

The Café felt like a mix of a small highway restaurant and a modern bistro. There were artifacts that signify Mumbai like the popular Auto Rickshaw shaped table or the Mumbai Metro cut out on the ceiling. The baked bricked appearance on the other side with a book shelf added to the mix of themes. 

There is simplicity, there is sophistication and there is ultimately comfort. The tables resemble those found in neighborhood tea stalls. If that wasn’t enough, there was even a yellow colored street food "Thela" or cart. The place makes an ideal hangout for friends. The cafe is more than just talk, it also provides fun board games like Ludo or chess which people can play while talking. The café is crowded at most times of the day.

Since the place is tea themed, I started out with one of their special beverages.

The Hajmola Chai was a milk free and sugarless tea that was tangy and lemony. It was made out of lemon, Rock salt and other ingredients which are often used to make the digestive candy Hajmola. Not only was this tea comforting on the tongue, it was also good for digestion. Of all the health based teas that I know, this was by far the most tasteful.  Of course this isn’t the only tea on their menu, there are many other unique beverages waiting to be tried.

Captain : I'd like my tea on the deck. 

Crewmate : You should get some sleep Cappy. Firsty can take care of things.

Captain : Firsty was up all night too looking for us. He can take care of things later. I will manage the helm now. 

Gulkand Bun Maska for 45 INR was a steal of a treat. It made regular bun maska look like a thing of the past. This soft bun was generously coated with Gulkand (a sweet preserve made of Rose petals) and had butter in the centre. It combined sweet, pleasant and savory. It also went really well with my Hajmola tea. I would greatly recommend this to the reader. 

Firangi Khakra was a delectable fusion of Masala Khakra(Savory Mat bean Crackers) and Nacho's Cheese sauce. My only question was, why was this not done before anywhere else? It was such a brilliant fusion. The Khakra pieces went really went with the sauce and it was a salty, savory and cheesy sensation. I ended up licking my fingers clean after this. 

This was served on a plate made out of a leaf and there was sweet and spicy chutney as well. I would however recommend the Khrakra to be eaten with the cheese and only use the chutneys if the sauce is exhausted.

Again for just INR 72, this was an amazing treat.

The Good ol' Vada Pav tasted very much like a High School canteen Vada Pav. It was the kind that I have grown up with. No nonsense, no theatrics, no secret ingredient - Just plain good vada pav as its meant to be.

Lookout : (Rings the warning bell) Mist ahoy.

Captain : Barnacles. There could rocks hidden in the mists. This is the sea of ship wrecks after all.

Firsty :(Yawn) Sleep will have to wait mate. We need all hands on deck.

The cafe employs differently abled staff members who have been trained well despite their limitations. The service is decent at this cafe.

As mentioned earlier, one of the best things about CPC is their pocket friendly pricing. One could easily have a satisfying meal for under INR 150. It doesn't get any better than this.

Chai Pe Charcha is an idea that is already rolling on the highway like a juggernaut. It is likely that within a few years time, these cafes will pop up in all densely populated neighborhoods. But for now, I feel privileged to have one of these near my home.

The Captain's Score : 9/10

"

Navigator : The winds are too strong, we cannot turn and we cannot drop anchor. We will have to go through this mist.

Captain : Aye, fold in the sails and lower the speed as much as possible. If the winds are strong, the mists should not stay here too long. We need to stall some time.

First mate : The visibility is going down by the second. This mist is dense.

Captain : All hands alert. We don't know whats out there.  Ready on the arms.

Gunner : Aye Aye Captain.
"

Map Co-Ordinates
Chai Pe Charcha
Prabha Vinayak Building,
Near Prabhadevi Mata Mandir,
Prabhadevi, Mumbai


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

 

The Playlist Pizzeria - Bandra Reclamation, Mumbai.

We stared at a secret chamber inside the secret passage that was supposed to lead us back to the surface. I switched me flashlight on and saw a large pool of water inside the chamber with a shrine like structure in the middle. Nina mewed innocently and looked at me as if beckoning me to go and explore. Cats do have a sixth sense about such things but what could possibly the secret structure be hiding? This place isn't even on the map for the blue compass. Nina better not be sending me after exotic cave fish.

What's the worst peeve one has when one goes into a restaurant to grab some comfort grub? Its the weird music pervading your ears. And worst still is the inability to change that for the better. Some restaurants have Jukeboxes but its kind of a buzzkill to leave your meal midway to go adjust the Jukebox. And that is where Playlist pizzeria comes up with its unique seller. Sit on your table, download a jukebox app and add your choice of music to a queue which will play when its turn comes. Sounds cool doesn't it?

Playlist pizzeria is a small cafe like restaurant located at a corner in the quiet inner lanes of Bandra reclamation. Its quite close to places like Desi Deli or Salt Water Cafe if one needs landmarks. The ambiance feels very typical of a modern bistro cum pizzeria. Being in a residential neighborhood, I am pretty sure the bulk of their business comes from home deliveries but I can see the place getting crowded in the evening as a community hangout spot. Its the kind of place that makes an ideal lured Pokestop (Pokemon Go folks will get this). The ambient temperature feels a bit warm but still cozy.

This was positively the best Garlic Cheese bread that I have had, ever. The portion size was generous, being a large flatbread. This was loaded with cheese and had a beautiful blend of savory flavors . To be honest, this felt as awesome as a pizza itself. I absolutely recommend the reader to try this.

Half and Half Pizza. I love pizzerias that offer the option of combining two pizzas into one, I really do. In the picture is the Rapture Pepperoni pizza(Top right) and the Echo chicken pizza. I have no idea why these are named so but these were both delectable pizzas. The rapture combined aesthetics with the rusty meaty flavor of pork pepperoni. The Echo on the other hand is a traditional meat lover's pizza. It was loaded with cheese, chicken, chicken sausage and salami. Its the pizza you order for your pizza night or for the big game.

Captain : This water must be like thousands of years old. Hope I don't catch ancient bacteria.

Quartermaster : Quit yer yapping, we all have to wade through this pool. At least, it ain't deep. 

Engineer : Hmm, I don't think the water is that old. It tastes very fresh. Like off a glacier ya know.

The gooey chocolate cake in a polystyrene cup was disappointing in both visuals and flavor. I was a bit too full to try their renowned cookie pizza but its the dessert to go for at Playlist pizzeria. Don't settle for anything else.

Captain : This be strange. This golden orb is the only artifact inside this shrine. And it seems that sea water falls on it and gets converted into fresh water. 

Engineer : That's a treasure Captain. It solves an age old problem of getting potable water from sea water.

Captain : Yeah but I don't think these magic orbs are that common.

Quartermaster : Just take it. I don't think the townsfolk get their fresh water from here anyway. No one is gonna miss this ball. It will be immensely useful in our voyages.

The service was normal. Won't praise it or pan it.

The pricing was variable. A majority of their pizzas are of far higher quality than the likes of big chain pizzerias like Dominoes/pizza hut and cost lesser making them easy winners. There is a higher end of pizzas too like the Rapture and echo but these pizzas are of gourmet grade. Their pricing is similar to what one would expect at other gourmet pizzerias like CPK or Pizza Express. Though I do believe that their prices can be shaved off by 20%.

Playlist pizzeria is an interesting concept. It is still in infancy I believe and I would like to see it grow and reach other neighborhoods. This is definitely a place that I would like to visit again.

The Captain's Score : 8/10

"
Captain : Good girl Nina, you led us to a treasure.


Nina : Nya :3

Captain : Though I am curious about how you knew this.

Engineer : Save that story for later Captain, lets get back to the main passage and get out of here.
 "

Map Co-Ordinates
Playlist Pizzeria
St. Baptist Road, Near Mt. Mary Steps,
Reclamation, Bandra West
Mumbai


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