Wok Express, Kemps Corner, Mumbai

Meeting a bunch of awesome food blogger friends for review, now that was something to look forward to after a long day at work and a tiring stint in the traffic :) Having been to its Churchgate outlet just a few days ago (where the Wok was truly horrible), I was looking forward to having some great Dimsums, Sushi and Bao but wary of trying out the Wok. Well, they surprised me here!

 

Minty Mojito, Pink Guava, Peach Iced Tea were the refreshing start off to our meet but the star was Millo-Tello which is basically dense Chocolate Milk, transporting us right to our childhood :D I would definitely also suggest Minty Mojito since it is instantly cooling,has good balance of mint,lemon and soda, and will appeal to everyone. Ofcourse all these came with those Boba balls which are not everyone's favorites (If you like gummy bears & sabudana,you might like them,otherwise not). 

Following these were some fantastic Crispy Veg Tempura Rolls which are hands down some of the best Sushi I have ever eaten (again,I am no gourmand and really don't know much about authenticity,but these are sooooo tasty being amazingly crispy, little sweetish :D) Be careful of the Wasabi they serve alongside (not only here but anywhere!), use it sparingly to bring out the taste of sushi and not liberally like our Indian chutneys or you are in for a world of spicy pain :D If you are like me and wanna have something unique, also go for Jalapeno Creamcheese Sushi,it has a wonderful kick of sweet & sour flavors playfully co-existing, again excellent Sushi :)

Chilli Paneer Bao, another one of my favorites made its entrance soon with soft chunks of Paneer, generous spicy mix and fresh fragrant bao. Yummy in the tummy. I was not ready to order any Wok here but a friend was courageous enough to try out something new- Rice in Thai Green Curry with veggies like broccoli, onions, zuccini and boy,was this the surprise of the evening! It tasted delicious, was served piping hot, veggies tasted fresh, flavors were spot on. Completely value for money too looking at the generous quantity :) Maybe the day I went to Churchgate outlet was an off day because of which I had got absolutely horrible wok with stale veggies and tofu. Anyway, here my non veggie friends loved their Chicken Wok, Chicken Bao too. Special thanks to the staff for letting us taste various wok sauces before zeroing down on which ones to select for our wok.

Service here is prompt and efficient, the place itself is not very spacious but hey, this is Mumbai with the infamous space crunch! It is good enough ambiance for walking in and chilling with friends. I also suppose a big chunk of customers here would want to indulge in home delivery option so the space makes sense that way :) Do not forget to get Hokey Pokey icecreams for dessert! We had Double Chocolate Therapy & Alphonso flavors which practically is heaven in a cup :D 

Amadeus, NCPA, Nariman Point, Mumbai

Fine Dining. A term that does not only denote food of highest standards but perfect ambiance, top-notch service and the old world charm that instantly makes us nostalgic. Amadeus is a must-visit for revisiting and relishing the true meaning of Fine Dine.

Situated inside NCPA (Gate 2) which is among Mumbai's premier places for promotion of Arts whether it be movies, painting, singing, play performances or orchestra, Amadeus is an award-winning European restaurant specializing in Spanish, Greek, Turkish, Arabian cuisines. The menu is not unnecessarily bloated and only the best is served by the most impeccably polite and efficient staff who take care of every patron who walks in the door like a Royal Family Member. The ambiance is classy to the hilt. I like the indoor seating more but the outdoors are stunning too, this is one spacious place perfect for everything from family dinners and intimate conversations to business meetings or even chilling with friends. And alcohol lovers,the sheer variety of drinks (especially wines) will make you go weak in the knees. Needless to say, all this finesse comes at a price so make sure to save up and do come here for special occasions. 

My sister and I visited here on 16th June which incidentally was World Tapas Day. Now,none of us are particularly knowledgeable about world cuisine but I did remember reading somewhere that Tapas are basically a variety of Spanish snacks. We had never had Spanish dishes specifically so decided to try out the Vegetarian Tapas Set Menu that includes a glass of House Wine at Rs. 1200 (plus taxes). I assumed that it would be a variety of Spanish snack items just like in India we have so many Tandoori items/ Chaats/ Kebabs that are relegated to starters section but actually are complete meals in themselves when paired knowledgeably. I wasn't wrong. We had 5 Spanish dishes,each one superlative and am glad we tried out something new. We started with a delicious complimentary bread basket which just increased our appetite for the Tapas menu. Wine was good,my sister had white and I had red, though I am not much of an alcohol person and my sister only finished both the glasses, so she would be better judge of that :D

First up was Ash Chevre Coca with Jalapenos and Caramelized Onions which was basically a thin crust pizza with a mildly crunchy texture, sour as well as sweet-ish flavor, perfect amount of cheese on top and a rocket leaf as accompaniment. Loved it. My sister is off pizzas for the time being but she gulped down 3 slices here so that is a testament to how good they were :) They weren't overwhelmingly loaded with toppings but constructed just so the flavors complimented each other nicely.

Burnt Garlic Spinach Brie and Feta Brik with Tzatziki Relish came up next, looking like little Puff Pastries filled with Spinach. On first bite, it felt like I was having simple boiled spinach. On second, the garlic kick made its presence known. On third bite,pairing it with Tzatziki Relish gave it a beautiful sour-sweet flavor. A complex dish that looks so simple, not to mention it is probably the healthiest dish I have had in a restaurant in a long time. Such hearty portion of spinach (which I love), such subtle hints of Garlic, this I would search for when I go to Spain :D

Whole Mushroom Caps with Pedro Ximenez Sherry with Herbed Goats Cheese was my favorite of the lot since it had these juicy mushrooms with the strong cheese stuffing without it being too cheesy or dense. Mustard infused Piquillo Peppers stuffed with Saarl on Citrus Rocket were something unique but a bit too sour which still did not deter me from polishing off the plate :D The unique experience was how the flavors changed from cold and smooth to spicy and sour in a matter of seconds. Nice inventive dish this one, especially for pepper lovers! 

Beer batter Clumped Corn with Spiced Chimichuri Sauce and Lemon Allioli presented a conundrum since it was delicious with that energy of corn all over our palate but the photos do not make it look good :D Suffice to say, if you like Crispy Corn you would love this too. Like all other dishes, this one too is not very spicy or extreme in flavors, rather it is a subtle amalgamation of textures and flavors that need to be relished quietly. 

I just wish there was a dessert included in the set menu, though that wouldn't be strictly a Tapas menu then I suppose :D Well, the portions were just adequate for what is expected in a true fine dine establishment and quality of ingredients top-notch making this an elegant dining experience for us. Combining that with the warmth with which the staff took care of us ensures that we will be back and explains why this place has so many loyal regular patrons. Till next time then, Adios Amadeus :)

Peninsula, The Peninsula Grand Hotel, Saki Naka, Mumbai

It was a sultry afternoon when my sister and I were heading towards Peninsula Grand Hotel in Saki Naka as one of my sister’s best friends is going abroad for higher studies and here she had some conference to attend, thus making this afternoon a sort of farewell meet for her & my sister :) We decided to make it a lunch date at Peninsula restaurant here, a grand experience indeed! 

Having been to Peninsula chain of restaurants in Sion and loved them, we had high hopes from Peninsula Grand and it did not disappoint one bit. The ambiance is regal, spelling royalty in everything from chandeliers to hosiery to cutlery and service is par excellence when it comes to being attentive, polite and helpful. The spacious Peninsula Fine Dining restaurant is located at 1st first floor and is like an oasis of peace & calmness replete with old-world charm amidst the busy Saki Naki junction. Anybody who has ever been to this area knows what a chaotic place this is. I suggest, just pop in this place and leave all your worries behind :) Do check out their private room, perfect place to celebrate a birthday party or any such special occasion at very nominal charges. At night,I think they have musical shows/gazal kind of programs here for which the stage is permanently set. Classy to the hilt.

Menu has a variety of Veg & Non-Veg Indian and Oriental (and some Italian) dishes which makes it very difficult to choose. Prices are quite reasonable for the 4 Star ambiance, service, quality and quantity of dishes. 2 people with heavy appetites ordering drinks, starters, main courses and desserts will fill up to the brim within Rs. 2300- 2500 and maybe will have to get some food doggy packed too, just like we had to! 

We started off with refreshing Thandai and Green Apple Shikanji drinks. Both are must-have. Absolutely authentic and instantly cooling, these were just a sign of good times to come. Also, pretty filling by themselves so order carefully as the portions are veryyyyyy good for every dish. We were confused on which starters to order, so ordered for a Veg Platter with choicest delicacies of Tandoori Mushrooms, Potatoes, Cauliflowers, Hara Bhara Kebab, Naram Dil Paneer Kebab served with a brilliant Yogurt-Mint chutney which complimented it very well. Hara Bhara Kebab had a bit too much Elaichi but apart from that, everything else was perfect. Especially recommended are Naram Dil Paneer Kebab which felt like velvet/ silk on tongue :) Being a mushrooms lover, I absolutely adored the mushrooms too. Again, a light eater would simply get full in this one platter itself, thank God we were famished this afternoon :D 

For main course, we had Subzi Dobara and Mughlai Kofta with a Roti Basket and Vegetarian Biryani. Portions were so good that we couldn’t finish it despite being hulk-level-hungry. Also loved the accompanying Yogurt dip and sweet pickles they serve. Subzi Dobara is the signature dish with finely chopped veggies in mildly spicy Red PLUS mildly rich & smooth Green gravies. It doesn’t sound as exciting as it truly is, with both the gravies complimenting each other and creating a beautiful medley of flavours, apart from looking beautiful too! Goes best with Roomali Roti, trust me, try this combination. Mughlai Kofta were Paneer Koftas in almond based gravy which was very different from usual Kofta dishes, in the best way possible, again mimicking the silky velvety smoothness of Naram Dil Paneer Kebabs. Loved this and polished it off completely with accompanying Garlic Naan. Vegetable Biryani was good, not having an overload of Kevda essence like many places do, mildly spicy and went perfectly with Veg Raita, the cooling antidote to heavy eating :) 

Dessert Time meant Madhur Milaap, perfection for sweet lovers like me. Gulab Jamuns, Bundi, Rabdi – all of these together tantalizing the taste buds like nothing else. Must-have if you do not care about calories and looooove sweets :D 

Excellent time spent with loved ones amidst top notch ambiance, service and food, what else does one want,this is fine dining with a soul. We will surely be back for another Grand experience.