Pan Asian Experience To Behold | Asia Kitchen & Bar | Food Review

Traffic. Andheri. Combine these together and you know what those Sam & Dean mean when they talk about hell in Supernatural (supernatural fans, hi-5 yo :D) But then you enter Asia Kitchen & Bar and it feels like entering another era in some other planet altogether! Very close to Saki Naka Metro Station, it stands tall, harboring a secret silent space inside, perfect for corporate crowd in surrounding offices, or just another group of friends looking to let off some steam! Elegant, dark, zen-like interiors, part rustic, part earthy, part contemporary, very soothing, comfortable and undoubtedly fine-dine. The staff elevates the experience being prompt, polite, knowing the menu inside-out and making killer recommendations.

  

A cohesive menu with vast pan-asian choices (sushi,dimsums,baos,noodles etc.) is complimented by a vast innovative bar menu too. I am a teetotaler so can't comment on how good these drinks are but we did try some superb mocktails which can be surely taken as a sign of alcoholic concoctions being fantastic too :) We had Refreshing Malaya Spiced Melon with Watermelon, Fresh Ginger and Lemon Fizz, followed by Very cooling (and a tad syrupy) Jade Spring with Mint Leaves, Lime, Ice, Bubbles, followed by creamy indulgence of Forbidden Punch with Cranberry and Pineapple Juice blended with Cream and a hint of Hazelnut.

We let the staff help us choose our menu for this review session and everything was simply fantastic. They are renowned for their authentic preparations, which I cannot personally vouch for since I have not traveled through the globe, but according to my own principle of 'if it tastes good,everything else is moot', am gonna give thumbs up to everything :) Be assured there is no 'Indian Chineez' dishes on the menu here but that does not mean anything is bland, rather the flavors and textures are spot on in everything. This makes the prices quite reasonable, yes they are on the higher side but so worth it.

Started off with starter - Steamed Edamame with Sea Salt, very simple dish, you have to actually tug the edamame out of its cover and discard the cover, the sea salt giving a lovely spike to its otherwise bland existence!

My sister won't touch Sushi at any place with a 10 foot pole but here, she devoured Cream Cheese Roll - elegant combination of Cream Cheese, Avocado, Asparagus, Cucumber, Mayo and Teriyaki, technically superb and oh so delicious in every bite. Again, I am no Sushi expert, but this has to be among the best I have eaten so far, a compliment many of its customers repeat. Thank God my sister's office is nearby, she is planning to order these at least once every week :D

We love dumplings and tried the crispy Corn and Water Chestnut Dumplings as well as Vegetable Steamed Basil Dumplings, both were quite decent and made us happy. Nothing much to analyze here, just the basil was difficult to discern but other than that,no issues,

Among small plates, we had Zucchini Rolls With Truffle Oil which was a tad bit salty, a fact we pointed out to the staff who took it very sportingly. It is okay, sometimes stuff happens, what matters is the spirit with which feedback is taken and they were very proactive about it. I am sure it was a one off thing (I am one to talk, I still finished it off :P)

It was the Crispy Lotus Stem With Black Pepper And Curry Leaves that was the utter star, crunchy lotus steam doused in this sweet spicy honey based sauce, a stunning small plate dish, must-have in our book :)

We had very little space left in our tummy by now so decided to just go with a light Veg Khao Suey main course, a lovely presentation of coconut based milky broth with exotic veggies and an array of accompaniments on a large wooden platter, including steamed silky noodles, peanuts, fried onions, lime and so on. I have had Khao Suey at quite a few places, that + thai curries are nowadays standard items offered at almost every restaurant/delivery place in every nook & corner. But I don't prefer it because usually it is too sweet, and I have a sweet jaw but this unnatural sweetness of that broth makes me barf-y. Asia Kitchen is one of the few places I know where they have not made the broth unnecessarily sweet,it still leans on the sweet-ish side but extremely mildly so,it is velvety, light and flavorsome. Must-have :) 

Don't fret as the massive lunch still couldn't dampen my excitement for desserts :P We chose Chocolate Dome With Warm Chocolate Sauce and Rambutan With Ice Cream, 2 desserts as different from each other as chalk & cheese. Okay, maybe not that different but still, chocolate dome is perfect for dedicated chocolate lovers and those with sweet jaw like mine. A huge,shiny chocolate dome hiding chocolate brownies, nuts, ice cream, crispy honey noodles inside, it breaks apart when hot chocolate sauce is poured on top of it, a visual delight and absolutely perfect dessert for 2 chocoholics to share (stop counting the calories!)

For those with an aversion to anything too sweet or chocolate-y, and who prefer something light or refreshing even for desserts, go for Rambutan with Ice cream, it is a fruit just like Litchi (same species but this one is denser) which is served with ice cream, tastes cool and is served with serene smoke. Niiiiice :)

With top-notch hospitality and delicious grub, Asia Kitchen & Bar is just what the doctor ordered for all foodies, cannot wait to be back soon!