Greece Comes To Mumbai | Thalassa Experience | Food Review | Restaurant Review

Comparisons ruin everything.

From 'why can't you be more like Sharma Ji's son' (we have all heard this one :P) to 'oh, why is this Thalassa not like the one in Goa', the lesson is- stop comparing! It helps nobody and ruins a perfectly nice situation.

Thalassa in Goa is one of the most epic places to relax, let your hair down, enjoy some stunning ocean views and party till wee hours. This outlet of Thalassa in Mumbai is not like that, but guess what, almost nothing in Mumbai is like Goa, Goa is Goa, Mumbai is Mumbai and the twain shall never be the same. The ambiance here is very different from the one in Goa and it is still awesome. We are Mumbaikars, we can deal with it :P

Rustic and laidback ambiance is lovely enough to entice anyone, feels like we are actually sitting in some Greek village for a relaxed meal. Soothing blue and white colors dominate the landscape and a variety of photographs & knick-knacks on the wall provide a soothing relief to eyes. Choose from the outdoor or indoor seating, it is comfortable and homely anywhere. Go with friends or family, make sure to go with an open mind, no kulchas or paneer butter masala here, loads of authentic Greek food to choose from. I know, at first glance, a lot of people think it is 'bland food' but actually it is not! Greek cuisine has also developed through the centuries (wars, trades, invaders bringing their own influences) and gives particular importance to textures and original flavors of the ingredients. Mediterranean food anyway gives emphasis on fresh produce, generous use of top-notch olive oil, cheeses and the like, and all this is amply demonstrated in the menu here. Everything we had was wholesome and delicious, so pleased to having been invited here for a tasting session :)

Service is exemplary and the staff is infectiously passionate about the food, it helps that they know the menu inside out and help everyone in selecting the right dishes according to their palate. We started off with drinks where Sea Breeze - Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Lime Juice & Grenadine gave me a lively citrusy kick while Thalassa Mermaid -Mango Juice, Blue Curacao, Fresh Cream & Mint Leaves was absolutely refreshing and appropriately creamy. My sister had some alcoholic drinks that I have no idea about but she loved them, so there :D

Having never been to Greece myself, I have no idea how 'authentic' Greek food tastes like, but this feels pretty awesome (as it is, I never get into the debate of authentic vs non-authentic, if food tastes good, everything else is moot :D) Have to make a special mention here, while having our food I thought that the tomatoes tasted different, in general so did the salad and the dips, turns out it is because of the special olive oil they import from Greece, this attention to detail truly makes a difference! 

Absolutely recommend Tzatziki -Yoghurt, Cucumber, Garlic & Olive Oil dip served with hot (and thick) Pita bread,very simple and wholesome dish, especially since it was not overly oily or greasy, the olive oil used here is so light and fruity, this is lovely for hot and humid weather too!

Spicy Mushroom Saganaki - juicy Mushrooms cooked in fresh spicy Tomato Sauce, Greek Herbs, topped with Cheddar & Feta Cheese was a cheesy indulgence, again a simple rustic dish, good enough to be polished off by 2 for a light meal,

Flaming Saganaki - traditional Cheese Flambe, flaming presentation doused out by lime juice, any cheese lover would be glad with this, the lime kick with density of cheese being pretty good, too much cheese for me personally but if you like it,go for it!

Kolokithokeftedes (there is a tongue twister we need for our birthday parties :P) i.e. Fried Zucchini Balls were decent enough, a little bit drier than I like, but the accompanying tomatoes & dip-oh boy! 

My personal favorite was Watermelon, Feta & Mint Salad - dressed with Kalamata Olive oil and served chilled, not something one would expect to be extraordinary but it so was, aptly proving how simplicity is the best choice,no razzmatazz, no unnecessary additions. Huge juicy watermelon chunks with their natural sweetness cut only by the saltiness of feta and the fresh spike of mint, again everything elevated by the extraordinary olive oil drizzle. This is what I am definitely going back for, and if you think how can just a couple of watermelon cubes can taste soooo good, you gotta go here and have it too! It is also huge enough to suffice for a complete meal. Could not stop having it :)

It is lovely to see that they have included a lot of vegetarian options in the menu here, more than the Goa menu! Veggies must have the Vegetable Mousaka - layers of potatoes,eggplant, spiach & mushrooms topped with bechamel,tomato sauce & cheese, very cheesy, flavorsome, a bit greasy, a lot delicious (and I do not like eggplants at all! But I love how it is being incorporated in such delicious avatars on menus nowadays)

For those who want to keep things simple, go with Spana Korizo - Spinach & Rice cooked in a pot with Kalamata Olive Oil & Greek Herbs, topped with Feta Cheese, think of it as Greek comfort food Khichdi! I think every culture in the world has some version of Khichdi as their comfort food and this is one good version of the same, cheese does not overpower the spinach-rice combo, it is refreshing, filling, cooling and subtle.

Finally, come to the dessert section and dig straight into Tiramisu, one of the best I have ever had anywhere. I have had some really horrible ones, including one where the base was completely wet, one where the coffee was unbelievably bitter, but here they have made it perfect-spongy, creamy, light and lovely :)

A nice fine-dine level place with some fantastic offerings & superb service in an enchanting ambiance, Thalassa in Mumbai is a cool place to try out, just remember to not start with the 'sharma ji ka beta' style comparisons with its Goa outlet :D