With inputs from France, Britain and Belgium, Mumbai’s culinary scene grew even more cosmopolitan in 2011. We even got back a sadly missed restaurant space on the beach.
Here goes with a round-up of the best new restaurants of the year. Read the full story on CNNGO.com.
The Table, Colaba
One of the biggest culinary hits of 2011, The Table is reminiscent of a fancy jazz club, complete with black-and-white floors, green velvet armchairs and sparkling cocktails.
Manned by San Franciscan expat chef Alex Sanchez, the kitchen is as impressive as the decor, sending out French-American dishes like lobster sliders, quesadillas with green pea guacamole and the prettiest beet and mascarpone risotto in the city.
The Table has recently added Sunday brunch, a high tea service and daily cocktail hours -- when the drinks are wincingly expensive.
Still, if there’s one place you should drop Rs 1,000 for a cocktail, this is it.
G/F, Hotel Suba Palace, next to Indigo Deli, Colaba; +91 (0)22 2282 5002
Hakkasan and Yauatcha, Bandra
These Michelin-starred sister restaurants from London arrived on our shores this year, bringing with them great dim sum, silky soups and sexy spaces.
Hakkasan is the fancier of the two, offering diners whole Peking duck in a lush, dimly lit room and ginger martinis across a long blue bar.
Yauatcha is younger and hipper, with wide windows letting in natural light, a larger dim sum menu (try grilled Shanghai dumplings and duck rolls) and a selection of the best macaroons in Mumbai.
Both places will burn a big hole in your pocket, so prepare to splurge.
Hakkasan, Krystal Building, Waterfield Road, next to Chemistry, Bandra (W); +91 (0)22 2644 4444;www.hakkasan.com/mumbai
Yauatcha, Raheja Tower, Bandra Kurla Complex; +91 (0)22 2644 8888
Smoke House Deli, Lower Parel
Restaurateur Riyaaz Amlani’s latest offering, Smoke House Deli has to be one of Mumbai's cheeriest, brightest, prettiest places to eat.
Here, everything from walls and sugar jars to telephones and gramophones seem to have been doodled upon by a crazy artist with an exceptional eye for detail.
Once you’re done marveling at the sketches, turn your attention to the predominantly salad-and-sandwich deli menu including grape and brie salad, soft scrambled eggs folded into a warm croissant and a burly beef burger.
Pair these with a fresh kiwi and mandarin mojitos or a glass of chilled Chardonnay.
C-90G, High Street Phoenix, 462, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel; +91 (0)22 6561 9618
Neel, Mahalaxmi Race Course
After a slew of successful European restaurants which started with Indigo, Rahul Akerkar returns to his Indian roots with Neel, which literally means indigo in Hindi.
Opened in place of Tote on the turf at the Mahalaxmi Race Course, Neel retains the fairyland interiors (slender white trees, twinkling lights) of its predecessor, but overhauls the menu completely, focusing on Nawabi cuisine from Hyderabad, Kashmir and Lucknow.
Hyderabadi fish and whole lambs make appearances, along with chicken tikka and biryani.
Akerkar gives these commonplace dishes a new twist though, serving them alongside pineapple chutney, orange soup and even mildly spiced apple curry.
Mahalaxmi Race Course, opposite gate 5 and 6, Keshvrao Khadye Marg, Mahalaxmi; +91 (0)22 6157 7777
Suzette, Nariman Point
Featuring delish crepes, quirky decor and super friendly (and good looking) French owners, this tiny creperie is many kinds of adorable.
One of the few dining options in Mumbai’s corporate district, it is also crazy busy for lunch, so we suggest you visit during off-hours or prepare to wait.
Once seated, you can take in moody photographs from Paris, browse through an eclectic collection of French novels and order from a drool-worthy menu of smoothies, salads and of course, crepes.
Pay special attention to the Nicoise salad, Complet crepes (with chicken bacon, Emmenthal cheese and egg yolk) and superlative chocolate mousse.
Unfortunately Suzette serves no alcohol, but comfort yourself with Mariage Frères tea, fresh fruit smoothies or rich hot chocolate.
G/F, Atlanta Building, Nariman Point; +91 (0)22 2288 0055; www.suzette.in
Read the full story on CNNGO.com.
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