If our meal had opened with the bread basket, Olio, Mumbai’s newest Mediterranean restaurant would have made a slick first impression. But unfortunately for them, it started with crockery. Picture this: A 70’s retro print table mat. Over that, a square tray busy and bursting with bright red tomatoes. Next, a plate with black and green olives, with a napkin to match. And the last layer – our food – was yet to come!
We felt stifled, our empty stomachs filling up instantly with patterns. But then, the fancy bread basket arrived, with three dips in tow, and we decided we must be more forgiving. Hot Harissa sauce and pesto spread across our reservations. Light conversation demanded fuss-free food; Tzatziki and Peta Bread was our first order. We dug in to the Greek dip, trying to ignore the prints that lay beneath. The fresh curd and minty zing almost made it possible.
Olio is at the Novotel hotel (formerly Holiday Inn) in Juhu, which also houses The Sqaure café and promises to bring back Sampan, everyone’s favourite Chinese restaurant, soon. As memories of eating their steaming wantons took us back in time, the scent of wood fired pizza bought us back to reality. Our second order had arrived – The Melanzane pizza, a carefully-crafted crust, fresh herbs and a combination of pecorino and ricotta that accounted for our torpid states as we inched out of the building an hour later.
We ate, trying to avoid the gaze of the waiters, given that we were the only people there on that Tuesday night. But as the pizza slices began to vanish, two or three groups trickled in, dotting the vast expanse of the restaurant. Looking around, we decided that the bar area was a nice place to chill. No retro mats, no scary tomato dishes. Just one bar tender mixing delicious cocktails! Too late to move.
The thought of pasta in pesto sauce crossed our minds, but our stomachs wouldn’t allow it; we went straight to dolci. A cart filled with all kinds of awesome was wheeled over to our table, but we picked Layla’s Chocolate Cake from the menu. The pudding-shaped cake was less molten and more brownie-like on the inside, but tasty nonetheless.
Enticingly lit, well attended to, an extensive menu, tasty food, potent cocktails - all in all, Olio, Italian for oil, fulfills most of the pre-requisites for a good restaurant. But for a slick one? We’re not so sure.
How to get there: Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, Balraj Sahani Marg, Juhu Beach, Juhu. Call: 66934444
Meal for two (without alcohol): Rs 1,200
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
