The onset of the Monsoon spells both good and bad news. While the slight drizzle might seem heaven-sent at this juncture with the sun blazing over us, here’s a volley of culinary spots that are worth visiting (and new menus worth sampling) to tantalise your taste buds before rain gods come after us with gusto. Clearly, now is the time to go out and about before it gets too late. Bon Appetit!
Dig Into Yauatcha’s Dragon Boat Menu
Yauatcha, Mumbai’s popular Chinese dim sum teahouse, has rolled out a celebratory limited-edition menu just in time for the traditional Chinese holiday— the Dragon Boat Festival. While the Dragon Boat menu comprises an enviable range of dishes, the highlight remains the Zongzi ( a pyramid-shaped glutinous rice dumpling wrapped in lotus leaves, traditionally served during the Dragon Boat Festival). Other signature items include Black truffle and porcini mushroom sticky rice, sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf, and Cantonesesteamed custard buns among many others. Coming to drinks, the suggested options from the beverage menu are the Grapefruit spritz (a fusion of Rose wine, Tanqueray gin, grapefruit juice, and delicate elderflower essence), Kashmiri kawatini, (a blend of Milk Wash Tanqueray Gin, fresh orange juice, grapefruit juice, almond Kashmiri Kawa, maple syrup, lime juice, with a touch of Angostura bitter) and Queen of hearts ( a fusion of refined Sake, exquisite Vodka, and a touch of extra dry Vermouth).
Where: Raheja Tower, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai
Timings: 12 pm to 1:30 am
Call: 092222 22800
Head To Poco Loco’s Taco Tequila Fest For A Mexi-Extravaganza
Mumbai’s Poco Loco is bringing the authentic flavours and spirits of Mexico to South Mumbai. What to expect: a special tapas menu featuring diverse dishes that are widely loved in the North American country. Highlights include dessert-infused tacos, jackfruit tacos, and Baja fish tacos amongst a volley of other customisable specials. The fest doesn’t restrict itself to just food, so expect a host of fun-filled activities like a salsa dance workshop, a Mexican plates-making workshop for kids and adults across ages, and the like.
Where: Ground Floor Hotel Shubhangan 21st Road, Off, Sangeet Samrat Naushad Ali Rd, Khar West, Mumbai
Timings: June 21 to July 21, 12 pm to 1:30 am
Call: 093241 91366
Wakai Comes To Bandra
Lovers of Japanese authentic cuisine are in for a treat, as Wakai launches a new outlet in the heart of Mumbai— Bandra. Signature dishes like the Black cod miso, Truffle sea bass gyoza, as well as a wide range of sashimi, sushi, and nigiri are on offer on the menu. Vegetarians can tuck into specials like Japanese vegetable curry and Eggplant tofu. With special emphasis on seasonal ingredients, Wakai aims at transporting you to the bylanes of Japan, one bite at a time.
Where: Plot No 490, Pooja house building, Mangal Sandesh, 490, 17th Rd, Khar, Khar West, Mumbai
Timings:12 pm onwards
Call: +91 9769999934
There’s A Cool Pizza Festival At Brew Dog
Any day and any season are great for pizza. That said, Brew Dog’s month-long culinary extravaganza offers a wide variety of options like the Spartan pizza pie with artichoke, broccoli, and feta specks, Yalla habibi pizza with grilled cottage cheese, Pepperoni avalanche with heaps of pepperoni and chili-infused bacon. Seafood lovers can relish Sea pizza that’s stuffed with lobster, crab, prawns, and fried garlic slices. The folks at the outlet have rustled up nine innovatively made pizzas, that are sure to take you by surprise.
Where: Ground and 1st Floor, Pinnacle House 604, 15th Road, Hinduja Junction, PD Hinduja Rd, Mumbai, and across all outlets.
Timings: On till July 8, 12 pm to 1:30 am
Call: 089769 81272
Nom Nom Now Has A New Address
Bandra’s much-loved Pan-Asian haven is back at a new address—at a sun-dappled nook in Khar. While you’re there, tuck into signature specials like Phuket chicken, Dry red chilli chicken, and prawns in planta sauce. For vegetarians, the menu features bestselling dishes like Truffle edamame dumplings, Asparagus and water chestnut dumplings, and Vegetable crystal dumplings. The other interesting recommendations are Grilled pork belly skewers, Chicken yakitori, and Thai-style spicy grilled chicken, to name a few. Coming to glugs, the bar menu offers a diverse range of cocktails such as Dill-icious (gin, cucumber, dill leaves, dry vermouth, tonic cordial, and egg white), Floral negroni, (a blend of chamomile and elderflower cordial, gin, campari, and extra dry vermouth, Miso paloma( amix of tequila, grapefruit soda, clarified grapefruit & miso liqueur, and citrus salt), and Rum & plum (a cocktail made with spiced rum, house spiced plum cordial, bianco vermouth, and fresh pineapple juice).
Where: Above Radio Bar, Hotel New Castle, Linking Road, Khar West, Mumbai
Timings: Lunch 12:30 pm to 4 pm | Dinner 7:30 pm to 1 am
Call:+91 7304876300 | +91 9653389253
Nomad India Launches Its First Dine-In In Delhi
Known for its scrumptious and authentic pizzas, Nomad India is a brand that has amassed a strong fan following in recent years. What first opened as a delivery kitchen in the capital in 2019, now has a dine-in address in Greater Kailash II. Expect signatures like Chicago deep dish, New York style, and Neapolitan pizza on the menu along with some special surprises thrown into the mix!
Where: M-50, Third Floor, M Block Market, Greater Kailash 2 (GK 2), New Delhi
Timings:11 am to 12 am
Call:+919289310178
The Kind Roastery And Brewroom Cafe’s New Monsoon Menu
Monsoons call for a sense of comfort and warmth, and the new menu at The Kind Roastery and Brewroom Cafe features warm delicacies that offer just that. Nosh on plates like the Tan tan noodles, served with a marinated cottage cheese skewer at this cosy cafe in Bengaluru’s bustling J.P Nagar. The roasted pumpkin and feta tartine, Pesto and bell pepper tartine, Cheese pepper poppers, and the highlight: Bombay bun bhaji. This twist on the beloved pav bhaji dish features buttery garlic-loaded buns paired with a scrumptious and flavorsome bhaji, delivering a satisfying experience reminiscent of the bustling streets of Mumbai. End your meal with their cult-favorite, A simple chocolate cake. On that note, even the Rose tres Leches does a pretty good job at satiating those sweet cravings.
Where:1316/F, 18 B Main Rd, JP Nagar, 2nd Phase, J. P. Nagar, Bengaluru,
Timings:8 am to 11 pm
Call: 088618 52547
‘Luru Gets A New Underground Bar
A cosy atmosphere tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, The Burrow offers a cosy, feel-good ambiance backed by great music, thanks to the live gigs that happen all day at the cafe. The monsoon menu features a range of delightful offerings such as the Peri-peri grilled chicken strips, chicken/paneer pops, bacon-wrapped prawns, paneer skewers, Chilli garlic chicken pizza. The creamy garlic mushroom with herbed rice is another must-try on the menu with the BBQ pork ribs. As a space that also serves up as a venue for cultural and community-driven events like pop-ups, and workshops, Cafe de Burrow is the neighborhood cafe to be at if a buzzy weekend bar is what you wish to drop by at.
Where: 37 Crescent hotel, High Grounds, Crescent Road, Bengaluru
Timings: 12 pm to 12 am
Call:+91 80 2238 2123
Check Out The Bar Menu At Como Agua
Much like what its bio reads, Como Agua isn’t your average pizza place. Gluten-free pizzas aside, this quaint address in Goa’s Vagator also boasts a negroni and crafts cocktail bar that offers innovatively made drinks such as the Golden hour, Sweet spot, Valley of flowers, and the like. Also, check out their pasta menu while you’re at it.
Where: Under Sry 597/1 & 597/2, Vagator, Anjuna, Goa
Timings: 1 pm to 11 pm
Call:+91 9810664353
11) Oz by Kebapci Offers A Diverse Veg Menu
Öz by Kebapçi, a Turkish fine-dining spot has unveiled an all-vegetarian menu that features an impressive array of dishes such as Imam bayildi, (a delectable dish featuring tender eggplant, sous vide & placed atop flavored labneh), Lokum peynir (a blend of Turkish delight, halloumi cheese, and a symphony of enticing flavors), Kaurma pilaf, (an extraordinary composition of fluffy rice adorned with a tantalizing blend of mixed vegetables, herbs, and aromatic spices) and Manti (Turkish dumplings, delicately handcrafted and served with a savory sauce) that will transport your taste buds to the bustling streets of Istanbul.
Where: UB City, Level 2, Concorde, 1, Vittal Mallya Rd, KG Halli, D’ Souza Layout, Ashok Nagar, Bengaluru
Timings:12:30 pm to 12:30 am
Call:+91-7090677771
Oleander Farms’ Coffee House Has Rolled Out A New Menu
What can be better than spending a weekend at an idyllic farm, surrounded by good food and even better company? Oleander Farms’ Coffee House cafe offers just that with its new menu that incorporates the ‘Farm-to-Table’ concept into the menu. For instance, the rice used in all the burrito bowls & rice plates is grown on the farm. All the dishes are made in-house, right from the sauces to the bases as well as the breads, and tea-time cakes such as the banana & carrot cakes to compliment an evening coffee alongside healthy options like the Miso and Hummus salads.
Where: Karjat – Chowk Rd, Wavarle, Maharashtra
Call:022 50022222 / 022-50022223
Additional Dope
Ladurée introduces four new renditions of the iconic Ispahan
This limited edition collection offers a fresh perspective on the classic Ispahan, presenting it in captivating new forms and flavors that will delight connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike. The new renditions are Ispabricot (sprinkled with rosemary and filled with an apricot confit, rosemary whipped cream, adorned with a dried apricot and a caramelized almond); Ispananas (filled with an exotic compote of pineapple, honey, and passionfruit, a cardamom whipped ganache, garnished with lime zest, fruit jelly, and a delicate layer of gold), (Ispachoo, which is again made with two chocolate macaron shells filled with a lemon gel, hazelnut praline, hazelnut whipped ganache, elegantly decorated with a milk chocolate tuile, a caramelized hazelnut, and a hazelnut whipped ganache on top, and lastly, the Ispacitron-coco which has two macaron shells adorned with a sprinkle of lime zest, housing a melted white sesame praline, lime jelly insert, and a coconut whipped ganache, finished with coconut stripes as a delightful garnish.
