If you have been reading the blog for a
while you will know that we don’t experiment much with new places to eat in in
Mumbai these days. Nor do we travel out of Bandra to eat.
while you will know that we don’t experiment much with new places to eat in in
Mumbai these days. Nor do we travel out of Bandra to eat.
When K and I go out to eat we pretty much
stick to Ling’s Pavilion, Bhojohori Manna and, back home in Bandra, Saltwater
Café & occasionally Indigo Deli. We prefer the comfort of the tried and
tested when it comes to our reasonably rare dining out occasions and don’t want
to risk it by going to a new place. Specially when we have options that give us
pleasure. When it comes to a notch higher we again tend to stick to places such
as Thai Pavilion and occasionally SanQi and Spices where we have had good
experiences in the past. We don’t experiment too much with eating out places in
Mumbai these days. After all every meal is not one where one is looking for a
story. Sometimes one just wants to have a good meal in peace.
stick to Ling’s Pavilion, Bhojohori Manna and, back home in Bandra, Saltwater
Café & occasionally Indigo Deli. We prefer the comfort of the tried and
tested when it comes to our reasonably rare dining out occasions and don’t want
to risk it by going to a new place. Specially when we have options that give us
pleasure. When it comes to a notch higher we again tend to stick to places such
as Thai Pavilion and occasionally SanQi and Spices where we have had good
experiences in the past. We don’t experiment too much with eating out places in
Mumbai these days. After all every meal is not one where one is looking for a
story. Sometimes one just wants to have a good meal in peace.
Last night was an exception. A happy one.
We had just had two good days. On Sunday I
won at the IFBA Awards. The next day K and her team won 3 Ogilvy Envy awards at
work. We were in a celebratory mood. Wanted to go out for a feel good dinner.
We were looking for a place which would feel special and where the food would
be good.
won at the IFBA Awards. The next day K and her team won 3 Ogilvy Envy awards at
work. We were in a celebratory mood. Wanted to go out for a feel good dinner.
We were looking for a place which would feel special and where the food would
be good.
K asked me to choose. A task which always
overwhelms me. I mean there are so many new places in Mumbai. How can one be
sure that one will choose right? I normally turn to people I know, and whose
food tastes I trust, in such cases.
overwhelms me. I mean there are so many new places in Mumbai. How can one be
sure that one will choose right? I normally turn to people I know, and whose
food tastes I trust, in such cases.
Which was when Nido came to mind. It’s in
Bandra to start with so we wouldn’t have to travel. I had wanted to try it
initially as it chef Vicky Ratnani was behind it. He is not with them anymore
though.
Bandra to start with so we wouldn’t have to travel. I had wanted to try it
initially as it chef Vicky Ratnani was behind it. He is not with them anymore
though.
What made me consider Nido strongly was
that our friends Sue and Nathan had visited them recently and told me that they
really enjoyed the mushroom pate, pork loins, duck ravioli and steak frittes
there.
that our friends Sue and Nathan had visited them recently and told me that they
really enjoyed the mushroom pate, pork loins, duck ravioli and steak frittes
there.
So we zeroed in on Nido.
I called to reserve a place. Got a booking
only at 10.30 pm. They said they were full before that. A good sign specially
given it was a Tuesday.
only at 10.30 pm. They said they were full before that. A good sign specially
given it was a Tuesday.
We landed there at 10.30 and gave the car
to the valet. Looked like the door had collapsible gates, which looked
forbidding, then realized it was part of the décor and was not a functional
one.
to the valet. Looked like the door had collapsible gates, which looked
forbidding, then realized it was part of the décor and was not a functional
one.
We stepped. There was a small section
outside but we got a table inside. Both K and I broke into smiles the moment we
walked in. The place had a lovely European parlour-like feel to it. White and
grey theme, relaxed classical seating with loads of sofas around, lights which
gave a nice glow to the place. I told K that it reminded me of Café Louvre inPrague. She said she agreed and said that except in Café Louvre one could look out onto
beautiful Prague from the windows. Here we were in the congested stretch near
Olive and Out of the Blue at Bandra’s Carter Road.
outside but we got a table inside. Both K and I broke into smiles the moment we
walked in. The place had a lovely European parlour-like feel to it. White and
grey theme, relaxed classical seating with loads of sofas around, lights which
gave a nice glow to the place. I told K that it reminded me of Café Louvre inPrague. She said she agreed and said that except in Café Louvre one could look out onto
beautiful Prague from the windows. Here we were in the congested stretch near
Olive and Out of the Blue at Bandra’s Carter Road.
The waiter came with the drink’s menu and I
asked for a fresh lime. It was served tepid and I had to add quite a bit of ice
to it. The only false note in the evening.
asked for a fresh lime. It was served tepid and I had to add quite a bit of ice
to it. The only false note in the evening.
It took us a bit of a time to find someone
to get us the food menu. That apart the service was quite competent. What I
really appreciated was that they were able to answer any questions we had on
the menu and made some recommendations too after asking our preferences.
to get us the food menu. That apart the service was quite competent. What I
really appreciated was that they were able to answer any questions we had on
the menu and made some recommendations too after asking our preferences.
For starters we went for the seared tuna
which the waiter told us was ‘served like sushi’. I think he meant ‘sashimi’
but it worked for us. Lovely cured tuna, served at room temperature. The menu
described it as having a pepper and coffee seasoning. There was the odd bite of
crushed pepper which livened up the taste but thankfully no coffee. I noticed the
coffee bit in the menu after ordering and had reservations about it so this was
a relief. I don’t want coffee in my food. The tuna was served on a bed of lettuce and
pickled onions and olives and small potatoes with a poached egg on the side, the sharper tastes of which gave
a nice flavour and textural contrast to the tuna. We were very happy with the
first dish.
which the waiter told us was ‘served like sushi’. I think he meant ‘sashimi’
but it worked for us. Lovely cured tuna, served at room temperature. The menu
described it as having a pepper and coffee seasoning. There was the odd bite of
crushed pepper which livened up the taste but thankfully no coffee. I noticed the
coffee bit in the menu after ordering and had reservations about it so this was
a relief. I don’t want coffee in my food. The tuna was served on a bed of lettuce and
pickled onions and olives and small potatoes with a poached egg on the side, the sharper tastes of which gave
a nice flavour and textural contrast to the tuna. We were very happy with the
first dish.
For the mains we chose the duck ravioli which
Sue had had though the waiter suggested a spicy aglio olio with beef strips. We
skipped the pork loin that Nathan had had, as the waiter concurred that it
would be a tad sweet. The menu mentioned berries after all. The other dish we
chose was the steak and frittes which Sue and Nathan’s friend had ordered and
the waiter assured us that they would make it medium rare and leave it pink
inside. The steak was local he told me.
Sue had had though the waiter suggested a spicy aglio olio with beef strips. We
skipped the pork loin that Nathan had had, as the waiter concurred that it
would be a tad sweet. The menu mentioned berries after all. The other dish we
chose was the steak and frittes which Sue and Nathan’s friend had ordered and
the waiter assured us that they would make it medium rare and leave it pink
inside. The steak was local he told me.
It was around 11 pm at this time and
suddenly the lights were dimmed and it became pretty dark. So dark that one
could barely see the food when it arrived. Let alone photograph. We requested
them to brighten the lights and they did though not to the levels they were at
when we entered.
suddenly the lights were dimmed and it became pretty dark. So dark that one
could barely see the food when it arrived. Let alone photograph. We requested
them to brighten the lights and they did though not to the levels they were at
when we entered.
We started with the steak. The frittes or
hand cut chips were fat and a tad undercooked. Medium rare potatoes anyone?
hand cut chips were fat and a tad undercooked. Medium rare potatoes anyone?
The steak however was fantastic. The meat,
even though local, was very pleasing. It was really juicy, meaty and had that
nice spring that a good medium rare steak should have. The steak was
not over done. Often the problem in
India. Nor was it dry and chewy. The steak, like the décor, evoked memories of
Prague and the steaks I had at Nase Maso. Not quite there of course in terms of
the quality of the meat but pretty good. The steak was seasoned well, had
occasional bites of pepper and a muted flavour of rosemary. It was served with
bits of ‘6 hour cooked’ tomatoes which was a nice tangy taste breaker when the
meat got too much.
even though local, was very pleasing. It was really juicy, meaty and had that
nice spring that a good medium rare steak should have. The steak was
not over done. Often the problem in
India. Nor was it dry and chewy. The steak, like the décor, evoked memories of
Prague and the steaks I had at Nase Maso. Not quite there of course in terms of
the quality of the meat but pretty good. The steak was seasoned well, had
occasional bites of pepper and a muted flavour of rosemary. It was served with
bits of ‘6 hour cooked’ tomatoes which was a nice tangy taste breaker when the
meat got too much.
We followed this with the ravioli which was
equally delightful. The ravioli casing pretty thin and not chewy and the
shredded duck meat inside was really full flavoured. This was served in a nice
thick garlicky sauce which, as K rightly pointed out, was mushroom based. I
agreed with her when she said that the sauce and the ravioli stood proudly in
their own rights. Combined together very well of course.
equally delightful. The ravioli casing pretty thin and not chewy and the
shredded duck meat inside was really full flavoured. This was served in a nice
thick garlicky sauce which, as K rightly pointed out, was mushroom based. I
agreed with her when she said that the sauce and the ravioli stood proudly in
their own rights. Combined together very well of course.
Three good picks out of three. That’s a
pretty good score.
pretty good score.
We skipped desserts as we were quite full
and satiated.
and satiated.
The one thing I had heard about Nido before
was that it was pricey. We paid close to Rs 2500 for 1 non alcoholic dish, 1
starter and 2 mains. Pretty much standard for that class of restaurants (Indigo
Deli, Saltwater Café) I would guess. And the food was exquisite. As was the
experience. There were a couple of imported meat dishes at around Rs 2,000 each
but the rest was around Rs 500 to Rs 800.
was that it was pricey. We paid close to Rs 2500 for 1 non alcoholic dish, 1
starter and 2 mains. Pretty much standard for that class of restaurants (Indigo
Deli, Saltwater Café) I would guess. And the food was exquisite. As was the
experience. There were a couple of imported meat dishes at around Rs 2,000 each
but the rest was around Rs 500 to Rs 800.
The other thing I picked about Nido, while
looking up for the address on twitter, was the number of Bollywood sightings
that happened there. We saw that yesterday as well as there was a group led by
a former (?) actress and IPL team owner celebrating the birthday of an actress
who recently won acclaim for playing the role of a mother in a Shakespearean
Bollywood flick. Go figure.
looking up for the address on twitter, was the number of Bollywood sightings
that happened there. We saw that yesterday as well as there was a group led by
a former (?) actress and IPL team owner celebrating the birthday of an actress
who recently won acclaim for playing the role of a mother in a Shakespearean
Bollywood flick. Go figure.
As for us, Nido is definitely a place we
will recommend.
will recommend.
One of the best dry rubs from Bobby Flay uses coffee: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/coffee-rubbed-rib-eye-recipe.html
I wonder how coffee will taste with food Suvro
Try it. It is NOT coffee alone, it is part of the mix – perhaps gives a flavor profile of slight bitterness which then allows other contrasting flavors to also brighten up – like brown sugar. We have made enough items with coffee in various forms (liquid and ground solids) to know that we do like it in our food, when used intelligently. No harm in trying once.
Mole sauce ( mexican) uses cacao along with other spices along with chilies and umpteen other spices
anrosh