On weekends like these, it’s okay to cheat — on your diet, fyi.
It’s the perfect weather to huddle under a blanket and Netflix and chill with your comfort food (and buddy) all day long. But, there’s also no refuting that a weekend is incomplete without stepping out, even if only for a bit. Lucky for you, we have a freshly curated list of food haunts worth checking out in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Goa and Pune. You may thank us later.
If You Are In Mumbai
Experience Some Hand-Tossed Goodness
There’s good news for pizza lovers in town. Brought to you by the folks behind popular celeb den, Bastian Bizza offers a range of innovatively styled, oven-fresh pizzas that are artisanal, hand-tossed, thin crust and cheesy. Don’t forget to get your fill of accompaniments like, slurp-worthy shakes , fun cocktails, decadent desserts and brownies.
Where: 35th Road, Linking Road, Bandra.
The outlet launches on Sunday. Click here for more details: https://www.instagram.com/bizza.mumbai/
Sample A Range Of Clean Vegan Treats
Satiate those sweet cravings minus the guilt at An Ode to Gaia’s first brick-and-mortar space— a cutesy desert studio inside the Nature’s Basket outlet at SoBo. Take your pick from an interesting assortment of handcrafted vegan desserts such as macarons, gluten-free cheesecakes and classic French entremets.
Where: Nature’s Basket, Nepeansea Road, Malabar Hill South Bombay
Timings: 10 am to 6 pm
Call: +919820814539
Cost: Rs. 400 onwards
Deep Dive Into A Cheesy Fest
What’s even an off day without caving into guilty pleasures? CinCin’s specially curated cheese fondue menu comes with fine-wine pairings and is an opportunity to soak up an idyllic Italian experience without flying to the dream holiday destination. Patrons can check out three varieties in this latest addition to the al-fresco eatery menu, which includes vegetarian, non-vegetarian and black truffle shavings. Wide-eyed wine enthusiasts may avail the assistance of the in-house staff to zero in on a choice of vino for the evening.
Where: Raheja Towers, Near Dena Bank, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East
Timings: 12:30 pm to 1:30 am
Call: +91 83558 70000
Cost: Ala carte menu
Make Merry With Mulberry
Christmas might be a month away, but the all-day Banyan Tree Café has already brought forth a cheery vibe via its special mulberry menu with interesting offerings like mul-jeera, along with classics like mulberry iced americano and latte. Also, dig into specials like Winter Vibe, a wholesome bowl of romaine, baby spinach, iceberg, and orange segments tossed with mulberry dressing, and appetisers like the Cross-over, which is a slice of toasted guette topped with cream cheese and mulberry chunks. The store also features a frozen berry yoghurt bar, with exciting delights for you to discover.
Where: Banyan Tree Cafe, Ground Floor, Ballard Estate Fort, South Mumbai
Timings: 8 am to 10 pm, Ongoing till Sunday, 4th December 2022
Call: +919619033000
Cost: Rs 410 onwards
If You Are In Pune
Explore A Slice Of Thailand In Pune
Fancy an authentic Thai meal without necessarily taking off on a plane? Head to Cobbler & Co, where Nara Thai, is popping up with a specially curated menu featuring signature dishes like tofu satay served with peanut dip and cucumber relish, grilled John Dory fish wrapped in banana leaves, crispy shrimp cakes, mock meat kraprao, Nara fried rice with prawns and Thai chillies and the likes. Wash your meal down with Cobbler & Crew’s housemade cocktails.
Where: Ground floor, Barons Club, North Ave, opposite Jogger’s Park, Jogger’s Park, Pluto Society, Kalyani Nagar, Pune
Timings: November 25-27, available for Lunch (1:00 pm to 3:00 pm) and Dinner (8:00 pm onwards)
Cost: Rs. 450 onwards
Have Yourself A ‘Fishy’ Weekend
There’s comfort food, and then there’s Kundapur-style crab curry with a plate of fluffy and steaming idlis. If a late and lazy breakfast is your mojo, and you are in and around Pune, this is a sign to relish the gorgeous seafood dish, which is equal parts comforting and delicious. Some of the other best-selling combos here include paya salna with idli, whole roasted chicken vindaloo and potatoes and Chennai chicken 65.
Where: Shop 4 Viman Platinum Ganpati Mandir Road, Viman Nagar, Pune
Timings: 9 am to 11 pm
Call: 093075 36165
Cost: Rs. 250 onwards
If You Are In Goa
Experience Contemporary Indian Cuisine With A Twist
Celebrity Chef Avinash Martins and celebrated bartender Evgenya Prazdnik join forces in the opening of Juju, a contemporary Indian restaurant in South Goa. Expect a gastronomical experience with offerings like duck khurchan bhondas, tandoori wasabi malai broccoli, makki sable saag mousse, and slow-braised lamb shanks with a berry pulao. Finish your meal with a few cocktails, such as Sandra’s spritz (a jasmine and dry gin-based concoction), Bae of Bengal (a twist on a gimlet made using the aromatic tic Gondhoraj lemons) and Delhi 6 (a jamun wine-based cocktail which uses 6 ingredients).
Where: House number 29/1, Gandaulim, Colva, Goa
Timings: 12:30–3:30 pm, 7–11:30 pm, closed on Mondays.
Call: +91 8956691430
Cost: Meal for two with alcohol: Rs. 3000 with taxes.
Enjoy A Meal And Feni In The Middle Of A Stream
True to its title, at Fazenda Cazulo distillery, patrons can enjoy a table-in-the-water experience, spanning two hours, while sampling some rejuvenating cashew, coconut and dukshiri Feni paired with local food and followed by a tour of the distillery.
Where: Floating Feni Experience, Cansaulim, North Goa
Timings: 11:30 am OR 2:30 pm, closed on Sundays.
Cost: Rs 2500 per person
If You Are In Delhi
Order Yourself A Comforting Bowl Of Ramen
If you’ve been craving authentic Japanese ramen lately, Mensho Tokyo won’t disappoint.
It is best known for its sumptuous ramen bowls like, zensai, mazesoba (soup less ramen) and raisubru, and appetisers like gyozas, hiratake oyster mushroom. Chef Vidushi Sharma and her husband Viren Khuller have rustled up a storm in the Mensho Kitchen, and the interiors bear similarities to a Japanese izakaya, making it perfect for a weekend or mid-week outing.
Where: M 72, near Blue Tokai, Greater Kailash II, Greater Kailash, New Delhi
Timings: 12:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Call: 9582975985
Cost: Rs 1500 for two
Sit Back And Indulge In A Tea-Tastic Experience
Doesn’t matter if you’re a flavored tea loyalist or a total newbie to the refreshing beverage, Got Tea offers enough room to explore innovative offerings. Take your pick from options like, the Korean banana latte, hibiscus and grapefruit iced tea, strawberry matcha, peachy oolong, and royal milk tea. This cute-Korean-esque store comes with an interesting backstory: co-founders Yu Sang, Armaan, and Jo come from diverse backgrounds, but crossed paths at an international boarding school in Mussoorie. Years later, their common love for bubble tea, and Armaan’s observation of the lack of the beverage in India, led to the genesis of the modern teahouse.
Where: No.298, B6, Humayunpur, Safdarjung Enclave Safdarjung South Delhi
Timings: 12 pm to 9 pm
Call: 011 4113 3980
Cost: Rs. 700 for two
If You Are In Bangalore
Dig Into A Meal That Feels Like A Spa Sesh
At Sante Spa in Bengaluru’s Indiranagar, the menu comprises everything from flavoursome appetisers and desserts to a range of fresh and exotic beverages. The quaint café is quite the mindful eater’s haven. Don’t miss their buttery beetroot soul kadi, slow-simmered pearl barley broth with pepper chimichurri, Ibiza-style avocado tartare with mixed greens, and roasted Fennel and Maghai paan. From the sushi section, try the marinated tomato nigiri topped with vegan caviar for an umami-rich meal.
Where: 151 2nd stage 2nd cross, Domlur, Indiranagar, Bengaluru
Timings: 11 am to 11 pm
Call: 080 4370 0932
Cost: Rs. 1500 for two
Savour Some Cantonese In The Lap Of Nature And A Man-Made Lake
Located against the picturesque backdrop of a man-made lake and the beautiful greens of the golf course, EAST— The Asian Living Room offers a melange of authentic Cantonese, Japanese, and Korean dishes under one roof. Their chef, Saiful recommends signature creations like squid ojingeo bokkeum, soft shell crab, flying ramen, wild mushroom bao, tofu pad cha and miso alaskan black cod. Also try their range of innovatively crafted beverages like Japanese malts, sochu and sake, alongside signature cocktails. Another unmissable highlight is their Korean grill.
Where: JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa, Nandi Hills Road, Devanahalli
Timings: Open for dinner on all days (7 pm to 11 pm) and for lunch on Saturday and Sunday (12 pm to 3 pm). The restaurant remains closed every Monday.
Call: 9342406549
Cost: Price on request
SPECIALS
Last week, 30 Best Bars — a national award ceremony that reveres the best watering holes in the country and which MW co-curates — announced their list of Top 100 bars in India. Here are our picks from the long list:
- Slink And Bardot, Mumbai: Feast your senses at Mumbai’s newly revamped diner, where you can try elevated cocktails with a side of modern Indian food.
- For The Record, Vinyl Bar, Goa: FTR is India’s first bar dedicated to vinyl records. Drop by on a balmy afternoon to listen to soul-soothing music on vinyl while sipping on local brews.
- Boteco – Restaurante Brasileiro, Bengaluru: Treat yourself to Brazilian fare and signature cocktails, especially their painfully sourced cachaca, a distilled spirit made from fermented sugarcane juice and native to the country.
- Elephant & Co, Pune: Group or solo, it’s always a good idea to sit by the window with tasty nibbles, craft cocktails and live music. Head to ECO, Punekars’ fave party spot.
- Native Cocktail Room, Jaipur: Discover a scintillating medley of flavours from across the globe, at this speakeasy bar that offers classics, cocktails and lip-smacking specials, all in one place.
- PCO, New Delhi: An American speakeasy-style bar, PCO is where you can try a range of tipples, whatever may be your poison.
- The Evening Club, Shillong: The origin of The Evening Club can be traced back to 1958, though today it functions primarily as a live music venue for Shillong’s artists. Listen to them croon away while you sip on tasty concoctions.
- Terra Maya, Guwahati: Savour Indian, Continental and pan-Asian fare at this rooftop bar that is playing a huge role in redefining Guwahati’s bar scene with a precision-oriented bar menu, featuring cocktails, shooters and beers on tap.
