Toast to Mona Lisa at Da Vinci

Da Vinci at Pali Naka has been a firm favourite for me thru two restaurant locations, a few menu changes and I think management changes too. Last night, I went there for dinner after quite a while, possibly for the first time since I started my food blog. This place has great Italian food (pastas, pizzas, mains)

The menu had undergone yet another change. and the service always good, had gone up a notch. We had a friendly waiter Arjun who made reccomendations, was welcoming about us coming there after a while etc. I do love it when waiters can recommend and have a point of view instead of saying everything is good.

I ordered a Californication (on Arjun's recco) to drink which was a Vodka based cocktail with Plum & Peach flavours. Nice but a bit strong. I like my drink a little mild.

We had a portion of Garlic Bread as a starter as we were going Clubbing after and didnt want a very heavy meal. My main course was a Grilled Cottage Cheese Steak which was delicious but perhaps the salad should have been served on the side.

We skipped dessert but they do a killer blueberry cheesecake. A couple of years ago, I had celebrated my bday here and they served us all complimentary champagne:-). The little touches that keep you coming back! I take a lot of my friends there and my friend Manisha had her first taste of Goat cheese there (she really liked it).  & what's a Da Vinci without a Mona Lisa (they have the print of the famous painting on the wall when you enter)

Californication

Grilled Cottage Cheese Steak

Quench your thirst at Bandra

On the Reclamation food trail, we checked out Quench and actually my friend was aldready a fan. at the end of the evening, I was a convert too. Friendly service, nice retro music, good food and interesting beer themed graffiti on the walls. and snakes and ladders on the tables.

Ordered a paneer steak with Paprika Sauce and since I am not a beer drinker, the Quench Mocktail. Both were really good. It can get a little crowded and I would imagine weekends are packed. Must check out this place again soon...

A little bit of Paris at Chez Moi

Loving the response to the blog and that folks are reccoing restaurants I should try and review. A couple of days back, heard great reccos for a restaurant a stone's throw from my house and if I had a giant catapult, I could possibly be launched there from my window:-). But I dont and my window has grills, so got there the conventional way walking.

Chez Moi is one of the 5 or 6 restaurants which is makin the Candies lane at Reclamation a food hub to rival Pali Naka / Carter Road / KFC lanea. The good news is most of the food places are casual dining and hence VFM. I had noticed Chez Moi for a while but the exterior didnt impress. The interior though does and actually tries for a french cafe vibe with art to complement.

Had an interesting drink there Basil Lemongrass Mojitos (virgin) as they serve only wine and then a plate of assorted Tapas. The drink was very good but I guess Lemongrass being a bit sour is an acquired taste. The Tapas were a mix of good to fair. I didnt really like the fig flavour.

Their Menu is actually presented in the first few pages of a lifestyle magazine that made for quite an interesting touch. Even the bill is presented in a cigar case.

Though mid week, it was reasonably crowded and people kept pouring in. Their service could do better though as they forgot about my main course order. We decided not to order again as we wanted to check out Quench also in the same lane.

Dipping delight: Delicious Dessert at San Churros

Having eaten Delicious Churros (a donut like cylindrical spanish / mexican dessert) a couple of times at Amusement Parks in California, I was really excited late last year to discover Sanchoz served it on their menu. http://alllaboutfood.blogspot.com/2011/03/viva-la-mexicana-at-sanchoz.html#links

I absolutely love it made hot off the oven / though some folks deep fry it too, dust it with sugar & serve it with white or brown liquid chocolate dip. Thats how its served up at San Churros on Waterfield Road, Bandra and its absolutely delicious.

They call themselves a Chocolatier and serve sandwiches coffees and a few other desserts. But as you can see from the name, they specialise in Churros. There are diff serving sizes depending on whether its an individual or a sharing dessert. I absolutely love it having been there twice - pre and post lent:-) I didnt really enjoy their coffees or sandwich. So recco you drop in either post a meal or at tea time.

Their service isnt the greatest and you may need to remind them about what you ordered. They goofed twice - brought me brown chocolate instead of white and grilled my sandwich when I wanted it plain.

One of my fave discoveries of the year. Go down Waterfield and its opp Red Box. Easy to find, nice ambience, enjoy!

Share your experience here if you like....

Wine & Dine at Bungalow 9

Sunday evening after a few hours at b blunt saw me having dinner with a friend at Bandra's hottest new hangout Bungalow 9. Located at St. John Baptist Road (for the challenged, go straight at Reclamation Barista), the restaurant has indoor & outdoor seating, a bar and a private dining area for groups of 25 and more. Its a multi cuisine restaurant serving everything from sushi to thai to italian to continental food and has a pretty romantic ambience. A bit of a mediterareanean vibe with white walls, candles etc.

I ordered a wood grilled pizza with goatcheese, mushroom, peppers, jalapenos & sundried tomatoes. Quite nice but discovered I was full after I ate half of it. A bit of waiting at the bar but we were seated in just under ten minutes.

The last time I came here just for drinks so this was the first time I sampled the food. Hope to try some of the pastas next time.

Viva La Mexicana at Sanchoz

Sunday morning I was lazing with my morning papers when one of my friends sprung a surprise. We all decided to get together for a leisurely lunch. As I got to pick the place, I chose Sanchoz which I had been to a couple of times and loved. Great Mexican food, interesting music and  a fab buzzing ambience. Interestingly I have been here only at lunch time all 3 times. Am sure it would be a good choice for dinner too

In Mumbai today, I would rank Sanchoz and Chili's as the best Mexican restaurants with TGIF as a close third.

I ordered my all time fave Mexican dish Cottage Cheese Fajitas. Like the D.I.Y nature of the dish as you need to take your tortillas, add the condiments (salsa, gaucomole, fresh tomatoes) & then add the cottage cheese & roll it up before you eat it. My friends ordered a house salad, an enchillada  & a cottage cheese fajita.

We had to wait almost an hour for a table for 5 as we started pretty late. They take reservations only until 12.30. You can wait at the bar and nibble nachoz / have a drink....