From eateries offering reimagined Goan fare to those focused on local, seasonal ingredients, here’s where you should reserve your next table
With the easing of restrictions on dining out across the country, the F&B industry is slowly bouncing back into the business. This has also led to a spurt in the opening of new restaurants. If you are bored of cooking at home everyday or eating from takeaway boxes, step out and explore these eateries in Mumbai and Goa that offer delectable spreads in delightful settings.
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Noon
With a menu highlighting seasonal, organic produce from across India, Noon at Bandra-Kurla Complex encourages its patrons to slow down and savour their food. The monotonal interiors are elegantly done up by Ashiesh Shah. Try experimental small plates like Buckwheat Tartlets, Rainbow Trout and Purple Bean Tacos, and don’t miss their signature cocktails crafted using in-house syrups and bitters.
Meal for two costs ₹3,000 approx. Signature cocktails are from ₹700.
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Blabber
An all-day dining bar, Blabber is located in Borivali East and is designed as a fuss-free space for long, intimate conversations with your loved ones. The food menu comprises offerings such as Korean Cheese Pull-Apart Bread, Tadka Hummus and Dabeli Bao, paired with cocktails like Garden in a Glass, Skinny Margarita and Popcorn Sour. The bar’s pink, floral upholstered seating, chandeliers and topiary from the ceiling can transport one to a vintage tea-party.
Meal for two costs ₹1,500 approx. Signature cocktails are from ₹450.
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Someplace Else
An institution at The Park Hotel in Kolkata for over two decades, Someplace Else now has an outpost in Mumbai at Jio World Drive in Bandra-Kurla Complex. With live music performances and entertainment at its core, the technicoloured interiors by London-based Project Orange make for an eclectic setting. The menu consists of Asian and Indian delicacies like gun-fired sushi rolls, nasi goreng, Madurai Mutton Ghee Roast, Panko-rusted Hara Bhara Kebabs and much more. Also on offer is a collection of cocktails such as Summer Berries, Fig Mojito and Coco Melle to keep you in high spirits.
Meal for two costs ₹2,000 approx. Signature cocktails are from ₹840.
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Cafe 49
Juhu’s Emerald Hotel gets a cosy, all-vegetarian cafe that promises an extensive food and drinks menu. Donned in hues of teal and pink, the space is vibrant and welcoming with its bricked walls and tastefully designed shelves. Take your pick from cappuccinos, lattes and shakes paired with nachos, bruschettas and croissants, or mains such as pesto pizza, lasagne, burgers and healthy bowls. They also serve gin, vodka and whiskey cocktails.
Meal for two costs ₹1,000 approx. Signature cocktails are from ₹350.
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Loci and Toot
An all-day cafe and wine bar, Loci and Toot in Bandra is set in a casual space with an understated ambience, featuring a bounty of greens, bougainvillea creepers and abundant natural light. Done up largely in shades of blue, grey and white, a set of swings adds to the seating options. The menu features Mediterranean delights like Moroccan flatbreads, Baked Falafel with Labneh, vegan salads and both vegetarian and meat-based small and large plates. It also offers a selection of toasts—Avocado Muffalata, Burrata Caponata and Ricotta Tahini among others.
Meal for two costs ₹1,000 approx. Signature cocktails are from ₹400.
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Raki
Overlooking the Miramar beachfront, Raki is Goa’s highest rooftop lounge, located on the 11th floor of Crescent Hotel in Panjim. Named after the alcoholic drink native to Turkey, it offers a modern twist to Middle Eastern dishes along with a variety of cocktails. Goa-inspired cocktails like Alphonso Punch, Beyond the Horizon and Lion's Milk feature on the menu. When it comes to food, most of the spices have been imported in an attempt to keep the flavours as authentic as possible. Savour dishes such as Labneh Za’atar, different types of hummus, toum and harissa, feta and Okra Gözleme (a crispy Turkish flatbread stuffed with fillings). The lounge opens only in the evenings, 5 pm onwards.
Meal for two costs ₹1,000 approx. Signature cocktails are from ₹600.
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Oh, La La
A boutique bistro-lounge along the backwaters of Siolim, Oh, La La has been designed using locally sourced materials. Surrounded by coconut groves, the wooden verandahs blend seamlessly with the pristine views of the water. The dining cabanas, thatched bamboo-roof bars and string lights create a cheerful ambience. Apart from refreshing signature cocktails and slow-cooked meals, Oh, La La also plans to offer immersive workshops on dance and music for its patrons.
Meal for two costs ₹1,500 approx. Signature cocktails are from ₹500.
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Makutsu
If you are craving an authentic Japanese culinary experience in the beach state, this small, 21-seater haunt must be on your list. Makutsu in Panjim features various cuts and styles of yakitori along with other Japanese street food dishes. Translating to ‘den of thieves,’ the dimly-lit restaurant located in the lanes of Fontainhas hopes to give people an izakaya experience, similar to one in Kyoto. The eatery is Chef Pablo Miranda's—whose home delivery boxes became famous among those stuck in Goa during the pandemic—second restaurant (the first being Antonio@31). Their signature yakitori dishes include beef tongue, chicken oyster and achilles. Also on the menu are bacon donburi, salmon with truffle ponzu, red spinach salad and cold soba noodles among others.
Meal for two costs ₹500 approx. They do not serve alcohol yet.
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Maai
Located in Assagao, Maai is housed in an old bungalow that has been restored without taking away its historic charm and Portuguese heritage-influenced design. The food and beverages take inspiration from the trade routes of the Portuguese and the ingredients they carried with them to the shores of Goa. The menu is a delectable mix of Goan and Portuguese flavours. Signature raw banana cutlets, vegan beetroot galettes, pepper-spiced mutton and curries are some of their popular offerings. The drinks menu features cocktails made using ingredients such as kokum, cashew feni, chilli guava and coffee.
Meal for two costs ₹1,500 approx. Signature cocktails are from ₹350.
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