Lower Parel has a cool new destination for food lovers: Lil Gamby. While the name may sound familiar, the location of this flagship outlet is a complete novelty: the brand has transformed its original cloud kitchen into a spacious dine-in hotspot with a bar. Lil Gamby was founded by Shaan Gidwani in 2021 under Acapella Hospitality and opened its first physical store in Khar in 2023. Outposts soon followed in Bandra and Chembur as the brand gained a loyal following. We recently got a chance to visit Lil Gamby’s Lower Parel location, taste some of its signature dishes and enjoy its unique ambiance.
The brand is known for its street culture influence – it draws inspiration from the eclectic cultures of Miami’s Wynwood district, East London’s Shoreditch and New York’s Brooklyn. At the Lower Parel outlet, this vibrancy is reflected in the overall decor and the graffiti and street-style art that covers most of the walls. There’s a huge amount of open space visible here – the seating is away from the crowd, the ceilings are high and there’s a mezzanine floor. We’re told Lil Gamby plans to take advantage of all this and host live sports screenings, a game zone, and musical performances.
Photo Credit: Lil Gamby
Lil Gamby’s menu isn’t limited to classic Italian ingredients and combinations. Its offerings extend beyond the classics to include Asian and other international flavours. For example, we started our meal with signature Korean Chicken WingsWhich hits the spot – in terms of crispness and spiciness. This was followed by chicken with a desi twist: Kerala Fried Chicken SliderThe hearty patties were beautifully packed with flavor and we immediately wanted seconds. Among vegetarian appetizers, Hot Honey and Jalapenos Cheese Poppers Conquered us. Apart from such starters, one can also enjoy BBQ platters and customizable fries (with multiple options for type, flavour, meat and veggie toppings).
Photo Credit: Lil Gamby
The Lower Parel outlet features a special range of Smash burgers made with in-house bread. Since we wanted to give priority to pizza, we did not try them this time. But still he looked quite attractive. Instead we went to the pasta section and feasted plata verdeSpaghetti was generously coated with delicious roasted garlic and basil pesto, and mixed with slow-cooked mushrooms and Parmesan cheese. This was a wonderful example of comfort food – perfect for relaxing after a long day (or week) of work.
Photo Credit: Lil Gamby
Finally, it’s time to taste the pizza. We’re told Lil’ Gambi is known for its Neapolitan-style sour grounds, which go through a 48-hour fermentation process. Pizzas are available in 8-inch and 11-inch sizes, and the range of options is remarkable. From the classics to the experimental, from the simple and straightforward to the breezy and decadent – it seems there’s something for every mood. The struggle to choose was real but the availability of so much variety was commendable. Many pizzas feature the classic and beloved San Marzano tomato sauce, but some are also accompanied by other signature sauces.
Among the vegetarian pizzas with the cheeky name grass puss It was a delicious feast. The spiciness of the San Marzano sauce, the double delights of mozzarella and scamorza cheese and the topping of mushrooms, zucchini, bell peppers and sun-dried tomatoes made this a satisfying choice. We liked among non-vegetarians NuclearThis Thai-inspired chili was a spicy and delicious combination of basil chicken, bell peppers, roasted onions and garlic. Then, both mozzarella and scamorza cheeses were added to the pizza.
Photo Credit: Lil Gamby
These dishes can be paired with a variety of alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages. Unlike other outlets, Lil Gamby in Lower Parel has a bar and its menu matches the overall casual ambiance of the restaurant. There are 16 types of these beer on tapIncluding exclusive collaborations with breweries like Drifters and Rolling Mills. Guests can sample unique brews through taster flights, beer towers or full pints. These can be paired with Lil Gamby’s amazing Smash Burger. The drinks lineup also includes a number of well-crafted cocktails, house-made iced teas, loaded shakes and fuss-free mocktails to cater to a variety of preferences.
Photo Credit: Lil Gamby
we finished our meal tira-miss-me – Lil Gamby’s rendition of Tiramisu – which was simple but amazing. The bitterness of the espresso oozing from the soaked Savoyardi, the aroma of liquor emanating from the rum and the smoothness of the mascarpone transported us to dessert heaven. It’s a sweet pleasure worth returning for.
Be it for a casual outing or a lively night out with friends, Lil Gamby’s flagship outlet is worth a visit the next time you are in Lower Parel. Additionally, the kitchen extends its delivery timings till 5am, so that people in the neighborhood can also order from here to satisfy their post-midnight hunger.
Where: Lower Parel Compound, SJ Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai.
