Mumbai has finally bid goodbye to monsoon and is eagerly waiting to feel the coolness in the air. The city that never sleeps may seem even more awake during these months, as it welcomes a time of intense heat and (hopefully) rains. People are more confident about spending time outside and enjoy a variety of indulgences. Winter is the festive season here for many reasons and what better way to celebrate than with food? Many restaurants, bars and cafes in Mumbai have announced new menus – some related to the season and some just for the sake of novelty. Here are some great things to check out:
Here are a selection of new menus at Mumbai restaurants to try in winter 2024:
Indian accent, bkc
Photo Courtesy: Indian Accent Mumbai
Indian Accent has a new chef tasting menu that you can’t miss this season. It celebrates the flavor of the streets of India with festive and royal makeovers that will leave you curious to know more. We were once again impressed by the artistry of Chef Rijul Gulati. We had the opportunity to taste both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions of the menu. The duo starts with a trio of bite-sized dishes inspired by the popular street food: Indori Khopra Patties, Ladakhi Apricot Samosa and a mini Raj Kachori. On the vegetarian menu, there’s the chef’s innovative take on matar paneer, a delicious serving of tawa jackfruit with sattu roti, and a sumptuous chenna morel with saffron cream, topped with fresh truffles.
For non-vegetarians, the initial appetizer is followed by three different dishes (which we are still dreaming about) – Kanyakumari Crab, Bihari Tash Meat and Chicken Pakora. The main course included Kashmiri Milk Lamb, Black Dairy Dal and Smoked Brinjal Raita. For vegetarians, meat has been replaced by “chowpatty in a bowl”, a twist on Mumbai’s favorite street foods: pav bhaji, bhel and more. These also included Indian Accent’s signature Kulcha, which were absolutely delicious! The dessert course included Mahabaleshwar Strawberry Cassata, Kaju Katli Cannoli and Soft Baked Chocolate with Basundi (which is absolutely worth the wait).
- What: New chef’s tasting menu at Indian Accent Mumbai
- Where: Jio World Centre, Ground Floor, Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, C-64, G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai.
Bandra Birth, Bandra
Photo Courtesy: Born in Bandra
Bandra Born started as an exciting 12-week pop-up and later established itself as a permanent restaurant and bar on Chapel Road. It has already become a favorite hotspot for locals and tourists. This October, it celebrated its first anniversary with a revamp of sorts. We had a chance to tour the space and learn more about all the fantastic new things Chef Gresham Fernandes and his team have created. First up, Bandra Born is now home to India’s (and the world’s) first dedicated mahua bar. Guests can now discover the wonders of this indigenous spirit through an exciting range of cocktails including the Mahua Colada, Mahua Mule, Tribal Negroni and many other drinks. There have also been some changes to the regular drinks menu at Bandra Born. New entries include Dot’s Dodol, It’s Always XXXmas in Bandra, Guha-Wah, Zig Zag Nights and other cocktails that pay homage to Bandra and celebrate Chef Gresham’s roots.
The food menu also includes some delicious items. We highly recommend the Watermelon Ceviche, Duck Stroop Waffle and the Anglo Indian Coorg Pork. A special appreciation for the scrumptious crispy mutton panrolle among the savory dishes and the delightfully complex plantain among the desserts. We can’t wait to return and discover more favorites.
- What: New menu at Bandra Born
- Where: Rose Minar, 87, Chapel Road, Annexe, Reclamation, Bandra West, Mumbai
Hurram’s
Photo courtesy: Hurrem’s
Hürrem has a fantastic new menu celebrating Turkish flavors through savory and sweet dishes. We spent a relaxing evening sampling some of them at its outlet at Jio World Drive. We recommend the nutritious lentil soup (especially this season), the airy mushroom vol-au-vents and the comforting potato and cheese pide. If you want to go beyond its signature Baklava for dessert, choose the Saffron San Sebastian Cheesecake or the Turkish Coffee Chocolate Cake. We particularly enjoyed the distinct texture of the latter – but note that it’s best paired with a beverage. Turkish tea and coffee are also available, among other options. For a cool sip, choose the light creamy Levantine Lemonade – which we’d happily return for. Although we didn’t have enough room to try them, we have to admit that the recently launched Baklava Sundaes (filled with 3 scoops of ice cream and many other delicious elements) sounded incredibly tempting.
- What: New menu in Hurrem
- Where: At both Hurrem outlets in Mumbai: BKC and Fort
Mokai, Bandra
Photo Credit: Mokai
Bandra’s artsy eatery on Chapel Road, Mokai, has recently unveiled its matcha menu. Matcha beverages were already part of the regular menu (and we quite liked them when we visited the café). However, the new launch adds an experiential dimension and more options to the list. Guests can now whip up their own matcha with an authentic bamboo whisk and then choose from the extensive matcha drink selection or create their own drink on the spot. For this, Mokai has imported ceremonial grade matcha from the lush green tea fields of Uji, Japan. Guests can enjoy a variety of matcha fusions. The Pistachio Matcha, for example, promises to be a rich indulgence with Sicilian pistachio paste, house blend espresso and organic honey. Matcha Misu contains a blend of fresh matcha mascarpone, milk, vanilla essence, condensed milk and house-made ladyfingers. Other highlights include Taro Boba Matcha, Mango Matcha, Hot Madagascar Vanilla Beans Matcha, Ice Cloud Matcha, Malaysian Jaggery Matcha, etc.
- What: New matcha menu at Mokai
- Where: Chapel Road, St. Sebastian Colony, Runwar, Bandra West, Mumbai.
