JW Marriott Mumbai Sehar has recently opened a new restaurant on its premises: BarCat. The al-fresco space is located on the hotel’s 10th floor rooftop, a short walk from the pool. It offers a limited but exclusive menu of Awadhi and North Indian cuisine. We recently had the chance to dine at BarQat and taste some of its signature dishes. When we visited on a winter night, the ambiance felt inviting: cozy seating areas and spaced tables bathed in the warm glow of fairy lights and lamps.
Photo Credit: Barcat
The restaurant is helmed by Chef Prakash Chettiar, Culinary Director, JW Marriott Mumbai City. The single-page food menu highlights the familiar and distinctive specialties of various North Indian locations. Among the appetizers, we enjoyed Lucknowi Seekh, Doodhiya Paneer Tikka and Peeli Mirch Ka Zafrani Aloo. Each starter stood out to us for different reasons. The lamb kebabs were beautifully spiced. They eventually arrived, smoking hot on a mini grill placed on the table.
Photo Credit: Barcat
The paneer was different from any tikka we had tasted before: it was presented as something akin to a circular sandwich tart. Don’t be put off by the description, because it’s delicious! The layers between the paneer pieces were a delicious mixture of potatoes, dry fruits and red chilli marinade. Zafrani Aloo was potatoes stuffed with khoya, vegetables and cheese. Flavored with yellow chillies and saffron, they were fragrant and extremely sweet. He also provided an interesting contrast to the fiery Seek.
Photo Credit: Barcat
The main one is a great mix of popular and under-represented North Indian cuisines. Craving timeless recipes? There are classic options like Gosht Nihari and Awadhi Biryani. Do you want to taste something different from the usual taste? You have a chance to taste dishes like Methi Ki Tehri and Purvanchal Ka Saag. We highly recommend the Chuza Makhani, which is similar to the beloved butter chicken. One of the highlights of our meal was this rich tomato based gravy with tandoor prepared khamiri roti and pudina paratha. If you’re in the mood for dal, enjoy Barkat Dal: a delicious preparation of black lentils cooked in cream. The garlic flavor in the tadka is nice – but we weren’t complaining – it matched our preferences perfectly.
Photo Courtesy: NDTV Food
BarQat’s drinks menu features a limited selection of wines, spirits, cocktails and mocktails. You can opt for classic cocktails or go with a JW signature (bestsellers from each of the hotel’s restaurants: JW Café, Autumn, Romano and BarCat). We tried the mocktails and particularly enjoyed the Pomerose Soda (a fizzy mix with pomegranate flavor) and the Bombay Colada (Barcat’s take on the Virgin Pina Colada, mixed with some desi spices).
Photo Courtesy: NDTV Food
There are only three options for desserts and we managed to taste two of them. Barkat Kulfi is a dependable choice: a cool, creamy dessert topped with chunks of chikki, almonds, pistachios and roses. Although it was delicious, we liked the hot Doodha Barfi more. It was mixed with salted pistachio ice cream, which enhanced the taste of the barfi in a unique way. This is a must try.
The word “barakat” has many meanings and is often associated with words such as prosperity and blessing. In the case of this restaurant, we experienced a abundance We will never forget this taste.
Where: Poolside Terrace at 10th Floor, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, Near Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, IA Project Road, Navpada, Vile Parle East, Mumbai.
Time: Tuesday-Sunday: 6:30 pm to 11 pm. Saturday-Sunday: 1 pm to 4 pm
Photo Credit: Barcat
