1/4/2014 Restaurants & Cafes | Time Out Food Awards 2014 | Awards | Time Out Mumbai

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Our panel of critics have made their decisions, and puttogether a list of the places that we think deliver the goodies

Critic's Choice

Best Restaurant The Table, Mumbai Nominees: Bomra’s, Goa; DIVA, Delhi; Indian Accent, Delhi and Olive Beach,

Bangalore. Now in its fourth year, Colaba’s The Table has steadied itscourse with a menu that is fresh, innovative and always consistent. Thekitchen unfailingly turns out salads (often with vegetables harvested from therestaurant’s property in Alibaug), mains and desserts (their chocolatebudino is a must-try) that have a lightness of touch and respect foringredients that are a hallmark of the executive Chef, Alex Sanchez, whomakes regular trips from New York to oversee the kitchen. With artdeco-inspired decor and a wine list that’s easy to navigate, it’s our pick for best

restaurant in the country. Hotel Suba Palace, Apollo Bunder, Colaba

(2282-5000).Daily noon-4pm, 4.30-6.30pm and 7pm-midnight. All major

cards. Meal for two R2,500- 3,000.

Best New Restaurant Masala Library, Mumbai Nominees: The Flying Monk, Kolkata; Guppy by ai, Delhi; Lota, Delhi and

Sattvam, Bangalore. Indian food has never been about theatre, sure, theflavours are complex and we all appreciate a good slow cooked dal. MasalaLibrary changes that by combining traditional Indian flavours and moleculargastronomy with theatrical flourish. A complimentary papri chaat may comewith a blob of spherified yogurt, and the pao bhaji with spherified peas. Butthis showiness doesn’t take away from the taste with each dish managing todefy and fulfil expectations. With plans to expand both nationally andinternationally, this is a library of flavours worth exploring.

Ground Floor, First International Financial Centre, Opposite Sofitel Hotel ,

Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra(E)(6642-4142). Daily noon-2.30pm and 7-

11pm. All major cards. Meal for two R2,000-2,500.

Best Chef Kelvin Cheung, Mumbai Nominees: Joy Banerjee, Kolkata; Manu Chandra, Bangalore; Ritu Dalmia,

Delhi and Ananda Solomon, Mumbai. Ellipsis, is always buzzing. Sure it’s agreat place to stop by for a drink but it’s the food where it really shines. ChefCheung puts a premium on the natural flavours of his ingredients and canbe found constantly innovating in the kitchen. With new innovations as wellas favourites like the fish tacos finding space on the menu, there’s enoughfor newbie’s and regulars alike. Bar nights and Sunday brunch ensurethere’s always something different to come back for – like the inventive figjam waffles with Roquefort ice cream. With his enthusiasm for customerfeedback (on Twitter and Instagram), he’s found himself embraced by thecity. B-1 Amarchand Mansion, 16 Madame Cama Road, Colaba (6621-3333).

Daily 12.30-3.30pm, 7pm-1am. Alcohol served. All major cards. Meal for

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Best Restaurateur AD Singh, Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai. Nominees: Riyaaz Amlani, Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai; Kishor Bajaj,

Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai; Siddharth Pujari, Bangalore and Marut Sikka,

Delhi. With Olive, AD Singh has crafted a pan-India dining chain that is ableto transport all who step in, to the white-washed hills of Santorini. Sinceopening the first in Bombay in 2000, the restaurant has become the place togo for languid afternoon meals and buzzing bars. With LikeThatOnly inBangalore and Monkey Bar in Bangalore and Delhi, the number ofrestaurants he is a partner in is increasing. Gurgaon recently became hometo Soda Bottle Opener Wala, a whimsical take on Mumbai’s Irani cafes andGuppy by ai shows that he can pull of Asian food with aplomb. With more inthe pipeline we look forward to seeing what’s next.http://www.olivebarandkitchen.com/

Best Designed Restaurant Megu, Delhi Nominees: Glasshouse, Bangalore; Thalassa, Goa; The Pantry, Mumbai

and Le Cirque, Delhi. Intricate porcelain columns, a towering Buddha andthe nearly half ton bell above him, the carefully chosen framed prints – thetasteful opulence of Megu is undeniable. Divided into five more parts (twopublic and one private dining room, outdoor terrace and lawn seating and asushi counter) each entity is distinct with no matchy-matchy coordination tobe found. The spread is as lavish as the surroundings it is served in. Therange of sushi and sashimi alone is mindboggling. Osetra caviar, unagi, tunasoy akami and black truffle are just a few of the mouth-watering options.Other Japanese specialities such as wagyu beef and dishes from thesignature river stone grill also find their place on the à la carte. The Leela Palace, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri (3933-1234). Daily

12.30-2.30pm, 7pm-midnight. Meal for two R12,000.

Best Indian Restaurant Neel, Mumbai Nominees: Al-Nawaz, Delhi; Kanua, Bangalore; Mum’s Kitchen, Goa and

Oudh, 1590, Kolkata. Neel is lovely to look at; it serves the comfortingshorba-kabab-dal-naan fare; the alcohol list has some interesting-soundingcocktails – and there’s plenty of parking space. Mukhtar Qureshi, the chefbehind Rahul Akerkar’s Indian joint ensures that the food being served is fitfor a Nawab. The kebabs are always tender and the thick dal, slow cookedfor 12 hours has a depth of flavour. The setting, surrounded by trees on theoutside and metal columns shaped like tree trunks indoors is a chiccompliment to the Indian food on offer setting the scene for a princely meal. Race Course, Opposite Gate No 4 and 5, KK Marg, Mahalaxmi (6157-

7777). Daily noon-3pm, 7pm-midnight. Meal for two R3,000-5,000.

Trendiest Restaurant Monkey Bar, Bangalore Nominees: Chez Nini, Delhi; Cafe Zoe, Mumbai; Elma’s Bakery Cakes and

Tea Room, Delhi and Zeebop by the Sea, Goa. At Monkey Bar, thedefinition of pub grub extends to complex constructs like the Bork –blackened pork belly that’s double-cooked, slow-crisped and served overblack bean noodles. But culinary legerdemain such as this is thrown out ofthe kitchen casually; it’ll probably be brought to you by a chatty waiter injeans and instead of approaching it with a reverential hush, you’d do well todig in. Communal seating, hipster decor, a retro playlist and a vintagescooter as decor are all testimony to the casual gastro pub concept whichhas already been well received in Delhi as well. Here’s an expansion planwe’re waiting for. 14/1, Krishna Manare, Wood Street, Ashoknagar, Off Richmond Road,

Bangalore (80411-16878). Also at Plot 11, Upper Ground Floor, LSC,

Pocket C 6 & 7, Vasant Kunj, Delhi (4109-5155). Daily noon-11.30pm (Mon-

Fri), 9am-11.30pm (Sat-Sun). Meal for two R1,500-2,000.

Restaurant with the Best Wine List Vetro, Mumbai Nominees: Caperberry, Bangalore; Celini, Mumbai; Le Cirque, Delhi and

Two One Two Bar and Grill, Mumbai. An emphasis on Italian wines is to beexpected from Vetro, the fine dining restaurant at Oberoi Hotel. The joint hasspace on its side: its Enoteca, or wine library, boasts of more than 800bottles, and the restaurant has an area dedicated to wine tasting and wineexploration. If that doesn’t convince you that they take their wines seriously,the wine paraphernalia in the room – decanters, glasses – ought to. Thefood, under chef Alessandro Stefoni is a representation of cuisine from allover Italy, adds a focus on simple Sicilian cuisine. The pizzaiola style Bektiwith beans showcases the emphasis on ingredients and clean flavours thathave come to be his hallmark. The Oberoi, Nariman Point (6632-6205). Daily 12.30-2.30pm, 7-11.30pm.

Meal for two R5,000-7,000

Best International Restaurant Wasabi by Morimoto, Mumbai Nominees: Royal China, Mumbai; Yauatcha, Bangalore; Megu, Delhi and Le

Cirque, Delhi. Wasabi was launched in Mumbai in 2004 by MasaharuMorimoto, the former executive chef at Nobu, New York (there’s another oneat the Taj Mahal Hotel, Delhi). There’s a private dining room tucked away,concealed by flowing curtains and punters are expected to dish out `945(plus taxes) for a single California roll. Wasabi is in a different league.

1/4/2014 Restaurants & Cafes | Time Out Food Awards 2014 | Awards | Time Out Mumbai

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There’s a definite air of privilege about the place. As the original import, onethat brought Philadelphia’s elegant Japanese restaurant to the shores of theArabian Sea, it has set the trend for others that now crowd our malls andhotels. Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, Apollo Bunder, Colaba (6665-3366).

Daily 12.30-3pm, 7-11.45pm. Meal for two R7,000.

Best Independent Restaurant The Sassy Spoon, Mumbai Nominees: Bohemian, Kolkata; Byblos, Bangalore; Gung The Palace, Delhi

and Indigo, Mumbai. You’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve stepped into agirly boudoir with its pink walls and padded chairs, candelabras, a gorgeouswall inset with trunks, and sheer white curtains at the glass facade. TheSassy Spoon uses that setting to turn out beguiling pairings that includeroasted rawas served on lemon grass risotto with pulli kozahumbe (Tamiliantamarind gravy) and more, from a kitchen helmed by chef Irfan Pabaney.Desserts comes courtesy Rachel Goenka who puts her Le Cordon Bleutraining to use crafting desserts like lemon cheese tart with dulce faloodasabja jelly and beer sorbet. It’s sassy, where’s your spoon? Express Towers, Ramnath Goenka Marg, Nariman Point (2288-8222). Daily

noon-3.30pm, 7pm-midnight. All major cards. Meal for two R3,500-8,000.

By Time Out on March 14 2014 10.36am

Tags: Restaurants & Cafés, Features, Critic's Choice, Winners, Time Out Food Awards

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