BOMBAY BUZZ

Top 5 Monsoon Menus

Pakodas and chai by the windowsill with the rain hitting across the pane is all well and good, idyllic really, but when you have eateries in the city opening their doors to you with brand new seasonal menus, why stay in! You could order from them but venture out you must – to these Top 5 spots we picked for you and try what’s on their monsoon menus. It’s cosy at The Burrow with Modern European dishes and Wakai is doing warm ramen bowls that are just right for the season. Taftoon Bar & Kitchen is calling you over for a delectable High Tea while Café Duco is offering up some enticing beverages and a mix of flavours in their fare. At Gallops, make the most of the monsoons with sumptuous food offered under their all-new cabanas in the al fresco area.

Gallops

The al fresco section of this posh restaurant at Mahalaxmi Racecourse is now made even more inviting with their all-new air-conditioned cabanas, all lit up and cosy. Perfect to enjoy your nosh with the rhythm of the falling rain around you. Monsoon cocktails will have you sipping on a Frozen Pineapple Mojito and a Pineapple Tequila Slay. Then comes the food. Goat Cheese & Pear Salad, Lamb Polpette (Italian meatballs), Sarson Tandoori Aloo, Chilli Baked Brie to start with and KhadeMasalekaPaneer, Afghani Subzi, Truffled Mushroom Penne and Penne a la Rossa in a creamy tomato sauce, for your mains. Their Baked Jalebi Cheesecake is a must, whatever the season.

Wakai, Khar

There’s something about the warmth of Japanese cuisine that suits the monsoon season. Whether you are seeking a spicy kick or a filling meal with a burst of flavour, Wakai's Ramen Bowls have something to satisfy every palate. The Spicy Miso Ramen has tender tofu karaage and veggies in a miso broth with rich umami flavours while Kimchi Ramen blends the fiery Korean spice with Japanese zuke flavours, of a soy-sauce marinade. Topped with tofu karaage and colourful veggies, it’s the right fusion of Asian flavours. The Veg Tantanmen Ramen is a delicious soy milk broth, infused with a nutty flavour through the combination of tofu karaage and assorted vegetables. 

Duco

Hot chocolate makes the world a better place and the rains so much more enjoyable. At Café Duco in Khar, the Monsoon Mint Hot Chocolate with crème de menthe is a showstopper. Tea lovers can opt for the Cinnamon Chai while you bite into the Quesa Tacos like the Buff Barbecoa and the Truffle Mushroom. There are Birria Poppers and Chicken Tikka Wings as part of the new menu which add a spice kick to the season. Another beverage that’s presented to you here is the Party After Tea, a signature house blend of herbs, spices and ginger – perfect to keep the immunity up during the monsoon season.

Taftoon Bar & Kitchen

Don’t you just love the idea of high tea in the rains? At Taftoon (BKC and Powai), the simple pleasures of life unfold with their brand new High Tea Specials, curated especially for the season. The fare takes you on a Kashmiri trip with treats like Kathal Ki Chapliand Taftoon's Signature Toasties with options like jackfruit, raan, chicken and more. Kulchas, warm and straight off the pan, are part of the monsoon menu, served with kheema. Also, check if you can dig into the shufta, that traditional Kashmiri dry fruit dessert, along with some kahwa.

The Burrow

Escape down The Burrow hatch in BKC with this monsoon menu. Handmade pasta pillows with Ricotta
and spinach in a tomato sauce make up NonnaArchini while Chicken Meatballs go sumptuously well in the Monsoon Noodle Bowl with coriander. Hot Chicken Wings are yum with a blue cheese dip, do try. The Chocolate Granola Bar is a (not so) light way to burrow
your way out. Who says you can’t cool off in the monsoons with a cocktail or two?

The Hot Gin Sour has pineapples, a kiss of honey and the spirit of gin within while the Fig-R-Out is a cognac revelation with Chinese sumac berries, kokum, dates and figs.