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The restaurant industry in Mumbai is on a roll, with promises of new spots to dine, wine, hang out, and opportunities to create some of the best memories of 2022. Worli is now home to Tsubaki, a Japanese restaurant with a hydroponic garden, while the popular Jio World Drive has Motodo Pizzeria, a hot new spot by chef Ritu Dalmia to satiate your cravings for some rustic Italian food.
If you’re looking to explore cuisines or searching for a new place to dine at, here’s a list of all the new debuts Mumbai has seen recently.
1. Noon
The brainchild of restauranteur and chef Vanika Choudhary, Noon is the city’s newest progressive restaurant that celebrates India’s rich array of indigenous produce and the traditional technique of fermentation. It shares the space with Sequel BKC (Bandra Kurla Complex) but promises a completely different experience. “The format of dining is very different, what we call chic-dining – somewhere between casual and fine-dining,” Choudhary tells us. The menu is inspired by Choudhary'schildhood in Kashmir and features dishes such as buckwheat tartlet with slow-roasted beetroot, charcoal-grilled prawns with a gooseberry salsa and kanji-spiced shallots, and more. They also offer a range of craft cocktails.
Address: Gr. Floor, Unit B-102, ONE BKC, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400051
2. Tsubaki
Spread over multiple levels, Tsubaki, a newly opened Japanese cuisine restaurant in Worli, boasts of an open sushi kitchen, a hydroponic garden, a formal dining room, and a lounge area where guests can try smokey tipples, sake, fine wines, and spirits. The food menu, curated by chef Ganesh Sonari, is vegetarian-friendly. We recently dined at Tsubaki and our favourite picks from the menu include their tofu khimchi soup, cheese chilli gyoza, prawn tempura maki, and the watermelon and gin cocktail with hints of curry leaf.
Address: Desai Oceanic, Worli, Next to Worli village bus depot, Mumbai. Tel: +91 7304940815
3. Motodo Pizzeria
Chef Ritu Dalmia’s trattoria-style dining space located at the Jio World Drive in BKC, promises rustic Italian treats by chef Devendra Khetle and his team. Think pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven, fresh pasta, golden brown bombolino and more. These delicious eats can be enjoyed with the choicest beverages crafted in collaboration with Bacardi India. Based on our recent visit to Motodo Pizzeria, the handmade Tagliolini, the restaurant’s signature pasta, is the star of the menu.
Address: Maker Maxity, 2nd floor, S-5, Bandra Kurla Complex Rd, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400051
4. Loci and Toot
Uncomplicated cooking, zero-proof cocktails and a refreshing vibe await you at Loci and Toot in Khar. This newest offering from the folks at Café Panama boasts of a largely European menu that celebrates seasonal bounty but with a twist. When at Loci and Toot, you must try their fazzoletti, a square-shaped pasta stuffed with a mixture of burrata and mushroom and tossed in a rich thyme butter sauce. For more must-try dishes, read our review of this restaurant here.
Address: Shangrila Vaibhav, Building, 14th road, Khar w, Mumbai. Tel: 91 9004147787, +919004146787. Timing: 11 am to 10 pm
5. Someplace Else
Kolkata’s iconic pub Someplace Else, which has been a music lover's haven since 1994, is now in Mumbai and slowly becoming a must-party-at spot in the city. It is located at the Jio World Drive and hostslive gigs and performances by an exciting list of artistes specialising in varied genres of music. Their food menu features bar bites, hearty mains, and eclectic cocktails. The Madurai mutton ghee roast is a must-try at Someplace Else, Mumbai.
Address: Jio World Drive, Bandra Kurla Complex Rd, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400051
6. Donna Deli
Another European-inspired place, Donna Deli on SV Road, Bandra, is a chic café that serves Italian and Asian fare. It has an all-day breakfast menu that includes breakfast pizzas, taco pancakes, brioche sandwiches, and many other comforting dishes. They have an outdoor patio that is quite a hit among customers in the current season.
Address: Manorama Chambers, Ground floor, SV Road, Bandra West
7. Balsa
Are your weekend plans sorted? If not, reserve a table at Balsa and take a quick trip to Spain and back. This casual dining restaurant – a tapas bar, to be precise – has an alfresco setup where you can sip on one of their 12 signature cocktails while you gorge on global-inspired small plates. Their dining space inside has a minimalist modern décor, which gives out the best vibe in the weekend evenings when it transforms into a high-energy club.
Address: Utopia City, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013
8. Blabber
Opening next week, Blabber is a casual dining restaurant that aims to be a space where you come with your friends and engage in long chats over cocktails and lip-smacking food. The brainchild of restaurateurs Kedar Shetty and Gaurav Payyade, Blabber has a menu that’s inspired by international flavours. Expect a Korean cheese pull-apart bread, tadka hummus, dabeli bao, and an American fried chicken sandwich. Wash these down with drinks like passion fruit martini, forbidden whiskey skinny margarita, and a popcorn sour.
Address: Esspee Tower, Dattapada Rd, Ekta Bhoomi Gardens III, Food Corporation of India Warehouse, Borivali East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400066
Photo: Featured restaurants