These are all the new dining spots to check out in your city

Mumbai

The Nutcracker

This homegrown café chain has expanded with a new outpost at Palladium Mall, serving its signature home-style fare and desserts. The 74-seater space carries forward the brand’s distinctive vibe, with patterned floors, wooden shutters and community seating interspersed with several green elements. On the menu, you have favourites like the buttermilk pancakes, black bean burger, truffle eggs, and handmade pastas. A bar menu will be a new addition here, as will a high-tea menu, in the coming months.

Address: Palladium, 2nd Level, Phoenix Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai. Tel: 022-24918996

Charoli – The Cameo Kitchen

The second edition of The Cameo Kitchen (which collaborates with renowned chefs and restaurants from across the subcontinent), has popped up at Flea Bazaar Café, bringing the royal cuisine of Indore’s Malwa rulers to Mumbai. For a limited period, chef Anuradha Joshi Medhora of Charoli will be serving signature dishes combining rich flavours and textures, like the Shikampuri Kebabs, Malai ka Pulav, Dal Maratha, Chandi Murg Pulav and more.

Available until February 29, 2020. Address: FLEA Bazaar Cafe, First Floor, Trade View Building, Oasis Complex, P.B. Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai. Tel: 09152017990

Gustoso – Kemp’s Corner

The revamped Gustoso comes back to Kemp’s Corner with a brand new look. The sleek space, which serves up Italian fare, borrows several design elements from the historic building it is housed in—from the vintage interiors and casement windows, to the custom printed wallpaper and Napoli art. But the showstopper is the serpentine bar that’s made using real timber, with marble and brass accents. The space is divided into five dining areas, and the refreshed menu has been curated by renowned chefs Giulio Adriani and Adriano Baldassarre, offering a mix of classic and contemporary Italian cuisine.

Address: Plot 109, Kwality House, August Kranti Marg, below Kemp’s Corner Bridge, Mumbai. Tel: 07045000020

Perch

Delhi’s well-known coffee and wine bar, Perch, is making its way over to Mumbai, and will be located at Bandra’s Pali Naka. You can look forward to their signature coffee sangria and an affogato bar that promises to be every bit as indulgent.

Slated to open end February 2020. Address: Pali Naka, Bandra (W), Mumbai

Kofuku (Powai)

Kofuku has launched a new outpost in Powai, bringing its signature Japanese cuisine to the suburb. Take your pick from the traditional izakaya seating, and live Korean barbecue, along with an extensive list of authentic dishes, such as the traditional Okonomiyaki, Hot Pot, Miso Ramen and more. There’s also a counter to pick up several imported Japanese ingredients.

Address: 2nd Floor, Kailash Industrial Complex, Veer Savarkar Road, Park Site, Powai, Mumbai. Tel: 022-50646455

One Two - Bhaane

Bhaane, the contemporary clothing label is now housing a café in its Mumbai store, called One Two. The compact menu serves light eats (vegan, paleo and keto-friendly), including smoothie bowls like the Pink Pitaya, yoghurt bowls, cold-pressed juices, coffees, and floral tisanes.

Address: Dr. B R Ambedkar Road, Pali Hill, Khar (W), Mumbai. Tel: 08800940700

Flax – Healthy Living

Adding to the growing list of healthy joints in Bandra is Flax. It’s USP? There’s an in-house nutritionist that will guide you on what you should eat, as per your body requirements and preferences. Apart from the signature super bowls that the brand is known for, you can sample hot plates and breakfast specials comprising smoothies and freshly baked breads. They also have a packaged foods section stocking Greek yoghurts, cold-pressed juices and low-cal ice creams, that you can take to-go.

Slated to open end of February 2020. Address: Union Park, Bandra (W), Mumbai

Crust and Crumble

There’s a new dessert service in town. Started by the ex-pastry chef of The Clearing House (Mumbai), Husna Jumani whips up a variety of treats, with her signature, crumbly base paired with a fluffy sponge. There are cheesecakes, naked cakes and her popular hazelnut praline chocolate cake, among others. Each month will see her host a bake sale on a weekend, where you can pick up slices of her cakes, with four flavours available at any given time. If you fancy, you can order a whole cake as well. Jumani says that the menu will be rotational, featuring seasonal fruits and flavours, and will be looking to increase her bake sale to two weekends a month. We suggest grabbing the strawberry cream cake while it’s in season.

Upcoming bake sale on February 22 and 23, 2020. Tel: 09819824993

Asian burgers by Seefah

Known for her signature Thai and Japanese cuisine, chef Seefah has now launched a new delivery service, offering a tightly-edited menu of Asian-style burgers. Choose from succulent burgers like the Chicken Katsu Curry burger, the signature Tenderloin Banh Mi sandwich, and the Crispy Asian Mushroom burger, among other options.

Only takeout available, via Scootsy and Zomato. Tel: 08928895952

Flavours of Maharashtra

Here’s a chance to learn how to make authentic Maharashtrian fare. Cooked by Moms, an organisation that works with underprivileged women communities across Mumbai and Pune and empowers them by leveraging their cooking skills, is collaborating with Jars & Journeys to host a workshop that will teach you how to make several Maharashtrian delicacies. Think, Thalipeeth, Bombil Fry, Misal Pav, Kolhapuri Chicken, Til ke Laddoo, etc.

Workshop on February 22, 2020. Address: Jars & Journeys, Sangeeta Apartments, 7C, Gala no: 14, Juhu Road, Mumbai. Tel: 09920464566

New menus in Mumbai

Le15 Café

Chef Pooja Dhingra’s popular European-style café in Colaba has overhauled its menu after four years. Along with retaining favourites, the new menu has additions like comfort bowls, Pizza Waffles, Passionfruit Pancakes, and French Toast. We especially love the Pink Eggs Benedict, Hot Burrata with Nacho Crisps, and the Avocado Toast. Don’t miss out on the plated desserts with options like the Lemon, Lavender and Honey cake, and the Pineapple Milk Cake.

Address: Shop No. 18, Lansdowne House, MB Marg, Near Apollo Hotel, Opposite Lings, Colaba, Mumbai. Tel: 098215 94464

Yauatcha

As part of its Chinese New Year celebrations, the swish Asian restaurant, Yauatcha, is bringing in the ‘Year of the Rat’, with a new menu comprising celebratory Chinese dishes. Think, plump crystal dumplings, Crispy Rice Indian Cod with pickled Golden Beets, a signature Duck Salad, and a Vegetable Claypot with Lotus Seed and Black truffle. Sip on new craft cocktails like the Jing Su Peony cocktail to ring in the New Year.

Available until February 19, 2020. Address: Raheja Tower, First Floor, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (E), Mumbai. Tel: 09222222800

Delhi-NCR

NEGE & JU

European by day and Asian by night, Nege and Ju (which translates to mean nine and 10, in Afrikaans and Japanese, respectively) aims to surprise and please patrons, with its dual identity. This new bistro-style restaurant offers an upscale European menu for lunch, and by evening, switches to an Asian tapas menu. But that’s not all. You’ll also see the cocktail menu flip from day to night, along with the music, vibe and more. The cuisine is ingredient-driven, using local ingredients like the Rajasthani natal plums, hibiscus from Uttar Pradesh and micro-lot coffee from the Himalayas. Get the signatures like the Barley Red Curry Chicken, Avocado-cured Papaya Salad, or, the Smoked Duck Risotto.

Address: 9/10, Lodhi Colony Market, New Delhi. Tel: 09899111734

Madame Gusto

A new entrant to Delhi’s dining out scene, Madam Gusto is all about celebrating food, travel and experiences. The menu reads as a culinary sojourn, curated by founder, Sonia Puri, and spans global plates like the Avocado Nigiri Sushi, Tempura Rolls, hawker-style skewers, bar bites, and several craft cocktails. The colourful interiors add to the contemporary vibe of the resto-bar.

Address: First Floor, SS Plaza, Sector 47, Gurugram. Tel: 09811150296

Fig at MUSEO

Located in the premises of Gurgaon’s camera museum (MUSEO), Fig, is a hip, new cafe, with a focus on wholesome, organic fare. The artistic, laid-back vibe with light-filled interiors, makes it an ideal spot for breakfast or brunch, in one of its sunny nooks. There’s an extensive selection of healthy smoothies, pancakes, breakfast bowls, and guilt-free desserts to choose from, spanning European, Italian and Continental fare.

Address: Museo Camera, Centre for The Photographic Arts, Sector 28, DLF Gurgaon. Tel: 011-71564608

Altogether Experimental (A.T.E)

Founded by Vicky Mandal and Anukriti Anand, this sprawling cafe, as the name suggests, is about all things experimental—described as a collaborative space for culinary artists, patissiers and baristas. While it also doubles up as a co-working space, apart from functioning as a café, you’ll find pop-ups and workshops being hosted here too. The menu follows a clean-eating, slow food philosophy with nibbles, tartines, bowl meals, craft coffees, and plated desserts. The iron and glass façade and industrial design lends to the cafe’s minimalist aesthetic, coupled with large, open spaces. Also, it’s pet-friendly.

Address: 264, Westend Marg, Butterfly Park, Saket, New Delhi. Tel: 09999288073

Mussoorie

The Botanical Café - JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa

Nestled in the pristine environs of Uttarakhand, and housed inside a Greenhouse at the JW Marriott Mussoorie, is The Botanical Café—a space where you can pick your own herbs and edible flowers and choose from a selection of healthy, detoxifying smoothies and cold-pressed juices. The idea is to create a space that makes for a mindful retreat amidst nature. It’s the perfect spot to come by, post your morning workout or yoga session, and sip on a veggie infusion with lemon, cucumber, celery and ginger, or, a freshly squeezed orange juice.

Address: Village - Siya, Kempty Fall Road, Mussoorie. Tel: 0135-2635700

Bengaluru

Dofu

Indiranagar has another new restaurant in its midst with the launch of Dofu—a Chinese cuisine restaurant with an innovative twist. Instead of traditional Chinese fare, you’ll find here Japanese-influenced Chinese cuisine, also known as ‘Chuka’, along with Korean-Chinese cuisine, with plates like the Korean Egg Pancakes, Chuka Sushi Rolls, Poke Bowls and Grills. They also have an extensive tea menu to choose from.

Address: 303, 100 Feet Rd, II Stage, Indira Nagar Stage 1, Bengaluru. Tel: 06364636222

Ministry of Barbeque

Offering a selection of barbecues and a global barbecue buffet is this restaurant in Koramangala, drawing influences from India, Turkey, Asia and other European countries. Its USP is the Turkish sand cooking concept, where meats are slow-cooked in brass pots, over hot sand.

Address: #131,1st Cross, Koramangla 5th Block, Jyoti Nivas College Road, Bengaluru. Tel: 08431514650

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