Restaurants
Wine at your fingertips
Wine Villa offers a unique wine-vending machine and dishes put together by Masterchef Australia 2017 winner, Diana Chan, says Tanmaya Vyas
Beer taps are passé, the latest attraction in the city is wine on tap. Wine Villa, in the plush locale of Juhu, is a must visit if you are a wine aficionado. Touted as India’s first ever wine-on-tap restaurant, the place offers a unique wine-vending machine and a specially crafted menu by Masterchef Australia 2017 winner, Diana Chan.
Wine is considered to be the drink of the elite and thus wine taps are an unusual concept. Moreover, India is predominantly a whisky-drinking nation, so wine is often looked at as an option, rather than a priority. However, owners Roopanshi Bhatt and Micky Panjwani have brought a sort of wine revolution in the country; they have imported a special wine-dispensing machine, one that is designed to serve excellent wines on tap while maintaining high levels of quality.
The minute you settle in yourself in the restaurant, an attendant hands you a card, which is basically a ‘Wine ATM’ card. Apart from a regular bar counter, they have cubicles with an array of the finest wines available, set with a swipe slot; you have to swipe the card and your chosen variant of wine is poured into the glass. The good thing is that there are three pour levels: Tester, a swig or a full glass; and testers began at as low as Rs 40—fancy, yet practical. The varieties of wine range from white wines to the best of red, and are sourced from Italy, France and Australia among other regions. Indian brand Sula is present too and the brand’s exclusive variant called ‘Source’ is only available at Wine Villa. If wine is not your choice, the bar menu still has lots to offer in cocktails and mocktails and does not leave you disappointed.
Enough of alcohol and let’s focus on food. The food menu is curated by Masterchef Diana Chan and her thoughts and expertise reflect in the taste of the food offered. A simple preparation of their in-house breads will leave you asking for more. A balanced menu that caters to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians, the food has a unique European flavour. The Mains includes options like Pearl Barley Risotto with wild mushrooms, Snapper with spicy sambal, Mutton Rendang with sticky rice, Malaysian Otakotak – a traditional Malaysian grilled fishcake with Sago Puffs and her take on Tandoori Chicken served with pickled onions, radish and mint yogurt sauce. The in-house menu offers a wide variety of choices to go with your choice of wine.
A thoughtful gesture by their sommelier is labelling each wine dispenser with its origin, age, colour, and the best food options to go with it. The fitting Cheese Station offers up everything, from Baked Brie and Grilled Halloumi to Golden Fried Camembert and the Georgian Kachapuri. The Small Plates section has a flavourful medley of dishes that include Radish and Carrot Cakes, Deconstructed Chicken Wings, among many others. We had freshly steamed dim sums with mushroom stuffing and flatbreads like Trufalate made with mushroom pate and truffle oil. Desserts too have a signature Diana touch, with options like avocado ice cream and Phily Cheescake—a heavenly combination that melts in your mouth.
A perfect set-up and ambience for a date evening, a get-together with close friends, the space is vibrant and lively. Apart from the regular DJ Console for weekends, it also has an exclusive arena dedicated for private parties that can host up to 40-50 guests.
A must visit for the unique experience of drinking wine off the tap, Wine Villa is an addition to the many eateries in that area, although this one does stand apart.
Where Hotel Horizon, Near Prithvi Theatre, Juhu
Cost Approximately Rs 1500 for two
Plus Fancy ambience, amazing wine and food options
Minuses Nothing to mention
Short takes
Wine Villa’s unique vending machine lets you order wine on tap, with an ‘ATM’ card.
You can choose from three pour levels—tester, swig and full glass.
Delicious Bengali Food!
Celebrate Durga Puja with Esho Bosho Aahare, the Bengali food festival at Four Points By Sheraton. This gourmet extravaganza offers delightful dishes in fish and chicken, including a rich spread of desserts. This food festival will be held between October 12 and 26.
Asian Kitchen, the in-house restaurant at Four Points by Sheraton, is continuously reinventing itself, and is simply a food-lover’s paradise. Enjoy this Durga Puja with a meal fit for the gods.
Where Four Points By Sheraton, Sector 30A, Vashi, Navi Mumbai,
When October 12 – 26
Fabulous Fish!
Unlimited Fish Festival, by Surinder’s Caterers, is a delicious treat for all fans of seafood. You can expect to enjoy fish dishes from a variety of cultures across India, such as Malvani, South Indian, North Indian, Parsi, Konkani, and many more regional and Continental specialities. Entry is reserved for coupon holders only.
Where iLeaf Ritz Banquet, R Mall, Ghodbunder Road, Thane
When October 19 - to 21, 11.30 am to 11.30 pm.
Entry Fee Rs 999/- for Single and Rs 1699/- for two.
Contact 7045012301 / 7045012302 / 7045012303.
Web events.ileafritz.com
Unleash your inner thug
BKC Dive gears up to celebrate an exhilarating festival — The Dive Cartel. Inspired by 'bagmen' from across the world. This one takes cues from lives of kingpins who lived life on their own terms. The menu includes gigantic cocktails like Pablo Escobars Coconut Limonada, Heisenberg’s LIIT, Ganesh Gaithonde’s Manali Cream, El Chapo’s Michelada and Al Capone’s Scarface which will be served in huge skulls and a hint of molecular gastronomy, priced at Rs 499. Let the hidden gangsta' in you take over!
Where BKC Dive | B Wing Ground Floor, Pinnacle Corporate Park Next to Trade Center BKC
When Till October 31, all day till close
Price Rs 499
Totally Worth It
Cafe Coffee Day has introduced the new ‘Totally Worth It’ Menu, a budget-friendly option that you can order à la carte (starting at Rs 29) or avail a food and beverage combo for Rs 49. If you’re very hungry, get the three-course combo including dessert, starting at just Rs 88.
Mindful of the food tastes of college students and young adults, this menu offers vegetarian and non-vegetarian options such as Paneer Bunny Chow, Crispy Samosa Kulcha, Chicken Calzone, and Grilled Chicken Kulcha, to name just a few.
Beverages include Sweet & Salt Lemony Spritzer, Signature Iced Cocoa, Classic Cold Coffe, and, of course, Filter Kapi and Kadak Chai. Those with a sweet tooth can enjoy Strawberry Ice Cream Cup, and the Brownie Ice Cream Cup, from the delicious desserts menu!
What New ‘Totally Worth It’ menu at Café
Where All Café Coffee Day outlets across the city
Price Starting at Rs 29
All Pizza, No Guilt
The Pantry Café celebrates six years with an offering of new, ‘guilt-free’ pizzas. These pizzas are low on carbs with a cauliflower base, freshly-made spreads, locally sourced artisanal cheese and seasonal toppings. This is a keto-friendly menu with vegan options too, made with homemade cashew cheese, fresh avocado, and spotted beetroot purée topped with crunchy sesame. Also try the Arabian Rooster with La Ferme’s lofabu and homemade ricotta along with za’atar spiced and grilled chicken and pickled red cabbage. Other delicious items include the Miso Good with pulled stracciatella cheese from Eleftheria and local chickpea miso. The Flower Power Pizza by Masterchef India finalist Karishma Sakhrani uses tomato sauce, reduced fat cheese, mushroom, and roasted garlic.
Enjoy beverages such as Arka’s Kokum and Green Tea Kombucha!
What Celebrating six years with an all-new Guilt-Free Pizza Menu
Where The Pantry Café, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai
When October 16 onwards
Contact 022 2270 0082
Cafe Cravings
Café-hopping at Churchgate has become even cooler, now that CRAVE has opened a quaint new outlet there. The perfect place to enjoy an aromatic coffee and share a ‘never-deep-fried’ whole-wheat burger with good company.
Healthy food can also be delicious, and at CRAVE, you can feast on stone-baked, gluten-free, amaranth-rice flour pizza base, or a whole-wheat penne arrabiata. Wash it down with kale-spinach-apple cold pressed juice, freshly squeezed, or chow down on an earthy balsamic vinaigrette salad.
Dessert is on the house for the entire inaugural week at CRAVE, Churchgate.
Where Cambata (Eros) Building, Maharshi Karve Road,
When 11:00 - 23:00, seven days a week.
Contact 022 22886061 / 62, Jai Thakur – 098199 04545
Do as the Romans do
PizzaExpress introduces the Romana Pizza, a delicious thin-crust pizza, covered in a range of exotic toppings and made with simple, fresh ingredients, inspired by real pizzas made in Rome. The most exciting part of this pizza is the sheer variety of toppings. The Romana Pizza comes in 15 variants, such as the Pollo Forza, Cipolla Piccante, Fungi di Bosco, Etna, American Hottest, Il Padrino 65, Apollo, Padana, Pollo Ad Astra, Melanzane Piccante, Margherita Bufala, New - Verdure Bianca, Pomodoro Pesto, Polpette Bolognese and Pollo Coriander Pesto.
Where Available at all PizzaExpress outlets
When The range is available till October 31st 2018
Time 11:30AM to 11;30PM
Entry Open for all