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    • Food

    10 new restaurants that will have you coming back for more

    JUN 2, 2017 | By Ayman Contractor
    L-R:Mumbai based Studio Osmosis teams up with Cooking Culture and SRK Ventures for Classe;Originally from Delhi, Lord of the Drinks has become Andheri's newest watering hole;The newest joint in the city, Slink & Bardot guarantees authentic French fare ;Delhi's newest club for the haute monde, BED;AD Singh's new cafe, Hello Guppy takes inspiration from Japanese art and culture.
    L-R: Raya Shankhwalker Architects turned Goa's abandoned rice mill turned into an enchanting cafe; Arrshie Singh of Aesthos Interior designs Mumbai's newest rooftop bar, Swey;Newest addition to BKC, Toast & Tonic invokes an easy going bohemian spirit, just like the East Village in Manhattan; Raya Shankhwalker Architects turned Goa's abandoned rice mill turned into an enchanting cafe;The Classroom guarantees its patrons the ultimate throwback to their schooldays.
    A throng of new restaurants have launched in different cities around the country. Going out to eat is now a gastronomic journey, with experts being involved in not just food, but also cocktails and decor. Here are some new launches that have taken the gourmet game to the next level.
    MUMBAI
    1. Toast & Tonic
    Toast & Tonic is an expression of what the East Village is – an easy going bohemian neighbourhood. Debuting on the Mumbai menu is The Desi Cheese Sampler, Tuna Tataki and the Gin Marinated Duck Buns. Their cocktail menu also reflects the same creative vision, our favourites being Spiced Vanilla Tonic, British Raj and Monsoon Star. Apart from this, we also recommend their innovative dessert, Expressions of Jaggery and a post-dinner artisanal Coorg coffee, Sunkissed to complete this gastronomic experience. The elegance of the food is accentuated with the old country barn decor, imagined by Shruti Jaipuria of Bengaluru based Maia Design Studio.
    Where: Unit no 1, Ground Floor, Jet Airways – Godrej BKC Building, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (E), Mumbai 51.
    Website: www.toastandtonic.com
    2. Lord of the Drinks
    Located in Andheri, Lord of the Drinks is a must after a long day of work. With everyday happy hours and sorority nights every Wednesday, it’s very pocket friendly. Apart from an array of refreshing margaritas and frozen cocktails to select from, you can pick appetising food from their extensive offerings. We highly recommend the Crispy Chilli Lamb and Trio of Bruschetta platter.
    Where: Aver House, New Link Road, Veera Desai Area, Mumbai 53.
    Website: www.lordofthedrinks.in
    3. Shizusan
    Inspired by the 18th century shophouse boom, Romil Ratra conceptualised Shizusan. Chef Paul Kinny created a food and cocktail menu inspired by South East Asian street food and Patch Design Studios was brought on board to design the space. One floor houses the Sushi Bar, our recommendations being Singapore Chilli Crab and the Xiao Long Baos. An abacus-inspired staircase leads up to the second floor which houses the bar, boasting a collection of Sake, Japanese Whiskeys and Asian Cocktails. We recommend the Hattori Hanzo, Saigon Lemonade, or The Piss Alley Cat, getting its name from Tokyo’s drinking street made famous by Quentin Tarantino’s visits. To finish off, Shizusan offers authentic South Asian desserts, like the cream Egg Tart from Hong Kong, the Kaya Toast from Singapore or the amazing Filipino Halo Halo.
    Where: Skyzone, Highstreet Phoenix, 462, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai 13.
    Website: www.bellonahospitality.com/shizusan-mumbai
    4. Swey
    SoBo’s rooftop bar, Swey was Designed by Arrshie Singh of Aesthos Interior Design & Consultanc. Presented by Vivek & Kabir Luthria and Gaurav Dabrai with Chef Clyde Comello & Hansel D’souza at the helm of the kitchen, this rooftop bar provides a wide array of choices. Apart from their take on the traditional tandoori, they also have gob smacking pizzas and gluten free fare as well. The Bar menu has creative signature drinks such as An Apple a Day and Kale & Hearty. Swey also sources their brewed beer, called Swey With Me, courtesy of The White Owl Brewery.
    Where: 4th Floor, Atria Mall, Dr. Annie Besant Rd, Opp. Poonam Chambers, Worli, Mumbai 18.
    Website: www.swey.bar
    5. Hello Guppy
    AD Singh has launched a new Japanese cafe and bar, Hello Guppy. Strongly inspired by Japanese pop culture, with a curation of Manga toys, vintage robots, Japanese transistors, wall art and posters. There is juxtaposition of the crazy young Japan and the old art and literature of the land of the rising sun.
    Where: Unit 4, Ground Floor, Jet Airways, Godrej Building, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai 98.
    Website: www.facebook.com/Hello-Guppy-321270074957095/
    6. Slink & Bardot
    Canadian restaurateur Nick Harrison and Chef Alexis Gielbaum have opened a quaint French joint in Worli, Slink & Bardot. Nick welcomes you into a world of homemade bitters, ginger beers and tonic waters, some aged in barrels & others smoked to perfection. Chef Alexis serves up French small plates that are part classic and part contemporary.
    Where: 329/A, Thadani House, Opposite Indian Coast Guard, Worli Village, Mumbai 30.
    Website: www.facebook.com/slinkandbardot
    NEW DELHI
    7. B.E.D.
    As the song by Touch and Go went, “would you go to bed with me?” BED is Delhi’s new club for the haute monde. Founded by Prateek Nagpal and Shitij Malhotra, BED is an acronym for Beverage, Entertainment and Dining. Give the regular cocktails a rest; try the Pop Corn Sour and Jalapeno Margarita. Pair these with the Calamari, Phyllo Cup or our favourite, the Prawn Ceviche salad.
    Where: 2nd Floor, N17, Market Rd, N Block, Greater Kailash I, New Delhi 24.
    Website: www.facebook.com/beddelhi/
    8. The Classroom
    Delhi’s newest eatery, The Classroom makes you relive your schooldays with staff dressed in school uniforms and blackboards scattered with mentions of FLAMES. Chef Kulbeer Singh has created the multi-cuisine menu, covering Picnic Munchies, First Break, leading to the Lunch Break as well. The Goan Chorizo Pao and Secundrabadi Nalli Gosht are gastronomic explosions. Also, with drinks like Assembly, Year Repeat, Out of Syllabus and The Detention, this trip down memory lane becomes more age appropriate.
    Where: The Classroom, Main Market, Sector 29, Block 30, Gurgaon 02.
    Website: www.theclassroom.co.in
    GOA
    9. The Rice Mill Cafe
    Once an abandoned rice mill located at a busy Morjim junction, The Rice Mill Cafe is now a contemporary Goan eatery. This cafe-bar now accommodates a herb garden, verandah and indoor seating. Raya Shankhwalker Architects revived the old world charm of rice mills with exposed laterite walls and art deco grills.
    Where: H. No. 384, Near Bank of Baroda, Varchawada, Morjim, Goa 12.
    Website: www.facebook.com/TheRiceMill/
    PUNE
    10. Classe
    Pioneered by Studio Osmosis, Cooking Culture and SRK Ventures, Classe is a unique dining experience, with 21, 15 and 10 course set menus for guests to enjoy while spending hours together. If that isn’t for you, then opt for the a la carte menu, which has delicacies like Crepe Envelope, Lahori Kofta and Saffron Almond Soil.
    Where: Ground Floor, Mariplex Mall, Kalyani Nagar, Pune 14.
    Phone: 09145372975
    Also read: This new Mumbai restaurant will satiate your appetite for design.