I’ve lived in Mumbai for 10 years and I can safely say that it’s a city crazy about brunches. Brunches have become popular world over as it’s the perfect meal to help cure a late night Saturday hangover; or for some an excuse to have a relaxing and heavy meal after a long week of work. To me, brunch is the best of both worlds and is perfect for those lazy weekend days. Where else will you find a meal with an assortment of eggs, breads, crepes, savory meats, seafood, BBQ, soups, salads, desserts… oh and not to mention the alcoholic beverages!
If there’s one thing that Indigo is known for it’s the food. Their menu offers exceptional and distinctive brunch dishes that are presented with significant detail and high quality, not to mention plating with a strong artistic flare. So when Indigo came out with their all new ‘New York style brunch’ menu to celebrate their 17th anniversary, my husband Elstan and I were pleased at the invitation they extended us.
Seventeen years and there’s still something special about the place since it first opened doors in 1999. Nestled in a by-lane in Colaba, this fine-dining restaurant serves an eclectic European Asian cuisine and has one of the finest wine lists in Mumbai. When I arrived for their Sunday brunch, I was pleased to notice they had a live band perform. I could straight away feel the energy and rhythm of the place. Live music, good food, and drinks galore… I sensed this was the start of all good things to follow.
Elstan and I were warmly ushered to our table by the bar area, which was a bit too crowded and loud for our preferences, but that didn’t stop us from having a great experience. The restaurant has an old bungalow feel to it and is the perfect combination of old world charm and chic interiors. A high wooden paneled ceiling, soft lighting, and polished wooden furniture laid pretty with white floral arrangements made up the ambience of the place. The place is much bigger than you may think at first; extending into a yellow room on the left that’s ideal for a more romantic dining experience. A wooden staircase against a blood-red wall leads you from the bar to an open-air terrace and into a cozy wooden-roofed lounge.
We were ready to start things off and I glanced at the drinks menu to order myself a mocktail but was surprised to find none listed. Since I was the designated driver for the day (which meant I had to stay sober while Elstan guzzled away), I requested the server to get me a non-alcoholic beverage to which he recommended the ‘Kokum Cooler.’ A refreshing and tangy drink made of kokum sherbet this was just what I needed to beat the summer heat. Elstan tried their cocktail anniversary special ‘Watermelon Basil Martini’ and he did not go wrong. By simple deduction, watermelon and basil served together with vodka in the middle of summer is nothing short of perfection.
…and now it was time to check if their ‘New York’ style brunch did indeed live up to its expectations. With an assortment of breads, grills, antipastis, salads lining the counter, we were ready to dig in and put this to the test.
I decided to start with the Oriental Rice Noodle Salad with Roasted Sesame & Seafood. Two of my favorite things – noodle and seafood; I could not go wrong. I loved the extremely appealing way it was presented in a tall glass. The greens and a generous sprinkling of roasted sesame seeds added a beautiful nuttiness and crunch to the dish. The Bruled Roman Artichoke with Coriander Pistou was another dish I immensely liked for its simple combination of ingredients and flavors. The artichokes were well prepared; each piece melted in my mouth and left a beautiful tangy taste of the coriander pistou.
The gorgeous Norwegian salmon passed my rigorous salmon tests and I loved the soft mousse texture infused with wasabi.
Other dishes worth a mention include Sushi bar favorite – Sashimi of Yellow Tuna Fin that was thinly sliced in typical sashimi style. The meat was colored deep red which indicated its richness and was very firm yet moist. The pickled ginger and soy worked well together with the tuna and brought out all the flavors.
The grilled peaches with cherry mozzarella and raspberry balsamic was a crowd favorite as this was the one dish that they kept refilling the most. The salad was summery and vibrant with multi-dimensional flavours – being the fruits, greens and cheese – and it made for a perfect summer dish when warm food just won’t do.
There was also a live barbeque counter outside that served an assortment of meats and seafood. I wanted to leave room for my main course so decided to try the grilled prawns that tasted oh so succulent and rich in flavor. Sometimes it’s the basic ingredients, in this case lemon and pepper infused King prawns char grilled to perfection, that makes you want to go for seconds.
For the main course, I decided to order the Butter Poached Lobster Risotto while Elstan went for the Korean Style Bulgogi Chicken. When our mains finally did come, I had total food envy when I saw his and was soon reaching out to try some. The chicken was juicy and tender with a piquant chili oil running through it. The combination of chicken, bbq sauce, hoisin sauce, chilly flakes, sambal paste, dark soya, ginger + orange zest gave the dish a light and perfectly balanced flavor. The scallion mash was incredibly smooth and a bit more yellow in colour than I anticipated, making me suspect that there was a load of butter in it. It was, however; creamy and rich – the perfect pairing to the chicken.
My Butter Poached Lobster Risotto on the other hand did not quite meet up to my expectation. While the lobster sauce was full of flavor; the arborio rice on the other hand was a tad undercooked and lacked consistency and texture. The sauce was a mix of lobster bisque which contained lobster tails, large shallots, celery stalks, garlic cloves, tomato paste, salt and pepper. The sauce tied the dish together and had it not been for the rice, I guess this dish would have been a winner.
We rarely make it to the dessert stage after such a heavy brunch but decided to try the chef’s special upon recommendation. A white chocolate spongy treat that was delectably velvety and topped with strawberries. A glaze of strawberry sauce balanced well with the sweetness of the bakery-fresh pudding.
“Decor, ambiance and vibe” – these are the first elements that anyone observes when entering a restaurant. Indigo has all this working for them. The place was comfortable, the acoustics good and the atmosphere was just… relaxing. Needless to say, the food was great with a creative twist.
Indigo’s brunch timings are from 12 PM to 4 PM and costs INR 3200 PP all inclusive (premium menu + unlimited imported alcohol)
Where: Indigo
4, Mandlik Rd, Colaba, Behind Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai-400001
Phone: 022 6636 8999