Bistro Grill, Powai’s authentic Arabian cuisine restaurant, is so much more than what its name alludes to. The appeal of Bistro Grill lies in its versatility, not just in regards to the food offered but the entertainment as well. The other pleasantly surprising thing about Bistro Grill is how reasonably priced it is for a quality establishment with an ambient interior. But firstly, the food.
Restaurant
Chef Sadananad Kotian is a Mangalorian who’s spent 23 years working abroad in the restaurants of luxury hotels in the Middle East. He’s created an extensive and original menu at Bistro Grill, which beckons customers to return again and again to try all that’s available. The menu is divided into eight sections, encompassing everything from appetizers to sizzlers. Most sections have at least 10 items, including vegetarian dishes.
The food is attractive to the Indian palate because, according to the chef, it has many spices in common with Indian cuisine. Some spices are however specifically Arabic, and it’s these spices that the chef personally imports. This ensures that what’s cooked has an authentic Arabic flavour — one that can’t be found anywhere else in Mumbai.
For our meal, my companions and I dined on the non-veg Mezza Platter (a combination of appetizers and salads served with two hot appetizers of the day) for 349 rupees, the Shish Tawook (chicken cube skewers marinated in Arabic spices and grilled) for 249 rupees, and the Riyash Mashwi (lamb chops marinated in Arabic spices and grilled) for 299 rupees. The salads were fresh and tasty, and the kebabs cooked to perfection. The Riyash Mashwi was the standout dish though. Much to my delight, the chops were the most succulent that I’d ever eaten. The meat was so tender, it fell off the bone. I didn’t even need a knife to cut it.
Hummus, salad, and appetizers
Riyash Mashwi (chops)
Chicken Tawook and Shish Tawook
Other popular dishes are the Hummus (119 rupees), Greek Salad (129 rupees), Oriental Chicken Salad (149 rupees), Vegetable Falafel Dumplings (99 rupees), Cheese Kibbeth vegetable balls (119 rupees), Chicken Fathayer season minced chicken baked in dough (129 rupees), Dijaj Ajeen minced chicken patty (149 rupees), Chicken Shawarma (129 rupees), Lebanese Chicken Pizza (249 rupees), Shish Paneer grill (249 rupees), and Chicken Kapsa/Biryani Dijaj (299 rupees). Indeed, it’s the Chicken Shawarma (thinly sliced chicken with vegetables and pickle in a roll of Arabic bread), and hummus (ground cooked chickpeas mixed with sesame dip served with Arabic bread), that are firm favorites of a friend of mine who’s a regular at Bistro Grill. In fact, the hummus gets her vote as the best in Mumbai.
Chicken Shawarma
Pizza
Chicken Kapsa Dijaj
Bistro Grill also serves an enticing range of fresh juices, milkshakes, and specialty shakes with rather interesting names. Don’t miss sampling the sought after Bruce (a blend of mango pulp with slices of pineapple and banana) and Super Star (slices of exotic fruits with banana, mango, and strawberry pulp blended with fresh cream smother with fruits and honey). Mouthwatering and healthy!
The enjoyment doesn’t stop there though. From 7 p.m. Wednesdays to Fridays, diners are serenaded by live percussion and acoustic music.
Lounge Bar & Private Dining Room
Now, here’s where Bistro Grill goes one step further in distinguishing itself from most restaurants. It has a separate private dining room for up to 25 people (which comfortably hosts corporate parties, kitty parties, and children’s parties), and a separate lounge bar. Even if you’re not hungry, the stylish lounge bar at Bistro Grill is worth visiting by itself.
Bistro Grill Lounge Bar
Some bars have DJs, some bars have cheap beer, some bars have fine liquor, some have food, and some have flavoured hookahs. However, this lounge bar is one of the few places to have all of these things together in one elegant environment. Whether you’d prefer a 99 rupee mug of beer or a 599 rupee Glenfiddich single malt scotch whisky, you’ll find both on offer. Two renowned Belgian beers, Hoegaarden and Stella draught, are also served on tap alongside India’s perennially preferred Kingfisher beer. I was happy to see my usual Caprioska cocktail on the menu for 249 rupees. Other popular cocktails, which range in price from 299-399 rupees, include Mojito, Volga, and Brass Monkey. Plus, to add to the allure, there are different discount promotions every month.
However, what’s really impressive is that the importance of wine hasn’t been overlooked, and it’s not outrageously priced. Interest in wine is fast growing in India, which is good because it goes very well with Arabian food. Select from local wines, or imported wines from Australia, France, and Italy. And if it’s a special occasion, why not celebrate with a bottle of French Moet champagne!
No wonder the Bistro Grill lounge bar is as well-liked by expats as it is the after-work crowd.
I only planned on having dinner at the Bistro Grill, but ended up staying for the remainder of the night. With the DJ spinning until 1.30 a.m., there really wasn’t a need to go anywhere else. And the following night, I ordered some Chicken Shawarmas from the home delivery menu. It definitely won’t be the last time either!
Watch this space as some exciting themed events are set to take place soon in the Bistro Grill lounge bar.
Bistro Grill is located on High Street, Hiranandani Gardens (Landmark: D-Mart). It’s open daily for lunch and dinner, and the lounge bar is open until 1.30 a.m.
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