Amboli Bar and Kitchen has been around for about a year now and and I've been getting rave reviews from all and sundry. Though I wanted to visit and taste the fare myself, given my near jet-setting life style (oooh, I like the sound of "jet-setting") finally managed to go there today. The picture you see I pinched from here, as the one I captured has my friend and sister in it and I have a no-pictures-of-self-and-family policy on my blog.
You see we were returning after visiting the tailor, I'm getting my saree stitched, yes you heard my correctly, I'm getting myself a ready made saree, so that all I got to do is zip-up and I look all demure and coy at my baby sister's wedding. Usually I'm a nervous wreck after getting the saree to behave and this ready made saree invention is a god send. But I digress, I will save the monologue on ready made sarees for another day and will give you a full report of my fine-dining experience at Amboli.
We were feeling particularly ravenous and decided to opt for the Brunch that offers unlimited food for Rs.399 plus taxes. The Brunch consists of Choice of Mocktail/ Cocktail/ Beer, Soup, Starters (6-7 varieties of starters), Main Course and Desserts and is quite a steal at the price.
We skipped the soup and went straight for the starters which was served at our table. Today they had Paneer Chilly, Pepper Chicken, Bombil Bhaji (this was excellent the bombil was coated in a spicy batter and fried crip and it just melted in your mouth), another Chicken starter (It was divine, I must have gone into food lovers coma, for I just cannot remember the name of that dish), Tandoori Corn (excellent) and Aloo Tikkies.
The main course is kept at the buffet area and you go there to take your pick. I skipped the Veg. dishes and made a bee line for the Crab Masala, Tawa Prawns, Delhiwala Butter Chicken and another Chicken Dish. All are quite good, but I liked the Crab Masala best.
The breads are served at your table, you have a choice between Rotis/ Naan/ Amboli (this is a thick dosa like pancake). We asked for Amboli and Naan both of which were excellent.
The sweet course today was Kulfi/ Rasgulla/ Gulab Jamuns.
Amboli, is designed as a fine dining space and the decor matches. The staff is friendly and courteous. The food is excellent and the portions good. I really feel the food for the price is a real steal and I for one will be going back, again and again and again...
Address: Unit 2 & 3, Mayfair Meridien, Filmalaya Compound, Amboli, Andheri, (W), Mumbai.
Fun Facts:
1) The buzz is that John Abraham has bought a flat at the Mayfair Meridien, this is what I've heard, I do not vouch for the authenticity of this claim, nor have I ever seen him in the vicinity. So for fans of Johnny Baba, here is chance to be close to your heart throb, even if it is a restaurant in a building where he may/ may not be living :-p.
2) Filmalya Studio is just behind this restaurant so every time the kitchen door opens there is a chance that you will hear some junior artist hamming away for all he/she is worth, I'm kidding, of course, though Filmalaya Studio is situated behind this restaurant.