Last year saw a spurt of fine dine restaurants in Mumbai. One of the latest to catch the fancy of the city's residents is the Two One Two Bar and Grill which primarily serves Italian cuisine. Named after the degree (in Fahrenheit) at which water turns to steam, this fine dine place seems all set to make its imprint on the restaurant scene in South Mumbai. Nestled in the bye lane just off the tall elegant tower of the Nehru Planetarium, also known as the Lotus area, the restaurant's façade is discreet. There is no loud display or sign, just a simple, sophisticated exterior. The fine wooden interiors, tables and lounges were designed by Obaid Hakim. As far as design goes, the fine lines of the restaurant are streamlined and clean. The al fresco dining area with wooden tables is a lovely place to sit during the evenings, from where one can look through glass into the show kitchen and watch all the hustle and bustle even as Chef Mikhail Sahani and his team turn out their magic. The 4,000 square feet restaurant has about 120 covers. The restaurant also boasts of a small section which is a private dining area.

Wine and dine

The wine display is quite noticeable at the restaurant. As one enters, the bar area has some high chairs and tables for guests to enjoy their drinks. The wine menu has a number of varietals which come at quite a steep price, some marked up to Rs 11,000. The best from their selection is the French beauty, Mas de Daumas Gassac. There are also several martinis to choose from and other creatively mixed drinks for guests who would like to try something different priced at about Rs 700. While the ambience is undoubtedly elegant, the focus here is on the food. The restaurant has been under the guidance of two chefs in the short span of its existence, the enigmatic Alex Bignotti and currently, Chef Mikhail Shahani, who has upped the ante by bringing great food to the table. Chef Mikhail also loves cooking his dishes sous vide (where food is cooked in sealed packs at very low temperatures) and grill cooking. As a starter to whet the appetite, the asparagus soup with bacon bits or the mushroom cappuccino is a great option. The tiny cups in which they are served make the experience all the more visually appealing. Smoked prosciutto ham placed on fine slices of beetroot with a side of coloured green parmesan slivers and balsamic reduction makes for a colourful and attractive presentation. This is one dish where the flavours all blend harmoniously while staying distinct at the same time. A good option for vegetarians is finely sliced rolls of brinjal that have been torched on the grill.

Main attraction

The food served at Two One Two displays attention to detail in the presentation. The wood fire-baked camembert reinforced this but while the flavour of the cheese was excellently brought out, I did find the accompanying bread a little heavy, something that was noticed with the other courses as well. The menu is extensive with a lot of imported products like Chilean sea bass, crabs, smoked salmon and a whole list of pastas. We sampled the vegetarian tagliatelle with a creamy sauce dotted with shavings of truffle. The sauce was delicious without being too heavy, so it did not drown out the flavour of the pasta. The Spanish spicy sausage topped with a dollop of mashed potatoes and a splash of red wine sauce was great in taste but a bit heavy. The use of several types of lettuces and cheeses like bocconcini, parmesan and camembert more than do justice to ones appetite. There are other risottos and pastas available on the menu, which is adventurous enough to excite the discerning diner. The chefs use the finest of local seafood to create a number of dishes as well.

For dessert, the trio of panna cotta with a hint of caramel sauce and the chocolate profiteroles with dark chocolate were not extraordinary. But the blueberry cheesecake was delightful and definitely something to go back for. The texture of the desserts we tasted was light and they were flavourful, meeting that mark of a high-end restaurant. While the restaurant is definitely upmarket, the staff is very friendly, knowledgeable and keen to assist you, thus adding a welcoming facet to the ambience. On the whole, this is a great new restaurant with excellent food.

What: Italian cuisine

Where: Two One Two Bar and Grill, Mumbai

How much: Rs 3,000 for a meal for two excluding alcohol

(The author is a Cordon Bleu chef and food stylist)

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