Mumbai reviews - Kode, Cafe 145 and Bandra Project

Pied with meatballs

Grilled meat

Creme Brulee

With new places always opening in maximum city Mumbai every time we go out to eat there is a decision to be made – back to an old favourite or do we try out something new?

This is about our meals at Kode (4.5/5), Gustoso (4.5/5), Boston Butt (4/5), Bandra Project (4.5/5) and Café 145 (4/5)

Let me tell you why these places have ranked so high!!!

Kode, Lower Parel

We went once for drinks and dinner and once for the Sunday brunch. Both of them fabulous experiences. The cocktails are to die for and served with all the bells and whistles! Ensure you partake if you imbibe alcohol!

Our 1^st visit was for dinner, so we ordered a variety of small plates so we could sample a wide selection: from the beef to the pork, the calamari to shrimp, all were uniformly good. The staff were well trained and we exited feeling completely sated and cossetted.

So we decided to return for the Sunday brunch. There are many options at various price points. We were a big group and decided to go for the basic one (no alcohol) and those who wanted to, ordered their drinks a la carte. The top of the line one is with unlimited champagne!

Laid out on the bar counter and elsewhere were:

Cold meats, smoked salmon and a variety of salads

Sushi

Cheese selection

The hot dishes you order from the brunch menu selection and its served on the table

We had Pied – a Turkish dish – with meatballs served on a flatbread – akin to pizza; and a variety of dishes from chicken, buffalo to pork.

Some yummy dessert – chocolate and crème brulee with a transparent honeycomb like sugar decoration

Our friends loved the place.

Children allowed for Sunday brunch.

Wheelchair accessible

Baked chicken wings

Frozen margarita

Bunny Chow

Cookie dough pizza

Café 145

Very buzzy place – young vibe though it’s a favourite of kitty party groups! Children under 21 years not allowed after 7:30 pm.

Good music played loud!

Pool table which the husband loved!

Seating on high bar stools, regular tables and chairs and at comfy couches.

A huge bar!

Here’s what we had:

Frozen margaritas – great

Baked chicken wings – yes, reduce the guilt with good taste  

Loaded nachos – yum

Mushrooms in a bread bowl (bunny chow)

Chicken tikka cigars  - good

Tandoori prawns with upma polenta – very very spicy so we had to abandon

BBQ pork bao – good but Fatty Bao’s are superior

For dessert get the cookie dough pizza

Stay away from (DO NOT ORDER)  the salted caramel eatshake! Served in a not so tasty chocolate bottle the shake is not well seasoned and very watery!

We saw lots of people eating the pao bhaji cones!

We saw lots of people eating the pao bhaji cones!

Wheelchair access and fast friendly service.

Combo platter non veg

The ribs

Prawns in bottle masala

The Pistachio grilled salmon

The rear view

Joggers Park & Bandra Fest

Bandra Project

Located just below the happening Café 145, this is equally buzzy and is run by Pizza Express.

A very lovely space but hasn’t gotten its service right – the main courses coming together or more or less together! On 2 out of my 3 visits there at least one mains arrives when everyone else at the table of 3-4 people have finished eating!!!.

The staff are friendly and courteous but if they (kitchen management) can’t fix this issue then I don’t think they can service the demanding market for long!

Drinks are good! We had Bandra Fest  - citrusy and spicy made with vodka and Joggers Park -  lavender scented with pineapple and gin.

Eat:

Prawn in bottle masala – it’s a small portion with no sides, suggest you order a salad or have it as a starter.

The grilled pistachio encrusted salmon is my fave! It is served with yummy sides of wild rice and cucumber tzatziki.

Order the non veg combo platter – with ribs, wings, bruschetta and sliders is a great start to a meal.

DO NOT ORDER – pizza – its not good (despite being Pizza Express) or the Drunken creamy prawns with spaghetti (you’ll be fishing for the spaghetti in a thin liquid which has no taste) even the penne pasta was cooked less than  al dente

So why did I go three times? To eat the ribs, the prawn bottle masala and the pista fish!