Yaay, Bandra is bopping again so we’ve been doing the rounds and one of our most fantastic discoveries was how good the food is at Escobar. Mumbai’s 77ft bar always did superbly well on the drink-pyramid and celebrity quotient but who knew the chef’s a whiz too? I’ll let our fabulous food reviewer Nowshad Rizwanullah take you through the finer points… but trust me when I tell ya, chalk it up as your next dinner date place (especially while the weather’s good!)

Escobar, Food Guide by Nowshad Rizwanullah

After a prolonged absence, Escobar reopened its doors to the public in November 2010, and we decided to give this previously hopping Bandra resto-bar a second look. To our surprise, the reborn Escobar has some serious talent in the kitchen. With four of us in the mix we were able to sample a wide range of foods from both the tapas and regular menu and we let loose on both.

Tapas/Appetizers

From the tapas, we were immediately impressed by the Chorizo, which was intensely flavorful and smartly served on sliced baguette to mop up the oozing juices. Equally well prepared were the Gambas al Ajillo (prawns), which were cooked all the way through but still tender to the bite. We wish we had given the Pinenut Stuffed Mushroom & Sour Cream a miss as the cream overwhelmed every bite, but were glad we ordered the Chimichangas, tightly wrapped  savory chicken and infused with a subtle hint of cinnamon (good nose Navraj!) The Braised Duck Cigar Rolls, as one of our friends appropriately described, had “too high an outside to inside ratio” (Thanks Sheetal!) i.e. too much cigar, not enough duck, but were served with a sweet kiwi marmalade we wished we could have taken home. From the salad menu, the Roast Duck Tomato & Chevre on Rucola Bed was a definite winner – Rosemary braised duck over fresh arugula married with sharp goat cheese, ripe tomatoes and, as a pleasant surprise, slices of sweet kiwi that perfectly complemented the tangy lemon vinaigrette. The Mushroom Caeser Salad with Garlic Crostini was oddly on the sweet side, but was fresh and appealed to the others in our group (no comment). We also took the chance to try the Slow Coocked Lamb and Lentil Broth; more lentil than lamb (in a good way) and with a touch of lemon, this makes for a very hearty and satisfying soup.  Given the fuss the menu makes about its pizzas, we had to try one, and the Quattro Stagioni arrived at the table as promised: a thin, crisp crust loaded with delicious toppings and covered with melted, stringy cheese.

Mains

For the mains, we were very impressed with the Fine Herb Spiked Mix Meat Lasagne, which not only had the customary layers of pasta, mince, and cheese, but also featured the often omitted but much needed béchamel sauce throughout. The Herb-crusted Australian Lamb Shank with Red Wine Jus was meaty and substantial, and came well done per our server’s recommendation. While this worked for the lamb, it unfortunately did not for our Char-grilled Salmon with Gremolata & Lemon Butter Sauce and Grilled Seabass with Tossed Veg and Tomato Risotto entrees, both of which could have used a few less minutes on the grill. The accompanying risotto was over spiced but quickly redeemed by the outstanding roast mixed veggies that were charred but still crisp and easily deserved their own plate on the menu.

Dessert

Despite bursting at the seams we did give the dessert a try, but sadly we can’t recommend either the Blueberry Cheesecake or Tiramisu as neither met our heightened expectations.

Extras

Whatever you order, beware that Escobar serves unusually large portions (yes, we doggy-bagged) and make sure you tap into your servers knowledge-bank on both the food and drink. Ours not only expertly guided us around the menu but also was quick to make sensible recommendations that mostly proved accurate. For the non-foodies, Escobar’s outdoor patio makes a lovely venue for a relaxed but classy cocktail – just try to avoid rush hours as the terrace is not immune to the teeming traffic below.

Lastly, yes, we know – Escobar?! We’re trying to ignore that too.

WTF is a meal for two

?
Average Appetizers: Rs. 250-400
Average Mains: Rs. 400-600
Average Drink: Rs. 350-600
Average Desert: Rs. 300
(all prices as of early 2011)

Escobar
4TH Floor, V N Sphere Mall, Junction Of Turner & Linking Road
Opposite Shoppers Stop
Bandra West, Mumbai – 400050
Tel: +(91)-(22)-42760000