Chez Moi is not a French restaurant. Rather, the French name, which translates to “my home,” is meant to convey a neighborhood eatery, one you might visit once or twice a week to kick back, relax, and eat a familiar meal. We’re glad restaurateur Amman Dua clarified this for us at the top of our evening, because although the décor exhibits clear French influences, the menu is more of a mix of continental cuisines (cleverly pasted into old French magazines). It’s a small, cozy place that doesn’t take much to explore, and we dove straight into the food.
Appetizers
We started with two salads – the Caesar and the Grilled Chicken Salad. The Caesar was delicious – simple, fresh, with just the right amount of creamy dressing. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we ordered a second – which unfortunately came drowned in the stuff (lesson: always get dressing on the side!). We found the grilled chicken in the second salad overwhelmed the rest of the dish, with the chicken tossed in a strong, almost curry-ish sweet sauce that didn’t pair well with leaves. Fortunately we had also ordered the Tapenade Platter, which offers a taste of three spreads on French bread – Bruschetta, Artichoke and Fig and Olive. Not only were they extremely flavorful, but the contrasting tastes (sweet, salty and tart) also made for a well-rounded dish. Also of note are the Cheese Core Meatballs, shallow fried and stuffed with gooey Parmesan cheese. Perfectly bite-sized, you’ll find yourself popping two or three of these without even realizing. You could probably give the Chef’s Special Stuffed Mushrooms and the BBQ Chicken Supreme a pass, as neither are particularly inspiring – the mushrooms were bland while the Chicken relied too heavily on burnt garlic and barbecue sauce (or so it tasted).
Mains
If there are any dishes on the menu that fit the restaurant’s “twice a week” ambitions, it would have to be the pastas. Chez Moi offers a modest selection to choose from and the ones we sampled were creamy and rich – exactly the type of comfort you may need after a long, tiring day when you don’t feel like stepping into the kitchen (and you don’t have a cook, of course). We tried the Pasta Creole – made as a classic “pink” sauce (by combining red and white) – and the Mushroom Risotto – thick and wholesome with a savory base of mushrooms and white whine. Less to our liking were Chicken Breast in Whole Grain Mustard Sauce and the Coriander Beurre Blanc with Fish. In both cases, the sauces overwhelmed the protein, which could have also used a little less time on the grill. However, we felt both dishes had potential and we hope the chef will continue perfecting his recipe. We had similar thoughts about the Pizza we tried. Ours was off-menu and featured chicken and arugula. While it was a decent pie, it felt a little incomplete – perhaps a slightly thinner crust and a moister layer beneath the toppings (Cheese? Sauce?) would have kicked it up a notch. This is something that can easily be fixed, however, and we hope it will.
Drinks
Much to our surprise, the true standouts from our meal were the mocktails (liquor is not served but wine is in the works). Chez Moi has managed to create some truly refreshing and easy to drink beverages, finding that perfect balance of flavors that eludes some of the food items. We would highly recommend the Afterglow, Ginger Honey Lemon Tea, and the Lemon-Grass Mojito, and suspect the other selections are worth a gulp or two as well.
The Verdict
Overall, Chez Moi felt to us like a work in progress – but one on the right track. While our dishes were hit or miss, the food showed potential and from the sounds of it, the owners still have many plans to implement before they are also fully satisfied. We like the warm, cozy feel of the place and are also fans of the very reasonable prices, particularly given the inventive menu. With a little work, we think this place might just one day pull off its dream of being an “everyday” kind of spot.
WTF is a Meal for Two?
Average Appetizers: Rs. 100-200
Average Mains: Rs. 200-300
Average Drink (non-alcoholic): Rs. 50-150
(all prices as of early 2011)
The Details
House No 13, ONGC Complex
Lane Opposite Lilavati Hospital, Next To Candies,
Bandra Reclamation, Bandra West
Mumbai – 400050
Tel: +(91)-7738382407