Disclaimer: We were invited to review this 7 to 8 months old restaurant with the intention of sharing our opinion and suggestion, yet, our review here (and everywhere else..including the same was conveyed to Mr Ankur - Managing Head of this restaurant) is identical, honest, and devoid of any influence, obligations, prejudices & biases.
N.B. - Our personal rating based on our overall experience would be 3.5 on 5 (read further to know why) but good food and ambience deserved a 4 on 5.
It's been raining 'Mughlai' on our dine-outs for sometimes now, so when we got this invite from Kaizer Ethnique Cuisine we hoped it to offer us something that was as different as our other recent encounters. Kaizer Ethnique Cuisine has replaced the very dull and unambitious franchise of the very famous, otherwise energetic, Koyla Brand.
Lately, Mumbai seems to be booming with places that offer romantic outings but Kaizer takes 'romance' to a 'fairyland' extent. Beautiful open-air Shamianas draped in white for some privacy with some offering a low-seatings, some floor seatings and some with chairs, around a fountain surrounded by ample of greenery that would easily invoke the feeling of love. Thank God! someone chose to do some justice to the location and ambience.
As we were browsing through the menu we realised that the music they were playing was in total contrast to the theme....nevertheless nice. Another nice thing about this place is that they do not serve alcohol. Not keen to try Sheesha, we requested the attendant to suggest some of their best mocktails. He looked so confused and lost that finally we ordered a Mango Cooler and a Kiwi Cooler. For Starters, after our attendant failed to suggest us something nice from the very interesting (and long) list of Kathi Rolls, we ordered a Angeethi ki Boti Roll, Nawabi Chicken Kebab from their interesting Kebabs list. For Mains, Mr Ankur serves us small portions of (on our request) Murg Do Pyaaza, Mutton Nihari, Sabz Bahar and Chicken handi Biryani. For Desserts we were served Rabdi and Gulab Jamun.
Very Clearly, Angeethi Ki Boti Roll, Nawabi Chicken Kebabs, Murgh Do Pyaaza, Sabz Bahar, Lucknowi Tawa Paratha and Chicken handi Biryani were the Dishes of that Evening.
The Mutton in Angeethi ki Boti Roll, although marinated in simple spices only, was not only cooked to perfection but tasted divine with too little oil. The roomali roti, which was used as a roll to fill the mutton filling, was perfectly paper thin, crisp, soft and light at the same time. So far the best Kathi that was simple and full of flavor. Nawabi Chicken Kebabs were perfectly smoky, moist and tender, even after they became a bit cold (which is a proof of excellence in itself ). The stuffing seemed to have an overpowering taste of cheese instead of mushroom and the rest as mentioned in the menu but Boy oh Boy!! what Flavors.
Murgh Do Pyaaza, Chicken cooked in onion-rich and creamy gravy, had immersed the flavors of spices quite well, and tasted yum.
Receiving appreciation for a vegetarian dish from a Hardcore Non-Vegetarian like Ozzy is no less than winning an award :P, and that's exactly what Sabz (Vegetable) Bahar was worthy of. Exotic Vegetables cooked in creamy onion base gravy with spinach was no less than 'Delish'. Reason enough for vegetarians to try vegetarian fare at Kaizer.
The Lucknowi Tawa Parathas served with the Mains was paper thin, perfectly roasted (a type of ) Indian bread was quite light on the tummy and blended well with the Mains.
Dum Biryani is one of the most integral part of Mughlai Cuisine. The method of bringing simplicities such as meat, rice, yogurt and spices together to dish-out plate full of flavors is complex, and thus, can easily make or break the reputation of any Mughlai-serving restaurant, and it's justified to say that Murgh Dum Biryani served by Kaizer falls into the category of restaurants that serve the best Biryanis.
Coming to the decent fare, it was Rabdi that tasted good. The texture was a mix of creamy and crumbly and liquidy.
Now the Disappointments:The Mango Cooler was nothing more than a Mangola....at least it tasted like that. Mango is one of the most universal fruit that is easy to experiment with but this cooler was so dull.Kiwi Cooler was a plain Sweet Lime with Mint Cooler, and tasted nothing like Kiwi.
Mutton Nihari was too salty for our palate but that wasn't the only thing that turned us off. Having Eaten Niharis from Mohammed Ali Road to Jama Masjid, we felt everything wrong with this dish. Mutton was not at all tender. The gravy's consistency and texture was unappealing. Also had an overpowering taste of spices.
Soft Gulab Jamuns would have tasted much better had the syrup been little more thick than runny. Also, too much sugar was leaving a bad taste.
We do understand that it's not a fine-dining restaurant but the least Patrons expect is attentive, well-mannered (they chit-chatting, gossiping and laughing loud enough for guests to hear them) & well-trained staff (had no knowledge about the menu).
If it's not fine-dining then why fine dining prices? probably an integral characteristic of every establishment in the very happening and glamorous Andheri? Portions were terribly small for the prices one would pay (based on our experience of ordering starters only..that were of usual size).
Quite promising, Kaizer Ethnique has all the right ingredients to make it big but then it's not just food and ambience that sets a perfect mood for patrons to return.
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