Nestled within the luxurious confines of Novotel Juhu, Sampan stands as a beacon of culinary excellence, offering a tantalizing array of Pan-Asian flavors. Recently revamped, the restaurant exudes an elegant ambiance, with warm lighting, plush seating, and subtle Asian accents that set the stage for a memorable dining experience.
My culinary adventure began with the Chicken Hot & Sour Soup, a classic that never fails to impress. The broth was perfectly balanced, striking a harmonious chord between the tangy heat of vinegar and the soothing warmth of chicken stock. Each spoonful was a burst of flavor, punctuated by tender pieces of chicken and crunchy vegetables.
For starters, I delved into the Shanghai Chicken, a dish that truly showcased the versatility of Chinese cuisine. The chicken was marinated to perfection, infused with a medley of aromatic spices that tantalized the taste buds. The outer coating was crispy and golden, giving way to succulent, juicy meat within.
Next came the Salt & Pepper Fish, a testament to Sampan's mastery of seafood. The fish was cooked to a delicate flakiness, retaining its natural flavors while absorbing the subtle nuances of salt and pepper. The dish was a delightful interplay of textures, with the soft flesh of the fish contrasting beautifully with the crunchy exterior.
As the main course, I opted for a quartet of culinary delights – Vegetable Pot Rice, Chilli Garlic Noodle, Mix Vegetable in Chilli Coriander Sauce, and Dry Red Chilli Chicken Schezwan Style. Each dish was a symphony of flavors, showcasing the restaurant's expertise in crafting authentic Pan-Asian cuisine.
The Vegetable Pot Rice was a harmonious blend of textures and flavors, with each bite offering a delightful surprise. The vegetables were cooked to perfection, retaining their crispness and vibrant colors. The rice was fluffy and flavorful, adding a comforting touch to the dish.
The Chilli Garlic Noodle was a fiery delight, infused with the tantalizing aroma of garlic and the subtle heat of chili. The noodles were cooked to al dente perfection, offering a satisfying bite. Each twirl was a burst of flavor, leaving a lingering tingle on the palate.
The Mix Vegetable in Chilli Coriander Sauce was a refreshing change of pace, offering a medley of colorful vegetables enveloped in a vibrant sauce. The vegetables retained their crunch and freshness, providing a delightful contrast to the tangy, coriander-infused sauce.
Finally, the Dry Red Chilli Chicken Schezwan Style took my taste buds on a journey to the heart of Sichuan cuisine. The chicken was marinated to perfection, infused with the fiery heat of red chilies and the aromatic depth of Sichuan peppercorns. Each bite was an explosion of flavors, leaving a lingering warmth and tingling sensation.
To conclude this culinary adventure, I indulged in the Honey Noodle with Ice-cream, a delightful dessert that perfectly balanced sweet and cold flavors. The noodles were soft and chewy, infused with a subtle honey sweetness. The ice-cream added a refreshing touch, providing a delightful contrast in textures and temperatures.
Sampan is not merely a restaurant; it is a culinary oasis where Pan-Asian flavors come alive. The impeccable service, the elegant ambiance, and the symphony of flavors make it a dining destination that is sure to captivate and delight. Whether you are a seasoned Pan-Asian aficionado or a curious newcomer, Sampan promises an unforgettable culinary experience.
If you're a fan of Chinese food or simply looking to indulge in a memorable dining experience, you must visit the iconic Sampan at Novotel Juhu Beach.
Our family’s go to Asian food spot, Sampan offers great quality food with impeccable taste, exemplary service and warm hospitality.
We started our meal with their Acha Chu Paneer and it instantly became our favorite. The crispy fried paneer, tossed with garlic and scallions, was a delightful combination of flavors and textures. Each bite was bursting with savory goodness, and the paneer had just the right amount of crispiness.
We paired this with some warm and flavourful veg wanton soup + manchow soup, perfect for this monsoon chill.
Their veg dimsums were a work of art. Steamed to perfection, the translucent wrappers revealed a vibrant medley of fresh vegetables like corn & spinach with a touch of cheese too.
For mains we tried their 3 mushroom pot rice which is a meal in itself. Served in a clay pot, the aromatic rice was cooked with a trio of mushrooms - shiitake, oyster, and button mushrooms along with some flavourful sauces. The earthy flavors of the mushrooms infused the rice, creating a delectable symphony of taste. The dish was soup satisfying.
The food was excellent and so was the ambience. Low lights, cozy seating and light music made for a beautiful evening.
We had an incredible experience here and I would highly recommend visiting Sampan soon.
We had a great experience
Service is a concern as it is slow but food is worth the wait
Did not find the sampan special rice as tasty as it used to be but the Hakka noodles and the Buddha vegetables were great
Recommend that you try their broccoli water chestnut vegetable and their pot rice
The burnt garlic veg rice had to be redone by the chef but once done ,,,, were amazing!
Nice ambience too
An old favourite from a decade or more. The entire family likes it and have different dishes as standard. The service and food has been consistent. I love the flavoured egg rice with any chicken. And of course the dumplings, wanting. Go try it out.
I had been to this restaurant with friends for lunch. It is located in Novotel hotel in Juhu. Had ordered out madrin chicken for appetizers and fusion fried rice and pot rice for main course. The quantity was good enough for all of us. the taste of madrin chicken was good.
Sampan is a fine dine restaurant located at Novotel Juhu. The location and ambience is beautiful. The service is good and quick staff is polite. This place serves some really delicious Authentic Chinese cuisine.
Now coming to the food this is what I tried:
1. Chicken dumplings 5*/5
Steamed dumplings delicious Minced chicken meat stuffed in Chinese pastry. This was served with a side sauce dip. Loved it.
2. Cha Chu Chicken - 5*/5
Perfectly marinated Crispy chicken fried shreds sautéed with fresh chillies and garlic had side salad. Very good starter.
3. Chicken Pepper Soup - 5*/5
Finely chopped chillies, medium spiced chicken pieces , spinach and egg drop. This was spicy but I really liked it.
4. Green Chilli Chicken - 4*/5
Diced chicken pieces stir fried with spring onions, light soya and green chilli. This was really good gravy.
5. Chicken Fried rice - 5*/5
Perfect in taste
6. Hakka Noodles - 5*/5
Perfect in taste.
My Experience
Food: Delicious
Quality: Excellent
Quantity: Excellent
Price: Expensive each dish starts at Rs 700 and above
Type: Fine Dine Restaurant
All facilities Available
Seating: Comfortable
Service: Table service was quick
Staff: Polite and well trained
Overall Value for money : 5*/5 for food 4*/5 for experience.
*Note:
Only drawback was that the management didn't allow pictures of the ambiance? I was allowed to take pictures of the food but not of the seating area? I would have understood the concern if the frame had people in it. But the restaurant was almost empty and there was no one next to our table. I have been to so many fine dine restaurants never encountered such an approach. No idea why i wasn't allowed to click empty table and chairs without any people in it ?it was funny. Now at a digital age when there is transperancy and guest are having a good time and paying a good amount of money for their meals, I wasn't sure why an inexpensive picture wasn't allowed. Apart from that experience was good.
Came to Sampan for Dinner.
Was a great experience.
Mr Gaurav was excellent.
Try their:Paneer Mushroom Corn Trio(appetizer). This dish was the highlight of our Dinner.
Thanks for reading.
Food taste is really good 👍hotel is clean and neat
Amazing Lotus stem - honey chilli,
Salt & pepper fish, Kung pao chicken.
I had been to Sampan at Novotel Hotel Juhu with my best friend and sisters to celebrate my friend's birthday. We had pot rice, fusion fried rice and madrin chicken. We only liked the madrin chicken but the pot rice & fusion rice we did not like as we said about the chicken item but these 2 items were full of veg and veg and rarely any piece of chicken.
The ambience was also ok. But thanks to the attendant as he gave us a complimentary cake for the celebration.
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