1522 Bar And Kitchen, A Chilled Out Oasis In The Bustling Chaos Of Andheri East
What does Andheri East and Bengaluru have in common? Well, apart from the traffic, it is this newly opened restaurant called 1522 Bar and Kitchen.
As someone who lives on the Southside of Bombay, I’m not a fan of Andheri East. Heck, even people living in Andheri are not a fan of Andheri East. But the corporate parks in the area have managed to bring in people from all parts of Mumbai. Heavy traffic and road work continues to slow down life here. Trying to find your way to a nice bar in Bandra or Powai on a Friday seems nothing short of an hour-long drive.
In desperate times like this, 1522 Bar and Kitchen arrives as a knight in shining armour (and decor) to make sure you have a great night.
Now 1522 is no new name among Bangaloreans. Over the years, it has earned quite a reputation for it’s retro theme and spicy food. The Mumbai outlet tries to recreate the same vibe and let’s just say it looks promising.
When you step inside, you’ll already be wowed by the decor. It is an eclectic mix of hipster meets retro and yet somehow works fine. The restaurant is divided in three parts, two open air terrace sections and one indoor section. While the terrace area is reminiscent of a posh garden with plants and chandeliers, the indoor one has a warm, cosy feel to it. We tried to make the most of the cool February Mumbai weather and picked the outdoor seating.
The rest of the evening was lined up with some great rock music from Radiohead to Nirvana, which went along just well with our food and cocktails.
For Starters…
The food menu is a fusion of Indian, Continental and Oriental delicacies. Since, 1522 happens to have originated in the South, we decided to start with some of their South Indian dishes.
Aam Papad Paneer
Way before the dish tickled our taste buds, it managed to tickle our curiosity. The dish is exactly what you think it is, you get that khatta meetha flavour of mango marinated in spices. Paneer and lotus stems are tossed in to give you a mouth-watering chakna to go with your cocktail.
Hakuna Matata - You Like To Move It, Move It?
Ironically, I was stuck in Andheri East and couldn’t move anywhere but this cocktail made it worth my while. This is a concentrated orange flavoured cocktail made with orange liqueur, maracuja (a close cousin of the passion fruit), and a spice infused vodka. It was sweet and tangy and definitely felt like the kind of drink that makes you say, “one more please!”. This fruity drink is served in a short ceramic glass that managed to impress not just me but also my Instagram followers.
Soola Kebab (On Sizzler)
We took our server’s recommendation and picked the house favourite Soola Kebab, which is a Rajasthani speciality. Red and spicy tandoori chicken was served on a steaming sizzler right to our table. Tender and juicy, this is what you call a melt-in-the-mouth kind of starter.
Bourne Identity
Mumbai weather and a cooling watermelon drink go hand in hand. So, I picked this cocktail from the menu. It’s mixed with whisky, watermelon juice and vanilla. You can’t go wrong with such ingredients, it’s an easy sipper.
Mango Prawns and Coconut Rice
I have never sampled the joys of some simple and traditional South Indian coconut rice. And how joyful I was when I took my first bite. Moist, soft and coconut-y, the rice itself made my day. This was served with a mango flavoured prawn curry and papadum. The whole meal was delicious and soul-satisfying.
Gin With Betel Leaves and Tonic Water
While I was excited to taste a betel flavoured cocktail, I was a tad disappointed to simply see the leaf float in what I'd say was a normal G&T. It was a good plain ol’ Gin and Tonic cocktail but I wish there was more to it.
Crusted Rawas
After tasting a whole bunch of Indian dishes, I decided to try something from their European section. The crusted rawas (which, by the way, is misspelled as custard and can be quite off-putting) looked different from the usuals. It was served on a bed of couscous and came along with some lemon butter. If you like European flavours, then you might like this. Not recommended if you have a heavy Indian palate and love spices.
And for dessert....
Keto Choco Fudge
It was too late to think about being healthy after such a lavish meal but the low sugar keto choco fudge was a small respite. I didn’t have much expectations from a low sugar dessert but this one proved me wrong. With just the right amount of chocolate-y goodness topped on a bed of cake and sprinkled with nuts, I was pleasantly surprised how delicious a healthy dessert can taste.
tl;dr? I GOAT You!
Go here for the chill vibe and terrace setting and stay back for their fusion menu. Andheri East might not have a lot of interesting places to spend the evening but this one is already way beyond its league.
Rate Card
Food: 4 out of 5
Drinks: 3.5 out of 5
Ambience: 5 out of 5
Staff: 5 out of 5
Value for money: 4 out of 5
*Drink Responsibly!
