Something new. Review on Souk, Nariman Point, Mumbai

For as many years that a Taj regular can remember, the rooftop at the Taj shared its spectacular location with The Rendezvous & the Ménage a trios (Apollo Bar). The food was reasonably good at one time, but later became quite disappointing. The service used to be very good & the ambience not bad either. At last, after a long wait, the Apollo Bar has metamorphosised into Souk, the stylish new bar & restaurant. Souk officially opened on Thursday 5th December 2002, after a short spell of catering to special invitees & garnering opinions & suggestions on the various aspects of the new restaurant. If I did not start with the décor, I would be doing no justice to this review. As one gets out of the elevators, the first thing one notices is the absence of the trio of giant gold leafed mirrors, with the beveled Belgium glass which have graced that small lobby for decades. They are if at all, conspicuous by their absence. The grand old eye catchers have given way to a pair of plush dark maroon contemporary sofas which are somewhat disappointing. The entry to the restaurant is through a pair of translucent glass doors. The first thing you will notice as you enter Souk is the absolutely spectacular & breathtaking view of Gateway Of India & the sea beyond, peppered with boats of all sizes, their lights glimmering in the night like sparkling diamonds. The décor is modern, swank & very rich even in its minimalism. It reeks sophistication & style. Severe tables & chairs are placed on one side of the room, with a live kitchen on one side & a bar on another. Tucked in to a discreet corner of the restaurant, almost invisible at first sight is a private dining room which can seat up to 12 people. The menu has a reasonably large selection of food.

From appetizers to main courses, grills to stuffed breads, there is something for everyone. Some of the dishes I highly recommend are: 1. Thinly sliced aubergine & zucchini cooked to a crisp arranged on a bed of a tasty creamy thick sauce or dip. 2. Haloumi cheese stuffed fried mini rolls(not for those who don’t like haloumi cheese). 3. Mixed Grill, especially the lamb chops. 4. Ravioli stuffed with minced lamb served with a topping of herbed minced lamb in brown gravy topped with fresh cream. 5. Freshly baked very thin flaky bread stuffed with minced lamb – absolutely delicious – as thin as a paratha One thing I was very disappointed with was the prawns that we had ordered. Although they were quite tasty, there was a smell to them that absolutely should not be there on any fresh fish dish, especially not at the Taj.

The service was absolutely impeccable. Some of the best staff from their various restaurants had been hand picked to serve at Souk. Apart from the Ala carte that is available for dinner, there is also going to be a hot & cold mezzo buffet for lunch every day. I think this is one restaurant that, with just a little more effort can be a world class restaurant. If you fel like lightening the wallet this is the place to go to.