The invite to the pre-launch preview of The Captain’s Table came with no hint of the concept and I did wonder what I’d find there. All I knew was that it was to be a sit-down dinner. The directions to reach the place were crystal clear – next to the Trade Centre at Bandra Kurla Complex.
The first impression was that of grandeur…the hint of gild, the impeccably laid out tables, the attire of the service staff..all very classy! My friend and I were received graciously and seated with warm smiles. The room was packed with diners, and as I looked around, my eyes kept moving to the ropes and pulleys on the ceiling. Something familiar about it all and yet I couldn’t put my finger on it. Curiosity got the better of me, and even before the wine I asked for was served, I asked our host what The Captain’s Table was all about.
Here goes – it is an honour to be invited to dine at the Captain’s table on a luxury cruise liner and in this restaurant, the ambiance recreates a ship’s dining room – thus the ropes, the pulleys, the gild, the plush chairs, and the hint of familiarity. The guests are all extended the courtesy and honour of dining at the much fabled table of the Captain of the ship! The responsibility of extending the expected hospitality fell on the Captain Joe, the manager. I enjoyed the story, and while the place isn’t large enough to pass off as the grand dining room of a mega sized liner, it had a certain appeal in the way the concept had been put across. Aarathi Arambhan of the Arambhan Group is the innovator behind this gastronomic voyage.
A glass wall separates this fine dining room from its sister concern Me So Happy, a casual dining experience.
The dining experience promises to be a rather special one – the emphasis is on seafood. The idea is to serve the an extensive range of delicious seafood from all over the world – Spanish, Mediterranean, Asian and of course Indian, all with the finest, freshest catch of the day. One finds a diverse range of seafood dishes on the menu with familiar names like Goan Prawn Curry, Lobster Tandoori & Malvani Fish Fry sharing the spotlight with Spanish Catalan Sea Food Stew, Mediterranean Grilled Snapper wit Warm Beetroot & Curry Leaf Salad, and Fennel & Crab Ravioli. Vegetarians have not been forgotten in this entire seafood voyage and one finds dishes like Phyllo Rolls, Aachari Artichokes & Pickled Cucumber & Smoked Tomato Rissotto on the menu.
We were served a range of Vegetarian and Seafood Appetizers, with the seafood ones winning hands down. My order of a Paoached Salmon for mains turned out to be the Crusted Crab Cakes. Maybe it sounded all the same to the young serving staff or maybe they got carried away in all the excitement. No regrets though as the dish was presented beautifully, the crab cakes having a topping of ham, poached egg and nicely coated with hollandaise. The selection of desserts for the evening consisted of Paan Rasmalai (innovative but I am not too excited about my rasmalai tasting of paan – a personal preferance), Caramelized Popcorn with Mango Mousse (not bad at all) and Elaneer Payasam (tasted pretty good to me).
The brightly lit 80-seater restaurant is luxurious from the word go with its decor and quality tableware to the aesthetic uniform of the staff. Familiarizing the serving staff with the menu would add to this grand voyage. On the way out, I noticed the anchored reception desk and the wooden replica of a steering wheel of a ship. It all looked very cheerful and upbeat and quite eye catching in terms of ambiance.
which opened its doors to the public on January 9, 2016, promises to be a dining experience with a difference in the crowded restaurant scene of Mumbai. While it is sure to a seafood lover’s haven, the vegetarians will not be disappointed either.
Ratings out of 5
Food: 3 | Ambiance: 4 | Service: 3 | Overall: 3
Meal for Two without Alcohol: Rs. 3000 Approximately plus taxes | Alcohol: Yes | Credit Card: Yes|
Timing: 12 00 noon – 1 30 am | Wheelchair access : Yes
Address: The Captain’s Table, Ground Floor, B-Wing, Pinnacle Corporate Park, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400098
Telephone : 022 65691010; 022 30151224
Disclaimer : This review was done on an invitation from the restaurant. Due judgment and care has been applied by the author to remain objective and unbiased in the review; however readers may exercise their own discretion.
