Lima.
• Lima, a Latin American tapas lounge helmed by celebrity chef Atul Kochhar, opened in Bandra Kurla Complex on Monday, March 7. Located next to Kochhar’s restaurant NRI, Lima serves Pisco sours, caipirinhas and micheladas, which can be paired with ceviche, empanadas, tiradito (a Peruvian dish of raw fish presented as sashimi) and chimichangas. Open daily, from 6pm to midnight. Lima, North Avenue, Maker Maxity, next to NRI, in the same complex as Le Pain Quotidien and California Pizza Kitchen, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (East). Tel: 022 3000 5040.
• On Wednesday, March 16, Massive Restaurants, the company behind Lower Parel pan-Asian joint Pa Pa Ya and BKC ‘progressive Indian’ establishment Masala Library, will launch Masala Bar on Carter Road in Bandra, where it has replaced Costa Coffee. The 2,700 square feet sea-facing, laboratory-style lounge, which has been designed by The Busride studio, will have a cocktail-focused menu and serve modern Indian tapas. Open daily, from 5pm to 1.30am. Masala Bar, First Floor, Gagangiri Apartments, Carter Road, Bandra (West). Tel: 022 6770 1793.
• Kurla has got a new nightclub called Nook that opened two weeks ago at the Phoenix Marketcity mall. Nook has eight ‘nooks’ or private seating areas with their own bars and butler service. They’ve also installed an UberSafe Breathalyser booth, where patrons can measure the alcohol content in their blood before leaving. Guests whose reading is over the legal limit will receive a Rs150 discount on their first Uber ride. Menu highlights at Nook include cocktails such as watermelon and coriander rumtini; spiced Scotch; and picante (Tequila, Triple Sec and black olives). Chef Paul Kinny, who helms the kitchens across the restaurants at Phoenix Marketcity including Craft Deli Bistro and Bar, Sichuan House, 212 All Day and Amaya Indian Grill and Kitchen, has put together a selection of pizzas, kathi rolls, tapas and hot dogs for Nook. There is a formal dress code for men. Open Wednesday to Saturday, from 9pm to 1.30am; Sunday to Tuesday, closed. Nook, First Floor, Phoenix Marketcity, Kurla. Tel: 022 6180 0044.
• The American Joint, a vegetarian restaurant, is slated to open in BKC, in the same building as SodaBottleOpenerWala, by the end of the month. The all-day restaurant will serve organic Indo-Western nosh such as masala quinoa; mac and cheese tikka; falafel burger; Tex-Mex ‘taters; chilli cheese corn fritters; garlic paneer burger; sugar doughnuts with Nutella espresso sauce; chocolate pie; and Nutella pancakes. Open daily, from 8am to 11pm. The American Joint, First Floor, The Capital building, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (East). Tel: 022 4023 3345.
• Navi Mumbai will be home to a new South-East Asian restaurant called Mibonasa from Tuesday, March 15. The menu will list cabbage rolls; prawn and watermelon salad; burnt garlic noodles; salmon roll; grilled mushroom satay; chicken bao; bamboo shoot fried rice; laksa; khow suey; and Thai pineapple rice. Open daily, from noon to midnight. Mibonasa, Queen’s Necklace Shopping Paradise, near Palm Beach Road, Sector 18, Sanpada, Navi Mumbai. Tel: 022 2781 6573.
CLOSINGS
• Lemon Leaf, Bandra’s popular South-East Asian joint, has shuttered. They are, however, still operating as a home delivery kitchen. Open daily, from noon to midnight. To place an order, call 80808 09366.
• The Serpis’ Wild Side Cafe, a meat-focused restaurant in Bandra, has closed down.