Mumbai Food: Top three restaurants picks of the week

POH, Lowerl Parel

1. POH: This is a new Pan-Asian fine dine comes to Lower Parel, serving food that is at once soulful and dramatic, and unlike anything you've tried before. Crispy Banana Blossom Salad, Lamb 'Foie Gras' Gyoza, Lamb Shank in Masamman Curry, and a vodka-based cocktail will elevate your mood at this Lower Parel eatery. The food is high on technique, and your expectations for the meal will reach sky high the moment you start tucking your tummy with cocktails and starters. From ‘tikha' to ‘meetha', POH (Progressive Oriental House) is worth a visit for every reason. It will open in the first week of July (Mondays closed).
Where: Gate No 4, Kamala Mills, Lower Parel, Mumbai

A dish at The Pantry

2. The Pantry: How about sampling Gujarati food that comes with a twist? A British-Indian chef of Gujarati origin teams up with The Pantry, a Kala Ghoda café to offer modern, healthier versions of vagharela bhaat and bhel. Except for a Tofu Scramble at The Pantry, where there's no paneer on the vegetarian menu, or in her book. The chef prepares Vagharela Cauliflower Rice with using leftover rice. Doesn't it sound amazing? The dish is part of Nourish, a six-week menu that the café will offer in collaboration with Manek. The bhel is part of the collaborative menu, as are Fennel And Chia Seed Smoothie, Carrot, Oat And Date Pancakes with Jamun Compote that offers a malpua-like texture and hint of cinnamon, and a sugar-free Saffron Lime And Coconut Cheesecake. If you think that vegetarian food is bland and boring, then you should check-in to this Mumbai restaurant for a change.
Where: Yashwanth Chambers, Military Square Lane, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai

I Think Fitness Cafe

3. I Think Fitness Cafe: Bandra's new health food cafe arrives for a tasting straight after a session at the gym. This is because the chef wants to promote clean eating, a mantra he lives by. Their breakfast contains Amaranth Porridge (Rs 225) and Coconut Chia Bowl (Rs 225). The Coconut Chia Bowl is a colourful mix of watermelon and muskmelon topped over coconut, jaggery and chia pudding with a sprinkle of seeds. Each bowl can serve two people. Those who enjoy greens in their salads should call for The Baby (Rs 275), a mix of microgreens with a dressing of lime and paprika, and baby beets, feta and orange. For a good portion of protein, try the Millet Steak Salad (Rs 300) - tenderloin served on a bed of pearl and foxtail millet, chickpeas and gojiberry in a coriander honey dressing. Another favourite is the Eggplant and Noodle (Rs 450), where silken miso eggplant complements sesame soba noodles in a light teriyaki sauce. For a lighter soirée, try their rice paper wraps. Giving us company through our meal is the Green Smoothie (Rs 200), a delicious blend of matcha, moringa and banana.
Where: Carlton Court, next to Tiffin Chinese, Manuel Gonsalves Road, Bandra (W)