The best of both worlds

Turquoise, the two and a half month old restaurant that does Indian and European cuisine, has figured it all out; everything from the food to service is impeccable

The best of both worlds

Turquoise, the two and a half month old restaurant that does Indian and European cuisine, has figured it all out; everything from the food to service is impeccable

When you visit a rank new restaurant as opposed to a tried and tested one for a meal, it's apprehension that accompanies you with a burgeoning appetite. And it's no different even for a swish eatery in a grand locality. Are they careful with their ingredients? Is the service swift? These and many such queries were lurking in my mind when I decided to have a meal at Turquoise although turquoise, the hue, is a personal favourite.

Risotto with Sage & Parma Hamu00a0Pics/ Ramesh HS

Depending on what you're in the mood for, Turquoise has two floors dedicated to two diverse cuisineu00a0-- the top floor serves Indian and is certainly the more glamorous one with fibre glass chandeliers and a stage that's dedicated to weekend performances. The first floor is where they claim to do European -- Italian, French, American, German and Greek. But there are Mediterranean and Arabic dishes in the menu too.u00a0

Turquoise walls with minimalist wooden panels bearing intricate filigree work, the high comfortable seating, right lighting and the lavish sense of space, make it an inviting place.u00a0It's hard to miss the turquoise cocktail ring on owner Annie's finger when she greets you. Oh wait, even the waiters are clad in shirts in a shade of blue.

And now, the food. I had a cheese craving that evening. And, as in the case of typical telepathy, the cheese platter was the first thing on their turquoise tainted menu card. They do platters of three, five and seven kinds of cheeses.

I went with a platter (R 275) of Brie, Gruyere and the very lustful Camembert, which proved to be great company to the appetiser. The cheeses, we were told, are imported from Italy and France and came with thin slices of green apple and plums. The Calamari Frits (R 195) that followed it were equally good, although I must add that they don't match the brilliance of their Sunny's counterpart.

Calamari Frits

The mayo that accompanies it is a brilliant dip, but as I invented that evening, the Camembert also goes wonderfully well with it. They give you a small portion of vinegared salad on the side to balance things off. From the Indian menu, we tried the Tandoor Salad (R 155) which was an eclectic mix of paneer, pineapple, onion and capsicum, grilled to perfection and extremely flavoursome.

It was one of the more appetising vegetable starters I have had, impressing even the staunch carnivore in me. The Risotto with Sage and Parma Ham (R 375) was my choice from the Italian dishes. And it proved to be a good one. Drenched in parma and mozzarella cheese, the risotto was just as it should beu00a0-- malleable, with a robust after taste. And then came the Desi Dum ka Murg (R 295).

Now, the food geek in me has always had a certain image of this dish. A north Indian delicacy, it's characterised by unabashed use of spices peppered with bits of cashew. But what I had on my plate was strikingly different from that. It reeked of coconut, although the cashew bit was there. The coconut flavour was disturbing, and that really has everything to do with a personal aversion to it. But, with the soft Tandoori rotis (R 40), it didn't seem that bad.

The restaurant, we were told, is in the able hands of chef Vijender Rawat(ex--The Park, Bangalore and The Imperial, Delhi) and that explains why everything is in order in their early days. The owners are the ones who used to own the South Indian Parsi, a restaurant in Indiranagar.

Turquoise scores on various grounds. The service is faultless and the food certainly will make me go back there. The only thing you need to watch out for is the latch in their rest rooms. You might just get locked in.

Turquoise
Food: great
Service: prompt
Ambience: soothing
Where Turquoise, No 9, 17th A Main,
5th Block, off 100 Feet Road, Koramangala Call 65776588u00a0
Meal for two R 1, 650
Turquoise didn't know we were there. The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals