Can dining be cute?

Yes, if you're at Mamagoto, the new Asian diner that rides high on Novel menu and pop art adorned walls

Yes, if you're at Mamagoto, the new Asian diner that rides high on Novel menu and pop art adorned walls

Give the irritating noise of malls a miss for a cool, hip and exciting space -- Mamagoto. A meeting point of exciting art graphics, delicious food, fast service and comfy chairs, there's nothing that you would complain about while dining here. Our recent visit to the newest addition to Saket was not just memorable but also 'fundoo'.

INterestingly done
As we climbed up to the
second floor, the perky yellow door attracted us to peep in and find out what's in store. At the entrance, brightly coloured walls with Chinese graphics like pipe-smoking cartoon pandas and girls in Mao suits came as a surprise.

Mama's play
A brainchild of Rahul Khanna and Kabir Suri, Mamagoto means 'play with your food' and is inspired by the Japanese social experiment that involves infants to use their senses and understand the textures and shapes of food. The chairs, which lean slightly inwards, suggest that even the furniture is feeling convivial. The chopsticks come with instructions on how to use them. In a nutshell, the interior impresses.

The book of food
It took us some time before we got hold of the menu but once we flipped through its pages, the colourful
presentation amazed us and so did the creatively designed signs that indicated if theu00a0 dish is vegetarian, spicy or classic.

All for spice
The menu is dominated by pan-Asian flavours of China, Thailand and Japan. We liked the use of lemongrass, ginger, galangal, coconut and Thai basil. The menu card is divided into micro sections -- small bites, the wok and curries, a robata grill, soups and salads. We started with Water chestnut spring roll, which were stuffed with vegetables and the best part was the black bean jam, which accompanied it. I tasted it for the first time and it was 'yum'. The Mixed vegetable tempura had seasonal vegetables along with a Mamagoto dipping sauce. Ekdum makkhan! We also tried a non-alcoholic cleanser -- Kiwi and mint collins. The freshly muddled kiwi with mint and lime, topped with soda, was really refreshing. From the Coal-fried robata grill section, one can opt for Canadian pork spare ribs (Secret smokey glaze with Japanese flavours) or the New Zealand lamb chops. You can also team the soup of your choice with a salad, if you are one of the health- conscious ones.

Sign off sweetly
You can also choose from their pre-spring menu, which includes Phuket beach citrus salad with chicken/babycorn and broccoli, Prawns wrapped in bacon or classic Kai-lan (Chinese broccoli). We tried the Teriyaki meal in a bowl with tofu -- a great combination of fried sticky rice with vegetables along with wok tossed thinly cut tofu, winter ginger, spring onions, onion and garlic. Though we were quite full, we realised that we had too much of food and there was hardly any space left for the nice looking coconut ice cream. But unable to curb our sweet cravings, we tried the ice cream, which, though too sweet, left a coconut flavour on the palate. When we visited, the tables all around us were full, waiters scurried about and food whizzed out of the kitchen at top speed. If the restaurant can keep up with this flurry of energy, it will remain a deeply likeable, fun eatery.

At: S-09, Second Floor, Select Citywalk, Saket
Timings: Noon to 11 pm
Ring: 45166060
Meal for two: Rs 1,500 + taxes