An Italian Feast

If it's home style Italian food you are looking for, head for Casalinga Restaurant and Lounge Bar, situated on New Link Road, in Andheri (W), Mumbai. A Mediterranean and Italian cuisine restaurant, Casalinga, we found, attracted quite a medley crowd. Quite new in the area, it has an advantageous setting what with the gigantic multiplexes that have mushroomed in the area.

I did not expect such contemporary but pristine interiors: dark wood furniture with glass table tops, candle lit centerpieces adding more glamour to the shining cutlery, the colourfully uniformed staff with ready smiles, all enhanced by the simple white washed walls and unfinished marble flooring. It does give a feel of the Mediterranean.

We - Alyona, our friend Brij Sehgal and I - are shown to a table and without much ado menus are offered to us. The menu is a mix of Italian, Indian and world cuisine, but we focus on items typically made in Italy or the Mediterranean. So much so that the food is picture perfect matched - as if you are not ensconced in a restaurant in the hustle bustle of Mumbai but actually at the shore of a quiet seaside Italian village restaurant where the owner offers you a house wine and recommends you a dish, which would go along perfectly.

We take our time to browse and to start with Brij calls for a Cream of Tomato Soup (Rs 125). We decide to skip the appetisers and salads because the main course has more than we reckoned. But on recommendation and much cajoling we try the Tomato, Bocconcini and Basil with Balsamic Reduction (Rs 150) drizzled with extra virgin oil and balsamic vinegar. Bocconcini might sound like a mouthful but it is 100 per cent pure and fresh cow's milk mozzarella. And then as it is so good we also order a Salad of Sautéed Chicken with Thyme and Honey (Rs 220). It is just as crisp and perfect as it is visually appealing. Risottos and Pizzas are definitely left to try out some other day but Alyona enjoys the Salmon Steak (Rs 390), which is perfectly grilled with creamed spinach and baked tomato. I order a Lobster Thermidor (Rs 580) and am fully prepared for the magnanimity of it: lobster dices glazed with white wine and brandy served with creamy mushroom sauce all set up beautifully on a bed of lemon pilaf. However it was a bit of disappointment since the lobster was a little overdone. The Baked Mixed Vegetables has a lot of so called exotic vegetables like baby squash, snow peas, broccoli, zucchini and it is served piping hot with Garlic Bread (Rs 90) as is the Chicken and Ricotta Tortellini (Rs 270) with stuffed pasta and superb bell pepper coulis. Brij also orders a vegetable stew, which he eats with rotis - a bizarre combination but nevertheless he enjoys it immensely!

Like the pizzas and risottos will be done some other day so will the mousses, cheesecakes and brownies! I admit it: inspite of our best intentions to have a quick bite, which can be translated into a light meal, we overate a bit! The portions are large but later the chef reveals that it is especially for us. I only hope the quality of the food served to us also goes to all the regular patrons. All said and done, the flavours at Casalinga, I found, are pure and true and - evident by the fact that it deserves a review. Now you decide whether you want to eat or 'overeat' simple home-style food in a classy ambience!