There is something about a breathtaking view that quite transforms your dining experience. Your food becomes tastier, your drinks become more enjoyable and you don’t feel like you want to go home! This is what I experienced when I visited Nazaara in Navi Mumbai. This newly-opened space offers both indoor as well as alfresco dining. But no matter where you sit, you are guaranteed a stunning view, a romantic ambience, an ever-ready staff and a steady stream of delicious dishes.
Nazaara In Navi Mumbai Offers Delectable Fare With Dazzling Views
Located on the 15th floor of Navi Mumbai Marriott, the entrance of Nazaara opens to the bar area which leads to a sprawling opulent dining space. We were led to a table next to a large window overlooking the Thane-Belapur road and the view was breathtaking! The cloudy weather added to the moodiness of the view and as the evening progressed and the darkness settled, the lights of the city twinkled to life, like shiny white pearls on black satin.
They also have an alfresco area but owing to heavy rains, it was closed. However, we definitely recommend sitting there during non-monsoon seasons as it also has a pool and the vibes there are truly immaculate. We were busy admiring the view when Chef Rohit Mattumal came to greet us. He was to be our culinary guide for the evening and also the creator of the lovely dishes we were to have that evening.
Deciding what to get at restaurants for these reviews is a task in itself. Thankfully though, Chef Rohit had already taken this task off our hands. All we had to do was sit back and enjoy the roller coaster of flavours prepared by him. I wasn’t alone on this culinary ride and was accompanied by two of my colleagues, Deeplata Garde and Nikitha Sebastian.
Also Read: CT Review: I Visited Tropicool In Khar And Realised How Delicious Healthy Food Can Be
Innovative Bourbon-Based Drinks At Nazaara, Navi Mumbai
Shantanu, the demure mixologist at Nazaara, gave us an overview of the array of innovative bourbon-based cocktails they have. However, if you’re not particularly fond of bourbon, they also have a plethora of cocktails and mocktails to choose from. We went with the following: –
Pour Of Gold
Twilight Twist
Incredible Bourbon
The drinks were recommended by Shantanu himself and he did an excellent job in judging our tastes. If you’re ever stumped about what cocktail to get, you can speak to him and trust that his recommendations won’t fail you. Pour Of Gold was bourbon-based. It had a robust woodsy taste with strong notes of orange.
Twilight Twist is for people who aren’t huge fans of the taste of alcohol and like their cocktails to have flavours. It is a light, gin-based drink with tangy, fruity and citrusy notes – perfect for sipping while staring at the view.
The Incredible Bourbon came with a show. It was encased in a smoke-filled glass bell jar and watching your drink emerge from a cloud of smoke was quite invigorating. The smoke was from applewood which lent a pleasant smokey flavour to the drink. The hints of mint and orange paired well with the smokiness. The drink is quite strong so if you’re a huge bourbon drinker, this one’s for you.
A Feast For Your Eyes As Well As Your Palate
With our drinks on the side, our culinary ride began. Chef Rohit was very generous and the following is the long list of items he served us: –
Appetisers
Som Tam Salad
Truffle Edamame Dim Sum
Spicy Cream Cheese Dim Sum
Seafood Gyoza
Chicken Sriracha Dim Sum
Starters
Kurkuri Bombil
Veg Seekh Kebab
Paneer Ke Sholay
Murgh Chandni Boti
Jhinga Mehrunnisa
Mutton Galouti Kebab
Murgh Wajid Ali
Lobster Kaali Meeri
Main Course
Paneer Kurchan
Murgh Makhni
Nazaara Daal
Nalli Nihari
Kacche Murgh Ki Dum Biryani
Dessert
Ras Malai Tres Leches
Gulab Jamun Cheesecake
If the list gave you the impression that we managed to devour the entire menu of Nazaara, trust me, you’re not the only one. The journey was long, but was it worth it? Let’s find out!
Let’s Start With The Appetisers!
We first began with some pan-Asian delicacies. Chef Rohit brought us a delicious Som Tam Salad to get our appetites going. It was tangy and peanutty and served its purpose well. If you want to eat light, this salad is an excellent option.
Would I Order It Again? Yes
Next, we were served four types of dumplings. They were, Spicy Cream Cheese Broccoli, Truffle Edamame, Seafood Gyoza, and Chicken Sriracha. As a huge dim sum fan, I couldn’t wait to dive in.
I’m not a huge fan of Edamame in general so the Truffle Edamame was not my favourite. It was a quintessential edamame dim sum and if you generally like them, this one won’t disappoint you.
Would I Order It Again? No
Next, I tried the Seafood Gyoza which was phenomenal. It was served with gyoza sauce and paired well with it. The crispy skirt of the gyoza added a nice crunch to the soft dumpling making for a pleasant interplay of textures.
Would I Order It Again? Yes
I expected Chicken Sriracha Dim Sum to be my favourite. The dim sum was soft and well-seasoned with a rich umami flavour. I thoroughly enjoyed it. While it was delicious, it wasn’t my favourite. This is because the next one took me by surprise.
Would I Order It Again? Yes
I honestly did not expect to be this blown away by the Spicy Cream Cheese Broccoli Dim Sum but wow! The burst of cheese took me by surprise. Don’t be intimidated by the ‘spicy’ in the name as it wasn’t all that spicy. If you pair it with the gyoza sauce, it adds a dimension to the flavour that’s just *chef’s kiss*! This one was definitely my favourite of all.
Would I Order It Again? Yes Absolutely!
Now, On To The Starters!
We were first served the Kurkuri Bombil. If you’re a Maharashtrian, you must be all too familiar with this homely preparation. It is Bombay Duck with a crispy coating. However, what was special about this was that even the batter in which the fish had been coated was seasoned. This tiny attention to detail greatly elevated the dish.
Would I Order It Again? Yes
Next up, Veg Seekh Kebab. A great option for your vegetarian friends, it is essentially a bhajiya in kebab’s clothing. Mild in flavour with a crumbly texture, the kebab was quite decent.
Would I Order It Again? No
Next, we savoured the Paneer Ke Sholay. I quipped with Chef Rohit asking if the dish was named so because they were fans of Gabbar Singh. He didn’t deny it so who knows? The dish itself was soft, quite the opposite of the iconic Bollywood villain. The spices balanced the creamy paneer well. If you’re out with family and are looking for a dish that will please everyone, this is it.
Would I Order It Again? Yes
The Murgh Chandni Boti was as soft and succulent as a chicken kebab can be. It is very mild and perfect for people who do not have a spice tolerance.
Would I Order It Again? No
Jhinga Mehrunnisa was probably my favourite starter. It was well-spiced and tender. The prawns were fresh too. The use of kalonji seeds in the dish was quite innovative and it set the starter apart. If you’re a seafood girlie or just a prawn girlie, go for it!
Would I Order It Again? Yes
The next starter we tried was the Mutton Galouti Kebab. I’m not a huge fan of mutton or galouti kebabs so my liking for this starter was muted. However, if you’re someone who likes both, this dish will not disappoint you. It had a strong garam masala and elaichi flavour so you know that the dish is well-spiced.
Would I Order It Again? No
The next dish was the Murgh Wajid Ali. Named after the last Nawab of Lucknow, the dish looked quite Nawabi. This luscious dish was soft and tender and had a strong cashew flavour. It was coated with a light sprinkling of Chat Masala which was a surprise. If you want a dish that fills you up, this is definitely it.
Would I Order It Again? No
After these heavy starters, we were served Lobster Kaali Meeri. It was a simple preparation spiced with butter and black pepper but its lightness and simplicity were very welcome, especially after all the flavour-heavy starters we’d had. If you know you’re a light eater who fills up fast, this is the perfect dish for you.
Would I Order It Again? Yes
This completed our starters. And in case you’re wondering, yes, by this point, our stomachs were absolutely bursting with food. So you can imagine our surprise when Chef Rohit informed us that the main course was yet to come.
Main Course Abhi Baaki Hai Doston
Before we were served our main course, we took a quick walk around the space to see their alfresco dining space. It was quite refreshing and you could tell that it would’ve been an entirely different experience to be able to sit out there and enjoy the meal. But! The main course was served so we headed back in, refreshed by our small tour.
The Paneer Kurchan was a vegetarian delight. The soft and creamy paneer coated in the masaledar gravy was very delicious. This dish is perfect for Paneer lovers.
Would I Order It Again? Yes
Next, I tried the Murgh Makhani. It was a quintessential butter chicken dish with velvety tomato gravy and tender chicken.
Would I Order It Again? No
Then I tried their signature Nazaara Daal. The dish was prepared like your typical Dal Makhani – light and creamy. It is very hard to go wrong with this basic dish.
Would I Order It Again? No
I then moved on to the Nalli Nihari. As someone who grew up in Mohammad Ali Road, I understand how hard it can be to perfect this dish. While it did not check all the boxes when it came to flavour, it was still a decent attempt. The gravy had a rich smoky flavour and the meat was tender.
Would I Order It Again? No
The rice dish that Chef Rohit Served us was their Kacche Murgh Ki Dum Biryani. You may like it if you’re a huge biryani fan but don’t like your biryani to be too spicy.
Would I Order It Again? No
And so, we finally wrapped up our main course. Yes, we were almost about to burst but does that mean we wouldn’t order dessert? Absolutely not.
Time For Some Desserts!
Nazaara serves an array of fusion desserts and there were many that we wanted to try but couldn’t because of our aforementioned bursting tummies. We finally got the Gulab Jamun Cheesecake and Ras Malai Tres Leches.
The cheesecake was soft, if a little chalky, but the Gulab Jamuns were really good. On their own, they would have been the perfect dessert.
Would I Order It Again? No
I am a huge ras malai fan so I was really looking forward to the tres leches. The ras malai pieces were soft and the dessert was not too sweet. This is exactly how I like my desserts so it was a win in my book.
Would I Order It Again? Yes
Overall Experience And Why You Should Visit Nazaara In Navi Mumbai
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I adored this entire experience and the ambience was the biggest reason for it. It is perfect for dates and isn’t too expensive. Despite the fact that the place got quite crowded, Chef Rohit was very attentive to us and took the time to explain each dish to us. I wouldn’t be lying if I said that this was probably the best review experience I’ve had so far.
Where: Navi Mumbai Marriott hotel, TTC estate, D-264, Thane – Belapur Rd, Turbhe MIDC
When: 6 PM to 12 AM
Cost: ₹2,500 for two approx.
When are you heading to enjoy the great nazaras of Nazaara? Let us know in the comments section below!
Cover Image Credits: Nikitha Sebastian and Tooba Shaikh
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