Zorawar Kalra’s KODE Is The New Addition To Mumbai's Social Scene

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Zorawar Kalra has launched his brand new venture – KODE at Kamala Mills and it is nothing short of fantastic!

What Is It?

My first thought when I heard of KODE in Kamala Mills was, “Oh no, not another new restaurant in Kamala Mills.” I couldn’t be more wrong. Yes, it is another new restaurant but it is unlike anything you’ve been to before. Kode astounds!

Personally, I wouldn’t expect anything less from restaurateur and czar of innovation, Zorawar Kalra. He has been responsible for some of the most innovative and successful concepts in India and overseas, like Masala Library by Jiggs Kalra, Farzi Cafe, Pa Pa Ya and MasalaBar.

Heritage spaghetti with black olive powder

There’s a lot that’s different about KODE. The concept of freestyle cuisine and a curated cocktail tasting menu. KODE also claims to have the largest selection of whiskies in all of India.

What’s In It?

The interiors of Kode are gorgeous. It’s airy with large, wood-panelled French windows and a spacious, classy feel. And yet, you’ll be surprised to find large uncut stones in the panelling. What’s amazing is that it doesn’t look grungy or rustic but only adds to the suaveness of the decor. We were told that about 40 tonnes of natural stone were excavated from the mines of Rajasthan for this.

The Drinks

We normally talk about the food first, but guys the drinks here are served just like food! Have you ever heard of a three-course cocktail menu? We haven’t either! But we tried it out for the first time ever at Kode and we’re in love with the concept. Just look at that picture!

Bloody Mary: The KODE version

The presentation of every cocktail is outstanding and deserves a standing ovation. If you’re not already an Instagrammer, KODE is going to turn you into one. Each drink is a masterpiece in itself – intriguing and whimsical. Here’s proof:

Liquid Roots: A cocktail by KODE

The prices of the drinks vary from ₹450-700.

Life Of Pie at KODE

The Food

KODE calls itself a cuisine agnostic modern ‘freestyle’ bar & kitchen. If that isn’t enough to pique your curiosity, then the names of the dishes definitely will. There’s the delicious avocado carpaccio with bell pepper drops (₹395), the shrimp cocktail with cucumber Carpaccio (₹425) and the togarashi and garlic olives with chives crème fraiche (₹180). KODE promises to be a culinary destination where innovation and tradition are both honored.

Shrimp cocktail with cucumber carpaccio

Potato Gnocchi, Roasted Pumpkin, Crispy Sage and Parmesan

The Service

What separates good service from great service is how interactive the staff is with you and how well they know their dishes. KODE had it bang on. All the staff, including Cajetan, were fun to talk to, were genuinely interested in feedback and were creating and serving with passion. There was also a single-mindedness and a sense of discipline that you could see in the kitchen (which you can look at as you eat).