From the Orient

Mamagoto,with its kitsch interiors and variety,is sure to please the Mumbai crowd.

A chain of casual dining restaurants,Mamagoto is an already-established brand in Delhi. For its entry in Mumbai,owners Kabir Suri and Rahul Khanna chose to parallely launch two outpost at Ghatkopars R City Mall and Hill Road in Bandra. Oriental kitsch defines the decor of Mamagoto in Bandra,with motifs of tigers,pandas and dragons dominating the walls. The space that was earlier occupied by a departmental store has transformed into a pan-Asian eatery that has already found patrons among the citys youth.

We chose to settle in a corner and immediately trained our eyes on the finger food that Mamagoto is known for,ordering Basil Chicken Cups,Shrimp Tempura and Corn Fritter Balls. The chicken cups baked biscuit-like base topped with chicken although tasty were a tad messy to eat. The shrimp tempura was crispy on the outside but chewy inside. The bite-sized corn fritter balls were regular and passable.

Mamagoto is still in the process of obtaining its liquor licence so we had to down our starters with mocktails. While most of the fare is regular,the Wasabi Mary is interesting but a tad too pungent for those who havent acquired the taste for wasabi.

The heat outdoors made us opt for cold salads over hot soups. The Thai Chicken Salad with water chestnuts was a meal in itself. The sweetness of the chestnuts,however,got a tad overpowering at times. Interestingly,Mamagoto has a dedicated coal fried robatta grill section and the Java Grilled Fish with Red Hot Sambhal salsa proved to be a winner. The spice was just right and the fish was juicy. The pick of the lot,however,was the Bacon-Wrapped Prawns that combined the soft texture of the prawns with crispy bacon.

Satiated by the starters,we opted for a modest Tofu Sticky Rice with Sliced Chicken in Black Bean Sauce and Mushroom. The tofu used in the rice was fresh and appetising but the sticky rice was too sticky for our liking. The chicken was a good accompaniment with the rice.

The Caramel Sponge Cake with Toffee Sauce that we ordered for dessert melted in our mouths. But the Chocolate Mud Cake was too tough and so heavy that we needed a digestive green tea to conclude our meal.

The fun decor,easy ambience and quality food is likely to bring in patrons even at the relatively-high prices they charge. But one will have to wait and watch if Mamagoto can maintain the quality of food and service they have become so famous for.

Meal for two: Rs 3,000

Address: Hill Road,Bandra

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