Opa for Juhu

First things first. Opa,the Greek term for cheers,is a nice name for a restaurant. However,going by the name,if one assumed that Mumbai has got its first-ever speciality Greek restaurant,then there is disappointment in store.

Written by Afsha Khan

September 18, 2011 02:27 AM IST

3 min read

Its not Greek,but Mumbais newest restaurant has a lot to offer at relatively reasonable prices

This new fine-dining joint in Juhu is more Mediterranean in nature,with influences of Greek,French,Spanish,English and,for some strange reason,Jamaican fare. So as long as youre not expecting to watch a whole goat roasting on a spit while guzzling shots of the anise-flavoured Uozo,and screaming Opa,this can be a perfect place to chill.

The interiors are pleasantly formulaic,with their use of wood in the décor. The best thing about it is the black grill outside,which blocks the view to the road but not the light,creating an illusion of being anywhere but the noisy,traffic-infested Juhu Tara Road.

However,what can prove to be the restaurants strength is its innovative signature cocktails menu. The first thing we sample,which also happens to be the first item on the menu,is the Tamarind Margarita. It is sweetish,sour and oddly savory,thanks to the chaat masala thats replaced salt on the rim. The Fresh Orange and Spice Cooler was a bit sweet but the Guava Mary,a beautiful orange concoction,hit the right spots with a light body and sweet and tangy flavours.

In soups,we tried the Seafood Bisque,which used subtly-spiced flavours to complement the taste and smell of the seafood. There is ample variety in the salad section. Classic Caesar and Traditional Greek Salad are first on the list in addition to some rather meaty options,like Salumi Misti that features parma ham and salami Milano. We settled for the Santoku Chopped Salmon salad,which has the Norwegian breed piled on top of potatoes with sour cream. This dish is good,but for sharing only,because you want to save your appetite from large amounts of sour protein and starch so early in the meal.

For appetisers,we had the Red Wine Poached Figs,which were rich and gooey with a savoury whisk of cream cheese on top. The Potli of Lemon Grass Chicken an anomaly for a Mediterranean restaurant with the Indian term and Southeast Asian influences was crunchy and light. The wasabi sauce that accompanied it was creamy and more like a chutney than the original thats so strong that it makes your nose and eyes leak.

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The menu has a decent selection of pastas and risottos as well as the mains. We decided to sample one dish from each. Lobster Risotto cooked perfectly and served with a large claw (de-shelled) in the centre was an instant hit. But Jamaican Jerk Chicken wasnt. It was so overcooked that it was stringy to cut. This dish was different from everything else on the menu,in terms of flavours and combination of ingredients. Had the chicken been a little more tender,it would have complemented the grilled vegetables and tomato and the kidney beans risotto plated with it.

Meal for two plus drinks costs

approximately Rs 3,000

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Opa for Juhu

First things first. Opa,the Greek term for cheers,is a nice name for a restaurant. However,going by the name,if one assumed that Mumbai has got its first-ever speciality Greek restaurant,then there is disappointment in store.

First things first. Opa,the Greek term for cheers,is a nice name for a restaurant. However,going by the name,if one assumed that Mumbai has got its first-ever speciality Greek restaurant,then there is disappointment in store.