Drunken Munkey

Critic´s Review

• Food: 3.5 / 5
• Service: 3.5 / 5
• Decor: 3.5 / 5

-By Rashmi Uday Singh

Aamchi Andheri to sizzling Singapore and back... Come lunch with me at Andheri's new "Fat Cat" with a couple of "cool cats." My affectionate terms for the vivacious worldfamous Tabla Virtuoso, multi-percussionist par excellence and music composer, Anuradha Pal, who has been hailed as the 'first female professional Tabla player in the world' by Encyclopedia Britannica. The gorgeous model-turned-actressturned producer Preeti Jhangiani, having acted in over 30 films has recently not only produced a film under her own banner (directed by her husband Parvin Dabbas) but also a baby boy, five months ago. Both are foodies extraordinaire and both make time in their frenetic schedules to lunch with me.

We lunch at this chic dimly-lit cafe, with dark wood and graceful arches. Thankfully there are no kitty-related cartoons or feline references within or without. And the alfresco dining area is a wonderful space in the cool months. There is a lovely relaxed casual vibe here. The only problem is that the service is a bit too relaxed too, and our meal takes really long to be served.

Other than that we are delighted with the menu, which offers a varied range of soups, salads, pastas, risotto and grilled items. The thin crust, generously topped Siciliana pizza has the perfect balance of cheese and topping. The plated dishes of the well made Norwegian Salmon and the flavoursome Chicken Scallopini are as much a delight to the palate as to the eye. Al dente pasta are recommended too. Avoid the over-cooked and gloopy Saffron Paella. Chorizo wrapped king prawns, three mushroom risotto with flavourful mushrooms at Deepak Chowdhary's new cafe are must trys too. We wind up with the wedge of Brownie-bottomed Cheese Cake and the Chocolate Ganache, though a bit too sweet, both pass muster. Buy the homemade bottled sweet mustard parsley pesto (Rs 85) to take home and cook up a taste of Italy. I'm delighted to meet my two guests. I am also delighted to lunch at this cafe... if only they'd speed up their service, then the fat cat would become a real cool cat.