Hello Potpourriers!
Although we’re already in January, this post was meant to go up sooner. The month of December was usually eventful with lots of social gatherings (and I’m not even talking about weddings here). It was a joyous month to indulge in good times, amongst good people and with of course, good food. So when I was invited to check out the brunch scene on a relaxed Sunday afternoon at Zoo Bar, the latest entrant in the city but in an unusual location, I was more than happy to be a part of it. Vile Parle West lacks some great drinking places so I’m guessing Zoo Bar is here to fill that void. They definitely have potential, and why not? The drinks are great, the food too did not disappoint and the place itself exudes some really good vibes. The fact that it’s an animal-friendly bar makes me extremely happy. We really need more of these in this city, don’t you think?
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| fun-filled afternoon with UNO and Cranberry Orange Mocktail |
So here we were at yet another bloggers’ table. Across our table, I noticed a massive shelf that held innumerable book and games like UNO, Jenga, Scrabble and more. The perfect kind of set up you need on a leisure Sunday afternoon as you sail through a good ol’ Hangover Brunch with the people you love.
More about this brunch…
The Hangover Brunch has 3 kinds of packages that you can avail.
Unlimited food – Rs. 695*
Unlimited food + unlimited beer, wines and sangria – Rs. 1095*
Unlimited food + unlimited IMFL – Rs. 1595*
(*excluding Govt. taxes and service charge)
So whether you’re looking for a boozy afternoon or a crazy foodie one, there’s enough and more in the offering.
What’s on the menu?
Right from the soup of the day to smoothies and shakes, all day breakfast options to the good ol’ pizzas and burgers to indulge in, you’re never going to fall short of choices – whatever your preference may be.
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| Apple, Coriander and Mint Sangria |
What we checked out…
Among the array of beverages, we checked out the Apple, Coriander and Mint Sangria and a Cranberry and Orange Mocktail. Personally, being the sangria fan I am, the hint of coriander in the after-taste is what got me interested and eventually hooked. The Cranberry Orange Mocktail is refreshingly good too. Quite a pleasant concoction!
Soup of the day:
Mushroom Cappuccino Soup – Perfectly creamy and delicious, the Mushroom Cappuccino Soup is a good option even for the vegetarian who doesn’t usually prefer eating mushrooms.
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| Roasted Chicken Soup |
Roasted Chicken Soup – A light soup that had all my favourite vegetables like broccoli and shredded chicken, perfectly spiced with some pepper, the chef pretty much got the Roasted Chicken Soup to taste anything but boring.
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| Goan Spiced Marinated Fish Fingers |
Amongst the various appetizers we checked out, the Goan Spiced Marinated Fish Fingers with Kokum and Red Chilli Mayo became an instant favourite. The semi spiced kokum mayo only added to the sublime flavour.
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| Bhuna Ghosht Tacos |
Apparently a hotseller at Zoo Bar, the Bhuna Ghosht Tacos reminded me greatly of the lal maas phulkas that’s on the menu at Monkey Bar. The meat was tender and well cooked and made for an interesting appetizer.
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| BBQ Chicken Wings |
It’s always a messy affair when you want to savour BBQ Chicken Wings but I guess if you enjoy getting your hands dirty, then this is something you shouldn’t miss. Go ahead, bite into those densely marinated wings.
Cottage Cheese 65 Tacos – I actually preferred these over the bhuna ghosht tacos. The tangy spicy taste is quite addictive and for all good reasons. Paneer lovers are bound to enjoy this! Unfortunately I couldn’t get a picture of it since it was on the vegetarian side of the table. 😛
Mains:
Who would’ve thought that your burger would arrive at the table in a cage? Well, it happened at Zoo Bar. Going by the theme of the place, the quirky presentation immediately got our attention. Although it does make the table look a lot more cluttered (especially when you have 3-4 bulky wooden cages on a community table) I think the concept it pretty cool.
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| Caged Burger |
We checked out 2 burgers. The Lamb Burger seemed a little dry and could do with some extra mayo. On the other hand, the patty was well cooked with meat that seemed freshly minced. Up next, we tried the Panko Crust Fish Burger. It did seem a lot like the filet-o-fish burger from McDonald’s but this one was soo much better and thank God for that. 😛
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| Quattro Formaggi Pizza |
Although we were pretty stuffed, we decided to split a pizza just so we could all get a taste of what’s on offer. Since we were a balanced mix of vegetarians and non-vegetarians, we decided to try the four cheese (Quattro Formaggi) thin crust pizza. One can hardly ever go wrong with pizza. This one had the perfectly crispy thin crust and tasted great while it was still warm.
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| Waffles and Pancakes Platter |
On the side…
Waffles and pancakes platter with maple syrup, blueberry, strawberry and banana compote and some whipped cream on the side. As indulgent as it sounds, I found the waffles a bit too egg-y for my liking. The pancakes weren’t bad but a little more sugar dusting from the top would’ve been nicer. Nevertheless, it tasted well with the various compotes.
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| Strawberry Cheesecake, Mud Cake, Tiramisu and Chocolate Mousse |
Dessert of the day…
Ours was a special case of course, where we got a chance to check out 4 different offerings. Zoo Bar sure knows how to go about making people discover their sweet tooth. Served in quirky jars, we got a taste of the Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Mousse, Tiramisu and Mud Cake. We unanimously fell instantly in love with the mousse despite not being fans and that says something! It was rich, decadent and tasted like melted perfection with every bite.
I personally liked the mud cake and strawberry cheesecake too although it did seem more like strawberries with whipped cream over a generously thick biscuit crust. Nevertheless, I think it tasted great and that’s what’s important.
Zoo Bar exudes some really cool vibes and I’d definitely go back to check out the other side to this place. They have board game nights, karaoke nights, Happy Hours, Ladies’ Night and so much more that keeps the place buzzin’ all through the week. Don’t forget to go say hi to the 2 partners – Nishant and Niteesh, who run this place with maximum passion and enthusiasm. 🙂
Contact No.: 022 33126894
Address: 1st Floor, Liberty Lodge, DJ Road, Above McDonald’s, Vile Parle West, Mumbai
Until next time…
The Potpourri Girl
xx
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Email: thepotpourrigirl@gmail.com
The Good Life Potpourri 