Dishkiyaoon – New in BKC

Hello Potpourriers!

Now that progressive Indian food is pretty much what’s trending in the restaurant scenario, Dishkiyaoon is the latest to join the bandwagon. A quirky all day diner + bar, you’ll find it at The Capital building in Bandra Kurla Complex. The moment I walked in, I was glad to see how spacious it is. Finding that in a city like Mumbai is a privilege, isn’t it?

I love how they’ve incorporated the outdoors into the interiors of Dishkiyaoon by including plants in the most innovative way. Upside down lamp shades, a life-size vintage tub and a phone booth that I would have loved to take home with me…. This place has its own charm.

Let’s talk about the food and drinks. The evening started off with a couple of interesting concoctions by the names of Kala Khatta Daiquiri – It’s like re-living a childhood memory the grown up way – with a dash of alcohol! 😉

Up next, we tried MMM – surprisingly my favourite of the evening, it’s a potent blend of Malibu, pineapple juice, sweet lime and rock salt. Although I’m sort of allergic to pineapples, this drink was fresh with an extremely palatable twist! In the end, who doesn’t love some hand-crafted cocktails, right?

Now coming to the food… The menu looked quite intriguing as we noticed an extensive offering of fusion but progressive preparations. From the Wada Pav Salad (yes, this is real) to the Reddy Steady Prawns served with Tomato Rasam Salsa (my favourite appetizer of the evening), I was happy to see the effort put in to make ones dining experience as unique as it could get. I’m still not sure how I felt about the Wada Pav Salad though. Maybe because I’m conditioned to accept any typical salad as a healthy preparation, sans batter-fried potatoes. But then if you’re a vegetarian and are looking for something crazy, this could be it.

The Tandoori Squid Salad was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise, light on the stomach and I’d go back for more. On the other hand, the main course had a few hits and misses. To begin with, the Bottle Masala Chicken Roast served with Sweet Potato Mash arrived at our table. Not sure what I was missing, but it was basically just well marinated and honestly delicious tandoori chicken. The fancy name caught me off guard and I guess I was expecting something else. The sweet potato mash didn’t do much for this dish either. 

I had high expectations from the Lamb Avial with Idiyappams but sadly it tasted more like green Thai curry than avial. Although I do like the idea of having green Thai curry with idiyappams (talk about feeling the fusion vibes!), this one simply didn’t live up to its name. The lamb was soft and perfectly cooked in this dense coconut based gravy and if they really want, they should totally rename it if not fix it.

The Old School Prawn Curry and Rice wasn’t something I’d expect in a place like this and even though it was quite lovely with its rustic flavours and homely presentation, I’m not sure if it fits. Nevertheless, if you know what you’re in for, I say go give it a try. It’s served with fried fish and the rice is unpolished, brown and sticky… and knowing the kind of audiences that may visit, it’s tough to say if they’d be open to the authenticity of this dish. PS. the shrimp pickle on the side won my heart! 

As usual, the evening had to end on a sweet note. But this time, the guys at Dishkiyaaon make sure a little spice comes into the picture too. The Blueberry and Jalapeño Cheesecake got me to accept cheesecake in a whole new (may I say mad?!) light! The hint of spice hits your palate and eventually your throat, only once you’re half way through the cake. Not as subtle as you’d think, the tingling sensation may not be everyone’s plate of dessert. Personally, I loved the twist! 

We also tasted the Green Apple Pie (an eggless preparation) and weren’t as impressed. Way too sweet and cumbersome to bite into, it’s not something I’d go back for.

Yet another experience has been documented only to make it easier for you guys to have a good time whenever you’ll plan to visit. I usually don’t like to jump to any strong conclusions with just one visit to a new restaurant. No harm in giving the benefit of doubt to the kitchen team since the menu is equally new, right? This was a pre-launch tasting some time in the middle of April, so I hope things are better now as it definitely has the potential to stand out for the right reasons.

For reservations call: 022 30151608