The signature restaurant at plush Juhu hotel Novotel gives an international twist to Asian food
The signature restaurant at plush Juhu hotel Novotel gives an international twist to Asian food
It made the impossible promise of "food outside the box", and quietly delivered. All-day restaurant The Square at beachside hotel Novotel, where Holiday Inn once stood, gives new meaning to squaredom. It's the signature restaurant of Novotel hotels around the world. Set against a contemporary European du00e9cor and conceptualised after a "food square", the chain is famous for its interactive live cooking experience, and for blending local cuisine with Asian and Western dishes. Now that Mumbai has its own version, we dropped in to see what the hype was about. Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor was dining with his family, and from the looks of it, he seemed pleased with what he saw.
For starters, the "experience" does not come cheap. Come prepared to dole out big moolah if you want to eat a la carte. We suggest you try the massive buffet, instead. At Rs 1,000 plus taxes per person, it won't drill as deep a hole in your pocket. We arrived in the evening when the famous "Flavours of Asia with an International Twist" buffet is served. It's a literal feast of homemade soups, cold cuts, seafood, kebabs, gourmet European and Indian foods, and about a dozen varieties of dessert. The soups Hot and Sour Vegetable and Cream of Chicken were the only average offerings in an otherwise marvellous spread. Among the starters, we loved the Prawn and Squid Cocktail, Apple and Grilled Chicken Salad, Speck (imported German ham) and
Roast Beef. 
There were two live cooking stations; one for pasta that lets you choose the type of pasta and ingredients, which the chef turns into a dish in front of you. Another one for grills, beef steaks, lamb, pork chops, kebabs and tandoor; where the chef made us some great Chicken Satay and Beef Satay. Also tops were the conti dishes like Herb Crusted Cod Fish, Tenderloin Steak with French Mustard and Gnocchi with Pesto Cream Sauce simmering in a traditional casserole pot on a hot plate. If you don't mind packing in rich desi khaana, the Malai Kofta, Zaffrani Pulao and Biryani with saalan are tops.
The desserts take the cake, though. The in-house pastry chef whips up a heavenly Panacotta, Apple Almond cake and Philadelphia Cheesecake. Buffet though it is, the staff will bring you anything from sushi to soya sauce. The ambient music wasn't any ordinary lounge, but the recorded sounds of humpback whales that brought a sense of calm to the busy but quiet restaurant.
At: Novotel, Balraj Sahani Marg, near Ramee Guestline, Juhu beach.
Call: 66934444
The Square didn't know we were there. The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals
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