Azok by Vineet

Azok's menu features modernized Indian cuisine, with unusual twists such as lemongrass and wasabi. The food was good. Our starters included panniyaram topped with balsamic vinegar, which were perfectly baked. We also had some tempura tasters which, though delicious, were more like pakodas than tempuras and we wondered whether that was intentional. The Punjabi penne had a curry sauce with a suprisingly delicate flavor, not over-powering at all.

We were impressed that after these first dishes we received a lemon sorbet to clear our palette, which was lovely.

Our mains included a lamb biryani and pomfret, both of which were thoroughly enjoyed.

Dessert, however, was disappointing. My wasabi kulfi was hard, meaning I had to leave half of it uneaten, and the cumin cake it was served with didn't complement it. My husband's panna cotta also was unexciting and quite gelatinous. Washing this down with two cocktails called 'The Emperor' and 'Twilight' wasn't a good idea, the latter being a little too sweet.

The decor and ambiance lacked charm, despite the enormous potential of an eating-under-the-stars experience. Still, Azok is worth visiting as one of the few open-air restaurants in Mumbai with a main course that doesn't dissapoint. But that's still perhaps not enough to justify a Rs 6,000 bill for two.