Cheese, cream, butter, olives - Italian haven. Eggplant terrine with pesto, chicken tonnato with tuna sauce and asparagus soup - where does that figure? Right at Serafina, where we go Italian - with a twist!
The place is cutesy and comfy, and is very much set for a charming lunch with family or friends. And as far as lunches go, you cannot go wrong with this one.
The terrific mocktails are perfect for whetting your appetite. The cranberry and lemon cooler is a punch in the gut, with its fantastic bold flavours and sparks of ginger. Also interesting is the cranberry and apple juice - this one’s got a generous heap of large apple slices in the drink, which not only add to the fresh flavour but also lets you dive into your drink with a fork and chow!
That’s not the only beverage that’s worth the mention. The asparagus soup is a real stunner, with its interesting texture. The soup itself must be poured by the customer into the bowl which contains chopped asparagus and parmesan. While asparagus soup may not sound very ‘ooh la la’, the flavour makes you say just that! It’s smooth, velvety and light, and makes you reconsider the notion of health food actually tasting great.
The meal kickstarts with the eggplant terrine, with tomato couli and pesto. Eggplant terrine also initiates the sceptical raise of an eyebrow - until it is tried. And at that moment, you know that Serafina is a place that absolutely aces the art of combining and turning unconventional elements into things of beauty, without making you feel like you’re a lab rat of some bizarre gastronomical experiment.
The citrus salad is their interpretation of a citrus ceremony, and the dressing is so good you feel like you could eat an entire bush if it is spritzed with that. The caramelized lemon rind, however small it may be, is exquisite. The bannur lamb chop was perhaps the only unappealing fare in the array of dishes, but Serafina has lots of terrific dishes to compensate for a not-so-palatable one, if any.
The ravioli alla salvia is foodie nirvana. Its piquant butteriness makes you feel almost evil as you stuff yourself shamelessly with the ravioli, which is edible happiness.
As rich as it may sound, the gentle flavours are comforting and smooth, so you don’t feel like a balloon after you’re done. The same rule applies for the gnocchi, which isn’t half as brilliant as the ravioli, but is yummy in its own right.
The pizza leggera is an interesting twist on a pizza, where the filling is practically sandwiched between two crusts. It is authentic, innovative and scrumptious all at the same time, which ticks all the right boxes for an unconventional creation.
Ending the chapter with a bang is the dessert. The panna cotta with the vanilla caviar is smashing, and perfectly balanced. The peach tart with the peach granita and pear salad is invigorating and refreshing. But the hero of the day for me, was (insert drumroll here), the Eggplant dessert! Fancy name - melanzane al cioccolato. Texture - intriguing, with its layers of chocolate and ricotta. Flavour - absolutely drool-worthy. It is exotic, delicious, and like a friend dreamily said - it leaves you at a loss for words. This is one dessert that must figure on your dessert bucket list.
Serafina is exciting and charming, a combination that’s sure to win you over. This is one place you must hit in the weekend!
Serafina is at 752, 80 feet road, 4th Block, Koramangala. Call 25523350
