The overcrowding at Kamala Mills and the fire in 2017 has proved to be a boon for Atria Mall. Baraanaa, is the newest bar in the mall and the sixth new hospitality property that we’ve visited this year. Owners of most properties have confessed that though Kamala Mills has great location, business didn’t seem promising in the restaurant hotspot.
For Baraanaa’s owners, the now revived Atria Mall is a tried and tested location, as they also own The Game, a buzzing entertainment and gaming zone housed next door. This is the first hospitality venture by Chiliad Procons, which also runs Snow World in Phoenix MarketCity Kurla, and they plan to turn Baraanaa into a chain, with outlets outside Mumbai too. Siblings Prasuk and Priyanka Jain of Chiliad have an interesting story behind the name of the bar, “Back in the ’70s, when our grandfather first acquired a licence for his ghee company, it cost 75 paise, hence we decided to name our bar Baraanaa,” reveals Priyanka with a smile. The name might hark back to yesteryears, but everything else about Baraanaa is modern. The global cocktail bar and kitchen is spread over 7,000 sq ft and offers all kinds of seating options, community and regular tables for ladies who lunch and VIP sections to turn the place into a nightspot in the evenings.
Changing menu
Chef Rahul Kulkarni, who has worked with The Irish House, Le Pain Quotidien and Serafina (now closed), spent over a year to fine tune both, the kitchen and the bar menu. While the food menu offers a mix of Indian and international dishes, the bar menu’s highlight is 20 cocktails inspired by different countries, a menu that Kulkarni plans to change every season. “We have designed and commissioned different glasses for each cocktail. The ingredients for these cocktails come from the country they have been inspired from as I didn’t want to compromise on the flavours,” Kulkarni tells us.
While the drinks might be inspired by colder countries such as Sweden, all the cocktails are designed to work well in Mumbai’s heat, which we vouch for, as a sip of French Iris (₹425) instantly makes us forget our long and sweaty cab ride. The menu offers several delectable cocktails such as Mexican Little Pamlo (₹575) made with tequila, grapefruit and fresh basil; Polish High (₹475) that’s served with a sweet dryfruit cigar meant to complement the dil and elderflower vodka cocktail with watermelon pearls. Jokkmokk Kiss (₹425) is inspired by Sweden and is made with vodka, white chocolate, saffron and lychee. Representing India is Indian Sour (₹475), a whisky sour (vegetarians can skip the egg white and ask for aquafaba instead) made with unique local herbs and spices that are used in Ayurveda, such as guduchi, anantmul, calamus and shankhpushpi.
Eat and imbibe
The food menu is more local — think Chhota Kadaknath (₹295), a small plate for which the black chicken is marinated over two days; or Memna Cigars (₹275) where minced lamb is stuffed in delicate filo rolls. For appetisers, you could try Patra Version 2.0, a take on the popular patra leaf snack, stuffed with paneer and served with chunda (they also offer a non-vegetarian version of this dish). For some meaty starters, you could pick a typical Mutton Galouti (₹395), Thai Street Fish Skewers (₹295) or Achari Chicken Satay (₹275). Or you could call for one of their many flatbreads such as the Flambe Jamaican Jerk Chicken (₹425), Truffle Cheese Deracco (₹475) or Shakshuka (₹345).
Kulkarni has designed a special burger section, with bao burgers and a Malabari Kori Burger (₹275) made with Malabari parotta. For mains, we love the Goan Fish Curry with Sol Kadhi Shot (₹475) that is served with orange couscous instead of rice and some light fugias to dip into the curry. If you are looking for familiar flavours, they also have tried-and-tested options such as Mushroom Mac ‘N’ Cheese (₹425) and Rendang Curry (₹525). For a sweet end to your meal, do not miss the Molten Chocolate Cup (₹250), a must try for all chocolate lovers.
Baraanaa opens today; 11 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.; Atria Mall, Worli; 67363300
