Bandra Kurla Complex and I – we seem to be destined for dreamy dinners that make the restlessness of Bombay fade away into the cool night breeze. At least, that’s what conspired on Friday evening in the subtly lit, sophisticated Café Infinito, located near ICICI Bank. The moment you enter, an attentive concierge ushers you in and you have the pick of ethereal outdoor tables or a seat in the swanky interiors, where you can watch the live band in action. A speaker outside ensures that the al fresco diners don’t miss out on the charms of the Bollywood favourites being belted out by Mihir Joshi and Vedant.
I was here for the WowTables experience, featuring a three course meal and choice of unlimited sangria, cocktails or mocktails. The cuisine here is modern Italian and the names of the dishes are as elaborate as they look. But the conversation is muted, the music is at the right volume and the fluttering trees and a glass of frosted beer make for a very romantic experience indeed. There are both low tables and high chairs to choose from and we parked ourselves at one of the high tables (not very easy on the back).
Appetiser: Quesadillaâ Refried Beans, Jalapeno, Onion, Cheddar Cheese
The manager was very forthcoming with advice on which dishes to go for and what they would constitute. He opined that the quesadillas were a better choice than the Basil Gnocchi with Harissa Fondue, because there would be four pieces as opposed to just two in the gnocchi. He was absolutely right, as it turned out. The quesadillas were dry on the outside and soft on the inside. The filling of beans, jalapeno, onion and cheddar cheese was flawless – no overpowering flavours and cooked to perfection. Four pieces were sufficient for two people. The quesadillas were served with delicious, melt-in-the-mouth white butter and a sweet tomato, onion and chilly dip. I’m not sure which pleased us more – the accompaniments or the appetiser itself.
Mains: Cottage Cheese Moussaka, Harissa
Neither of us was too keen on the Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli with Porcini Cream Sauce as we weren’t in the mood for any kind of rice. So the cottage cheese moussaka it was. Two slabs of extremely soft and fresh cottage cheese were served to us doused in harissa (chili pepper sauce) and assorted vegetables including tomatoes, sprouts and gherkin. Now the trouble is, there was no rice or bread to mop up the sauce with. The flavours were strong and it was difficult to have the dish by itself. I loved the cheese but I felt as though the dish was incomplete. If you order this, ask for an accompaniment of rice. This omission is the reason I’ve deducted half a star in my rating.
Dessert: Truffle Cake with Salted Caramel Ganache
It was as splendid as could be. I would be hard put to recall a better truffle cake or a more appealing salted caramel ganache. The portion was generous and the texture of the cake was soft and moist. Ever since I tried salted caramel in a gourmet chocolate, I have been a fan of its saline charms. At Wich Latte, the erstwhile little Mexican café at Lower Parel, I had fallen in love with Tres Leches, the classic Mexican dessert. But choosing the truffle cake proved to be an excellent decision and the sweetest ending to this lovely meal. Be warned, it’s hard to share.
I wish I could give Café Infinito a 5 star rating. I really do. It left a lasting impression on me for its beautiful outdoor seating, music that made me content and the peace that comes with a seamless fine dining experience. But I’ll go with 4.5 stars for now.
Nice!