Bandra Foodies rejoice! The Fatty Bao, a popular pan-Asian Gastro Pub from Bangalore has landed in Mumbai, and if our recent meal is anything to go by, it is going to be epic!
Here are 10 reasons we’re definitely going back:
1) This Guy
The décor is super fresh and funky. We were particularly drawn to this transcendent fox, which turns out to be a Red Panda (that’s a real thing, BTW…). The Red Panda (let’s call him Master Shifu) is just one example of the fun and definitively unique décor elements of The Fatty Bao.
2) The Fatty Sour
We love a place that takes their drinks as seriously as they take their food. The stand out for us was without a doubt the signature cocktail, the Fatty Sour – a new take on the classic Whiskey Sour. A tad sweet but refreshingly tart, we ordered
1, 2,
several of these to get things started
3) The Pork Belly & Jam (PB&J)
Have you ever had a really good slice of pork belly? I mean really good? The Fatty Bao nails it with this one – a perfect sweet and sticky miso mustard glaze with soft, decadent meat that can be eaten with a spoon. Dieters beware: this is definitely not a lean cut – but we suspect this dish will still have plenty of people lining up outside.
4) The Scallops
If you are a lover of Scallops (you either love ’em or hate ’em), then the Pan Seared Scallops with Fujiko Butter is your dish. Chef Manu Chandra does it just right, with just a light sear and a flavorful but delicate sauce.
5) The Calamari
This definitely wins for the most addictive dish we tasted. We couldn’t stop going back for more of the wonderfully spicy/crispy/slightly coconutty calamari. Make sure you order one of these, and then another one for your date (you won’t want to share, trust me).
6) The Lamb Chops
Gochujang chilli paste, followed closely by Psy, is probably one of the best things to come out of Korea. Our favourite dish from the night were the Gochujang Chilli Lamb Chops. The portion size is generous, with 4 or 5 chops, all perfectly cooked and smothered in Gochujang, a remarkably well-married combination.
7) The Bacon Fried Rice
We love fried rice, and Mumbai has no shortage of great options when it comes to this comfort food. But if, like us, you sometimes crave fried rice like it’s made in Chinatown, then you’ll instantly fall in love with the Asparagus and Bacon Fried Rice. This dish is simple, made with sticky rice, and is perfectly punctuated with pieces of bacon (because life should always be punctuated with pieces of bacon. Am I right?!)
8) The Lamb Ramen
Getting ramen broth right is nothing short of a work of art, and Chef Chandra is an artist. This is the perfect dish to enjoy on a balmy monsoon night. We know what you’re thinking: better than the classic Chasu Pork Ramen? Surprisingly, yes! A fragrant, meaty broth, silky ramen noodle, and a skewer of grilled lamb. Heaven.
9) The Caramel Dessert
Do yourself a favour and save a little room for this gem of a dessert. It’s a cloud of caramel atop a decadent chocolate and peanut butter fondant base. Need we say more?
10) The Fatty Bao Crew!
And the final reason we had a great night at The Fatty Bao is the awesome team. Our table staff was friendly and attentive and kept the drinks and the food flowing at a perfect pace. They were also rocking these crazy shirts!
Things That Didn’t Make Our Top 10.
Funny enough, the restaurant’s namesake Baos did not feature in our greatest hits for the night. Don’t get us wrong, they were definitely pretty tasty. But we were spoiled by the time they reached us at the very end of our meal, and they fell a little flat when stacked up against gochujang and miso mustard. The Fatty Bao’s sushi is also decent, but there are too many other excellent dishes in their extensive menu to make the rolls stand out (and frankly, better places in Bandra to eat sushi). Speaking of raw seafood, that’s also how we prefer our oysters, so the broiled Fatty Oysters weren’t for us. But of all the dishes we tried, the Dancing Prawns – chilli prawns with a wedge of lemon – were probably the least interesting, again because they lacked the uniqueness and creativity of other menu items.
We’ll be back.
A menu as large as The Fatty Bao’s is bound to have some misses, but if our selections were anything to go by, these are easily outnumbered by the hits. At last an Asian restaurant in Bandra that stands out from the crowd and breaks away from the expected. At roughly Rs. 2000 for a dinner for two, it’s also well worth cranking open that wallet. Just make sure you reserve ahead of time as the place has been packed since it opened last week. We’ll see you there!
The Fatty Bao
Ground Floor, Summerville
Junction Of 14th Road And 13th Road
Off Linking Road
Bandra West, Mumbai – 400050
Tel: +(91)-22-26005220