Good news townies there’s a new spot opening up in Colaba next week called Le Pain Quotidien (that’s The Daily Bread in French) with a Belgian flare. Fresh bread, communal tables and a very warm and wholesome vibe. Also the food was fab, I’ll leave the detailing to the official foodie Nowshad Rizwanullah and let him take it from here 🙂

Le Pain Quotidien, Food Guide by Nowshad Rizwanullah

Despite the handful of continental restaurants and bakeries that have  popped up in Mumbai over the last year, it can still be quite  challenging to find a decent loaf of bread in our city. That’s all about to change next week. Le Pain Quotidien officially opens  its doors in Colaba, and as far as we can tell, this cozy Belgian chain  is baking some of the most flavorful, rustic breads on offer around  these parts. Crusty on the outside, but soft and fresh on the inside  (with varying degrees of density), these baguettes and loaves are not  only scrumptious on their own but make for a great base to the  delightful Tartines on the menu. We tried the Grilled Asparagus (with ricotta, parmesan, and diced tomatoes) and the Scottish Smoked Salmon (with   dill and scallions) and were instant fans. Throw in some big, fresh   salads and a handy selection of soups and this is bound to be the next   Sunday hotspot for South Mumbai’s trendy set.

We loved the Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad – made with crisp mixed greens, flecks of bacon, generous chunks of  chicken, and a spattering of egg, all tied together nicely with a light  green tea dressing. Vegetarians will find an equally hearty salad in the  White Bean and Chickpea Salad, with mesclun and bean sprouts. Not to be missed, however, is the outstanding Vegetable Lasagna – with just the right amount of ricotta cheese layered between a savory  mushroom filling, this is a lovely, light version of the more wholesome  original. Our Chilled Gazpacho was bright and fresh, but a  little heavy on the cumin for our liking, most likely a nod to local  palates (let us know what you think). Wash it all down with the house  special Mint Lemonade and you’ll appreciate why this bakery took  over eight months tinkering with and perfecting its menu. And if this  isn’t enough motivation to drop in for a bite, LPQ also has a full bar  on hand, serving not only the customary wine and beer, but also, by  special permission from the mothership, hard spirits (now there’s a nod  to local customs we can get fully behind). A full selection of specialty  teas and custom blended coffees are also on hand, and although we  didn’t get a bite this time, we look forward to trying the plump Danishes and golden Croissants and Pain Au Chocolats at the carry-out counter. Just the excuse we needed go back for another visit.

Average prices: Rs. 250-450 a plate (we have no clue what constitutes a “meal for two” 🙂

Le Pain Quotidien
Dhanraj Mahal
C.S.M. Road, Apollo Bunder
Near the Gateway of India
Colaba, Mumbai  400001

Phone: 022 6615 0202
email: gm.colaba@lpq.co.in
Manager: Pradeep Naidu

OPENING HOURS
8am – 11:30pm