Food Review: What you need to know about this new cafe in NMACC

For once this menu doesnrsquot feel like a metoo Lately most places we have dined in have given us that feeling of deja vumdashof space decor and cookiecutter menusmdashall being cutcopypasted Housed on the third floor of NMACC next to the Art House Arts Cafe is beautiful but not in a mere ldquoInstagrammablerdquo way Connoisseurs can tell it is a reflection of its founderrsquos deep love for art with celebrated artists like Damien Hirst Dia Mehhta Bhupal Sameer Kulavoor Jennifer Guidi Takashi Murakami Rana Begum and NorBlack NorWhite interspersed with shelves of coffee table books on art all coming together to offer a visual feastLamb kebabThe space designed by Gauri Khan radiates warmth and elegance with earthy tones of beige brown and pastels blending seamlessly with Art Deco details ornate brass accents and soft luxurious lighting The stunning 16foot bar with flowing curves looks sophisticated and a place that can drill a hole in your pocket It doesnrsquot Thankfully So whether yoursquore at the Art House enjoying a show at the Grand Theatre or shopping at World Plaza this cafeacute offers the perfect eating optionIndian PlatterHowever its sprawling al fresco terrace with a panoramic view of the Fountain of Joy is what we loved the most It invites you to relax and unwind making it one of BKCrsquos most exclusive rooftop destinationsmdasha place where moments can turn into memories For those seeking a more exclusive experience therersquos a luxe 12seater private dining room with a live kitchen ideal for intimate gatherings and personalised offerings The NFT artwork here is alluring We also liked the lounge where you can unwind with a book and a beverage complete with a dedicated coffee barArts Cafe exudes warmth and elegance combining earthy tones of beige brown and pastels with Art Deco details brass accents and soft luxurious lightingThe menu is curated by Chef Joy Bhattacharya Head of Culinary Services at Jio World Centre and Chef Tarang Joshi who leads the culinary team at NMACC Arts Cafe We started with French onion soup R425 with a luscious Gruyegravere croucircte and the taste was simple and authentic The salad of parsnip and carrots R545 had dates walnuts curry leaf chilli dressing and whipped tofu Chewy due to its texture it would have been nicer if extra dressing was served on the side for those who love their salads richerWe had Arts Cafeacute naan R695 for appetisers it has naan with bagel seasoning It came with baba ghanoush hummus and avocado labneh and we loved this take on pita but felt a spicier element like a muhammara would add some fire In fact it went well with this separate dish fire roasted shishito peppers R695 with soymiso glaze crisp quinoa and whipped ricotta Some prefer it as a perfect chakna with alcohol We even made our own version of shawarma with the lamb kebab R825 with Korean chilli marinade peanut sauce and Asian slawThe peperoncino formaggio Rs 725 with four cheeses pickled chilli confit garlic and pumpkin seeds is ideal for when you want to grab a bite and go It went perfectly with the A Smile Rs 300 for mocktails which had dragon fruit pulp mango lychee and lime We tried roast Atlantic salmon R975 lemon wasabi glaze sticky rice and furikake for hot plates which was disappointing The thick fillet of salmon had a strong fishy smell that made the dish a letdown The Indian sampler Rs 750 made up for it We went for the Punjabi one with lehsooni palak paneer gucchi mutter dal tadka and onion kulcha One personrsquos platter was perfect on the scale of portion and palateWe had gajar ka halwa saffron jalebi and rabri ice cream Rs 450 a seasonal favourite for desserts The tub tim grob R450 had jellied chestnut coconut milk and pandan essence and was a fascinating addition to the menu but what stole our hearts was the kaffir lime cregraveme bruleacutee R450 with candied ginger and biscotti The twist of flavours in the bruleacutee made us keep going at it spoon after spoon Next time wersquoll return on a Sunday for their brunch to relax and enjoy great food with friends and family special treats and funfilled activities to delight the little ones