Rocky start.
Though only a few days old, Pebble Bay already looks dated. Theme-y palette? They’ve got every shade of blue plus merpeople on the toilet doors. Minimalist decor? Glass, wood-finish laminate and aluminium, thank you. Bling? Illuminated alcoves so blue, you’ll have late-night-taxicab déjà vu. It’s the mom-and-pop version of upmarket. Everything is matching-matching and crowd-pleasing. Even the menu.
We skipped wine (local and foreign labels) and drinks (mid-range bar staples), for a tart sol kadi (Rs 65) and a thick butter milk (Rs 45). But confusion ensued with the predominantly seafood menu. We decided on the calamari in a white-wine sauce (Rs 225) and the two-style tiger prawns (Rs 575) in butter-garlic and hot bean sauce. What came was one plate of wonderfully buttery squid, announced as hot bean sauce, but tossed in celery, spring onion and peppers; four giant prawns in an unmemorable butter-garlic sauté and four more in spicy red gravy. “A portion is eight tiger prawns,” the waiter assured.
The rest of the menu covered a little of everything: some Thai, a gassi, a dal tadka, pulaos, some tandoor and lots of Chinese. A fish do pyaza looked particularly interesting but we settled for a methi murgh (Rs 295) and the waiter’s recommendation of an off-menu Punjabi dum aloo (Rs 185), both of which were so average we forgot them after our last morsels. Our firni stood out as much because it was light and delicious as for the fact that it marked the end of a middling meal.
With its two-level seating and tiny bar, Pebble Bay is best for family gatherings, working lunches for neighbouring Pricewaterhouse-Coopers and occasions at which the food is incidental. But the menu and waiters need some clarity. We got billed for two portions of those two-style prawns after all. It worked out to Rs 143 per prawn. At that price, they were very average indeed. Rachel Lopez
Pebble Bay Kalpak Corner, behind Bandra Talao, Turner Road, Bandra (W) (2642-5064). Daily noon-3pm, 7.30pm-midnight. Meal for two with drinks approx Rs 2,500. All major credit cards. |
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