Nava, a new European cuisine restaurant located in the heart of Mumbai, is on many food connoisseur’s bucket list. Travel+Leisure India & South Asia stops by to take a closer look at what makes it so exceptional and distinct.
TL Tastings
Review of Nava
Cuisine
Nava celebrates local and seasonal ingredients, while seamlessly redefining Modern European cuisines. They offer a selection of extraordinary vegetarian dishes. Even the beverages here are designed to elevate the overall dining experience — from handcrafted cocktails to refreshing mocktails.
Ambience
The decor here features elements like sleek white furnishings, abstract paintings, and ambient lighting that casts a soft glow to create an intimate yet open atmosphere. The fusion of European aesthetics with Mumbai’s infectious energy gives Nava a character of its own. The open kitchen gives me a peek into the mastery at play as I watch chefs craft each dish, right from the comfort of my seat.
We Recommend
Appetisers
I start my meal with Lamb Tacos (INR 650) — a dish, featuring fennel salsa in homemade soft shell tacos and lamb, that takes eight hours to reach its levels of juicy perfection. The signature Pork Bun Maska (INR 575) strays away from the typical bun maska associated with the city. Instead, it is stuffed with slow-cooked pork and served along with a tea-infused pork broth. This appetiser seamlessly blends European-inspired flavours to give Mumbai’s loved snack a delicious twist.
The Deep-fried Yam Gnocchi (INR 550) along with wild gouda and corn puree leaves my taste buds wanting more. The iconic Sfogliatella (INR 550) wows with its distinctive flaky and layered texture — a recreation of the texture of tree barks. Braised aubergine with truffle gouda and red wine reduction adds to the overall flavours of the dish.
Main course
For mains, I dive straight into the flavours of the ocean. The Seabass (INR 750) with a slow-cooked barramundi comes wrapped in Alu leaf, with wilted Alu, smoked fennel Beurre Blanc and potato skin adding to the earthy flavours. The Pappardelle (INR 600), a house-made pasta stuffed with chicken in red wine reduction, is worthy of a mention, too. Vegetarian diners can savour Fagotini (INR 775). This housemade pasta with goat cheese filling is a must-try.
Dessert
The final act of the meal takes an artistic turn. Inspired by Italian sculptor and painter Michelangelo’s iconic artwork Creation of Adam, this dessert celebrates a blend of sweet persimmon, the vibrant essence of passion fruit, and ‘art-on-a-plate’ — literally!
Our Takeaway
Each ingredient at Nava is carefully selected to elevate flavours and showcase the richness of local produce. The cocktail menu transforms the act of drinking into an immersive cultural experience, inviting you to explore unique tastes and aromas with every sip. The menu, created by chef de cuisine Akash Deshpande along with the founder Anushka Pathak, is curated with a passion for innovation, showcasing a fusion of traditional European flavours and modern techniques. Each dish is a work of art with immense attention to detail. Each dish is deeply satisfying. Do not miss a chance to experience a bit of Europe, right in the heart of Mumbai.
Quick Notes
Price for two: INR 2,100 + taxes
Address: 2nd Floor, Suburbia Building, SV Road, Linking Road, Bandra West, Mumbai
Timings: Noon to 3:30 pm; 07:00 pm to 11:30 pm
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