The food Studio, Mulund

THE FOOD STUDIO, Mulund

Another strike from my long and never ending bucket list of places to eat. Even though there are so many places I wish to visit, when it comes to actual short listing of places while making plans, it just ends up like there is no good placed to go! Does this happen to anyone else or is it just me?? I have a feeling it is just me, confusion ki potli that I am and factor in that I tend to be very choosy. Yes, even from my own bucket list. Me any factors contribute to this - Occasion, Set-Up, People that you are hanging out with, cuisine, location so on and so forth.

I have been fascinated with Food Studio since one of my friend's had first told me about it. But never really got to go, as it is conveniently located in Mulund which is very inconvenient to me. I had always heard good reviews of the place from a few others, and that's how I was tempted even more to pay the place a visit. Then came the occasion that I was awaiting, Birthday Treat. Yeah! Why should I pay, when some one else can. No, that is generally not the case. This happened to be most convenient to everyone in the group barring one seeing how we are spread across different parts of Mumbai. This fall in the center. So it was zeroed in. 

The place is a fusion of a fine dine and a resto bar catering to families more than youngsters, from what I could observe. Interesting fact, many young crowd come here to celebrate Birthdays, and the cake is always from Monginis, including us I guess there were 3 in total, and every time they played the birthday song, you wonder if its for you! (Even if it does not sound funny, it really is real life. It is. Trust me. You have to believe me. :/ ). The one thing I could advise you is don't bother with the music. I don't even know what they were playing, I did however, feel at one point that they were playing a remixed version of the title credits to Games of Thrones, or maybe it was a figment of my imagination. What I am trying to say here is, the ambiance works fine, if you are looking for close gatherings, but don't if you are here for the oh-so-awesome party scenes or anything remotely close. 

The one good thing that i really appreciate of the place is the fact that they do Mock tails by the Pitcher. No body else does. At least, I haven't come across anyone doing so. This really works for people like me and few others who do not drink. Mock tails tend to be expensive for some reason. I have never understood it. Why is mixing juices expensive? It has zero alcohol content. Then why! But with the Pitcher concept, one can be ordered for the table and it turns out to be nominal. Don't kill me because after going into so much detail over 1 pitcher, I am about to tell you that, that is exactly what we didn't do. We ordered individual mock-tails against the advise of the Manager. Two Reason! Some one else's paying, in fact I think 3 out of 5 were. Hence, Itna toh Banta hai. And we felt adventurous and wished to try different flavors. End Result? They were all almost similar in taste. So much over a mock tail. Hey, no complaints, how much can you do with a bunch of juices. I have realized that it is repetitive almost everywhere. In the Starters we ordered one that fell in the veg and the other in Non Veg Category as, there are always vegetarians around me, they happen to love and follow me around. I love Paneer, so you will never find me complaining about it, infact you would want me to keep my hands off the veg plate so that it's not over before you have even had it (Yes, That has Happened!! :D) In The Vegetarian we had called for the Crackling Spinach with Paneer, and for the Non Veg we had ordered the Kung Pao Chicken. I would start off by saying that the Quantities are really good, where 2 starters were more than sufficient between the five of us. I had assumed we would have to order at least another. When I speak of taste, both the dishes had a flavor of Chinese food. I don't have any complaints as such over the food but at the same time it is not something I have never had before. They were both spot on, on flavors with the right mix of spices and tanginess. Next we places Order for a Desi Pizza, because that is the only thing that sounded interesting in the Vegetarian section, along with melted Bruschetta. With the Pizza, I would gladly say that the fusion worked. A wood Fired base with Makhani Sauce and topped with Paneer and lots of it really does make for a treat. I would order again. The Wood Fired Base happens to be my favorite but it can go horribly wrong if not done right and here, it was just about perfect, the slight crunch at the end giving it the perfect finish. The Bruschettas were again a favorite on the table and was highly applauded by everyone. This is something, because in my head a bruschetta is simply a garlic bread with toppings. Which, it is and yet its more. The balance is important. Not to over do it with the toppings and neither undercooked but just about. In the actual mains we ordered for an Alfredo Pasta and a Prawn Sizzler - Peri Peri Sauce. I think my favorite kind of Non-Veg is Prawns, I can't have enough of it which has become a luxury to me, which once was a norm (Majorly Missing Mommy Dearest Here :( ) You really learn to value the things that once you took for granted, abundance of yummy looking and tasty food always stocked in the refrigerator! The Prawn Sizzler I have to say was my favorite from the Menu. This could be because I was indeed craving Sizzler on the day but the prawns was perfectly cooked, with the crunch quality which also melts in your mouth. The Butter rice that came with the Sizzler was something I wish I could imitate at home. I would much rather not talk of the Pasta. As I had previously mentioned, the Alfredo is something the best of the restaurants in my opinion are not successful with. But I felt daring on the day and ordered for this. Major mistake. The Sauce simply felt like it had gone bad or sour or I don't know what, but it felt not just stale but absolutely inedible. The thought was a chorus on the table and one thing I have to give the Management extra points is for immediately getting it replaced, not only that but changed the order to another Pasta of our liking. Highly appreciated. Its small things like these that will stay with you long after everything else. So Kudos!

With or Without the family, this place will not burn a hole through your pocket, at least not a big one, and can prove to be the king of good food Times! Always brimming with people, it can be an eventful experience, you do not want to miss!!

WHAT WE HAD - 6 Mocktails (Just go for the Pitcher)

                           Crackling Spinach with Paneer (Yumness!)

                           Kung Pao Chicken (Yumness!)

                           Desi Pizza (Favorite!)

                           Bruschetta (Yumness!!)

                           Alfredo Pasta (Red Alert - Avoid!)

                           Pasta in Red Sauce (Okay!)

                           Garlic Prawn Sizzler (Star!)

DAMAGES - Rs 3200/- Approx (For all that, its worth it!)

WHERE -  The Food Studio., Opp. Runwal Green Project, Mulund Goregaon Link Road, Mulund (West), MUMBAI