Reviewed: Upstairs, Tardeo

Reviewed: Upstairs, Tardeo

Upstairs, a swanky new pub opened last week in the bylanes of Tardeo, Mumbai. With delicacies from around Asia and a drinks menu that has a few surprises, it promises to be the new hangout place for Generation Y.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Located near the iconic eatery, Sardar Pav Bhaji, Upstairs is a little tricky to find, even if you are using GPS. The Asian bistro bar is on the top floor of a residential building and you can spot it from a distance, if you are on the main road. Once inside, my friend and I were escorted to the dining area, which was out on the terrace. We were given the option to sit inside but the loud music didn’t seem like good company. The place was dimly lit, with a beautiful Buddha sculpture in the centre. The décor has been kept subtle — the plants complement the gold-black seating well. Apart from the chairs, patrons have the option of sitting at tables with sofas as well. Though the restaurant is on the terrace, the view, unfortunately, is blocked by plants and plastic sheets.

 

Water Whip Cocktail Upstairs_hauterfly
Water Whip Cocktail

DRINKS

The drinks menu went on forever and we were spoilt for choice. We asked the waiter to recommend something fun and we are glad we left it to him. The Water Whip Cocktail, which was vodka with a hint of green apple and mint, was absolute heaven! It had the after-taste of a mouth freshener, which was quite refreshing. But the best part was the theatrical effect that came with the drink. I give a huge thumbs up to this and it’s a must-try when visiting Upstairs. The other drink was an old-school mojito, which was strictly okay and couldn’t quite match up to the previous drink. There’s also an interesting catch here — the second round of your drinks will be cheaper than the first. This only means one thing — getting drunk is now easy and affordable!

 

Chicken Momos Upstairs_hauterfly
Chicken & Coriander Momos

FOOD

We started with the appetizers — Sambal Honey Potatoes and Two Ways Stir Fried Pepper Chicken. Served on black crockery, both the dishes looked yum. The potatoes weren’t bite-sized, and cutting into them was a little difficult, but the taste made us forget about the slightly tough texture. After gobbling 2-3 of them, the spice really hits you. I, for one, love spicy food, but for those who cannot handle the heat should probably stop after one. The chicken was well cooked, and the flavours, especially the pepper, were in the perfect consistency. Initially I was worried that the ingredient would overpower the dish, but my doubts were soon put to rest.

A quick scan of the menu and my eyes caught the words — chicken momos. I knew I had to have some. The staff recommended the Chicken & Coriander ones, so we picked those. Soft and moist is how I would describe this Tibetan delicacy that came with three lip-smacking dips.

For the main course, we went for the Indonesian specialty, Nasi Goreng. The rice was a little chalky, but if you love your food with fish sauce, go for it — it is an acquired taste. The chicken version of the dish comes with some four pieces of the meat on skewers that tasted sour.

I don’t have a sweet tooth, but the fried honey noodles with coconut ice-cream sounded irresistible. Guess what? The ice-cream was not available but they replaced it with the vanilla one. That tasted good too, but I am sure the coconut one would have been the bomb.

In A Nut Shell

I am a sucker for dimly-lit ambiances and this one really worked for me. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and they had no idea that I was there for a review, which means they treat all their guests with equal graciousness. Good food with affordable rates, you can easily plan a Friday night here. However, the neighbouring locality does become a little dingy post 11 pm, so plan your evening well. Nonetheless, you should definitely give this place a try but word of caution — make sure you’re wearing the right (read: sturdy) heels, because mine broke while walking to the bistro.

Location: 5th Floor, Konarkshram Building, Behind Everest Building, Tardeo, Mumbai – 400034
Hours: 6:00 pm to 1:30 am
Price For Two: Rs 1,ooo (approx)
Contact: +91 9967149466

Japleen Kaur

Hauterfly's Lifestyle writer and resident Potterhead. In love with boxes, diaries, food, and conversations. Always in a state of fernweh. (Don't know what that means? Search the site for more!)

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