Another Juhu place that I visited recently. Some eight months back, I had visited this place on a lazy Saturday afternoon. While coming back from work the other night right near the Santa Cruz police station, we quickly decided to eat Italian and thus we took a diversion to Juhu Tara Road instead of following linking road.
The previous experience at Giovanni’s had been good and we had not eaten anything Italian for a long time. So we hopped across and realised that we were the only guests that we had. But of course, few people in our country visit a restaurant at 8pm after all.
The servers were still settling down, some of the dinner plates were still being arranged. The airconditioners had still not been switched on, and some of the lights were still not switched on. Anyways, we were seated in a non smoking section of the restaurant.
One of the queer things that I noticed were the numberous empty wine bottles which are decorated on ledges on the walls. Couldn’t really figure this one out.The only place where I have seen empty bottles decorated is the neighbourhood kabadiwallah after all.
We looked at the menu, and we looked at the menu. We decided to take baby steps because the menu is fairly extensive, with appertifs, soups, first course entrees and then second course entrees and so on. Thought it would be nice to have some bruschetta with a cab sav. The server had a touch time trying to understand exactly what wine I wanted. So, finally I had to ask him to bring the bottle to me and show it. The server had no clue of wines at all, which I find a bit strange in a place decorated with empties. We asked for the bruschetta with tomatoes on top and this one was another strange one. Thought bruschetta always had tomatoes on it, especially when these folk charge extra for the tomatoes.
After a while the vino arrived. BTW, we had changed our mind to something these guys would understand and asked for a sauvignon blanc instead. The bruschetta arrived soon after and was a total dissappointment. It was nothing more than toasted bread with garlic butter on top with some finely chopped tomatoes. bruschetta made out of sliced bread??
The owner Signor Giovanni (an Italian himself, as the name suggests) used to be the country manager for Benetton, and somewhere along the line he decided that his calling was elsewhere and started opening up restaurants instead. Happy for him for his passion and all that, but the bread did dissappoint.
For our main courses we ordered a lasagna and a fritto mito (which is essentially a seafood fritters). The lasagna was very nice, the meat inside really well ground, the flavours delicate. The fritters had mainly calamari, and a few fried squid. The serving size was miserable and could be used more as an appetizer rather than an entree. The calamiri was a bit more rubbery than one expects, the squid tough.
So, I had to call one of the servers and ask him to get me the menu again. After about five minutes, some sliced lemon arrived instead. Being patient (and patience is not one of my virtues), I summoned the steward and repeated my request. The menu arrived, and he suggested that I eat a canalone because it will get to the table quickly. Of course, because the canalone is usually just thawed, heated and served.
While I waited for the canalone, we sat around and observed things in the restaurant. There was another person (who was wearing Schlumberger overalls) was the only other guest. The maitre de was spending time polishing the menu cards and talking to someone on the phone continuously. Her boyfriend? Meanwhile, one of the waiters had an argument with the barman as well. Fun stuff!
The canalone arrived and it was microwaved. But what the heck, the canalone was soft, the beef filling soft, moist and divine. The sauces in the right proportion and thickness. Loved it.
We were more or less full, but the dessert has to be had. We asked for suggestions and the server suggested the Tiramisu, which if made well is something that can make my day. The server claimed that their Tiramisu was the best in town. Well, it arrived presently and we dug into it. The claims were not false. This was the best Tiramisu I have had in India, no exceptions. Oh, another interesting thing...this Tiramisu is made of cottage cheese (paneer) and not the usual masarpone.
We asked for the check and then things started going wrong. Meanwhile the other guest had given his plastic to be charged and the restaurant people had already taken more than 15 minutes trying to swipe the card and charge it. Our check added to the melee and it actually took these people another 15 minutes for someone to get back and mention that the card reader was not working. I refused to part with cash and asked them to find a way. Since Don Giovanni’s is located in the same building as the Bawa International Hotel, they sent someone there to swipe the card. Didnt work there either. It was not 30 minutes past, when they somehow managed to charge the card and bring it back. It felt like a lackadaisical atmosphere out there.
This was the last interaction with them and people always remember the last interaction in these kind of circumstances. Though the food was overall good, I would hesitate to go here. Wouldn’t you?