Citrus: The Leela, Chakala, Mumbai Multi-Cuisine Restaurant

Restaurant Name: Citrus: The Leela
Phone: +912266911359, +912266911324
Address: Sahar Airport Road, Mariyyman Nagar, Greater Indra Nagar, Andheri East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400099 India
Time: 8:00 AM – 11:30 PM
Meals for two: Rs. 6,000
Cuisines: Italian, North Indian, Maharashtrian, Continental, Asian
Facilities: Breakfast, Home Delivery, Full Bar Available, 4/5 Star, Buffet Table, booking recommended, Wifi, Brunch, Indoor Seating

Citrus: The Leela, Chakala, Mumbai – About

No two ways about it. As a food critic, it is really important to visit a restaurant unannounced. That’s the only way to get an accurate assessment and review. On a Sunday afternoon, we walk into Citrus, the all-day dining restaurant of The Leela and the service (or rather the lack of it) leaves us flabbergasted. Happily, the food retains its consistency.

Service, food and ambiance are the three pillars of a restaurant review, add to it, are the price points and buzz and you get the complete picture. My review follows…

Decor: 

It’s the natural light, the windows looking onto the waterfall and bamboo trees that draw attention. The large high-ceilinged space gleams and the show kitchen is at the heart of it (along which the buffet is laid out).

Food – Citrus: The Leela

You must be wondering why I’ve shot and included the photograph of the Kerala Appam and stew by the window. ?Both these have been the highlights of the Citrus, even when it was called Waterfall Cafe. I’ve been going back for appam stew since then. Seat yourself by the window for a stunning view of the waterfall and bamboo trees outside and ask for the spongy appam (made in the traditional ironappam chatti). The faint kiss of home made toddy in the appam delights. Ladle on the velvety coconut rich stew (mutton, chicken and vegetable options), we pick the succulent mutton stew. Quite clearly the Keralite Chef Narendran Nambiar is very particular about his ingredients. Be it the plump Nendran, plantain, Kerala red rice, Ada, Milma Ghee, and oh, how I love that appalam! We can detect the different press of coconut milk (be it the first press in the payasam and stew, or the third press for cooking vegetables and meat.

From the silken Alleppey Fish Curry, Malabar Fish Curry to the Chicken Chettinad, South India reigns supreme. North Indian a la carte options like Tikka Makhani, Rogan Josh, Gucchi Mutter Masala are recommended.

The buffet menu has over 30 main courses as many starters, salads and desserts, live stations of grills, pasta and pizza. Japanese European, Lebanese Indian Thai and Chinese dishes offered here too. These are available on the a la carte menu as well.

Local Mumbai delicacies – vada pav, pav bhaji, keema pav, Mumbai toastee are their other highlight. Executive Chef Aungshuman Chakraborty ensures the consistency of quality and presentation too.

Service:

I have lunch here on a Sunday. The restaurant is officially open for lunch, but there is total chaos. The staff is hither and thither and inspite of our requesting three different servers no body even knows the price of the buffet. No menu is given and the list of lapses goes on. It’s distressing, to say the least. And it continues till the end of our lunch. Hope it was just a bad day. Bypass the Japanese and some of the desserts (the phirni, for example)

My point – Citrus: The Leela

It’s been a consistently good experience, except for the service this time. Past three decades, I’ve been dropping anchor at The Leela’s gleaming, sprawling lobby-level, open through the day restaurant. Love that it’s bathed in natural daylight and it’s extensive three meal time buffets serving up Chinese, Indian European, Japanese and Mediterranean dishes. For me, it’s always been the authentic a la carte South Indian fare that has me hooked. I’ve never checked this fact, but am sure it’s because of the founding family Nairs from Kerala, (the hotel named after the grande dame Leela Nair too). It offers plenty of cuisine options to my dining companions.