ITP Indian Travel Places: Food, Travel, Tourism Business Events and Trade Shows
Phone: 022 30151978
Address: 10, World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Time: 12 Noon – 1:30 AM
Meals for two: Rs. 2,000
Cuisines: Asian, Continental
Facilities: Beer, Serves Jain Food, Live Music, Free Parking, Serves Cocktails, Wifi, Nightlife
Smoking Area, Live Sports Screening, Vegan Options, Gastro Pub, Private Dining Area Available, Table booking recommended, Live Entertainment, Gluten Free Options
It’s high energy. Yet, it’s comforting. Open all day, it offers the comfort of an old family friend, with whom all generations are comfy. At night it morphs into a swinging star. Having attended a birthday dinner here, I checked it out subsequently at lunch with a charming mother and daughter gourmet duo. In fact, when I moved to Bombay in 1980, amongst my very first were the gracious gourmet dinners at the lovable couple Rani and Surinder Kapur’s fabulous home. Rani is chairperson of a leading international automobile parts company and a globetrotting gourmet. Would she approve of Hammer & Song? Mum knows-best is dynamic entrepreneur Mandira’s inspiration behind the return to tradition, to 100% natural unique products (from turmeric to mosquito repellents), which she creates and curates. She is equally particular about her dining experiences, too. Over a leisurely lunch infused with laughter and love, both mum and daughter gave thumbs up to H&T.
Hammer & Song, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai: Decor
Be sure to enter through gate 2 of the World Trade Center. Go past the popular Flamboyant (same owners as H&T). The two-leveled day lit 4,000 sq ft space comes as a pleasant surprise. Zia Shroff has brilliantly combined comfort and style. Plush sofas, classic vintage wicker chairs, wooden tables complete the decor.
Hammer & Song, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai: Food & Drinks
We bit into the crisp Phyllo Sheet Triangles and out oozed baked Brie infused with the heady Umami of Truffle Honey. We apprehensively reached out to the crisp Lotus Stem Nachos. Whoa! Velvety sour cream did a jugalbandi with tangy jalapeno. Even the mushroom pate was laced with truffle flavor. Chicken Chilli Basil Bao teased with activated charcoal.
Contrasting these dishes was the comforting homey Chinese meal in a bowl, flatbread and robustly spiced moist kebabs. Australia trained mixologist Ayush Arora innovates many a cocktail, flavored beers and ensures that even drinking water is served in Reidel glasses. And that guilt free, gluten free, sugar free chocolate cake was aptly named Oyee Guyee.
Hammer & Song, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai: Minus Points
I’ve been a big fan of Amrish Arora’s Flamboyante’s Burmese Khow Suey and was disappointed with its indistinct blurry flavors here. Even the Nalli Nihari, which is velvety, fall off the bone in Flamboyante, lacked punch here. Bland and soggy salad. Over sweet Nutella cheesecake.
Hammer & Song, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai: My Point
Thankfully, the Southern tip of our dagger shaped Mumbai has begun to rock. Hammer & Song offers adventure (in food and drink) for those who want it and comfort for those who don’t. It’s an all-day Gastropub-Taproom and Cocktail Bar with live music, too. Father and son, Amrish and Ayush Arora seem to have consciously gone hammer and tong to ensure that all generations enjoy their Hammer & Song. We did!
