There are not many places in India where you can eat if you are looking for something French and Western friendly in a true fine dining style. Mumbai is the financial capital of India with some of the richest persons in the world living in the city so it is a surprise that there is not more and higher quality of the international cuisine restaurants, but with some great exceptions and the very best exception is The Zodiac Grill located in The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower. The restaurant has been around for quite some time now and still offers true fine dining with a high international standard.

Back in the days did The Zodiac Grill offer its guests a menu without any prices and guests could pay as they pleased. It is different today and Zodiac is one of the most expensive restaurants in India, but you will not just pay for the Bernardaud Porcelain, the silver cutlery from Christofle and the hand blown glasses from Riedel.

The Zodiac Grill with its crafted menu by Grand Corporate Chef Hemant Oberoi offers dish after dish of maybe not the most modern and innovative food, but it all tastes excellent. The food is on the classical side and heavy with sinful signatures, such as the cheese soufflé Camembert Dariole so the restaurant is not the ideal place if you are on your way to a night club or so. Ideal is to have a suite ready in the palace part of the hotel after the meal.

The Sous Chef Diana Kavarana certainly knows how to make dish after dish of taste bliss, such as the java smoked duck with ginger sticky rice or the king scallops with citrus crab guacamole and gazpacho espuma. There are many dishes of delicacy, but our favorite is the Lamb Winery with tapenade crusted New Zealand lamb rack, Merlot onions and olive jus.

The refined service is impeccable with a feeling that will make you feel like royalty from the whole restaurant team. Many exclusive restaurants lack understanding of the importance in focusing on each guest, rather being worried not presenting each dish in a perfect way, then running away to the next serving.

When you enter The Zodiac Grill after a busy day in Mumbai it is like entering a free zone with emphasis on old luxury and traditions. You will soon notice that classical touches of live piano and a very personal serving by Prakash Bangera, who has served the Zodiac guests for decades, is nothing else but pure world class.

And by the end of your tasting menu you should definitely ask for the Café a la Zodiac and Mr Bangera will make you his signature coffee just next to your table together with all sorts of additional desserts flambés. It looks like a burning snake when Prakash is preparing his speciality coffee in front of you so he calls it the Ssssnake Coffee. And the taste of the coffee when you finally will have it? One of the best coffees you can have.

Written by Andy