ILLUMINATI — Restaurant in Mumbai

According to Wikipedia, Illuminati is a name given to several groups, both real and fictitious.

The Illuminati at BKC is a place par excellence. As soon as you enter, it's a different world altogether. The Illuminati logo of the eye in the triange makes you wonder whats in store inside.

The white Illuminating lights, the silver and white décor, the huge huge bar, gets you transported to a place you could never get out of.

They have a humongous collection of alcohol in their bar.

The food is not left behind. Each and every dish is a twist to the classic dishes and has that one element to make it all the more better.

Rocket, Roasted Beets and Citrus Goat Cheese Salad :

As the name says it all, the salad was very refreshing. Loved the sweetness of the beets with the bitterness of the rocket leaves. The goat cheese amd citrus fruits added a zing to it. Perfect start to a meal.

Pomegranate Molasses Lamb Chops :

Lamb chops are one of my favorites and when I was reccomended to try this, I immediately ordered it. The whole dish is very picturesque and I didn't feel like eating it.

The lamb was very well cooked, and came off the bone very easily. Thry had small pita bread crisps as a garnish along with cherry tomatoes and mint leaves. The dish as a whole, along with the garnishes made it one hell of an appetizer.

Chipotle Cola Coffee Barbeque Wings :

The name is pretth self explanatory and something that I had never heard of so decided to try this. They soak the chicken wings in cola for a whole day and then they cook it in the barbeque and toss it with chipotle sauce and to finish it they garnish it with a little bit of coffee powder. Served alongside Blue Cheese Dip, the wings are one of my favorites here. Soft, crispy wings, amazing tangy taste of the sauce and the dip, everything was in sync. I highly recommend this dish for all the chicken wing lovers.

Cajun Fish n Chips Poppers :

A very very modern twist to the Classic Fish n Chips. They use small pieces of Rawas fish instead of one big piece. Instead of chips, they have potato balls fried to a crispiness state. Instead of the mushy peas that we get on the side, here they have crispy balls made of peas. It was just amazing.

Asparagus Tempura Sushi :

I was not a big fan of sushis. But my friend ordered it for her and I gave it a try. The crispiness of the tempura was very prominent in the sushi, tasted really best with the soy sauce. Since that day, sushi has made a place in my heart and on my palette.

Confit Duck Leg with Majool Date Puree :

For the first time, I tried a duck. It sounded so good when it was reccomended that I couldn't stop myself from ordering.

The duck is cooked in its own fat and then dressed with coffee and sherry. Served along side date puree and glazed carrots and green. When I tasted all the elements together, it really was a great thing. A burst of flavors occurred in my mouth.

This dish will go really well with a red wine. It's like peace on a plate.

Honey Sesame Chicken Bowl :

My friend loves Asian and she chose to order this for her mains. Chicken tossed in honey and chilli sauce along with sesame seeds and then served alongside sticky rice. All this came in one plate and makes a gpod meal for one person. The chicken was cooked very well and I loved the sticky rice.

Deconstructed Pineapple Upside-down :

This is one dessert I had been looking forward too. This has sous vide pineapple which is basically they partially cook the pineapple and then seal it in vaccum and chill it till further requirement. So pineapple along with milk cake amd pineapple pieces. Just amazing. Finished it within seconds.

The staff is very well versed in all the dishes and gives a very very clear description of what actually goes in the dish, which makes it the best part coz then it becomes easier to decide what to eat. I just loved the service here which is pretty quick, be it in getting the food, or the cocktails or even a mere spoon and fork. Everyone is very quick on their feet.

The night was a truly transcendence...

If there were a place way ahead of its time with the most modern state-of-art ambience, then it would be none other than Illuminati. It's elegance and beauty paired with the amazing holographic projections will surely blow your mind. They have an extremely elite vibe in the most modern fashion possible. It is one of those few restaurants which has gone ahead instead of going in the past in order to exude elegance. We had a wonderful time here and here are some highlights from the experience we had there.

We started off with the Pizza Inspired Arancini. It had the blend of two most Italian things, the flavor of pizza and the soulfulness of a risotto. Using Arancini balls, essentially panko crusted risotto balls, they made a base and it was topped with marinara, olives, onions and gooey, stringy mozzarella to make a perfect and cheesy combo.It was heaven on a plate.

Next came the Charcoal Bread Double Cheese sandwich. As the name itself says, matte black breads were stuffed with a delicious and thick blend of two different types of cheese, caramelized onions, tomatoes and pepper. It was sweet, tangy and delicious all the same. We totally loved this one and it was one of the best dishes we have had in the charcoal range.

The Cola Chicory Pepper Baby Potatoes on the Barbie were something unique and they were served after this. The potatoes had a sharp flavor of cola with a hint of pepper and served with a side of delicious flavored tangy mousse. It was extremely different from the usual and tasted pretty amazing too.

Last one of our appetizers was the Veg California Maki. This was spicy, flavored, tender, fresh and new soulful all at once. We loved it and it was made to utmost perfection.

Our meals were served alongside a range of whiskey based cocktails. We started off with the Blue Fairy. Jim Bean blended with the natural essence of blueberry and the flavor of blue pea bitters with a hint of orange to give a warm, sweet and smooth cocktail. It was good to go with the meal.

Next one was the Lost boy. This one, too was based on Jim Bean with the hint of Rosemary blended in a beautiful base of egg white and the vibrant colours of beetroot. It was bright, spiced as well as extremely smooth.

Last one of these was the Black gold. This one was the blend of Jim Bean and coffee, the most iconic duo along with a touch of citrusy orange and bitter absinthe to maintain its stoutness and flavor. It smelled great and tasted pretty amazing too.

Before we jumped onto the mains, they arrived with a complimentary basket of their signature charcoal bread and green parsley butter. The butter had immaculate flavor and was a pretty delicious partner to the charcoal bread.

The first dish of our course was the Baked Gnocchi Fonduta. A chunk of cheesy gnocchi in a bed of tangy gravy was topped with even more cheese and served with a slice of garlic bread. The gravy was heavenly and the bits of walnut added the much needed crunch to it. It was wholesome and quite filling to be honest.

Next one was the Roasted Vegetables and Mascarpone Crepinette. Rich Mascarpone wrapped in crepes and served with a bed of veggies is exactly the kind of dish which gives you throwbacks. It was regal, delicious and delightful. We loved it.

Next one was the Dark side of Hot Chocolate. This was a rare dessert. Bourbon and hot chocolate blended to make the smokiest flavor and it was indeed extremely strong. Served with a side of PBJ sandwiches, it had the most perfect balance. We totally loved this version of hot chocolate.

Last but one of the best, was their Simply Chocolate. Different textures of chocolate in all forms consumable were assembled in the most comforting way. It was chocolatey, indulgent and just totally amazing to be described.

It is one of the most beautiful places we have come across and it has a lovely vibe. Not only is the ambience a treat to their eyes, but also is their menu. It is a must visit for any special occasion or even the most perfect date.

Ambience: 5/5 Food:...

I must admit, the lights impressed me. 'Illuminati' - a perfect name with a unique concept.

Location (5/5): The location itself is a landmark in Bkc region. Inspired building in BKC is home to some amazing and unique restaurants like Uno Mas and Trisend. So the competition is tough still you would find it difficult to get a reservation on weekends.

Ambience (5/5): The glimmering lights cover most part of the restro & hence the name -Illuminati. There are huge lights which cover the centre of the restro (turned on during weekends). Also, make sure you don't get fooled by the super clean mirrors due to which they have directions on the floor.

Service (5/5): The chef was very considerate of our requests (spice level). Our server suggested us what we should go for, based on our likes & dislikes. I really liked the effort they put in to satisfy all the diners. Maaz left no stones unturned to provide best possible service.

Food(5/5): The chef served us some drooling dishes. They kept the authenticity of Asian Cuisine. The desserts were really unique & delightfully rich.

▪️ Drinks

Queen(Mocktail): I really liked the tangy flavors from the orange & Kaffir lime. The vanilla helped balance the flavors.

Prisnor(Cocktail): It's a vodka based cocktail with beautiful cherries on top.

▪️ Appetizers

Tokyo Chicken(Recommended): In love with Tokyo Chicken. Perfect size, similar to popcorns, but different flavor. They were tossed in spices & a sweet sauce, & garnished beautifully.

Steamed rawas xiao xing: The fish was steamed to perfection & served with vegetable spaghetti on top & a sauce made of wine at the bottom. It was completely boneless, which was a plus.

Chicken and prawns shumai dimsum: Beautiful & fresh yellow Dimsums topped with caviar is what you get in this dish. The prawns & chicken filling was delicious. If you love authentic Asian food, definitely try this.

Pizza inspired arancinni: It's interesting. Arancinni as a base for pizza?! Hell yes! It's topped with cheese & veggies, similar to a pizza. Thumbs up for the creativity.

▪️Main Course

Honey sesame chicken bowl (Recommended): As the dish arrived, the aroma of the jasmine rice took over the place. Chicken, tossed in honey & soy sauce, was placed on the rice. I loved the taste & aroma of the dish. Go for it.

▪️Desserts

Deconstructed pineapply upside down: A dessert served in a wine glass, & the chocolate biscuit was kept over to cover it. Whipped cream was held upside down and the base had deconstructed pineapple. How cool! Tastewise, it was okay. Bonus points for it's uniqueness.

The Decadent cake french toast (Recommended): French toast, replaced by soft & delicious cake, served with ice cream, hazelnut & banana on the side. The cake was soft & it paired well with ice cream. It's different & fulfilling.

Overall (5/5): Green light from my side, if that's what you are looking for. 🙈 The lights are a definite hit. And so is the food. Unique & Tasty food is...