Napoli By Shatranj — Restaurant in Mumbai

My recent visit to Shatranj by Napoli left me with a lasting impression of a restaurant that, on the whole, offers a delightful dining experience. From the moment I stepped inside, I was enveloped in an elegant fine dining atmosphere that set the stage for an enjoyable evening.

The menu, both extensive and inclusive, caters to a wide range of tastes, ensuring that both vegetarians and non-vegetarians have an array of options to choose from.

To start our meal, I selected the Minestrone soup and the Focaccia bread. The Minestrone soup was a heartwarming delight, a comforting burst of rich flavors that immediately made me feel at ease. The Focaccia bread was nothing short of exceptional, with a perfectly baked crust and a wonderfully soft, flavorful interior. It set a high bar for the meal to come.

The standout moment of the evening was undoubtedly the Beetroot Burrata. This dish was a true masterpiece, seamlessly combining the earthy sweetness of beets with the creamy decadence of burrata cheese. The flavors danced together in a beautiful symphony on my palate.

Moving on to the Corn Ribs, while they didn't quite reach the innovative heights that I had hoped for, they were still a decent offering. They didn't diminish the overall enjoyment of the meal, and I appreciated the effort put into them.

The only minor hiccup came with the Mushroom Risotto and Pesto Cavatelli in the main course. These dishes, unfortunately, fell short of the robust flavors I had anticipated. The Mushroom Risotto, in particular, lacked the depth I was hoping for. The Pesto Cavatelli, while decent, didn't quite live up to the high standards set by the appetizers.

On a brighter note, the service at Shatranj by Napoli was truly impeccable. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and unfailingly polite throughout the evening. This level of service added to the overall dining experience, making it a comfortable and enjoyable place to dine.

In conclusion, Shatranj by Napoli is a restaurant with immense potential. While there were a few misses in the main course and a minor disappointment with the Corn Ribs, the fantastic ambiance and top-notch service make it a place worth visiting. With a few refinements to certain recipes, Shatranj by Napoli could easily become a standout in the culinary world.

It's worth noting that, despite these minor setbacks, the overall dining experience was positive. However, I must mention one dish that fell short of expectations - the Feta Tomato Flatbread. Unfortunately, it arrived at our table at a less-than-ideal temperature and lacked the fresh, crisp appeal one would expect from a flatbread. The flavors, too, were somewhat subdued, not delivering the anticipated burst of savory and tangy goodness.

In retrospect, while the Feta Tomato Flatbread was a miss amidst an otherwise enjoyable dining experience, it's important to remember that every restaurant can have an off day with certain dishes. Shatranj by Napoli, with its charming ambiance and service, remains a promising destination for culinary...

Tucked away in Bandra’s ever-evolving culinary landscape, Napoli by Shatranj presents itself as a polished neighbourhood Italian eatery. But despite the charming name and the promise of a thoughtfully curated Italian menu, the experience left more to be desired than remembered.

The meal started on a reasonably positive note. The Spaghetti Carbonara arrived with a creamy, well-emulsified sauce that clung nicely to the strands of pasta. The presence of pork gave the dish some much-needed body and savouriness, though it was hard to tell if guanciale was used. The overall flavour was pleasant, if unremarkable, and the dish did what it needed to without dazzling.

Unfortunately, the meal only declined from there.

The Steak, requested medium rare, did arrive at the correct doneness, which deserves acknowledgement. But that’s where the positives end. The cut of meat itself was a poor choice—tough, chewy, and devoid of the tenderness one expects from a properly sourced and rested steak. For a dish that typically commands a premium on any menu, this one felt more like an afterthought than a main event.

The Salmon Bruschetta fared no better. Topped with pallid, clearly farmed salmon that lacked freshness, the dish suffered from a lack of depth and definition. The cream which is meant to support or complement actually ended up dominating the plate. The result was a bland, vaguely fishy bite that could have come from any cold appetiser counter rather than a kitchen claiming Italian sophistication.

And therein lies the central issue with Napoli by Shatranj. While it gestures toward authenticity and finesse, the food rarely lands with the kind of precision or character that might distinguish it. The pricing, meanwhile, reflects a confidence that the food does not back up. At best, it feels like another stylish Bandra restaurant with a name borrowed from Naples but very little of its soul.

In the end, Napoli by Shatranj is not a terrible meal, but it’s a forgettable one—and that...

My husband and I decided to go out for dinner last minute and were delighted to find an available table on a Sunday evening at Napoli.

Upon our arrival at the restaurant, I couldn't help but notice that, unlike most highly-rated places with four stars, it was relatively empty. We didn't dwell on it and proceeded to peruse the menu. Shortly after, two or three more couples arrived. We chose to overlook the commotion, as the restaurant staff were handling the situation with professionalism.

After perusing the menu, we placed our order. However, when we inquired about recommendations from our waiter, he informed us that both the gnocchi and my prawn dish had the same base sauce. This struck us as odd since gnocchi is typically prepared with a buttery sauce. We ordered a flatbread that lacked seasoning, but we remedied it by using some provided on the table. Our second dish was the smoked steamed corn, and while the corn was cooked well, they had applied paprika generously."

For the main course, I ordered the prawn dish and was quite surprised to find only four pieces of prawn served with unseasoned rice and assorted vegetables. At this point, my disappointment had grown to the extent that I didn't feel compelled to complain about the dish.

To make matters worse, the waitstaff and the manager (two to three of them) repeatedly interrupted us to inquire about our food and drinks. They approached us once after the drinks, then after the appetisers, and then again after the main course, followed by dessert. Throughout the dinner, waiters continuously cleared one empty plate at a time, which added to our disappointment with both the food and service. To make matters worse, we were initially overcharged, though they promptly corrected the bill when we brought it to their attention."

The restaurant is clearly not worth the hype created and the staff are under worked and bored and...