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For most restaurants these days, the objective is more about getting the breathtaking spectacles on point for the ‘gram. And Powai’s latest offering Eve is no different. When I entered the restaurant, I saw some people queuing up for a picture at the spiral staircase, which has a chandelier overhead, right at the entrance. Others were probably Instagramming, which is very obvious in a place as such. But does the restaurant have more to offer than the interiors? Let’s find out.
The interiors
The modern-day premium casual dining restaurant is designed to make you feel like you’re in a space that’s an extension of your living room. It welcomes you with a vintage doorway and a 30-feet high library wall that houses over 4,000 books. The library includes genres like fiction, non-fiction, classics, and romance amongst others and from different times, that will make you want to stay a little longer.
Designed by Mumbai-based firm, KNS Architects, the restaurant is all about good vibes, good vibes and good vibes. Bright corners are elegantly decked up with earthy tones of ceramic, cane, wood and plants to create the natural landscape effect which adds up to the rustic yet regal interiors. It also has an island bar, wooden flooring, cane-weaved seating, regal chandeliers, and fabric lamps — all the makings good enough to light up your Instagram feed with the perfect pictures.
The cocktails
Helmed by mixologist Sachin Yadav, their drinks menu is extremely ingredient-focused and quite impressive. Some of the must-try signature drinks include Essence Of Life — a refreshing mix of gin, lemongrass, kaffir lime liqueur, lemon and tonic; Tira-Miss You!!! — a beautiful concoction of vodka, Baileys, tiramisu, espresso and rose dust; and Berry Bramble — blended scotch, vanilla, lemon, and blueberry foam.
The food
Now let’s talk about the food, shall we? Because that’s what you go to a restaurant for. It started on a good note with the delectable trio hummus — a blueberry, scallion and fresco pepper hummus served with house pita. Next up was Sichuan prawns with lemongrass drizzle served with burnt garlic and brioche pav that will leave you licking the plate clean. And that was it. This is where the disappointment begins.
What arrived next on our table was a classic Margherita pizza topped with burrata and basil pesto. It wasn’t bad, but also not the best. Eve’s cranberry and brie phyllo cups is the chef's signature combination of butter brie, maraschino cherries and cranberries served in a phyllo cup with berry compote. Well, they look delightful, but taste? Not so much. Keeping up with the growing trend of mock meat, they also have a mock meat Irani kheema made with soy, served with brioche pav and pickled onion – not something to rave about. Also, avoid their sushi and truffle mushroom rice.
For sweet endings, we tried the gianduja mousse — chocolate and hazelnut mousse with berry compote, sesame brittle and coffee soil, again something you need to avoid if you’re not into extra and imbalanced flavours. By the end of our meal, we were convinced that the restaurant had put too much effort into the interiors and vibe, and not so much into the palate.
However, their focus is on-point when it comes to sustainability. Pawan Shahri, Founder of Eve, says, “Our farm-to-fork menu is a reflection of the same — from the beautifully crafted salads to the sous vide cooking methodology and a zero-waste policy to support the local communities. The innovative menu is also designed to promote seafood diversity, sustainable fisheries and healthy oceans, whilst sourcing only the highest quality ingredients to create vibrant and exciting culinary delights.”
Final verdict
Is Eve worth a second visit? For cocktails and the vibe, hell yes! For the food? Maybe not!
Address: Eve, Sentinel Building, 101, First Floor, opposite Powai Plaza, Hiranandani Gardens, Mumbai
Timings: 12 noon till 1:30 am
Cost for two: Rs 4,000 onwards