Ginseng restaurant puts down roots

You and your girls aren’t up for dressing up and heading downtown, but you don’t want to sacrifice on a hip night out either.

You might want to try Ginseng, which opened a few weeks back with a fresh twist on the Chinese food experience.

Start off with drinks in their lounge bar, complete with DJ console, psychedelic lighting and plasma screens.

Then move down a level for dinner. If you’re with a group, ask for one of their screened in, discreet dining nooks.

The vibe outshines the standard Chinese menu’s soups, rice, noodles, chicken and vegetarian dishes. Our Trendy Taster recommends the bacon-wrapped prawns starter and the butter pepper squid, which is slightly chewy, but delicious. The Yam Mein noodles and pot rice are interesting and satisfying. For dessert it’s the usual suspects – date pancakes and honey fried noodles.

The décor swings in a minimalist direction: Bamboo reeds, a Buddha bust here and there, and, thankfully, a dash of warm muted reds and golds. Spot lighting that lets you see what you’re eating is a nice touch.

The best part? No pseudo-calming zen muzak to cause indigestion.

Ginseng, Gazebo Plaza,
Plot No B-313, Linking Road, Khar.
Telephone: 26052828/2626.
Dinner for two (without alcohol): Rs 1,500.