Pot Pourri comes to Malad

Well, it does look like all the action is moving to Malad. I recently found myself back in the bustling ‘burb, raring to sample some lip-smacking fare. Pot Pourri, that much-adored eatery in Bandra, is now also at Malad’s mammoth InOrbit Mall.

I dare say I wasn’t too keen to have my munchies in a crowded mall, what with all those mall rats making such a racket. But I was pleasantly surprised when I made my way to the third floor where Pot Pourri is located. Tucked away in a corner, between Ruby Tuesday and the Fame multiplex, you’d almost miss the bashful little place if you weren’t really looking for it.

The intimate atmosphere — all red panelling and wooden furniture — is like an oasis of calm in the midst of the mall’s frenzied pace. But, yes, although I’d left the mall’s hullabaloo behind, the menu that greeted me was almost as chaotic. But just as you would at the old faithful in Bandra, stick to the Italian fare here as well. Take my word for it and give the Mexican and Thai dishes on offer a miss.

Instead, do as I did and go straight for the pastas. Both the veg and non veg ones are filling, with just the right mix of spices and sauce. The flavours of the sauces may be a bit Indianised, but the fettuccine, spaghetti and the penne are cooked just right, neither too al dente nor too well cooked. Personally, I’d vote for the Chicken Penne Pasta, creamy and rich in herbed flavours — just the way I like it. Vegetarians would love any of the mushroom preparations as well as the tomato-rich Arabiatta sauce.

A word of warning: skip the outside tables. People-watching at the mall might be fun. But only as long as the people aren’t watching you at the tuck table!

Pot Pourri, Food Court, Next to Ruby Tuesday, InOrbit Mall, Link Road, Malad (W) and Pot Pourri, #4 Carlton Court, Turner Road, Bandra (W); Tel: 26429193, 26406010; Price: A meal for two without drinks would cost approximately Rs 1,000.