Check out our new website on www.bpbweekend.com!We had to walk for our supper last night, when we went to try out Carter Road’s latest culinary candidate , Olivet Bleu. This lively stretch of Bandra was declared car-free until 10 pm, and pedestrians left the fringes of the road to take centre stage, watching cyclists do wheelies, listening to the sound of roller skates on tarmac and sniffing the delicious food being sold nearby. It was hard to leave this outdoor drama for a shoebox restaurant, but it had to be done.
Cricket, Crepes and Classics
Olivet Bleu is one of those eateries that could have been cosy but ended up being constricting: shocks of fake, fiery autumn leaves closed us in on one side and glittery-gel filled columns on the other. The nail-biting India-South Africa test match played on a flat screen and John Mayer’s throaty voice was on the speakers. At least they have good taste in music.
Replete with typos and seriously lacking variety for vegetarians, the menu claims to go back to basics by serving the best classic recipes. While we decided which “cosmopolitan creation” to order, we overheard the manager mention that their ‘cheff’ as they spell it, used to head Crepe Station. No wonder the menu advertised Crepe Station’s trademarks: hangover, low carb and high protein breakfast options.
French Fried
The continental fare is disproportionately priced, with a basket of fries costing Rs 75 and cheesy garlic bread for Rs 55. The former, crisp and salted, don't come with a garlic-mayo dip, but remember to ask for some. The Crumb Fried Prawns, golden with tinges of lemon juice and hints of mustard are also tasty, but didn’t warrant the Rs 250 price tag.
For mains, we skipped the sizzlers and steaks for Au Gratin (Rs 150), an engaging dish of vegetables laced with stringy cheese and white sauce. The Mushroom and Spinach Sandwich (Rs 110) with cheese and black olives, however, was a little too bitter and dry for our liking. We finished our meal with Nutella milkshake (Rs 110), which was appropriately chocolaty, but we wish the milk they’d used had been richer. Brownies and caramel custard are other available options.
Taking It In our Stride
We’re not sure that Olivet Bleu is worth a second trip. Not because the food is bad, or the service shoddy. They faired decently on both counts, actually. But at Rs 600 for two, there are far better, prettier options in the vicinity.
We walked out at 10.15 pm to zooming tires and exhaust-belching autos. Bandra was no longer car-free; and we’d missed it all for a banal baked dish.
Getting there: Olivet Bleu, Carter Road, next to Red Ninja, Bandra (W), call 64461777.
The Secret Scouters review restaurants anonymously and pay for their own meals.
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