Mumbai has a new power lunch spot

Everything about the newly opened Armani/Caffè in Mumbai’s Jio World Plaza seems to have been tailormade for Giorgio Armani. The menu, it seems, comprises a selection of his favourite dishes, prepared the way they are at his home. The wine list, sourced from small-batch wineries and estates across traditional and emerging wine regions of Italy, also comes with the designer’s stamp of approval. Even the tableware—sourced from Italian brands like Broggi as well as Pinetti, has his nod.

Rubbing shoulders with the Giorgio Armani boutique in the high-end luxury mall, the new Armani/Caffè—the first in South Asia—is modelled after its international counterparts. It’s clean-lined, understated, and with no visible branding of the fashion behemoth. Done up in soothing teal green and shimmering blues with palm-fringed glass screens for breezy vibes, the space looks like a design extension to the blues and taupes of the Milan outlet.

And though the 52-seater may be elegant and refined, even here the drama reigns supreme. One example is the statement bar that takes up one end of the restaurant, stocked with some of the best spirits, as well as a Modbar coffee unit. For the coffee programme, the team has collaborated with homegrown specialty coffee company Araku, which has other outlets in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Paris.

But first, vino

As I skim through the menu, my kind server draws my attention to the wine list—Armani/Caffè’s pride and joy. Each bottle (a total of 52 labels from across Italian wine regions) has been carefully sourced, with the idea of pairing these with the food on offer. From a full-bodied Produttori del Barbaresco from Barbaresco, a small commune in Piedmont, to an Amarone della Valpolicella from Casa Tenuta Sant Antonio, a family-owned estate in Verona, my well-informed server offered great recommendations. For special occasions, there is the Tignanello from Casa Marchesi Antinori—a full-bodied red wine, also said to be the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques (smaller oak barrels), which is by far the most coveted of them all. For a night that needs to take it a notch higher, I’m told, there is a biodynamic Blanc de Blanc Brut Reserve from Philippe Gonet (artisan winemakers for several generations) among the list of Proseccos and Champagnes.

The food comes plated to look like an aesthete’s dream. And that’s what you’d expect from a full Armani experience. The dishes are consciously rustic with a focus on seasonal ingredients. You’re encouraged to embrace the concept of ‘La Dolce Vita’ as you savour plates that range from a fresh pappa al pomodoro e burrata to Roman-style pizzas—the secret being a light coating of rice flour that is added to the dough. The minestrone soup is reimagined by Armani and inspired by the Liguria region of Italy that is famous for its pesto.

Fuelled by a passion to give diners food that is warm and authentic, the restaurant has even taken pains to fly in several different varieties of tomatoes from Italy just for its dishes—from the popular San Marzano to Beefsteak, Datterini, and Corbarino—the secret to the dense, flavourful bites I’m so enjoying.

Power lunches or a leisurely wine-paired meal, Armani/Caffè’s biggest feat is that it never feels overwhelming. With no loud branding or monograms (sans the odd Armani logo that appears on your dessert plate or with petit fours), the place has all the charm and personality of an elegant, yet utterly satisfying experience put together by a fine host.

Meal for two: ₹12,000 (including drinks) approx

Timings: 12 pm to 11.45 pm

Address: Level 1, Jio World Plaza, G Block Rd, G Block BKC, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai