Restaurant-style food now at home

Who doesn't love eating good food and that too when you aren't cooking yourself? A lazy rainy Sunday afternoon compelled us to stay at home and in the quest of trying something new, we decided to rely on the culinary expertise of 8. The newly-launched home-delivery service plays on the word ‘ate' and boasts of a menu designed by Michelin star chef Alec Howard. Intrigued enough, we chose from a variety of dishes on the menu and placed our order.

Wheat Roasted Veg Salad is a mixture of whole-wheat carbs, veggies, potatoes and herbs

Surprisingly, the heavy downpour didn't affect the time it took to get the food delivered. We received our order in 25 minutes and were elated to find it neatly-packaged. We started our meal with the Spicy Two Bean Soup (R140), which consisted of white and red kidney beans in tomato puree with a splash of Tabasco. Just as we were about to relish the dish, we couldn't help admiring the sturdy container in which the soup was delivered. Despite it being plastic, it was firm and didn't bend easily. As for taste, we couldn't have asked for a better start. The hot soup had the right consistency and the perfect blend of spice and sweetness, thanks to the tomato puree. The kidney beans were cooked well. The soup was so delicious that we were left craving for more.

The food comes in thin yet sturdy plastic containers

Next up were the Wheat and Roasted Vegetable Salad (R200), Roast Lamb Summer Salad (R300) and the Watermelon and Papaya Juice (R150). The vegetable salad - a mixture of whole-wheat carbs, veggies, potatoes and herbs - was served along with mixed herb vinaigrette. This dressing was unlike anything we have tasted before and complimented the vegetables perfectly. The non-veg salad comprised lamb and feta seasoned with herbs and spices.

The dish's USP was that the meat (which was tender and well-cooked) didn't overpower the taste of the vegetables. Initially, we weren't sure of the interesting yet unusual combination of watermelon and papaya in a juice but we didn't regret ordering it. The taste of the two fruits along with apricot and mint fused well and the juice was
rejuvenating.

Coronation Chicken Sandwich is served on a bed of yogurt

With our tummies almost full but craving for more, we moved on to the Lamb Stew (R400). The lamb was moist and tender while the glossy sauce infused with the flavours of the meat, vegetables and a tinge of red wine teased our palate. We followed it up with the Coronation and Chicken Sandwich (R170), which had chunks of roasted chicken served on a bed of yogurt, curry powder, apricots and almonds seasoned with white vinegar. The sandwich was fresh but the flavours were too many for us to fathom. Also, the apricots made it a little too sweet for our liking.

No meal is complete without dessert and we opted for the Just Chocolate brownie (R75). Unlike many brownies available across the city, this one wasn't dry and had a fudgy texture. We finished it in no time.
If you are in the mood for a wholesome meal but do not want to venture outside, then 8 is a good option. The only flip side is that it is a little expensive to make it a daily affair but you know what they say, ‘good food choices are good investments'.

To place an order, call between 11 am to 11 pm. The food service currently delivers between Bandra and Santacruz but with one day notice, they can deliver anywhere in Mumbai for parties or events.