Veggie good times in Kalaghoda

Saffron and smoked cheese risotto

We cajole our mother into accompanying us for a tasting. Having been raised in a Brahmin family, ever since we had our first taste of meat as a food writer, every culinary adventure has come with warnings. This time, it is our turn to assure her, "It's a vegetarian restaurant, mom!"

Fig salad

La Poz Place is situated in a heritage building in the charming Kalaghoda precinct. When we step in, it's as if we've been transported to a warm, inviting cabin in Europe. The unfinished white-washed texture on the wood ceiling and the festive décor does wonders for our appetite. We begin our sojourn of the Mediterranean menu by chef Gracian De Souza with a fig salad, which is drizzled with Phonda Ghat honey and young brie that has a smoky sweetness from being gently torched. The hand-rolled tagliatelle (Rs 750) in pesto is made in-house and is eggless. We find the chewy strain in our biting, but it passes off as al dente on the undone side. The mascarpone cheese makes the dish heavy. The tortellini, (Rs 990) comes stuffed with peas and drizzled in truffle oil. The chewiness is distinctive but the bed of smoked herb sauce has a flavourful depth. The winner is the Spanish saffron, arugula and smoked cheese risotto (Rs 990). It is rich, cheesy and the marriage of saffron and a smoked cheese combination makes it exotic. It's a hit with us and so we pack a serving for later.

Caramelised onion pizza

The pizzas here are Neapolitan-style, and wood-fired. We taste two: roasted vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes and black olives (R690) that comes topped with fresh bocconcini, and a caramelised onion jam (Rs 750) with fresh chillies, feta and fresh bocconcini. The vegetables are crunchy and the good produce impresses the palate. We are told that the produce is sourced from farms around Mumbai. The latter is outstanding for its sweet caramelised topping balances the salt in the cheese. Our mother gives this dish a thumbs-up.

It's good that we saved room for dessert. The French truffle balls (Rs 590) are a dark chocolate treat with a hazelnut finish. These little flavour bombs are indulgent and satiating. The Philadelphia cheesecake (Rs 550) comes with a berry compote on the side. An option of Bailey's creme (Rs 100) is what you should gun for. The creamy pour over the dessert is our gateway to heaven. We'll do an encore to relish this feel-good experience. Non-vegetarians won't miss meat, as the chef maintains the balance in every dish when it comes to protein, carbs and fat.

At: La Poz Place, 105, Mumbai Samachar Marg, Kalaghoda, Fort.
Time: 12 pm to 12 am
Call: 7009000246