Ice cream with dollop of experience

Cheeky flavours of BONO

On a late Sunday night, post-dinner, we head to the third floor of Kamal Mansion in Colaba - a weathered building next to the Radio Club that wears its age proudly. It houses an art gallery and hotel.

Walking past space that is being renovated, we halt at a big, black door. It feels like we're about to walk into an ice cream society's discreet meeting den. We ring the bell; No one answers. The door is open, we realise, as we pull it and step into one of the chicest decors in town. A teal leather sofa with quirkily patterned cushions, a large chandelier, few tables, and a cozy nook in a corner by a large window from where you can view yachts bobbing in the sea off Apollo Bunder. Patch Street's Infinite moment is playing in the background. Don't come here if you are in a rush. This is a place to sit back in and cherish the little joys. And we did just that.

A cozy nook to have an ice cream and watch the world go by

We have to wake ourselves from our reverie to remember our purpose: To try out the hand-churned ice cream. At the counter, most of the flavours we eye (i.e. the Sicilian pistachio, white chocolate and passion fruit, dark chocolate Italian truffle oil) aren't available for sampling - you'd have to buy the 125 ml tub to curb your curiosity.

We start by sampling the Nutella sea salt (Rs 210) and dark chocolate sea salt (Rs 230) - both safe bets. The salt boldly interrupts the smooth bitterness of chocolate in both flavours. The mango passion fruit (Rs 210) doesn't quite live up to our expectations. The lemon marshmallow (Rs 150) - missing from the menu but present in the freezer - is a refreshing burst of flavour that stands somewhere between a tangy sorbet and smooth gelato. The Oreo cheesecake (Rs 230) is for those who like to play it safe, just like the Lotus Biscoff.

The amiable staff also give us three Easter eggs to sample. We head back to our nook with our chosen flavours (the Nutella and the Dark chocolate with sea salt) and flip through the Pundole's Glenbarra, A Lasting Legacy, between licks. The Bono sisters, Le Cordon Bleu-trained Alyssa and Simone Chesson, are known for creating cheeky flavours such as blue cheese honey and milk chocolate bacon. Something to expect a the Mad Hatter's tea party.

Salted Nutella ice cream in a waffle cone

Priced on the luxury side, the flavours are a hit-and-miss. If you have the stomach for trying a new, unpredictable flavour, choose the tiny tubs. We went for the Sicilian pistachio (Rs 240), which was an absolute delight. It had the perfect roasted fragrance and flavour, setting it wide apart from the homely pista. The white chocolate passion fruit (Rs 210) was bursting with oomph and the flavours complemented each other well.

The real cherry on the cake was the dark chocolate Italian truffle oil (Rs 230) - with its sharp, earthy, and pungent flavours, this one is not for the fainthearted. It is a pure indulgence; the one that you'd like to take to that cozy corner and eat while looking out of the window, watching the world go by in slow-motion.

Where: Kamal Mansion, 3rd floor, Apollo Bundar, Colaba
Call: 9820366520
Rating : VERY Good
Bono Ice Cream didn't know we were there. Sunday Mid-day reviews anonymously and pays for meals and drinks