Reds and whites from California, Argentina, Australia and france apart, Bandra's first exclusive wine bar also boasts of the suburb's best, cheese-inspired pizzas and continental fare
Reds and whites from California, Argentina, Australia and france apart, Bandra's first exclusive wine bar also boasts of the suburb's best, cheese-inspired pizzas and continental fare
Three cheeses with distinctly different textures and flavours have a meltdown with tomato in the Three Cheese Pizza at The Den; it got a thumbs up of authenticity from our Italian companion. Serious cheese and pizza lovers, take note.
This Mozzarella, Gorgonzola and Parmesan cheese soft thin crust 10-incher is the best among the chic pizzerias mid-town.
The wine bar that serves it is a cosy shoebox of a restaurant sidling up Nicolo Morea's Elbo Room. It hosts the entire collection of local producer Sula Vineyards, and a mid-range assortment of over 55 reds and whites from vineyards abroad. 
Once inside the closed doors, the Linking Road buzz gave way to the snug pub charm of cask-shaped tables, ultra comfy couches and brick walls. Clever folk from the Juno OST interplayed with Neo-Rock at low volumes that made conversation easy.
You don't need to break your head over which white to pair with your Biryani, all the food on offer is European, which goes down well with the vino.
There was quite a bit of assorted seafood in the Mixed Seafood Medallion (Rs 190), along with shell fish, cherry tomato and rocket leaves dressed with orange and olive oil emulsion.
Another fishy starter is Fried Ring Calamari (Rs 220); lightly flavoured calamari flash-fried to a golden brown, served with a winsome Arrabiata sauce.
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Steak Monte D'Oro (Rs 550) had an elevated price and quality to match. We don't know if that is how tenderloin steak is served at the famed Californian Monte D'oro winery, but it sure had a delicate taste.
Mango Mint Bavarian (Rs 170) that wrapped up our meal was unfortunately a gourmet portion dessert u2013 an upturned cup of rich cream cheese flavoured with mango.
The wine list is of agreeable breadth and size has some nice reds. Labels in the cellar are Kim Crawford and Sacred Hill (New Zealand), Fetzer Cold Water Creak and Bonterra (California), Pearly Bay Cape (South Africa), Hardy's and Two in the Bush (Australia), Trivento and Borbore (Argentina), Ruffino and Cusumano (Italy), Maison Pierre and Gabriel Maiffre (France) and Chilean brand Sol de Chile.
We turned mauve at the difference in promise and delivery of the list, and zipped forward to the sweet wine cocktails (Rs 220 each), infused with raspberries, hazelnut and the like. By Touch had a fantastic lychee undertone while Roseberry Bliss was effervescent. Salud!
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The Den, Prabhat Kunj, 24th Road, off Linking Road, next to Elbo Room, Khar (W). Call: 26483136
The Den didn't know we were there. THE GUIDE reviews anonymously and pays for meals and drinks
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