Before we get down to the business of (re)introducing Italia by THE Park, here are two new Italian words for you to pick up: ciccheti, which means small plates or small dishes that are served in bacari or bars. These bacari are small Venetian standing bars that primarily serve wine and local snacks of that region. Now that your Italian is a bit better, let's take you to Italia, where the team has recreated the essence of this Venetian staple through their menu, which is also why their are touted to be India's first ciccheti bar. If you have been to THE Park before and dined at the earlier avatar of Italia, you'll notice that everything's changed. There's a warm, inviting vibe to the space that works all through the day. Whether you are popping in for a quick drink with your friend or catching up after work hours, this is one place centre of town that you can make your way to.
We were down here on a Sunday afternoon for a preview, and Kiron Kumar, the Director of Operations at THE Park, hosted us and walked us through the menu and the space. One thing that he particularly is proud of is the Spritz Studio: a spritz-forward cocktail menu that features drinks such as Grapefruit & Limoncello Spritz, Cucumber & Mint Spritz, and the Cold Brew Spritz. These drinks, we are told, add that fun, lively element to your goss sesh with your friends as you wait for the food to arrive.
We started with two kinds of bruschetta: a classic featuring tomatoes and mozzarella and a smoked salmon with capers and mascarpone. And just as we were about to wipe the plate clean, came the fresh, creamy Burrata salad with hits of citrus. In between the snacks, we were telling Kiron how the orange hue of the space is very striking yet subtle and we could see ourselves coming back here soon on a date. Next on the table was the Fritto Misto De Mare which is an assortment of lightly fried (our favourite kind of cooking) shrimp, calamari, and mussels that you dip into an excellent saffron aoili. It's such a moreish dish.
For mains, we dug into two portions of risotto -- a Milanese one with saffron and red pumpkin and a Capesante one that was seafood-forward with grilled scallops. It was tough picking between the two, so the next time we are here, we know we'll just order one of each. We arrived at 1 PM and by the time we were on the dessert course, it was almost 3:30 PM, and that's what we like about a space: good company, good food, and good vibes. For desserts, we skipped the Tiramisu (you shouldn't if you love tiramisu) and went for the Limoncello Panna Cotta, a refreshingly addictive dessert that was just too pretty to look at.
We closed out our Sunday afternoon with a quick lesson on different kinds of wine glasses by Kiron and a view to come back for more.
Cost For Two: INR 2,500
Rating: Newly Opened
Must-Try Dishes: Bruschetta, Fritto Misto, Risotto, Handmade Pasta, Tiramisu, and Panna Cotta
Social Handle: Instagram
