Indiranagar's 12th Main gets more chic with Chef Tarun Sibal of Titlie, Goa fame and food entrepreneur Akshay Luthria of Street Storyss coming together to open Swiing Gourmet Table & Wine Bar. Serving up some inspired South East Asian fare in the form of small plates and substantial eats. The menu draws inspiration from Chef Tarun's journeys along coastal India and South East Asia. There's no particular cuisine tag that you can put Swiing's menu under and we're glad we don't have to either because we enjoyed whatever we ate the first time around so much that we went back shortly for more. But before dishing out the details then, we got to talk decor.
The 50-odd seater space is nestled inside a glasshouse where during the day there's gorgeous light all around that makes the blue and gold accents pop and come evening, it's got that chic, luxe vibe going on making it perfect for date nights. There's private dining space for those intimate dinner settings when you want to celebrate milestones or just want a good time with the gang. Watch out for the rattan detailing all around and get inspired.
Okay, let's talk food now. Chef Tarun's philosophy is that there's something for everyone with familiar flavours getting a twist that elevates the food without seeming too alien. So, when the Sundal Hummus arrived at the table, we were excited mainly because instead of pita bread, you get chakkli to scoop up that rich hummus that's topped with watermelon for a hint of sweetness. Another one from the small plates section we quite enjoyed, was the Grilled Butta served with an assortment of chutney. It's got corn kernels cooked in corn juice and there's togarashi that adds an extra zing to the chutney varieties.
The Kingfish Masala Fry and Cocoa Butter Prawns are a must-have. The fish works because the flavours are regional yet elevated with the mango peanut salad. The prawns reminded us of the ones we had in Bangkok and it was a hit both the times we ordered. For substantial eats, the Lobster Tail Laksa with a rasam spiked broth gets our winner tag. If you like that hit of spice in your broth, this is it. The Goat Gochujang Ghee Roast served with Kerala Laccha bread is another one of those dishes that might raise eyebrows when you hear it, but we love our gochujang and we know it works well with butter and this dish is just that and more.
Location: Indiranagar
Timings: 12 PM to 4 PM, 7 PM to 11 PM
Cost For Two: INR 2,500 (without alcohol)
