Tucked away in the former bungalow of late Kishore Kumar in Juhu, there's a restaurant that's been creating quite a buzz in the neighbourhood! One8 Commune has already made a name for itself across the country, and we were thrilled to hear that it's now open in Mumbai too!
We decided to check it out one evening, expecting to be blown away.
Located opposite SoHo House, we entered through a relatively small entrance, only to be pleasantly surprised by how spacious it actually is inside! The first thing that caught our attention was the laid-back, European vibe. The place has a rustic charm with a spattering of conversation-starting art covering the walls, giving it a touch of Matera and Barcelona. The furniture, like the high cane chairs, seasoned wood accents, and jute lamps, adds a coastal feel. It's a space that feels off-the-grid, with its al fresco walls, cobbled flooring, and various outdoor seating options.
Now, let's talk about the menu. Much like Virat’s life, this feels like a plane ride, hopping from Kerala, to Tuscany, to the US of A. It’s a menu that draws inspiration from Virat’s travel. We started off with the Mushroom “Googly” Dimsums (INR 575), easily one of the best appetisers we’ve tried. Perfectly wrapped, ever so delicate, and totally delicious. Not much else we’d expect from a dish that marries cream cheese and shrooms.
We then moved on to the refreshing instagram-famous Avocado Carpaccio (INR 775), this one was pricey, but is still worth a try, especially if you’ve never tried a carpaccio. We then opted for some Crispy Gunpowder Okra (INR 425) to munch on with our drinks, and of course it was everything you need from your chakna of choice. Light, but not too light, crispy, spicy and moreish.
For mains, we chose the Cottage Cheese Steak with Fennel Stew (INR 775), a steeply priced but novel dish that had us trying fennel and pesto together, for the first time, with no regrets. It was delicious.
To conclude, we ordered the Textures of Chocolate (INR 675), which has a dense, rich flourless chocolate cake, crystallised chocolate, Malden salt and cacao nibs. We expected it to be sinful, and it was. Although, we do believe this isn’t for those that prefer fruit-based flavours.
One8 is best reserved for days when you’re celebrating an occasion, since it is quite fancy. Unless you’re all about treating yourself even at the end of the month.
LBB Tip: Make sure you get a reservation in advance! This place can get really full! Another tip is to take lots of pictures!
