Eating burgers is quite a pain I think, especially if dressed up in a lot of sauce that refuses to stay put and lettuce that your teeth aren’t strong enough to tear. But hey, sliders are different. They are tiny and attractive little things you can pop into your mouth and enjoy in between your drinks. That said, sliders or simply mini burgers as I’d like to call them aren’t my preferred choice for a fancy meal. And the idea of an evening at the Slider Festival at The Big Kahuna, Lower Parel, Mumbai that’s on till December 14, 2014 didn’t exactly leave me doing cartwheels.
Anyhoo, it couldn’t hurt to try it out. So this week, I decided to take a detour on my way home and dropped into the open-air restaurant at Mumbai’s Phoenix Mills. Situated at one of the terrace spaces, The Big Kahuna’s decor is fascinating because for a refreshing change, it doesn’t lock you up into an air-conditioned block crowded with people. Instead you are welcomed into a low-lit resto-bar that’s open letting in the cool December breeze. The vibe is fun and relaxed with peppy music in the background that helps transport you to a completely different zone while you let yourself loose to absorb the ambience and sip on a drink.
That’s exactly what I did. And then I was treated to the sliders! The menu is short and sweet, which makes it easy for you to choose. I selected the Herbed Grilled Chicken Slider. Turns out, this is one of the most liked sliders on the menu.
What was served was a delicious looking mini burger with a thick herb-marinated grilled chicken patty. One bite into it and the burst of flavours lifted up my spirits. It really did taste amazing. And since my expectations were raised, I went ahead and ordered the Chilli and Lime Fish Sliders (A seafood fan never misses a chance). These came with a mildly flavoured fish patty that had a tinge of lemon zest to create a well-balanced dish.
There were four options in the vegetarian section, and on insistence I tried the Mexican taco slider that came with a tortilla chip in between. Fancy! The patty was made out of kidney bean crumbs and sour cream which gave the burgers some rich creaminess.
With a lot of good food happening, I had to have something to wash it all down. I chose the Peach Paradise, which was a mix of peach and orange along with a hint of coconut and a vodka base. Potent yet fruity and refreshing, this drink went well with my sliders.
The dessert was the highlight and even though I was eager to skip it at first, when the Menehune Fig Pudding was served I just could not resist. Let me warn you, it didn’t look like the normal desserts and that’s exactly why I was curious to take a bite. But this dessert surpassed my expectation and turned out to be one the best parts of my dinner at The Big Kahuna. The dark brown coloured fig pudding that is presented in a small rectangular shape is garnished with fig pieces and honey lime sauce on the side. The unique flavours complemented each other so well that I completely forgot about my ‘eat less’ resolution. (Well, there’s always January 1 for that.) It is truly a must-try at The Big Kahuna.
What I tried was from the slider special menu but on their main menu are a lot of starters, burgers, salads and sandwiches you can chose from. For those who prefer the traditional dinners there are rice and noodle options too. Their drinks menu is huge and you will be spoilt for choice. So if you plan to spend a relaxed evening soaking in some fresh air and sipping on some your favourite drinks, this place is a must-visit.
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