Da Vinci (Italian)

Da Vinci

Da Vinci is an Italian restaurant that I got to visit last Saturday. It is cradled just off Pali Hill in one of the many by-lanes that run into the slums. Da Vinci stands out in the day with its black painted walls and in the night by its massive neon-sign.

Entering this restaurant gives you a very warm feeling with a well done setting. The ambience is set right with the dim yellow lights all around and all the furniture, including the tables and chairs (benches) being carved out of wood. Each table comfortably seats up-to 4 people only and so only the bar area looks like it could accommodate a larger group. The attendants are very friendly and hospitable. However, their fake ‘Italian’ accent and their incapability of helping you pick out dishes are quite turning off.

The menu at Da Vinci is an even bigger bomb and somehow the attendants seem nicer now. Da Vinci is more expensive than Café Basilico also off Pali Hill. Being an ardent aficionado of Italian food, paying insane prices for something more expensive than one of the finest Italian restaurants in Mumbai, you tend to expect a lot from Da Vinci.

Starting off with the Chicken Bitki and Pan Tossed Paprika Mushrooms, you don’t have to wait too long to be disappointed. The Chicken Bitki comes with 5 pieces and a dip. The dip is of tomato base & has dried onion peels in them. Together they taste quite good, but are too less in quantity. The Pan Tossed Paprika Mushrooms seem to be some thick mushroom gravy tossed onto garlic bread. Though the dish is quite tasty and melts in your mouth that is something you really won’t be remembering when you have washed it down with all the pepper water that you taste from your Roasted Garlic And Sundried Tomato Soup. You might as well have filled a packet of Knorr Tomato Soup in a bottle and brought it along.
The savior however here is the Grilled Chicken With Mushroom Sauce that tastes like they had flown in a chef just to cook that dish. The chicken pieces are substantial and very well cooked. They have the right balance with the mashed potatoes and the mushroom sauce that was well done. They overdid with the extra vegetables on the plate, but you can overlook it for the simple fact that you’re finally getting something worth eating.

Make sure you get a large rum instead of a small to survive this ordeal and it almost costs as much as the 30ml anyway. Basically you won’t be missing out on anything if you give this place a miss.