Making Mumbai Bawri

After spending six incredible months in Goa and witnessing the unrelenting love and support of our patrons in the sunny state, we are delighted to announce the launch of Bawri in the spanking new heart of Mumbai at BKC.

“Bawri is an extension of my being. When we started conceptualizing Bawri more than a year ago, we were extremely certain that it would have two key ingredients - traditions and rituals that you very rarely see anymore, and warmth that you would feel when you went over to your grandmother’s or relatives’ place after a long time. And Bawri BKC will make you feel all this and much more. You’ll feel nostalgic and make new memories, both at once. After feeling the kind of wholesomeness and contentment at Bawri Goa with guests and friends lining up outside waiting for their table, their eagerness to be seated, their sheer delight when they saw some of the food on their tables, the reservation number ringing nonstop… I couldn’t wait to launch in Mumbai and feel that same sense of soulfulness.”

Chef Partner Amninder Sandhu

“I’ve always wanted a place that celebrates comfort Indian food and regional Indian recipes. When Chef Amninder Sandhu and I met last year, we spoke for hours about our shared love for Indian food but without the frills - just honest and casual Indian food true to our roots and that’s how Bawri was born.  With Bawri, my vision was clear - I wanted to launch in Goa so that people from all over the country could get a chance to try Chef Amninder’s incredible food when they were holidaying here, then bring it to Bombay and perhaps Delhi but not too many cities and locations either. The reason for launching Bawri in BKC was that there was a serious gap in the market for a casual Indian food restaurant in this bustling financial center of the city and I knew that Bawri BKC would bridge that gap beautifully. I had my eyes set on this space for a long time. With its tall ceilings, a sense of being outdoors while being indoors and most of all, its accessibility for people in Mumbai made BKC the perfect second home for Bawri. The interiors at Bawri are very close to my heart and just the way people fell in love with the koi pond we created at Bawri Goa, I was certain I wanted to create a signature identifying feature for Bawri BKC and that is the majestic step well-inspired wall at Bawri BKC. With our many learnings of launching Bawri Goa and now BKC, I’m excited at the prospect of launching Bawri internationally in months to come.”

Bawri BKC, Founder Sahil Sambhi

The launch of Bawri BKC is also a celebration of our many tiny and big milestones at Bawri Goa. From serving over 75000 patrons to increasing our burner capacity from a mere 4 to 22 burners in six months, from zero managers to three amazing managers, and from a seating of 100 guests to increasing our seating capacity to 180, Bawri Goa’s little victories have given us a lot of hope and confidence for Bawri BKC.

And while we retain all the charm and heart of Bawri Goa in our Mumbai outpost, you’ll find the interiors here inspired by our first outpost but elevated with art to match the mood of the maximum city. Bawri BKC is designed by Muninder Chowdhary and Vishakha Chowdhary to create a chic and comfortable 130-cover restaurant. The design process involved extensive cultural research with Chef Amninder on her philosophy, her preferences, and what her food means to her as well as Sahil’s vision for Bawri BKC. When you walk into Bawri BKC you’ll find the use of many different materials and textures, all native to India. From poured-in-place micro concrete with copper strip inserts to textured mineral paint surfaces, from reclaimed teak planks to carpets used as surface cladding, Bawri BKC is very India-forward in its design. The 4500 sq ft. space is divided into five different complementing flowing sections - central bar seating, elegant two-person intimate seating, engaging community tables, comfortable built-ins, and the piece de resistance - the arched cane envelopes with floor-level seating. This inspiring space is expansive in its height and comes with a glass facade blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors. Just as Bawri Goa gives you a window into our kitchens where the team is playing with open fire, Bawri BKC features an open fire kitchen allowing guests to watch their food being prepared in earthen clay tandoors.

A gigantic circular island bar takes center stage at Bawri BKC with handwoven rugs from Jaipur used as a tapestry. On popular demand and in sync with our philosophy of retaining rituals that are the cornerstone of India’s culinary history, we’ve reimagined our low-seating cabanas from Bawri Goa into private booths under cane canopies that are cozy, comfortable and charming! Intricate hand-woven, crocheted ceilings, a Rajasthani step-well (baori) inspired wall that lights up in the evening reminding one of nights in the old city of Jaipur, privately commissioned wall art features 4 feet tall panels with India-inspired hand-illustrated by an artist for Bawri, and breezy indoor plants bring Bawri BKC to life.

The menu features generation, heirloom recipes passed down to Chef Amninder Sandhu by friends and family as well as foods from her Punjabi heritage, her growing up years in North East India, her time spent in Goa a decade ago and her travels to rural India reviving all that Indian food is capable of. Each dish on the menu is cooked using the same spices, condiments, and locally sourced produce as they were decades ago along with a passion to cook food that is wholesome and nutritious. You’ll find that the food is cooked in seed-free oils such as olive oil and avocado oil, or ghee derived from A2 quality milk. Hormone-free meat as well as finding produce that is sustainably and ethically sourced is of paramount importance to Chef Amninder Sandhu in her kitchen at Bawri.

As you set foot towards Bawri, you are showered with fresh rose petals, a classic Indian household ritual to welcome guests into your home. You are then offered to wash your hands with a copper-hammered surai to encourage you to eat with your hands, much the way we’ve always eaten food in Indian households.

Taking a page (or more) from Bawri Goa, you can expect exceptionally bold and honest flavours at Bawri BKC with Chef Amninder Sandhu and her team in action behind open fire tandoors and sigris spouting golden embers. From prized Gucchi Stuffed Mushrooms, an homage to the rare morels from Kashmir to Thecha Potatoes, our take on the spicy condiment loved across homes in Maharashtra, from sigri-cooked Kakori Kebabs that melt in your mouth to Kovalam Arbi served as tacos, the appetizers serve as a kaleidoscope into India’s diverse culinary fabric. For the large plates, we suggest bringing large appetites too! Of course, on the menu is Chef Amninder Sandhu’s legendary Raan Biryani, slow-cooked for hours as well as Final Table Paneer Kofta, as cooked by her on the Netflix Show - The Final Table. We also urge diners to try the Bombil Fry, a tribute to the city of Mumbai. You’ll discover familiar classics such as seasonal Sarson Da Saag, Kala Mutton as well as lesser-known regional staples such as Yetti Dosa and Wild Mango Curry.

The breads at Bawri are a map of our predominant grains in the different regions in India with Sheermal, Bakarkhani and Jowar Bhakri, and Seeded Amaranth Rotis taking the centerstage while also keeping the classics like naans and phulkas (made with khapli flour which is known to have less than 1% gluten) on the forefront.

In between all the small and the big plates, we’ve also added a bit of sweet and sour, spice and crunch, or “chittar pittar” to make your meal even more interesting. From house-fermented pickles to a selection of papads and bhajiyas, you’ll pair sophisticated cocktails with our bric-a-brac munchies.

End the meal with the mighty Bawri Jamun, a super-sized gulab jamun crafted out of Chef Amninder Sandhu’s love for the quintessential Indian mithai topped with a rich, luscious rabri, or try the nostalgia-inducing malai kulfi sandwich, a selection of old-school Bombay halwas or try the seasonal kalakand flavoured with the freshest flavours of the season.

For the cocktails, we’ve taken inspiration from the slightly obscure to the everyday fruits of India. Our diverse terrain offers an astonishingly large variety of our indigenous produce as well as ways in which the produce is stored, and fermented and ways in which the by-products are converted into regional spirits. Borrowing from centuries-old practices of infusing and crafting local spirits and liquors, the cocktail menu features an eclectic mix of India-forward drinks. Created by Tim Etherington-Judge, a hospitality luminary with over two decades of experience, you will find yourself drawn towards Amla Ki, a refreshing cocktail featuring White Rum, Amla Shrub, Lime, Sauvignon Blanc, Mint, Malic Acid. Another favorite from the Fruits of India cocktail menu is Star Sour, an eclectic blend of the very loved Kamrakh or starfruit cordial with Tequila Blanco, Ambadi Leaf, Lime, Indian Riesling, and Protein. For those who love their whisky, we recommend Our Tenga, a smoky cocktail featuring Whisky, Ou Tenga Puree, Dried Apricot, Ginger, and honey.

Bawri evokes childhood nostalgia. The recipes are an ode to the honesty and integrity of India’s rich culinary literature. We welcome you to rediscover authentic regional Indian food at Bawri, BKC. Now open. 

Details:

Opening date: Friday, 22nd December 2023

Address: Bawri, Shop No. 5, Ground Floor, INS Tower, G Block, BKC, Mumbai 400051

Timings: 12 Noon to 3.30pm & 7pm to 1.30am

For Reservations: +919205100992 | +918800634350 | +918800634737

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