A menu makeover

Three Wise Monkeys' revamped menu stands out with its wide variety of dishes and experiments with cuisines

Among the populous presence of watering holes, lounges and clubs on Road Number 3 near Khar Station, lies 3 Wise Monkeys which, in the past four years of its existence, has managed to become quite a sought after name. Its dimly lit interiors with a sport-themed décor, the rock-n’-roll music playing in the background — are still the same. What has changed, however, is the menu. The revamped menu catches your attention in how extensive it is, which is not something that’s typical to pub-grub haunts. A staff member tells me the new menu is to mark the completion of four years.

The appetisers alone take up over two pages of the menu. I decide to start by biting into the curiously titled Panipuri Chicken (Rs 240). I must admit that the name had me sceptical about its taste but I soon realised my worries were baseless. Even though it’s nothing like the sweet and sour ragda filled bite, this dish was definitely a winner. The crunchy exterior of the puri coupled with the spiced chicken kheema filling made for a lovely mix of tastes and textures. After this happy start, I moved on to the Stormin Prawns (Rs 300) where the crunchy batter enclosed the delicious, succulent prawns. The Wasabi Aloo Tikki (Rs 220) had an interesting cream dip and the Stuffed Tandoori Mushrooms (Rs 230) with cottage cheese and mixed masala stuffing had all the makings of a signature favourite dish.

The expansive range of cocktails keeps the appetisers good company. I opted for a Whiskey Sour in the first round and I must say I found it delightfully potent, leaving a strong aftertaste. The Berry Blast cocktail (Rs 380) was slightly on the sweeter side with its assortment of berries (as the name suggests, of course). It comes in a large jar with a tap on the side. The server pours the vodka over the mix right in front of you, before pouring the final mixture into smaller mason jars. The spectacle kept me occupied and more than made up for the wait for the main course.

First up was the Gulliver’s Slice of Barbecue Chicken Pizza (Rs 240), which is, simply put, a large slice of thin-crust pizza with a delicious topping and stringy melted cheese and a slightly hard crust. A curious experiment in culinary fusion followed as I sampled the Dal Khichdi with Crispy Chicken (Rs 330). I must say that individually, the items tasted better than they did in a combo. I was much more taken in by the Pepper Chicken in Black Mushroom Sauce (Rs 310) that came next. The chicken was tender and served with grilled veggies, and creamy mashed potatoes on the side. The brown sauce with its shitake mushrooms and black pepper added the much-needed element of spice.

Delightfully full now, I decide to push the boundaries and go for dessert anyway. It turned out to be a good decision. The BKC or Brownie, Kahlua and Ice Cream (Rs 250), with its soft, chewy brownie and ice cream, and kick of kahlua liqueur was a perfect sigh-off to the meal.

With such an expansive variety of cocktails and food, 3 Wise Monkeys makes for a good option for both party-hopping and casual dinner-dates. The very competitively priced menu is a standout among its counterparts and makes this a stop worth making.

Address: 3 Wise Monkeys, near Khar station, Khar (w) Meal for two: Rs 1,700 Rating: 3.5 stars