Take a lip-smacking Asian walk inside Foo Powai, the stunning red-hued outpost of Foo, one of the fastest growing restaurants in Mumbai, now already celebrating the launch of Foo NESCO in Goregaon.
The thing about Asian cuisine is that there is no running away from it. In simpler words, one either already knows the subtle punches its flavours bring or is willing to dive headfirst and experiment with it. That’s where Foo in Mumbai wisely steps in with its bolting expansion across the city.
The modern Asian restaurant that first debuted in 2018 has since dotted the map of Mumbai with a total of six outlets—the latest being Foo Powai that opened in October 2022. The seventh, Foo Goregaon, is on its way too.
Foo Powai stands right in the nexus of Orchard Avenue, a popular purlieu for everyone to hang out and dine at in this neighbourhood. Sprawling about 2,100 sq ft, the restaurant with its trademark red-tinted interiors reflects the burst of flavours that await the diner. I made my way to the outlet one early evening to nip on its menu and soak in the contemporary, casual but seemingly oriental ambience elevated more so with a swoony music playlist in the background.
My Asian revelry at Foo Powai started off with drinks, some new and some old ones that I had at other outlets on my past visits. The non-spirited Tom Yum iced tea was an explosion of beautiful flavours, concocted with black tea, lime, Thai chilli syrup, lemongrass and kaffir. The booster Foo Rise made of watermelon, pineapple. Basil and Thai ginger did not do much on the palate and could be passed off for other options of Boba teas, zero-alcohol mocktails or cocktails.
My personal favourite, the signature Foo Brew (Japanese rice beer made with Kokuho rice) brewed in-house found me admiring its lightweight, crisp and fizzy feel on the tongue that teams up with in tune with the Asian small and big plates and its sushi spreads, too.
As I sipped and basked in the flavourful nuances of the drinks, the smoked duck salad arrived on the table. This may be one of the most succulent pieces of duck breast I had in a while combined with toppings of cherry tomatoes, peanuts, lemongrass and lettuce. Towards the end of this salad, the lingering sweetness overpowered the overall flavours, but nothing that cannot be overlooked once for the sake of the fresh duck meat. Next up, Aburi Non Veg Maki awaited. The sushi rolled into crabmeat, hamachi, tuna, salmon, tobiko, avocado and spicy mayo made a lasting impression with its tender and aromatic blend.
I was especially eager to try the Charcoal Har-Gow stamped with gold dust that was a rather good choice on the platter, too. Stuffed with minced prawns and a very subtle salty punch, the dim sums were not melt-in-mouth although. In a sea of all the non-vegetarian options, I also dived into the mushroom and pepper Foo Bao, little round and soft buns that make for wise starters if you are looking for vegetarian options.
For some colourful intervention, I do suggest the Foo Blue Butter Japanese fried rice, which is a visual sight to behold as well as an elegantly flavoured dish to indulge in. Approaching the end of my meal, I was looking for something lighter and fuss-free. As suggested by the team at Foo Powai, I ended up sampling the Tom Yum fried rice that was a great fit for the exact reasons I ordered it.
As I glanced over the table with the tall glass of Foo Beer, the dim sum basket and other platters nearly emptied, I knew it was time for dessert! Being just a party of two, I called for the Foo Black Marble Sesame Cheese Cake served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.
While the cheesecake draped in greys and whites, peppered with sesame seeds impressed with its looks and a balanced sweet flavour profile, the soft, creamy smack I subconsciously expected on my tongue was that one missing element I would have loved to experience. But, a cheesecake is a cheesecake and while it wasn’t an exceptional bake, it does make for one to be tried once.
Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Max: 5 stars)
Food: 7.5/10 | Drinks: 7/10 | Service: 8/10 | Decor: 7.5/10 | Vibe: 8/10 | One dish we loved: Charcoal Har-Gow dim sum