Restaurant Review: Balsa, Lower Parel

After a tough couple of years for restaurants, one of the newest additions in the famed Kamala mills is Balsa. I was curious to test out the alfresco dining and tapas joint before the weather made it too hot to enjoy the outdoor seating. As a food-lover, here is my take on whether you want to give this place a try with the number of dining options increasing.

First Impressions

I walked in expecting chaos as with most other restaurants on a Saturday night, surprisingly the place was mellow with light music, soft lighting and pristine cabanas. At first impressions, the place looked gorgeous, the kind of outdoor vibe Mumbai severely lacks. Hanging lights lent the perfect ambience.

How It Tested

At first glance, the food menu is not that extensive, however, once you delve deeper you see realize it's a mixture of multiple cuisines that will appease most. In a group of 10 people, we possibly ordered most of the vegetarian menu from appetizers to desserts.

Here's how it went:

I began my meal with the avocado and quinoa tartare tasted exactly as I expected it to, warm quinoa paired with creamy avocado that was accompanied with fermented beetroot and tangy orange. They managed to keep the flavours raw and natural which made it the perfect appetizer.

The tastiness continued with the smooth pumpkin soup that boosted savoury undertones coupled with the lemony labneh. Everything was seasoned lightly that allowed for the rich flavours of the ingredients to shine through and the presentation definitely made it 'gram worthy.

However, the others were not so lucky...

The wild mushroom pate was soppy, the only taste in the three-cheese kulcha was that was white flour and the spanakopita appetizer tart arrived during the main course.

The "pesto flatbread" lacked pesto, crispiness, and even taste. Think of it as an uncooked break with grilled potatoes and possibly the bitterest of salad leaves (mind you, they did not use arugula).

The balsa bibimbap came with a beautiful array of colourful veggies set on a bed of white rice, accompanied with a sweet and tangy sauce. Traditionally, bibimbap is served in a hot stone pot to ensure that the sticky rice is crispy. Here, it was served in a ceramic bowl with plain rice even though the menu claims it to be "crispy and sticky".

The charred broccoli balsa balchão was definitely the nightmare of the evening, a bitter brown sauce that overpowered the natural vibrancy of the beautiful vegetable. It was the only dish of the night that was INEDIBLE.

The middle eastern bowl was a classic, nothing that wowed; but definitely not a disappointment unlike most of the dishes on the table at this point.

Pros and Cons

With a majority of restaurants turning fusion, finding good speciality food in a beautiful ambience has definitely become an obstacle. Balsa is a great place to walk in with your friends to enjoy the outdoor vibe.

Skip the cocktails and enjoy classic neat alcohol because the bartending could definitely use an upgrade, grab light snacks, and head out for the night to enjoy what Kamala mills have to offer.

Definitely go for the vibe and raw appetizers, skip the main and cocktails.

The Final Score

As a food-loving nutritionist, taste and quality are factors that I do not compromise on. Ingredient pairings aside from their nutritional perspective can make or break a dish. I'm always looking for a balance between everything because perfection is rarely achieved.

My rating: 2/5 stars

Leave a comment, and share your experience if you've been here.

Wishing you health and happiness

Shruti