I like middle eastern and Arabian food, but I rarely enjoy an entire middle eastern meal at a restaurant. This is because, being unfamiliar with the variety of dishes on offer, I never know what to order. The staff at Bayroute addressed this problem by recommending drinks and dishes based on my/our preferences for meats and other flavours.
The result? An entire meal that was to our satisfaction, with every dish being delightful!
This prompted me to write my first food/restaurant review after a break of over two years!
The Staff at Bayroute Powai
The patience and detail with which the staff took our order was outstanding and very helpful. Then the attentiveness and service that followed, was mindful and never rushed, as some restaurants tend to make you feel. This allowed us to enjoy a leisurely meal, despite the fact that it was Friday night, the restaurant was packed, and people were waiting to dine in.
The Décor at Bayroute Powai
Quite middle eastern in its vibe, I liked the fact that it was not blingy or loud, but subtle and pleasing. The lighting was low enough to set a comfortable mood, and bright enough to see the food clearly (and take photographs!). The seating was comfortable and the tables close to each other, but distant enough to provide adequate privacy to each.
The Drinks at Bayroute Powai
We knew we wanted one hot toddy, which was perfect. The other two drinks were staff recommendations and turned out to be outstanding in flavour and quantity.
I am not sure what they were called, but mine was an orange + kafir-lime-based cocktail, that was refreshing with the right amount of vodka for it to be felt, without being overpowering.
The other was a dark green drink lime-based mocktail that was fresh, not too sweet, and engaged our taste buds happily!
The Food at Bayroute Powai
The staff will tell you that each dish is enough for one person. Which is true, but only if that one person is The Great Khali! The truth is we ordered one main dish for each of us, and it turned out that two of us could have shared a single main dish, especially since we had also ordered starters/snacks with our drinks.
Hummus Bayroute
Claimed to be one of their signature dishes, it was truly outstanding. The Hummus being the best I have ever tasted in India. I guess it was because it included Greek yogurt labneh which made the whole texture and experience smooth and delightful.
Harissa Chicken Kebab
This is the only dish I wished we got a larger portion, because the flavour and texture of the chicken made it just melt away quickly. The accompanying jaggery molasses cream cheese provided a beautiful complementary flavour.
Machboos Al Kuzu
This was like a traditional mutton biryani, but with a flavour different from what we get in India. The lamb was cooked to be slightly crisp on the outside, but soft and juicy inside. The rice was flavourful and huge in quantity… I think three people can share this dish, especially if you’ve ordered other dishes too.
Moroccan Lemon Olive Chicken
This was a large, full chicken leg with skin, with flavourful pilaf, this was very fulfilling. A chicken lovers delight.
We had another Iranian chicken kebab and rice dish (see photo) but I don’t remember what it was called. It was mildly spiced, flavourful, and was devoured quickly, with a little bit left over to pack and takeaway, along with the previously mentioned leftover lamb!
Baklava at Bayroute Powai in Mumbai
I rate this dessert with a seven star, as it was dramatic in its presentation, and delicious to eat! Served in a smoky container, and revealed with great flair, I had never experienced anything like this before. I’d say this is a must-have when you are at Bayroute!
Overall, I am happy to have discovered a middle eastern cuisine restaurant chain that I would like to revisit and recommend. I just hope the service and food is as good in the other outlets, as it was at Powai in Mumbai.
Noshtradamus’ Bayroute Powai, Mumbai Rating: 5/5
Beverages: 5/5
Food Taste: 5/5
Food Portions: 5/5
Decor: 5/5
Staff and Service: 5/5
Price/Value: 5/5
