There's a new restaurant in Mumbai that celebrates American BBQ, and here's what makes it unique

Bacon Bourbon. Pics/Special Arrangement

Mumbai has no shortage of restaurants promising something "different". Border Bean Barbecue actually makes a decent case for it. The new 60-seater in Kamala Mills takes the American smokehouse, throws open the borders and lets Mexico, Korea, West Africa and India join the party. The interiors keep things casual and industrial, with the restaurant sitting in the vicinity of several heavy-hitters.

Chef-founder Shantanu Jagtap started Border Bean as a 15-seater in Bandra. An IHM Aurangabad graduate with postgraduate training at Le Cordon Bleu, Sydney, he has worked in India and Australia. His barbecue education includes plenty of inspiration from American pitmasters such as Aaron Franklin. "I love cooking with meat," he tells us. But Jagtap isn't chasing barbecue purity. His philosophy is refreshingly simple: "Barbecue is a technique, not a boundary". And that's the charm. Border Bean knows its smoke, respects its meat and isn't afraid of a little culinary passport-stamping.

Shantanu Jagtap

While the USP are their BBQ meats, there's a thoughtfully-done vegetarian menu featuring flatbreads, small plates, sandwiches and Jain options. Our picks from there include the crisp Plantain Fries with Sour Cream (Rs 400) that make for easy bar company and the Kimchi Paneer Tacos (Rs 500), another border-crossing success with crispy paneer, kimchi, gochujang, pico de gallo, cheese and garlic cream cheese.

The bar follows the same borderless philosophy. Seoul by the Beach (Rs 900) mixes soju, Malibu and clarified pineapple juice. It's like a Piña Colada, but not exactly. The Bacon Bourbon (Rs 900) brings bacon-fat-washed bourbon, thyme and apple-cinnamon reduction to the glass. But the smoker is where the action is.

AT Border Bean Barbecue, Kamala Mills, Lower Parel.
TIME 12 pm to 10.45 pm (Monday to Thursday) 12 pm to 11.45 pm (Friday to Sunday)
CALL 9082382866

The Guide's Top 6 Picks

While the smash burgers on the menu looked really tempting, we opted for the sandwiches. The Cubano No. 9 deliciously packs nine-hour smoked pork shoulder, ham, cheese, pickled cucumber and honey mustard into a milk bun. (Rs 600)

The 12-hour Smoked Water Buffalo Brisket is tender, smoky and served with jus. It's not easy to find a good brisket, and this one has the deep, smoky flavour you want from brisket without becoming an exercise in chewing. (Rs 600)

The Cornbread with Maple Syrup deserves its own paragraph. Moist, buttery, salty-sweet and seriously moreish, it's the kind of side you order "for the table" and then quietly claim as your own. (Rs 400)

The Steak Sandwich with smoked water buffalo tenderloin, cheese, jalapeño salsa, pickled peppers, rocket and ranch on sourdough is another solid bite. (Rs 700)

Deep Fried Milk and Chocolate Ice Cream One of the best churros in town, with delicious fried crème pât dusted with cinnamon sugar and paired with chocolate ice cream. (Rs 450)

The Pork Belly Burnt Ends, smoked for eight hours and finished with a spicy maple glaze and ranch, brings the sticky, indulgent side of barbecue to the table. (Rs 550)