What works for D’Wine, Khar’s new wine bar, is that it serves a good selection of wines at affordable prices. The food? It isn’t too bad, but expect no surprises, writes Kareena Gianani
D'Wine's décor tries to evoke feelings of faraway, European and Mediterranean lands, where good times mean siestas and sangrias. Food and wine. If you look around, you'll see a mural of an Italian street; if you're drumming your fingers on the table, it is on Moroccan tiles. There's a tinny of laughter beside our table; two friends sit cross-legged, sipping their wines and munching on appetisers under dim yellow lights. D'Wine sure has the ambiance set out. Does the food match up?
The Sicilian Cottage Cheese Crostini at D’Wine
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If the Garlic Mushrooms (R350) are anything to go by, it is a bit of a toss-up. The parsley and celery in the mushrooms, tossed in garlic sauce and butter, are flavoursome, but too much spice spoils a dish that could have otherwise been perfect. Thankfully, we have no bone to pick with Sicilian Cottage Cheese Crostini (R320). The basil and salsa rossa (tomato and pepper puree) and rock gremolata (an Italian condiment) taste sumptuous on the char-grilled cottage cheese served on baguettes, and we wish we have space for more than ordered. We scan their extensive wine selection: there are Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs, Cabernet Shirazs, Roses, and anything we could possibly want to have. We choose the Rose Vallone (R275) and the Cabernet Merlot by York (R325), both of which are excellent pairings with the food we are having.
Next, we try the Pumpkin Ravioli (R435). Here, the gorgonzola sauce overpowers the taste of its main ingredient, the pumpkin, and the subtle flavours of sage and hazelnuts. Some light-handed love would have done wonders for this classic combination in ravioli, we feel. The Fettuccine Chicken Stroganoff (R410), fares better, and we are glad the dish is balanced and chicken fresh. Moreover, it goes well with the Merlot.
D’Wine has a warm, charming ambiance; its walls are painted with lovely murals of streets and architecture of Italy and Greece
The chef's special in dessert is the Blueberry Cheesecake, which is lighter than most cheesecakes we've had. It is a good ending to the hits-and-misses meal we've just had.
All in all, D'Wine has a warm, put-your-feet-up kind of ambiance, one that makes you want to sit back, sip its wines at leisure. Its dishes are classic preparations, too -- which we hope they master over time. To compete with Khar's and Bandra's burgeoning restaurant scene, D'Wine will need more than an impressive collection of wines, albeit sold inexpensively.
We cannot rate the expereince as it was by invitation
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