South Mumbai's ode to Henry IV

Unadulterated joie de vivre and 56 mistresses were just some of the reasons why France's King Henry IV earned the nickname "vert-galant" or the gay-spark. Whatever he did, he pulled it off in his inimitable style.

It's this style that South Mumbai's new club-lounge intends to replicate, and with proprietors stopping by to check on guests, and sending over complimentary drinks, Panache Lounge is on the right track.

We enjoyed the captain's recommendationu00a0-- the Panache Martini (Rs 600)u00a0-- but with kaffir lime leaves and a blend of Indian spices, the richly flavoured cocktail may not be everyone's cup of tea.u00a0

On the other hand, with a generous sprinkle of fresh Parmesan cheese, the Arugula Salad (Rs 180) will go down well with most.

A bit heavy on salt, the Cajun Chicken (Rs 225) isn't the South-American recipe you might expect; served on skewers it almost has au00a0 South East Asian touch.

The Lamb Shank (Rs 450) emerged as the star of the day. Tender and incredibly succulent, this medium-to-well-done piece of meat was perfectly seasoned and fell right off the bone. Fluffy, yet incredibly light, even the accompanying mash impressed.