Beyond the bar and the buzz, this restaurant in Bandra has re-opened and here's what's new

Unlike traditional Japanese restaurants Bandrarsquos Akina which opened in 2022 built its reputation as a highenergy dining and nightlife destination where diners came more for the cocktails sake DJs and electric atmosphere than its contemporary platesNow reimagined as House of Akina the brand which opens doors tomorrow marks a distinct shift from its nightlifeled identity to a more immersive contemporary Asian dining experience In fact it moves beyond rigid cuisine labels to celebrate the stories memories and cultural connections across bordersThe space too is designed less like a restaurant and more like a welltravelled personrsquos home Therersquos a welcoming foyer that opens into the living and dining areas furnished with plush seating curated artwork The soft drapery and television add to the feeling of stepping into someonersquos private residence Aksha Kamboj executive chairperson Aspect Global Ventures explains ldquoAkina is imagined as someone who has travelled the world collecting stories flavours and emotions and now she opens her home to Mumbai We wanted guests to feel that intimacy the moment they walk inrdquoVietnamese Coffee NoirHelming the kitchen is Creative Culinary Head Chef Ashwin Singh He represents a new generation of Indian chefs who are reimagining regional flavours through a contemporary lens without losing their cultural roots Having honed his craft across renowned kitchens including Taj Marriott Gaggan in Bangkok and Masque Singhrsquos cooking is driven by memory ingredientled storytelling and a deep respect for traditional techniques such as fermentation pickling and slow cooking ldquoAt Akina the intention was never to create food that simply looks contemporaryWe wanted every dish to feel rooted in memory and emotion while still evolving through technique and perspective Many dishes draw from Indian flavours and regional ingredients I grew up with interpreted through experiences gathered across different kitchens and cultures The Akina Edit especially reflects that balance between familiarity and discoveryrdquoAshwin SinghWe started with Mango Gazpacho Pani Puri and Baby Spinach and Shisho Chaat then moved on to Hamachi Carpaccio White Tiger Potato Maki and Dynamite Prawn Maki The Spiced Yam Bean Dimsum and Spicy Crab Dimsum were delicious The Broccoli Anticuchos With Cream Hunkayna and the Gai Yang Chicken The Grilled Hamachi With Vietnamese Lemon Sauce and Chilli Basil Water Chestnut amp Cauliflower The Dry Ramen Noodles was interesting but our favourite was Thecha Hakka Noodles which brings together familiar Indian heat with woktossed Asian comfort The Lamb Kapitan Curry was ideal For desserts we tried Vietnamese Coffee Noir Kuro Cacao Brownie Tropical Vanilla Island and Miso Honey Crunch CakeThe beverage menu reads almost like a collection of postcards from across Asia where flavours are tied to moments rather than merely ingredients While the food menu requires an evolved palate with the restaurant relaunch House of Akina feels like an invitation to savour the stories behind every plateWhere House of Akina Golden Palace Turner Road Bandra West