One of my fondest memories of my childhood was going to the Sea Lounge to have what my mother called 'high tea'. All I remember is sitting by the window and looking at the boats bob up and down in the Arabian Sea. When I first returned to Bombay last year a few things cheered me up as much as friends who visited from overseas. And so it happened that one such friend dragged me to the Taj and re-introduced me to the Sea Lounge.
From the second I walked in there I knew I had found a space I would love for however long I find myself in India. The decor was just to my taste - simple and elegant. The baby blueish powdery paint and white mouldings went a long way to add to the very relaxed energy and the sounds of the grand piano drowned out everything that was chaotic. Although I have been there many times in the last few months I am unable to describe anything else about the place, my attention is on every visit has been focussed on getting a table by the window. If, like me you are not a “spa person” and you want to treat yourself to some peace and quiet I can't think of another such peaceful luxurious sanctuary in Bombay.
The Sea Lounge is a treat I am not a great bill discetor but I am aware that the bill would be in the general viscinity of ‘I am spoiling myself’. It is a nice place to share with a close friend or a special date. However, a word to the wise, the Taj has a lot of security checks and at times the entire street near it is cordonned off by the police and is not accessible even if you are going to the Taj. So if your date is someone who will be irrate about waiting for the car, walking a bit in the sun or going through the secuirty checks and handbag searches perhaps the Sea Lounge is not the most appropraite place on that occassion.
The staff at the Sea Lounge are always polite and welcoming. There was an occasion once though when a friend of mine and I walked in and we could not find a single member of staff. After waiting a while the pianist gallantly showed us to a table. As my grandmother would say the service at the Taj is not what it used to be like in the good old days.
Then there was the occasion that my friend ended up having her pani puri and chutney served to her on her dress. It was an accident we understood that. The staff were very apologetic but they made no effort to get my friend’s clothes laundered which I felt is the least they could have done through their in house laundry. An establishment of similar standing in another country would have offered to compensate my friend for her laundry bill or they would have given us a complimentary meal or simply taken something off our bill. That was not an enjoyable lunch as we spent most of it in the ladies room trying to clean all the food off my friends dress. On a positive note though the lady who works in the ladies room was exceedingly helpful and kind.
I have to admit that I am not a chaat fan. I do not like Indian snacks and I have never tried chaat at the Sea Lounge. However I know lots of people who visit from overseas to like to go there and pay a heafty permium for what I like to call "street food served posh". However I would like to point out that the chaat is served so exquisitely that the food presentation can compare to any fine restaurant in the world.
I am a tremendously fussy eater. I have a wide ranging palette but I loathe food that is not upto the mark. On all my visits I have always stuck to munching down the tenderloin sandwich. I really liked the generous bit of avocado (hard to get in Mumbai) a sprinkle of scallions and one is always pleased with chips by ones sani.
A tip to those who are not very clued in on Indian beef, when one orders beef in India one must never have high expectations to the extent that one must really expect to be served beef. It is a fact that more often than not you will be served buffalo meat, which if prepared well can taste quite pleasant.
Now when you order any beef or whatever is served masquerading as beef beware Indians only eat overcooked meat! In my opinion it is a total waste if you can actually manage to get a sliver of decent beef in Bombay to have it cooked till its a shade of something positively unattractive and has the texture of chewing gum. So all those who risk ordering beef and want it cooked rare, medium rare, medium or medium well is to describe it by colour of the meat so simply request "Please make sure the middle is ..." "bloody red","red no blood", " light pink" etc.
The Sea Lounge unfortunately is not an exception to overcooking steak. I have complained about the meat in that sandwich almost every time I have eaten it. On my last visit my friend a usually very kind and mild lady had my sandwich returned when the staff mumbled an apology and said they would inform the chef. So another Bombay lesson learned, do not complain subtly in about the inadequacy of the preparation or quality of your food simply state "Please take it back and repalce it"!
Now as I waited for my replacement sandwich I was hungry, hot and wanted a pep me up so on a whim I ordered a cold coffee with ice cream. I am aware it is not anyones choice for a pre-lunch aperatif but I am thrilled I did for all I can say about it is that it was outstanding.
My overall verdict on the the Sea Lounge, ditch the lunch, have a few cold coffees and if your brave try a snack.
PS - I visited the Sea Lounge last week and have a post script as a result...if you order the Tenderloin Sandwich it is not the same as described above ...do NOT expect more then a few sparce slivers of avocado in the sani and forget the chips they are not included with the sandwich anymore. What can I say... apart from beware the effects of corporate downsizing on your plate!
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