Restaurant review: Masque

Let’s celebrate (yes, you read that right). Let’s raise a toast to our Mumbai restaurants for their high octane, super quick response to the pandemic. My heart goes out to the restaurant teams getting crushed under rents, salaries, inventories during six months of closure. Few are reopening soon. But almost all have got their delivery act together — sanitising protocols, delivery-friendly menus, modes of delivery, and voila! Creatively packaged food delivered to our doorsteps.

FLAGGING OFF A BRAND NEW SERIES
Let’s kick-start this series with the international superstar, award-winning restaurant Masque, and its internationally celebrated superstar regular Jacqueline Fernandez. I sample the delivery menu independently and have her choice of dishes delivered to her. The vivacious gourmet has been on several fun restaurant reviews with me over the years. In spite of her busy schedule, Jackie and her bestie not only checked out the food, but also clicked photos for us.

Ever since it opened four years ago, Masque has been making national and international waves. Just a day before the lockdown happened, Aditi Dugar and Chef Prateek Sadhu of Masque were felicitated by the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. Masque has been celebrated for its ingredient-driven, elaborate multi course tasting menu, so would Chef Sadhu be able to adapt to the delivery model?

FOOD
Happy surprises. Just when we need it the most, comfort is delivered in many a delicious guise. Go for the MFC Burger Masque Fried Chicken Patty, vibrant with homemade sauces in the embrace of milk bread buns. Jackie’s favourite, the Japanese-inspired Mushroom Patty Sando and the thukpa, which was “noodly soupy homey healthy”. She loved the mushroom momos, too.

I’m a Kashmiri food lover and Kashmiri Chef Sadhu’s authentic, flavourful mellow and silken Kangash Yakhni (morels flown in from Kashmir), plump and springy Gustaba, flavour-rich Roganjosh and the Kashmiri Rajma are a treat. As are the flakey, buttery Katlam (Kashmiri bread), chutneys and kahwa, too. From the three course menu, we try the Prawn Pepper Fry with neer dosa and end with the sinfully delicious large slab of marshmallow and chocolate pave.

MINUS POINTSWhile the prawns with their addictive peppery notes delight, its accompanying neer dosa is stodgy. While I would still order the Kashmiri menu, next time, I will skip the overcooked Chok Charwan (sour lamb liver) and the overspiced Dum Aloo. And, of course, it’s lockdown, but I do hope we can get haaq and nadru, too.

MY POINTIt’s amazing how Masque has adapted itself so brilliantly to the delivery model. The internationally award-winning Chef Sadhu delivers a sense of bounty and a bevy of familiar, unabashedly hearty, comforting flavours through signatures from Kashmir to Kerala. “Masque has been our saving grace in the quarantine, as the food is fantastic, reaches you fresh and delicious with all safety precautions followed,” says Jacqueline.

P.S: The 12-seater Masque Lab is all set to open and the renovated Masque will reopen soon, too. If in the mood, drive in for their weekend tailgate parties (serving food in safe distanced parked cars in their compound).

SAFETY AND PACKAGING
Safety, sanitising protocols take priority. As does their practical, hygienic, biodegradable packaging, in which the food is delivered. Masque assures: Daily temperature checks, masks mandatory, spacious kitchen (sanitised daily) to maintain social distancing, team on rotation, fewer employees on daily shifts, all of whom commute to the kitchen via carpool or personal vehicles. No outside packaging is allowed. Produce is delivered by trusted vendors in clean baskets outside the restaurant, and sanitised before being brought in.

Rating:
Food: 4
Packaging: 3.75

How to order
Call: +91 9819 069 222 Delivering across Mumbai, from 11:30 am to 8:30 pm Average meal for two: Rs. 3,000 Three course set menu for two: Rs. 6,000
Address: Masque, Laxmi Mills Compound, Lower Parel, Mumbai




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