Like everyone else, we were gung-ho about the reopening of Razzberry Rhinoceros. Well, how often do you get a Netflix kind of revival for popular jaunts in Mumbai?
As we entered, we walked through a tiled pathway that leads to the restaurant’s lobby. On both sides of the pathway, the party halls look like quaint cottages. To give a semblance of a grass lawn, there were large patches of green plastic carpet. In the heat and humidity, we wished it was the cool, green and real kind. But to their credit, they do have sections of mini gardens and numerous hanging baskets.
At the famous seaside lawn, a stage was set up and some artistes were testing their mics. The al fresco section of the restaurant was dotted with a few customers indulging in sheesha. We occupied a table in the air-conditioned interiors that was flooded with daylight. Our table turned out to be a wobbly one, which a staff soon fixed. The restaurant had different menus for different cuisines. When we asked our attendant to suggest some of the popular and quick-to-arrive starters, the person seemed quite clueless.
Thankfully, what we ordered blindly arrived in about 15 minutes. The Green Peas Shorba (Rs 225) was served in a wide rim bowl and looked exquisite. The soup was mild with a hint of sweetness. The portion was just right for one person. The Chargrilled Pepper Calamari (Rs 525) was cooked to perfection. The bed of sweet potatoes that it was served on, and the crisp, grilled asparagus on the side were a delight.
The attendant who served us so far was nowhere to be seen. Seeing our confused expressions, another attendant promptly came to take the order for the mains. We opted for Spaghetti with Mushroom Trio (Rs 445) and Slow Cooked Lamb (Rs 715). The former was creamy, well-cooked and filling.
The latter was a tad disappointing, as the meat turned out to be dry. We paired the dishes with Berry Fizz (Rs 200) and sangria. While the sangria was smooth and sweet with the apples, it wasn’t as full-bodied or heady as expected. The Berry Fizz had an inch-length of hair floating in it. When we brought this to the attendant’s notice he promptly replaced it. In this one, we found a piece of paper embedded in the ice cube. We notified the server about this as well. This time too, the staff took it back in a nonchalant manner.
When the time came for settling the bill, we noticed we were charged for the Berry Fizz. When we pointed out that the drink was sent back twice, the attendant said, “But ma’am the drink was replaced”.
We didn’t contest it and headed out to watch the sunset. However in about fifteen minutes, a staff came and politely conveyed that without wrist bands we weren’t allowed in the gig area. We promptly made our way out. Perhaps the next time we would come only for the gigs because clearly hospitality within the restaurant is baffling if not non-existent.
WHAT: Razzberry Rhinoceros
RATING: 2 / 5
WHERE: Juhu Tara Road, Juhu
WHEN: 12 pm - 1.30 am
COST: Rs 1,900 for two with alcohol
CALL: 7400402604
