The Coastal Macha is a relatively new fixture on the culinary map of the City of Joy. Piyush Menon and Sabrina Mukherjee the co-owners of this place have been creating quite a buzz in foodie circles and I was eager to find out what the hue and cry was about. You have to climb up a short flight of stairs to enter the restaurant and we arrived on a wet and stormy evening. As soon as we climbed up the stairs I was charmed by the bright little wooden boats fixed on the wall… the décor is simple but the little thematic touches certainly reflect the costal vibe perfectly … the cutout fish on the panels, the lovely sandy sea shore with pretty shells and pebbles represented under each table top so you feel you’re eating on the beach, the ships wheel and so on.
The real magic however comes from the food and we came away absolutely charmed by our dinner there. Our meal started with a ruby red glass of Kokum Cooler – a sweet and slightly tangy drink made with extract of kokum soaked in sugar syrup, light and refreshing it set the stage for the flurry of flavors that followed. Our first dish looked like a bit like a paturi, it was Chemeen Polichattu – prawns cooked in a flavorful masala, wrapped in a banana leaf and pan fried. It was superb, the fresh perfectly cooked prawns and the lovely masala… a winner and one I will certainly repeat. This was followed by Tandoori Devilled Crab – Crabmeat cooked with a robust tandoori masala mix served stuffed into the crab shell and served, pleased us both visually and taste wise and our meal was off to a super start.
We sat back and chatted for a bit and the main course followed shortly. Mutton Ghee Roast – tender mutton pieces cooked in roasted Mangalorean spices in pure desi ghee … this dish smelled and looked so good I literally wanted to jump right into it … paired with their gorgeous fluffy Appams the best I have had in the city I went straight into an absolute gastronomic high. We were also served Chicken Gassi, a signature Mangalorean Curry infused with coconut milk which was very nice but we were so taken by the stunning Ghee Roast that we did not do the poor fowl proper justice.
The rains outside made a perfect backdrop for the storm of flavors unleashed upon us and we were all set to head home and dream of the sea and everything in it that was swimming around in our happy tummies when dessert was served. A tender coconut pudding which was so delicate and gentle after a meal filled with bold flavors that the smile on our faces grew wider.
If you enjoy Coastal flavors from Goa, Kerala, Mangalore, Malabar then head to The Coastal Macha and indulge yourself.
Please note that those with limited mobility will find the stairs difficult in which case a take-away would be the recommended option.
Rukshana Kapadia is the Founder of https://theculinarycommentator.com/ [1] and for the unabridged version of the above visit her website.