Review: A Luxe Anniversary Tasting at Indian Accent Mumbai

There are some restaurants that don’t just serve food; they serve memory, mood and a moment in time. Indian Accent has always sat in that space for me. So when I walked into NMACC for their second anniversary tasting menu, I had expectations shaped by nostalgia and softened by curiosity. Two years in, the restaurant has managed to hold on to its legacy while tuning itself into the pulse of a changing city. And from the first course to the last bite, you can tell Chef Rijul Gulati isn’t just maintaining the narrative, he’s evolving it with restraint, play and emotion.

It was one of those perfect rainy Mumbai afternoons, the kind where the city feels like it’s exhaling. I was seated facing the fountain and the kind of table meant for two people on a date, or two friends who are catching up. It’s intimate without being precious and sets the tone for the dining experience. The space itself still holds that Indian Accent sensibility with Art Deco elegance without performance, design that whispers rather than announces.

The meal opened with their iconic blue cheese naan. You’d think after all these years, the novelty would wear off, but it’s still such a clever amuse-bouche. Tiny, warm, and unapologetically rich — just enough blue cheese to command attention without overwhelming. Before the flavour could linger into heaviness, the tomato shorba followed like a palate reset button. Light, clean and quietly acidic, it wiped the slate without erasing the memory of the naan.

Then arrived the Multani Moth Kachori. This is where the menu started speaking in regional accents. Chilli, onion, channa jor garam, papdi chaat with crackling spinach it is a joyful riot of textures and nostalgia. The kachori itself had a distinctly Rajasthani profile, the kind that reminds you of road trips and home kitchens. But the spinach crunch, was the true standout. The thin layer of channa jor garam felt almost like a chickpea pâté — gone in a bite, but not forgotten.

Next came the tandoori pulled pork with bacon bhujia and carambola. This dish could have gone wrong in less confident hands, but here it was beautifully calibrated. The pork was pulled and shaped into a patty, the bacon bhujia adding crunch and salt, while the saffron and tamarind glaze underneath gave it a sweet-sour anchor that balanced all that umami from the pork, bacon and chorizo. It felt indulgent without being heavy — a very deliberate kind of richness.

My unexpected favourite was the Dilli Shawarma. It looks like a tiny taco at first glance, but the moment you bite into it, you understand why it’s a cult classic. The chicken is unbelievably tender — they’ve apparently added a touch of paneer to achieve that texture, and it works. The flavours are gentle, almost regal, and it disappears before you’ve fully registered you’re eating it. It’s playful, elegant and deeply Delhi in spirit.

Then came the Crab Varuval in a butter pepper sauce, tossed with tiny crab chips. Visually, you almost expect coconut milk but it’s more creamy, the South Indian reference comes from tempered mustard seeds. The crab itself is buttery, garlicky and comforting but slightly salty with the salmon roe on top, but that hint crunch from the chips gives it a second personality.

Just when the build-up of flavour needed an intermission, the kulfi sorbet landed in front of me. Presented in a miniature cooker, made with anardana and amchur, it was a time machine disguised as dessert. It had the memory of gola and the tang of childhood summers — a palate cleanser that made you smile before it refreshed you.

The dry-aged duck with khandvi and golden corn kadhi was the dish that made me pause. The duck had a crisp underside, but the khandvi on top softened the bite, and then came the drizzle of black garlic, the charred corn and the carrots. It was visually stunning and texturally layered. There was umami, crunch, silkiness and earth — everything in harmony without losing the duck to theatrics.

The braised lamb shank followed with tangy gourd and almond korma. The meat fell off the bone in the most effortless way, and the spicing was measured — flavour-forward but not aggressive. It was the kind of dish you don’t rush, even if you could. Alongside it came the Indian Accent kulchas, including a butter chicken one and a bacon version. The bacon kulcha, especially, was a surprise — joyfully umami and slightly smoky. And then, of course, the dal makhani. I don’t say this lightly, but it’s the best I’ve had after ITC Peshawari. It triggered the same kind of nostalgia — slow-cooked, and deeply flavoured and the kind of dish you’d go back for.

The pre-dessert was a Motichoor Soft Serve. It tasted like the love child of jalebi and ice cream it is playful, familiar and visually very cute. It cleaned the palate in a comforting way without erasing the memory of the savoury courses. The final dessert was the Amritsari Black Plum with saffron mascarpone and crispy seviyan. This one was a visual showstopper and you almost didn’t want to touch it. For my palate it was a little on the sweeter side, but for dessert lovers, it’s going to be a home run. The tartness of the plum, the sweetness of the mascarpone and the texture of the seviyan made it both nostalgic and new.

By the end of the meal, what stayed with me wasn’t just flavour, it was feeling. The cocktails were thoughtful, the hospitality warm without being rehearsed, and there was a sense of belonging that many fine-dining spaces fail to achieve. The second anniversary menu doesn’t scream for attention, it earns it quietly & confidently.

Indian Accent Mumbai hasn’t just upheld its legacy, it has woven itself into the city’s culinary memory with grace and personality.

And if I’m being honest, I’d go back just for the dal and the shawarma alone — everything else is a beautifully plated bonus.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7/5
Summary: An exquisite journey of flavours, nostalgia, and modern Indian culinary innovation at Indian Accent Mumbai’s second anniversary tasting menu.

Price: Vegetarian – INR 5,500 / Non-vegetarian – INR 5,750
Opening Hours All 7 days
Lunch – 12 noon to 2:30 pm
Dinner Seatings – 6.45/7 pm – 9 pm; 9.45 pm – 12 midnight
Seating 70- seater (including 2 private dining rooms for 18 & 10 pax each)
Address: Indian Accent, Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre,
Jio World Centre (Gate 11), BKC, Mumbai 400098
Telephone: +91 22 3525 1500
Email/ Reservations: reservations.mum@indianaccent.com

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