Amedama on the Go Go: Trishna

We almost missed out on this restaurant. Trishna's is famous in Mumbai for its pepper garlic King Crab. It also happens to be a place frequented by the who's who list of Mumbai elite. For a city with a population as large as Mumbai there is a very insular upper class society. They shop at the same stores and frequent the same restaurants (go to the same schools, have their hair done in the same salons, take tea at the same hotels, etc). Walk into Indigo and it will seem as if everyone knows each other, this is because they do.

I kept hearing that Trishna's had sufferred from this kind of attention. A victim of its own fame and popularity with Mumbai's jetset. Foodie friends told me to go elsewhere for my seafood fix but I was either there on a night when the kitchen was very on or Trishna's is sufferring from reverse snobbery. The seafood is of excellent quality and their preparation of it is very special. I think you'd be hard pressed to find the dishes here prepared at this level anywhere else in the world, which makes it a must visit if you are in Mumbai.

I'd never had pomfret before but its served quite frequently in Mumbai. The whitefish is meaty yet the texture is light and fluffy. A wonderful fish and Trishna's has very fresh pomfret and will do many preparations of it.

The waiter recommended the Hyderabadi Pomfret and we agreed. I'm happy we did. The fish is blackened - barbecued with black pepper and absolutely delicious.

But Trishna's signature dish is that garlic pepper crab. King crab doused in butter and liberal amounts of garlic, what's not to like? I have a special place in my heart (and stomach) for crab but this is not to say that I'm not picky when it comes to crab. Trishna's King Crab quality is excellent. Here, take a look at the meat coming out of the claw and judge for yourself:

The servers will be happy to completely shell the crab for you but for me, shelling the crab is part of the enjoyment. I want to be able to feel the cracking and anticipate the satisfaction of extracting the meat.

And of course you need a bread to round out your dinner. They do a wonderful rumali roti (handkerchief bread) that went perfectly. No need for any more richness or butter or flavouring for the bread, the buttery crab is quite enough and the plain almost glutinous quality of the flat bread went perfectly.