Top News

At Courtyard by Marriott, Ummrao Saaj blends raag-inspired drinks, playful rituals, and modern Awadhi plates into a dining experience you didn’t know you needed

If Ummrao Jaan’s soul is still wandering, it’s going to be happy to see the tribute that Courtyard by Marriott in Andheri, Mumbai, is offering. Ummrao Saaj, the restaurant on that property, is an ode to the poetess and the cuisine of her province and era.

Wonder |

The ode begins when you are told to play the xylophone as you enter to choose your drink. The idea is to see if the chord that resonates with your mood also resonates with the drink of your choice. Their signature cocktail menu, Raag, is based on the seven notes of Indian classical music — Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni. Each cocktail then has a name associated with a rasa (emotions/emotional essence). After you find the note that you connect with, you can read the contents of the drink that matches that note. If you agree, then that’s your drink for the meal. If not, please go ahead and choose as per your mood or preference.

Bravery & Peace |

I am in a fix. Can’t decide between Ga and Dha. So, looked at the rasas — Ga is Joy and Dha is Bravery! Yes, I am in a joyful mood, and a vodka-based cocktail sounds good to start the afternoon. Kokum and curry leaves infused vodka finished with Himalayan soda and garnished with curry leaf. Curry leaf aroma titillates you. The drink starts kokum, ends curry leaf and has a mildly salty finish. It’s served with roasted cashews sprinkled with gunpowder chutney. An easy drink on the palate, the cashews bring forward the curry leaf freshness.

“All our drinks are served with a gratis to enhance the flavours of the cocktail,” informs Shubham, the bar manager and mixologist. All cocktails in the Raag menu are prebatched. All are blended and then clarified. This gives them an even consistency and an all-round smooth body.