ARK at Courtyard by Marriott
Written by Yash Chandiramani
There is something about a good bar that makes you feel at home. There is a reason people are ‘regulars’ , order their ‘usuals’ and know their favorite bartender by name.
Ark is a bar tucked into a corner of Courtyard Marriott that provides you with the vibe you can use as an excuse to regularize this place.
We walked in at around 9pm, the place was dimly lit and the lighting went well with the tasteful interiors. Arun who played host to us that night guided us to a great spot with comfortable seating and bright enough for us to see what we were going to devour.
We scanned the beverage menu and obviously what caught our eye were the molecular cocktails.
Now I’m usually someone who sticks to his classics. I judge a bar with the way they make their Martini and the way they serve it.
But the names were really catchy for me to give it a miss. We ordered the twisted flavors and Candy floss molecular cocktails first.
Anyone who has had molecular cocktails will tell you that its all about the presentation and the visuals that happen right in front of you. Its the first 45 seconds of the drink that differentiate it from the regular ones. After the initial time its just like a regular cocktail. Let me tell you, Ark made no mistake when it came to the visuals, the presentation and the explanation narrated that came along with every drink.
Twisted Flavours: A white rum based cocktail presented by pouring dry ice on the spirit. There was a strong hint of basil in the aroma. With every sip I took, I discovered a new flavor, basil, Pomegranate and lychee. Hence the name.
This was our favorite that night and we just couldn’t get enough of this.
Candy Floss: Made with gin, this cocktail was made by pouring the mix over candy floss. The presentation was fabulous. The drink tasted good too, though we found the candy floss taste a bit too over powering.
Next we ordered a Pearl martini and Long island iced tea.
Pearl Martini: This drink is to be had with a straw, at least i’d recommend you do since there are lots of small watermelon caviars thrown into a mix of muddled watermelon and sweet-sour syrup. This is a vodka based drink. Everything was in right proportion and the drink tasted just fine. The caviar fit through the straw and added an element of surprise with every sip.
Long Island Iced tea: This classic was done extremely well and I was happy to know they used Cointreau instead of the triple sec flavor used by a lot of bars these days. One suggestion though, they could have done with a little less cola.
Lastly we ordered a VIRGIN cucumber basil mojito. This one is for all of you who prefer driving over drinking. My verdict: Go for it. It is one of the most refreshing drinks I’ve had in a bar ever.
All in all the place scores a perfect 10 on the presentation of their cocktails. We really appreciate the hospitable service and food that pairs brilliantly with the drinks.
Ark has a bright chance of becoming a regular spot amongst all the high end corporates in the locality. Atleast Mumbai Foodie wants to visit it again already.
Even though ARK comes off more as a Bar and we know that some bars can really get their food wrong but let me tell you that this is not one of those places. We thoroughly enjoyed the food served to us.
Philadelphia and Olive Tapenade Bruschetta.
Even though I’m not such a bruschetta fan, the server recommended this one and it was spot on!
Asian Fish Cakes with Wok Tossed Calamari
The Beer Brat
Look at the size of that sausage! This was a perfect dish to call for. And whats even better is that it comes along with a 650ml glass of beer!
Nasiley Jhinge
Written by Yash Chandiramani
