A couple of days back, I was invited to a blogger table at Via Milano with Avantika – the Customer Success Associate of VIPTable. VIPTable is a new restaurant reservation startup that is offering instant table reservations via its mobile app and website. VIPTable offers a platform to the restaurants to build direct relationships with customers and enhance its services by seeking private feedback, analysing ordering preferences, and creating targeted loyalty programs. VIPTable also ties up with popular restaurants to offer a curated chef’s special menu called the #VIPMenu at attractive prices. The first VIPMenu in the city was launched at Via Milano and will be available till the 19th September.
The VIPMenu at Via Milano offers a five course set menu, which includes a Cocktail or a Mocktail, Soup, Antipasti, Main Course, and Dessert. There are quite a few options in each section to pick from. I started off my lunch at the VIPTable with a glass of Whisky Sour – a refreshing concoction of Whisky and citrus with a bit of sweetener. The set menu includes three soups – Minestrone, Cream of Tomato, and Cream of Chicken. I opted for the Cream of Chicken, which is one of my favourite comfort foods. The starters include a platter of four veg or non veg starters. The non-veg platter that I picked had Smoked Chicken Salad, Baked Chicken Breast, Chicken Bruschetta, and Batter Fried Shrimp. The first three courses didn’t provide much room for complaint, but the real star of the meal was the main course.
The set menu offers a total of ten options – split equally between vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, to pick from. I picked the Tenderloin in Red Wine Sauce. I had asked for the meat to be cooked medium rare, and was relieved to discover that Via Milano hadn’t completely botched it up. The meat was still cooked past medium rare, but it was still tender and had plenty of juices and flavour. The Red Wine sauce was spectacular, with its rich, acidic flavour elevating the dish. If you don’t eat beef, then you should try the Grilled Chicken, which had a really nice crust of garlic and herbs. I didn’t try the Sea-Bass in Lemon Sauce, but was told that this dish didn’t live upto the expectations.
The dessert options include Vanilla Panacotta, Tiramisu, Lavazza Espresso and Rum, and Caramelised Almond Nougat with chocolate sauce and pistachio tuile. I got to try lil bit of everything except the espresso. The panna cotta was good, but would have been better served if there was a more flavourful companion that musk melons. The Tiramisu was absolutely brilliant with strong r coffee and alcoholic flavours.
The set menu is priced at Rs. 499 plus taxes, and is available for lunch and dinner on weekdays, and only lunch on Saturday. It’s an absolute steal considering the quality and quantity of food and drinks on offer. Head over to VIPTable to make your reservation.
