Arelaxing ambience, great food and a friend for company – it is a Saturday afternoon well-spent. I step into the quiet environs of Botticino at the Trident, Bandra Kurla for a slice of Italy on my plate. The elegance of the interiors – that have been done up in serene colours – please my eyes as soon as I get out of the elevator into its well-appointed space.

Selecting a table near the window to get a view of the cityscape, we opt for the ‘Ladies at Lunch’ menu – a selection of interesting options that leave us free to chat while we wait for the food to arrive. Lemon and peach ice teas are the perfect coolers to begin the meal.

In between, we stroll across to the Grappa Lounge – the area where guests can enjoy a glass of wine. The adjoining wall hosts an impressive display of attractive bottles that boast of a tale to tell.

A third companion joins us for the afternoon – a fish that swims excitedly around in the water in a bowl. Prateek Kackar, assistant manager, food and beverage service, explains that when guests walk in alone, they are offered a bowl with a fish for company! Today, though there are two of us, we have Tomasso to enhance the festive spirit. Interestingly, you could also have a Salvatore or a Giorgio in sync with the Italian spirit....

Executive chef, Rohit Gambhir, walks out, almost as soon as our first dishes arrive. Ensuring that we are comfortable, he leaves us to partake of his fare – served with style and a lot of expectation. As the meal progresses, we settle down to enjoy the subtle flavours of the food. The chicken consommé and arugula, roast cheese and roasted almond salad with citrus segments and balsamic honey dressing set the tone on our palate. The mushroom filled breast of chicken is perfectly cooked – my knife slides through it gently and the mushrooms spill out in abundance. I cannot resist grabbing a bite of the chilli and fennel encrusted snapper as well.

The desserts that round off the meal – a selection of ice creams and a mocha budino pudding – impart the sweet edge to the afternoon. And lest we forget the Grappa, we are offered a pomegranate sorbet which is gently sprayed with it. Mamma Mia, what a piacere (pleasure) it was!

I walk out, deciding that next time I will ask for Salvatore on my table.

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