Experimentation in the food sphere is always a risk but can also reap high rewards. Remember when grazing tables left dinner guests a little confused but now are all the rage at house parties? Or how no one could wrap their minds around Tex Mex but now, quesadillas are everybody's favourite midnight snack? The same goes for the introduction of new cuisines. After Japanese sushi and Peruvian ceviche have gone on to become menu staples, it's Levantine fare that's about to find its way to palettes. Mumbai is fortunate to be one of the very first to experience the cuisine with the launch of the city's very first Levant restaurant.
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The Levant is a segment of the Eastern Mediterranean region which includes Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. Being in close proximity to Egypt, Turkey and the Middle East, their culinary influences are visible throughout the cuisine, even though they sometimes go by different names. In Mumbai, the flag of Levantine cuisine is being borne by the restaurant named as Sette Mara. It is cosily situated within the elegant walls of The St. Regis hotel in Mumbai. The plush dining destination first opened back in 2021, took a pause during the pandemic and then marked its passionate return in the summer of 2024.
Sette's promise of authentic Levantine food is honoured at ground level as the restaurant is helmed by Egyptian Chef Ahmed Farhat. Besides his Egyptian roots, Chef Ahmed's culinary experience across Bahrain and Doha also provide an Arabic-inspired foundation for him to combine avant-garde techniques with time-honored practices; something he has come to be known for in culinary circles.
The warmly-lit interiors with blue panels and bronze decor elements opens to quiet corners of seating, a cosy bar with Mumbai-themed accents and further into the space, a formal dining room. The bar is a treat; to art enthusiasts as well as those who fancy a themed cocktail. Sette's signature drink is their Negroni which has its own dedicated menu. It includes a truffle-infused creation, mezcal-based specialty and even a tasting tray of mini Negronis. The bar menu also features fragrant cocktails with aromats like lavender, wines from Greece and Lebanon and a cocktail that blends Istanbul apple tea with apricot puree. The list goes on, with star anise aperitifs and zero-proof cocktails for the teetotallers too; all of it proof of the authenticity and flavour profile even in their drink selection.
The mezze, a combined platter of hot and cold appetisers, is a staple of Levantine fare and thus, takes a place of pride on the food menu. The Lobster Hummus combined the creamy dip with the decadent seafood for an elite combination. The spices of the Muhammarah were prevalent throughout each bite of the Pita bread and ended on a delightful crunch from the walnuts. The Chicken Arayes, which are pita bread stuffed with minced chicken and served with toum, pack enough of a punch that will leave one going back for more. Portion sizes at Sette Mara are generous and appetisers alone are enough to fill one up. If you decide to continue into the Mains, the stone oven baked Halloumi is a unique vegetarian feast in a meat-heavy selection and Baharat Spiced Lamb, which featured potato espuma with New Zealand land chops, makes for a wholesome bite. Ending the Levantine meal on a sweet note was the Baklava, which was a deconstructed take on the Middle Eastern classic that featured whipped ricotta and toasted pistachios.
As Mumbai's first Levantine restaurant, Sette Mara is opening palettes to the new cuisine and diverse flavour profile. Not only does it take that responsibility very seriously through its authentic selection of ingredients and traditional dishes, it does it with sheer sophistication that The St. Regis is best known for.
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