Restaurant within a Restaurant – Hitchki x Baxzar
How about a restaurant in a restaurant? That’s what the newest concept in town – Hitchki – is all about.
Hindi for hiccups, Hitchki offers a quirky and nostalgic take on Indian street food and cocktails. Famed as Mumbai’s hottest resto-bar, Hitchki has just made it’s international debut with an exclusive concept experience within Bazxar in DIFC.
We were at this cool spot last night for an exclusive tasting preview organized by White Label, and we were impressed to say the least. From funky names to retro props, it’s got everything you would want for an Insta-worthy night out.
Read on for more pictures and a review of our experience at Hitchki.
Mumbai Ka Julius Caesar
This was by far my favorite dish at Hitchki’s menu preview. Funnily titled Mumbai ka Julius Caesar, this starter is a quirky Indian take on the classic Caesar salad and pays tribute to the creator of this glorious cheesy lettuce mix – Caesar Cardini. Although I must say, the fusion is so smart, you might want to give up on the original one altogether.
Fresh Romaine dressed in Caesar is layered between pieces of crispy parmesan papad (basically roasted urad papad flavored with parmesan), and offers a beautifully crunchy bite. What makes it even more exciting is the spicy papad crumble on the side that almost reminds you of chana jor garam.
Tip: Eat this soon or the papad might get soggy.
My verdict: ★★★★½
Highly recommended. Order this!
Rasam Minestrone
I might have not been very vocal about this, but Minestrone is one of my favorite soups. It’s comforting, it fills you up like an entire meal and it’s got a little of everything – veggies, cheese, croutons, noodles, and so much more. Yes, there are tons of versions that come with tons of different ingredients. And this is one attempt by Hitchki that really stands out.
The Rasam Minestrone is where East meets West, which means you’ll find both English vegetables as well as Indian kidney beans and crisp rice noodles in a warm Rasam flavored broth. It is topped with a papad that adds a crunch which would otherwise be fulfilled by bread. And don’t miss the pretty bucket in which it is served.
My verdict: ★★★★
A nice one if you like soups or want to stick to something healthy. It’s got loads of veggies inside to munch on to.
Geeta Babita & Nimboo Soda
Since Hitchki means hiccups, its definitely incomplete without some drinks. I am sure their regular menu has a lot more options, but for the tasting preview, these were the two cocktails we were offered.
Quirky names again – the deep pink martini styled drink is called Geeta Babita (from the Dangal fame) and gets it’s color from Kokum. Of course, adding more Indian-ness to the mix is cumin spice which gives the drink a tangy kick. The liquor version of this drink comes with good old Gin. I found this a little strong though, mainly because the spice tends to settle at the base making the first few sips quite light and the rest of the drink too concentrated. Maybe it would be a better option to serve this along with a stirrer in a tall glass.
Like this next drink, which imitates a classic Nimboo Soda (or lemonade). It’s got the perfect mix of sweet and salty flavors, with a little sugar, lots of spritz and a dash of sea salt. This one I highly recommend. There’s also a drunken version: Drunken Nimboo Soda that comes with dark rum, making it the perfect Indian fusion Mojito.
My verdict: Geeta Babita: ★★★ Nimboo Soda: ★★★★
Chocolate Chilli Chicken
Ever tried Chocolate Chilli Chicken? Yes, such a thing exists, right in the heart of Dubai, and this dish is worth planning a night out at Hitchki. Quite a rate delicacy, this chicken starter keeps the Hitchki tradition of fusion alive by combining two completely unusual and unexpected ingredients in one mix.
Don’t worry though, the chicken isn’t as sweet as you think it will be. The green chilli and garlic mix make sure they add enough spice to the meat. The chocolate seems to come from a dark variety, adding a hint of sweetness, but more so, it gives the chicken pieces a glazed look that will definitely keep you wondering what to expect in every bite. For me, the spiciness is what matters, and the chocolate chilli chicken ranks quite high on that.
My verdict: ★★★★★
Yes, I really licked every bit of that sauce off the plate.
Charlie Chapli Kebabs
Did you know? Most of the dishes offered at Hitchki’s Dubai outlet are bestsellers from their Mumbai menu? One such creation are these Charlie Chapli Kebabs.
See, I love kebabs. Atleast 90% of them. So in my head they are either a hit or a miss. These chapli kebabs, quite traditionally prepared with the finest of lamb mince, literally melt in your mouth. Really, you won’t need to chew them. Plus, sticking to that whole fusion thing, these are garnished with crispy potato chips, which if not eaten quick, could risk turning soggy. But that’s the thing with potato chips anyway, you keep them off the bag and they get all limp. So I wouldn’t really mark them down on this.
I didn’t quite grab the reason behind giving this dish it’s first name, but I guess it has something to do with the chips. Or the mayo. Not many would know of Thecha. It’s a spicy dip like mix made with ginger, garlic, chillies and a tempering of turmeric and oil. Well, Hitchki combines this regional Maharashtrian favorite with the more globally well known mayo to create a Thecha mayo that’s served as a swatch on the side with these kebabs. If anything, if fulfills the spicy chutney requirement that’s a must with all kebabs.
My verdict: ★★★★½
I would have honestly loved the Thecha without the mayo. Also, more quantity, like in a bowl or something. But the kebabs were heavenly. And me and my partner ended up fighting for the last chip.
Kadai Paneer Lasagne
How creative can you get with paneer? Paneer Tikka, Paneer Bhurji, Paneer Makhni, Kadai Paneer? Yes! Kadai Paneer! But what about a Kadai Paneer Lasagne? Mixing these two classics for a fusion creation, this item from Hitchki’s main course menu came served in a petite skillet with pieces of cheese garlic naan on the side.
While there are no actual pasta sheets as you would expect, so much is the fusion in this dish, it combines paneer tikka sheets with a kadai ratatouille. Now that’s interesting, no? Yes, in theory it sounds really good, and the dish was quite good to an extent.
However it was too oily for me. I know Kadai Paneer is a little on the oily side and fried stuff passes well as bar bites, but I don’t really prefer seeing layers of oil dripping from my dish, especially when it is just made. I’d rather they slightly tweaked the dish into a baked version with grilled paneer and grilled vegetables, to make it easier to go along with. The cheese garlic naan can then be allowed to get a litttlleee more cheesy.
My verdict: ★★★
The creamy drizzle overload was a winner.
Manglorean Chicken Curry
This one took my heart. Really. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting it to be so good. I know its not right, but before I received this curry, I had some stereotypes about it inside my head. And well, all I can say is this Manglorean Chicken Curry proved me so wrong.
It had that coconut base which I loveee, and that Konkan-Coastal aroma which is ever so fragrant, but along with that this curry also tasted just like one of the curries my mom used to make. Exactly the same!
The menu said it would be served with ghee rice, which would have upped the value of this chicken curry by leaps and bounds. But due to some reason unknown to me, it was served with roomali roti. The roti wasn’t bad, but I think an extra piece would have worked better.
My verdict: ★★★★½
I am definitely going back to Hitchki for this. And hopefully this time I will have the curry with the rice.
Baratiyon Ka Swagat
Yes, this dessert’s making the rounds on Instagram like it owns the party. But well, to be honest, it does. I had already fallen in love with this creation even before I went to Hitchki, all thanks to those wonderful pictures and stories that featured this piece. And then I tried it myself.
Again with a quirky name – titled Baratiyon Ka Swagat – this dessert draws reference to the famous Pan Parag ad of mid 80’s where two yesteryear veterans of Bollywood – Ashok Kumar and Shammi Kapoor – exchange laughter over the idea of welcoming wedding guests with the paan masala. Well, enough of that knowledge, basically this dessert is named so because of the pan pasand flavored jelly that tops the decadent moelleux fondant.
What’s moelleux fondant you ask? For those who are not aware, it’s just French for molten chocolate cake, so don’t get overwhelmed when you see this word on the menu. It’s every bit worth it.
And notice how its beautifully designed with chocolate roses on the sides, garnished with syrupy hazelnuts and topped with a tower of sugar candy floss, all in its golden glory (keeping up with that whole wedding theme, right?)
My verdict: ★★★★★
Go for it if you love chocolates or pan or both. Just go for it!
Kunafeh Shrikhand
We started the last leg of our menu preview at Hitchki with this exceptionally beautiful dessert. Bringing together two classics from two different parts of the world, the Kunafeh Shrikhand spells out royalty.
The rose petal decor draws you in, and leads you to a Kunafeh nest laden with sweet Shrikhand yoghurt garnished with pistachios and pomegranate seeds. For me, it was the perfect melange of creamy and crunchy. And despite it being so rich, I couldn’t resist but eat most of the Shrikhand.
Tip: if you’re going in for a full meal spread, one dessert should be enough for two or three people. However if you’re keen on sampling more desserts, go a little easy on the starters and mains, or skip them altogether. Nothing like a combination of drinks and desserts, no?
My verdict: ★★★★½
It’s an ideal way to end your Hitchki experience.
Hitchki
Location: Gate Precinct, Building 4, DIFC, Dubai
Contact: 04 3551111
