Hyderabad was long in need of a place that serves seafood exclusively, and that’s why the fish lovers are rejoicing ever since Ocean’s Basket opened recently. The diner offers fresh catch stored in tanks, which can be cooked as per demand. Located in Banjara Hills, this outlet has already become a hit, thanks to the word-of-mouth publicity.
As we were ushered into the 40-seater restaurant, we noticed that the interiors were a nod to the marine — a boat-shaped partition with masts separating the tables and ship wheel adorning the walls. The first dish to arrive on the table was the flavourful Prawn Tom Kha Soup. The sweetness of the grated coconut coupled with the heat of Thai chilli is perfect to whet the appetite.
Next up is the visually-appealing Butter Garlic Lobster, which was juicy with a subtle taste of garlic. The Tempura Fried Prawns is crispy to bits. Our favourite, however, is the Murrel Sizzler, which is a sight to behold. By now, we know that plating and presentation is an important aspect that the restaurant pays attention to. The perfectly grilled fish is served with salsa and desi pudina chutney. We loved that it was succulent to the hilt and that it did not have an overpowering aroma.
Among the main course options, the Shanghai Mixed Seafood Fried Rice is a tad bit spicy, but we enjoyed the tangy flavour. It also has bits of crispy prawns, lobster and crab for us to savour. The Seafood Noodles is a welcome relief, as the spice levels are muted. Both the rice and noodles are served with crab in chilli bean sauce and prawns in hoison sauce, which is more sour than sweet.
As we tried the Coconut Dumpling, we thought there couldn’t have been a better ending to the meal. The steamed, small, chewy balls filled with gooey chocolate and coconut, served on individual spoons can give you a sugar rush!
Price for two: Rs.1,500.