Regional Sports Centre isn’t just a favourite haunt amongst sports enthusiasts anymore. Epicures are also flocking to the spot now. Their previous eatery, Match Point, has been replaced by the month-old Johnson’s Rainbow Restaurant whose menu features exotic Continental choices like Belgian mussels.
Tennis players shout instructions to one another on the court as I climb the stairs leading to the 74-cover restaurant, where brilliant Western classical tunes offer a warm welcome. Owner Johnson Manjooran—who’s given a personal touch to the menu—joins me at the table. “From a steakhouse in UAE, where I started off in the late ’70s, to this restaurant, my aim is to serve people the best of international cuisines,” says the 65-year-old, who owns over five restaurants in the GCC.
Special cut
My choice of tri-layered mocktail, with pulpy mango, watermelon and passion fruit extract, leaves my taste buds tingling. Chef Ajayan Chettuparambil brings in a fluffy Spanish omelette to start off my main course. “We’re very particular about the raw ingridients we use for our dishes. The beef is collected from my own farm in Vypin, while the meat for Western dishes is imported from the respective countries—like this salmon from Scotland,” says Manjooran, as I try their cedar salmon paired with buttered rice and lemon butter sauce. Although the fish—cooked on a cedar plank—was left on the grill a tad too long, it tastes heavenly.
Flaming affair
Next up is their New York strip beef—made with red meat flown in from the US—which turns out to be the perfect grill. “While most foreigners opt for a rare or medium rare preparation, Indian guests mostly prefer a well-done steak,” says Ajayan, while I enjoy the moderately juicy cut with creamy mashed potato. With their dessert menu still being perfected, I make do with a pineapple and pistachio mousse—instead of their special umm ali—to close off the sumptuous meal. Manjooran announces his future plans as I leave, “We’ll be introducing barbeque nights every Saturday from April 22.”
Gourmand’s haven
The Sunday brunch buffet at the restaurant—with a whopping 115 dishes—is a feast for the eyes and the palate. The tables will be loaded with 26 non-vegetarian dishes including minced lamb wellington, seafood thermidor and their signature rainbow chicken. Vegetarians can help themselves to servings of vegetable au gratin, raw banana chilli fry and vegetable kung pao. Don’t fill yourself up till you try one at least among their 20 desserts, including beetroot halwa and tiramisu. From 12-3 pm. Offer price `399 till Easter.
Open from 7 am to 10.30 pm.
Meal for two from `250 onwards.
Details: 7558917772