Restaurant Review: Suzy Q’s new menu is an irresistible explosion of flavours that seeks every Bengalurean’s attention

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A unique array of new cocktails

Suzy Q’s unique vintage-meets-contemporary decor is an instant mood setter. (Supplied)

Already impressed by the clever blend of vintage rustic-meets-bold contemporary interiors, which is an instant mood-setter, I settle down for an evening of joie de vivre.

As I skim through the new options on Suzy Q’s cocktail menu, Bollywood-inspired names like Gangs of Wasseypur and Cheeni Kum instantly match my cinema-food sensibilities. While the former hit me pleasantly with its rum, chili, and mint blend, the latter speaks of a strong hint of lemon, making it the perfect drink for a scorching day.

“The addition of Gandharaj lemon with its unique fragrance to the new menu is my personal favourite. I have not used this ingredient before and I think customers are going to like it a lot,” says Rajendran, a bartender.

If you’re a G&T lover, Love Booth is a must-try! (Marina Paulose/South First)

Up next on my table were fonts of romance — Love Booth and Fragrance of Love. Both light gin and tonic-based drinks are simple concoctions. However, the following two drinks were my absolute favourites.

We recommend the Shooting Star, which is an unusual mix of whisky, elderflower syrup, lime juice, cinnamon and thyme syrup, and egg white. Visually, this drink is a stunner with its frothy foamy surface topped with a fresh sprig of thyme and a torched cinnamon stick.

But I have to hand it to Dawn of Passion for its delightful and refreshing mix of gin, passionfruit puree, rosemary, tonic water, and lime juice.

The new cocktails on the menu are perfectly blended light drinks that make fitting accompaniments while you enjoy your meal.

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Light eats that whet your appetite

The Cantonese Spring Rolls paired with the sweet chili sauce are addictive. (Marina Paulose/South First)

I slowly graduate to the appetisers. After scanning through the new menu, I went for the assortment of Cantonese spring rolls and dim sums. The shrimp dim sum, in particular, was succulent and packed with flavours. Ask for the sweet chili sauce for the spring rolls, they pair well.

The Mushroom and Goat Cheese Crostini was a simple yet pleasant surprise with its lightly-seasoned medley of vegetables. I confess I never voluntarily order vegetarian food at restaurants, ergo, the crostini was a delightful revelation.

Delving next into something meaty, I opted for the Yakitori Skewers which come in an assortment of prawn, chicken, and fish marinated in yuzu, miso, and soy. Juicy, grilled flawlessly, and delectable, these make for ideal starters.

Health enthusiasts will adore the light yet flavourful Avocado Salad, which was overflowing with cherry tomatoes, onions, oranges, and peppers.

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Veggie goodness for the heart

Divine veggie options like the Pesto Summer Flatbread can easily win over meat lovers. (Marina Paulose/South First)

Next on my repertoire were the flatbreads. The Peri Peri Chicken Flatbread was fairly average, however, the Pesto Summer Flatbread sucker-punched me hard.

The flatbread with its chili-pesto spread, topped with broccoli, artichoke, and asparagus…and a generous layer of cheese is a must-have.

The light flavours, the saltiness, and all that cheesy veggie goodness are the very definition of an hors d’oeuvre that whets your appetite for more.

A diverse assemble of mains

Charging onto the mains with my appetite fully awakened now, the next item on the list was the Apricot Seekh Chicken, made with minced chicken, cream cheese, and apricot served with a huge portion of naan.

However, despite the vibrant description, the flavours failed to make an impact on me, which was a bit of a disappointment.

The melt-in-mouth Duck Tikka is pure perfection. (Marina Paulose/South First)

But the Duck Tikka quickly made up for that as it was exquisite and simply melted in my mouth. The tender duck was done to perfection with subtle spices in the tandoor, reminding me of eating Galouti Kebabs on the streets of Lucknow.

Coming to the seafood section of the menu, I ordered the Squid Sukka, a spicy calamari dish, and the Shrimp Cochin Curry, which were fairly average in both presentation and taste.

Being a Malayali raised on a diet of fresh seafood in the most authentic manner, I didn’t feel the two seafood dishes stood out compared to the rest of the items on the new menus.

I opted for the Gambas Tortellini next, as it looked tempting. It delivered. Packed with pulpy and tender prawns and chives, the dish was delicate yet filling, and the creamy lemon-based saffron sauce was a friendly assault on the senses.

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Unexpected delights

Suzy Q’s innovative Beetroot Kofta will leave you pleasantly surprised. (Marina Paulose/South First)

Chef Mondal also recommends guests try out the Gambas Tortellini, as it’s his personal favourite.

“It is a unique dish that takes your palette on a whole new level of undiscovered flavours. This is one of the most distinctive dishes we have to offer,” he says.

The last item on the mains was the Beetroot Malai Kofta and I kept the order in that manner since I am (typically) downright revolted by beetroot.

However, once again, Suzy Q turned the tables on me with its vegetarian options and this kofta was no exception.

While it looked like a fairly regular kofta dish, sitting in a creamy orange gravy, one bite into the kofta and oh my, the North Indian food-loving part of my senses was rejoicing.

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Fancy desserts with ‘desi’ written all over them

Love ice cream? Love gulab jamun? Then the Gulab Jamun Flance is for you. (Marina Paulose/SouthFirst)

While I thought I couldn’t fit another morsel in my mouth, lo and behold, the delights from the dessert section were calling my name and miraculously, my tummy seemed to make some space.

The description of the Gulab Jamun Flance left me fascinated. With a hard chocolate exterior and gulab jamun-flavoured ice cream pastry inside, this looked promising.

But the Puritan in me was squirming with the incursion of multiple flavours and textures. I have a strong feeling this has all the signs of being a crowd favourite, as gulab jamun and ice cream are a popular combination. This version veers in that direction.

The humble Rice Cheesecake will overwhelm your senses with its decadent flavours. (Marina Paulose/South First)

The next dessert, which turned out to be my favourite, was the humble yet decadent Rice Cheesecake.

On paper, it looks like a regular dessert. However, it’s like having a kheer-kulfi-payasam-based explosion in your mouth…in the form of a simple cheesecake. I am hooked and have decided to make this my go-to dessert at Suzy Q from now on!

What also impressed me was the portion sizes, which are bound to make a customer feel full and filled.

I recommend that you start making your weekend plans and book your table, as the new menu fared really well.

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My Picks: Dawn of Passion, Mushroom and Goat Cheese Crostini, Pesto Summer Flatbread, Duck Tikka, Rice Cheesecake

My Skips: Squid Sukka, Shrimp Cochin Curry

Address: No.1, Express Building, Queens Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka – 560001

Timings: 12 pm – 12:30 am

Cost for 2: ₹2,500 (approx), including alcohol-based cocktails

(The views expressed here are the author’s own.)