TGIF @ Infinity Mall, Andheri West, Mumbai: Thank God it’s Fantastic!

TGIF or Thank God it’s Friday has been a favourite watering joint and with the kid coming along a favourite joint for eats before catching up on a movie. This also meant that right from the Maitre’d to the hostess to the servers know us. But usually it has been a hurried meal and more so cause the service was always quick and efficient. I have tried almost all their dishes from the old menu but they have just come up with a whole new exciting menu since last few months. This visit was different. It was specific for the chicken dishes they have introduced. I was ready for the remake and so without much ado let me introduce you to the star-cast!

Drumrolls, music, curtain call ..The lady in blue appeared under dim smoky lights, the focus falling on her in a pool of liquid luminescence, while she sings her beautiful Russian notes of Smirnoff with the Portugal crescendo of a Curacao ending with the spritzy fresh citrusy shower of sweet lime soda – The Electronic Lemonade. That set the tone for the evening. It of course does not hurt that TGIF is never stingy on the liquor so a pleasant mist settled over us opening up our appetites for more.

The credits opened to introduce the new pair – Parmesan Crusted Chicken. The pairing of blackened, Caesar dressing brushed, parmesan crusted chicken and creamy Alfredo fettuccine pasta was youthfully delightful. It was ably supported by the friendly mozzarella-baby tomato salad. The kick from the dressing gave an extra flavour to the crusty chicken lifting it up totally. The creamy fettuccine played its part in being sweet and delicious and innocent. The salad provided the freshness to break the creaminess from the other two, almost like a comic relief in a play.

The interesting, richly nuanced, character of the Wicked Chicken providing the other angle to a sweet coy story, appeared next. The Cajun cream sauce over jambalaya rice with pork and the chicken breasts provided the interesting twist to the plot. The corn cobs stood by firmly supporting the plot. But I wish they had a few levels of flavour rather than just being plain roasted ones. They looked like they weren’t given any lines to speak so they came out like mere props.

Next came the hero or the game changer – The dreamboat superhero who saved the plot; the Crab Crusted Cajun Chicken. Not that this needed any saving; the meal with the lull of the lemonades was going very well. It came with its own sidekicks the delightfully flavoured Ms. Mushroom sauce, the ever astute and dependable Mr. Creamed Spinach and the sprightly eager Mr. Cheddar Potatoes. The chicken itself was delightfully soft and flavourful but the crab added that whole new dimension making it a great surf and turf dish. The creamy spinach could be a meal in itself with bruschetta or garlic bread and the potatoes were just mushily soulful. This was undoubtedly the climatic finish to the repertoire.

They say the show does not end till the fat lady sings and they did offer us the big fat desserts, but after these sumptuous dishes I was ready to sing any aria they wanted me to(that is if they dared with my tone deaf talent) hence we skipped the dessert.

As always I came away with a smile on my face and a thought – Middle of the week feels as good as Friday!

Ratings out of 5

Food: 3.5 | Ambiance: 3 | Service: 3 | Overall: 3

Meal for Two without Alcohol: Rs. 2000 Approximately plus taxes| Alcohol: Yes | Credit Card: Yes|

Timing: 12 noon to 12 mid-night  | Wheelchair access : Yes

Address: 2^nd Level, Infinity Mall, Andheri West, Mumbai

Telephone : 022 66155687

Disclaimer : This review was done on an invitation from the restaurant. Due judgment and care has been applied by the author to remain objective and unbiased in the review; however readers may exercise their own discretion.