Last Friday I was invited to Serafina, the North Italian cuisine restaurant at Quest Mall and I can honestly say that I had one of my best meals in recent times that day. Serafina is the brainchild of owners Vittorio Assaf and Fabio Granato and Kolkata is their third location in India after Mumbai and Bangalore.
I loved the relaxed atmosphere and the European cafe like vibe with the addition of tables outside the main restaurant. And in keeping with its Italian roots, there is also a Vespa parked outside :D. The traditional woodstone pizza oven is a standout feature in the outlet and once you have the pizzas, you can figure out the difference in taste between a regular pizza and one that has the wood fired flavor . They also have a well-stocked bar with a variety of wines and liquor.
We started off our meal with a refreshing Kaffir Lime Margarita and moved on to appetizers. We were served a melt in the mouth Carpacio Di Filetto Con Salsa Di Tartufi – thin sliced prime filet mignon in black truffle sauce and boiled potatos. Next up was the traditional Bruschetta which I avoided because I’m not fond of tomatoes on bread. It looked lovely though! Then came the Fried Calamari with a spicy tomato dip. One bite and I was immediately transported to the beaches of Goa. The calamari is a signature Serafina dish and its beautifully crunchy and the dip is a perfect accompaniment. We moved on to the Goat Cheese Salad which is again a signature dish. I am a 100% carnivore and rarely do I like anything vegetarian but this red beet, apple, caramelised walnut and honey salad with a warm goat cheese dressing was divine. I actually asked the chef for another serving of bread with the cheese on top. You have to try that!
After appetizers, we were served the famous Serafina Truffle pizza. The pizza is a cheese and truffle lover’s delight and includes rabiola cheese, fontina, truffle cheese, truffle oil and sliced black truffle. After the first bite, all of us at the table were quiet for a moment before we said “Oh Dear God” in unison. Yes, it was that good. The smell, the flavors, the taste, everything was divine. We were also served another pizza variant, the Leggera (light) pizza with cheese and tomatos. It was good but I found it to be slightly bland and salty.
Next were two types of ravioli – Al Porcini and Gorgonzola E Paprika. Both vegetarian but cooked to perfection. I was really stuffed at that point so only had a spoon of the tangy Rissoto Primavera. From the vegetarian dishes, we moved on to fish and meat. The Bassa Al Pinot Grigo was served on a bed of baby zucchini and leeks. The New Zealand Baby Lamp Chops were super soft and juicy. That will be a treat to any carnivore. Another interesting dish was Petto Di Pollo Alla Milanese, chicken breast pounded with tomato and basil. I had that right after the lamb chops so found it bland but if you are looking for a light non-veg option, go for that dish.
I was really looking forward to taste the famous Tiramisu and it did not disappoint. A large plateau of a pastry, the tiramisu was a gratifying combination of coffee-soaked sponge and oozing thick, sweet cream. Panna Cotta has never really been a favorite of mine but I loved how luscious and creamy the one I was served was.
Serafina serves simple cuisine and scores with varied ingredients over complex flavours. The prices are high but they do serve good portions. Highly recommended!
Location: 5th Floor, Quest Mall, 33, Syed Ali Amir Avenue, Beckbagan, Ballygunge, Kolkata
Contact: 033 40333211
Timing: 12 pm to 11.30 pm
Cuisine : North Italian
My recommendations : Fried Calamari, Truffle Pizza, Goat Cheese Salad, Bassa Al Pinot Grigo, New Zealand Baby Lamb Chops, Tiramisu, Panna Cotta
Meal for two: Rs 3000 (approx)