Deval and Ishaa Shah have created a small Thai haven in Churchgate. On the backside of another restaurant is this 22-seater restaurant that serves authentic Thai vegetarian food in seven courses. Brainchild of Ishaa, who missed her food from Bangkok in Mumbai, Toa 66 is an ode to Thai street food and more.
Miang Kham
“Toa means table in Thai. And 66 is the country code,” Deval explains the name. “We chose the name because our cuisine is definitive, authentic Thai cuisine and we wanted to present it to our patrons as authentically as we can. So, the country code and the ‘table’.”
Lookchin Protein
Thai Master Chefs, Kanchit and Natanong Vongvichai, ensure that Deval and Ishaa’s dream is fulfilled.
Bad Thai
First course is Miang Kham. A tray with chaplu leaves – big green leaves that resemble your betel leaves (paan) – and small bowls with roasted coconut, diced onion, diced chillies, diced lemon with rind, peanuts, diced ginger. The bowl in the center has a house sauce with jaggery, thai bird eye chillies, kaffir lime and some secret ingredients. One is supposed to spread the sauce liberally on the leaf, followed by the other ingredients on the tray, wrap the leaf around the stuff inside and pop it in the mouth. Slightly astringent taste of the leaf combined with the lime n ginger, pungency of the chillies and sauce… it’s a burst of flavours in the mouth and I am sure the peanuts must be giving the crunch that adds to the delight.
Larb Tofu Two Ways
“First course is meant to be shared by the table,” elucidates Deval.
Second course is Lookchin Protein. Soy protein, babycorn and red cabbage served with a tom yam sauce. Thankfully, the protein doesn’t leave an aftertaste. “All our ingredients are imported from Thailand. Even the protein, noodles, rice…” Ishaa informs.
Clovers Gym
The third course Larb Tofu Two Ways is what steals my heart and palate. Tofu mince is sauted with chillies, coriander sauce, some basil and lime juice. Garnished with onions, coriander leaves and generous sprinle of Larb – roasted Thai rice powder. There are two ways of having this – use it as a dip with the crisps of dunk the sticky rice in it and savour. I loved both ways and eating the mince on its own. Deliciously cooked tofu, basil and lime adding to the complexity of flavours.
Kway Teow Lod, fourth course – homemade rice sheets are stuffed with veggies and rested on delectable penang sauce with subtle flavour, and finished with a drizzle of coriander oil and onion crisps. The subtlety wins the palate.
Bangkok Glory
You have choice for the fifth course – rice or noodles. I am lucky and I get to taste small portions of both. The noodles – Kway Teow Naam – are soft rice noodles with veggies in a slow cooked broth with fried tofu thrown in for company. It can be a meal in itself if offered as ala carte. Heart warming broth. If you want it spicy, then add the chilli condiments that are given on the side. I loved it without the condiments. The rice meal – Khao Pad Krapow with Tom Kha is fried rice served with coconut-galangal soup. Drink the soup or just dunk the rice in it and have.
Tom Kha with Khao Pad Krapao
Sixth and seventh courses are two desserts – Thap Thim Krop and Kra Pow. The latter one is a delicious shell of dark chocolate filled with a dark chocolate mousse, pandan cream, pistachio praline, toppd with chocolate crumbs and smoked. Chocolate lovers might just wish for this just before dying. The flavours and textures leave your palate wanting more. The Thap Thim Krop is the traditional Thai dessert with ruby-red water chestnuts floating in coconut milk infused with sala sauce and topped with some coconut ice shavings.
Thapthim Krop
They serve zero-alcohol beverages at Toa 66. Bangkok Glory is a kaffir lime forward drink that refreshes your palate. Coffee lovers should opt for Open Sesame, I Want My Coffee. It’s a perfect company for the chocolate dessert with its coffee n rum flavours.
Kra-Pow
This seven course meal is not exactly pocket friendly, but the experience and the delicious food make it worth the price.
(₹ 3700/- per person)
Where: TÓA 66, Churchgate, Mumbai
