Review: Sensational Sliders at Trader Vic's Mai Tai Lounge

When deciding on a place to chill at with friends over some good food and drinks, honestly, there aren't many options available in Mumbai and out of the ones to choose from, the damage they inflict on the pocket is pretty huge (especially, a student's).

Enter Trader Vic's Mai Tai, a chilled out Polynesian themed lounge. A lively casual place perfect for almost anything; be it a brunch with family (yes, this lounge is family friendly!) or hanging out with friends over some fun drinks. The open air seating paired with tropics-inspired tracks being played in the background adds to the already festive ambiance. And the best part? The food is excellent and decently priced!

I discovered this lounge after receiving an invitation to try out their new "Sensational Sliders" which are on the menu till 24th March across all its outlets. I decided to check them out at the one at Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel. Tucked away in a breezy corner, away from the frenzy of the mall area lies this outlet. Honestly, I was kind of nervous when I entered, but the peppy ambiance and the super friendly service instantly put me at ease.

Coming back to the "Sensational Sliders", the menu has been thoughtfully set. And being a vegetarian I quickly scanned through the vegetarian section as soon as I was handed over the menu, mainly because I've noticed that generally restaurants are repetitive when it comes to vegetarian options. But boy! there is something for everyone; the Mushroom Alfredo slider for the cheese lover, the Cottage Cheese & Olive Tapenade slider for the picky paneer eaters, the Beetroot & Brown Rice slider for the crisp-cravers and the Falafel Pita slider for the person wanting something different.

I first went for the Mushroom Alfredo slider. The service was prompt and within sometime appeared a plate of modest looking sliders on the table. It did look plain-jane but just a bite and the melange of flavours erupted in my mouth; the cheesiness of the cheddar, the smooth creaminess of the white sauce and the soft bits of the mushroom aided further by Maui Waui dressing was just terrific!

The Mushroom Alfredo Slider

Next up were the Falafel Pita sliders. Sounds interesting? Well, it is! Little triangles of grilled Pita bread enveloping a chickpeas and spinach patty seasoned with yogurt aioli arrived. A bit on the spicy side, this one surely didn't disappoint with its middle-eastern flavours.

Falafel Pita Slider. Interesting, no?

The Cottage Cheese and Olive Tapenade sliders followed. Honestly, I am not a fan of cottage cheese, I find it too heavy for my liking but I got to admit that the cottage cheese steaks in those sliders were amazing; marinated to perfection and cooked beautifully! The jerk marinade and the olive tapenade were undoubtedly adding to the overall deliciousness of this slider.

Cottage Cheese & Olive Tapenade slider

The last one I savoured were the Beetroot and brown rice sliders. Crispy due to the use of toasted circles of bread instead of buns along with a beetroot and brown rice patty, the beetroot flavour was subtle and well-balanced. It let gherkins and the chilli garlic aioli shine through too. All in all, a delightful slider.

Beetroot & Brown Rice slider

The non-vegetarian section is massive featuring six sliders, namely, Italian herb & Chicken slider, Jalapeno & Olive Chicken slider, Thai Fish Cake slider, Chilli & Lime Fish slider, Black Bean & Prawn slider, and the star slider which every meat-lover at the table raved about: Cubanito slider.

One of the non-vegetarian slider

Shifting focus to the drinks section now, one would be spoilt for choice when it comes to the mocktails and cocktails! The famous Mai Tai cocktail, which the manager informed us, was originally invented by Trader Vic, hence, stay assured that you are getting an authentic stuff! And it was the drink which everyone swore by at the table.

Me being not legal yet to drink, was confused regarding the mocktails and that's where the manager came to my rescue and recommended The Coral Reef, a slushie-like drink composed of strawberry and mango with subtle hints of coconut served in a tiki-inspired glass, and Puerto Principe, a coconut pineapple mocktail which comes in a really fun "Aloha" mug. My choice? Both!

The Coral Reef

Will I visit Trader Vic's Mai Tai Lounge again? Definitely! Go check out and try their "Sensational Sliders" which would be around only till 24th March. I'm sure even you'd return for more.