Soul with a Sole

As a self-professed lover of all things meaty, I went into the Soul with a Sole experience a little skeptical. But Chef Pranshu knows what he’s doing – he has to, otherwise non-vegetarians would entirely boycott his supper club (no chance of that). 

The club’s set in an inviting old Juhu bungalow adorned with little decorations, including a Dali-esque clock melting off a tree trunk. The ambience is immaculate, and slightly nostalgic – old Hindi classics, lots of candles and fairy lights, tasteful cutlery, and floral arrangements accompanying the table settings.

The name of the club comes from the chef’s own – pransh meaning soul. And it does feel pretty personal. The 20-seater table’s abuzz with conversation already, and is testament, I think, to Pranshu’s openness. Toasts are being made to overcoming depression, navigating purpose, and following passions. The pre-dinner ambience has none of the awkwardness that I’d expect comes with dining with strangers.

The food is stellar. I’m here for a 20-course Turkish mezze meal, and despite the obvious absence of meat, the menu has me floored. Cheese and olives have been imported straight from Istanbul (courtesy of a collaboration with a Turkish friend). The arugula and persimmon salad is understated, but definitely a showstopper. The roasted cauliflower and oven-baked mushrooms have disappeared in seconds. But Chef Pranshu’s specialty is dessert: the tahini chocolate cake is divine (and vegan!). 

The meal’s also accompanied by multiple servings of Turkish cocktails that have everyone dancing by the end of the night, which has extended into late hours. Courses here are interspersed with the regular chaos of any normal kitchen – glasses breaking and being promptly swept up, the chefs coming and catching a quick chat between plating, and laughing over mishaps in the kitchen. Ice-breaker activities are also encouraged: poetry reading, writing little notes, making poems out of pages from old books. A very sweet, wholesome, familiar experience, and definitely worth the ₹3,700 I paid.

Time Out tip: The location’s tougher to find than it initially seems, so factor that in before diving into the Mumbai rush hour traffic. You’re also going to be in for a late night, so expect to wrap up around midnight or later.

Instagram: @soulwithasole