Indian taste buds have been treated to a lot since Oriental food came into the picture. And when you talk Oriental cuisine, it's impossible to leave out Shiro. The plush restaurant and bar is known for the sensuous Asian castle feel that it brings about in its food, its cocktails as well as the interiors. Shiro, which actually means castle in Japanese, has recreated the rustic tranquility that we so often relate to Oriental locations. High ceilings, towering sculptures, Buddha heads, blood-red curtains, giant lanterns, thickets of bamboo and pools glowing with candles keep the strong Oriental feeling intact.

The restaurant is divided into two lounges and an upper level VIP area. If unadulterated luxury is what you're looking for, both the lounges and the VIP area are tailor made for your demands. The furniture is classy and the colours are deep and rich giving the place a very special and visually appealing ambience. They also have loads of other amenities such as valet parking and amazing music by various DJs.

Now, to talk business, the food here includes a range of Japanese, Korean and Thai cuisine that are totally in keeping with flavours from the east. You'll come across some lip smacking sushi, sashimi and yakitori along with your favourite dim sums. The other Thai and Korean dishes are just as sumptuous and totally steal the show when it comes to Oriental food. If you've jumped to the conclusion that Oriental food is all about sushi, prawns and lobster, hop right back. Shiro boasts of over twenty vegetarian dishes so you can safely say there's something for everyone here.

So if you call yourself an Oriental food enthusiast but don't quite have the resources to make a trip to the far east, Shiro will serve as the second best option to say the least.

Contact details: Shiro, Bombay Dyeing Mill Compound, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Lower Parel