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Mavshi’s Kitchen was started by Mithilesh Pradhan and his roomie when they moved into their Versova flat two months ago. Having employed an unassuming, kind lady “Mavshi” as a cook, they quickly discovered that although she was illiterate, she had a talent for SeaFood bordering on Magic! She made some prawns, crabs and Surmai for them, which they loved so much that they took some pics and shared them on FB. That post got about 30 Shares and several people writing in to see if they could order some food. Also, every time he had friends over for a party they would go gaga over the fish, they'd often ask her to make some fish and come by to his place and collect it.
“Mavshi”
As the story goes, they suggested to 'Mavshi', that she should start a tiffin service and helped her with her Facebook page and took some food pics for her. Mavshi's had a tough life, but she's a fighter with a million dollar smile. And she now has her first 10 happy customers! They're loving the food and are all repeat subscribers.
The foodies’ event was organized atop a building in the versova koli village and walking up 3 storeys of the building had built up quite an appetite for me. The hosts had taken great pains to decorate the terrace with sofas, mattresses and lights!
We started off the proceedings with a Kokam Sharbat & Dried Bombil Crispies. The dried fish had a sharp taste to it, which our host had warned us about. After two of these, I couldn't stand the saltiness & the intense flavor.
Sukkhad Bombil (Bombil Crispies)
Next up was Jumbo Prawns cooked in a dry paste. They were so yum and the prawns were so juicy. Apparently the head of the prawns is where much of the taste comes from and usually many people avoid eating it, but you should. In a matter of minutes the entire bowl was empty and Mithilesh walked in with another bowl of prawns starters. This one had a little more gravy to it and was best to eat with a spoon. The gravy was well balanced where you could easily make out the onions and the masalas. That too didn't last long!
Prawns Starter 1
Prawns Starter 2
Next up was the star of the show – the Stuffed Mud Crabs. The mud crabs are a dark shade when picked up from the sea, but when cooked, they turn crimson red! Since they were stuffed crabs, it was easy to pry them open and dig into the spicy masala and juicy crab meat! Things got a little messy but that’s the only way to eat a crab!
The Delicious Stuffed Mud Crab
There was Bombil Masala curry which was served with Bhakri. The fish was cooked in a light masala of chilli powder, koli masala, turmeric, cumin and green chillies, which added to the rich aroma of the curry. The fish was so fresh that it broke as I put them into the mouth! And then they brought out the Surmai Curry with Steamed rice, which was phenomenal. The Surmai fish was very fresh
Bombil Curry
Surmai Curry with Rice
For desserts they had a uniquely Koli dessert - sweet banana stuffed with coconut and cooked in milk, which marked the end of our dinner. It was a fitting end to our gastronomical journey to the homes & hearts of Koli people!
Sweet Bananas with Coconut
Total cost was 900/- all inclusive, which given the quantity & quality of the food, was too less!
Currently, Mavshi's Kitchen provides a Veg/Non Veg Lunch Tiffin Service daily on a monthly subscription basis and we highly recommend giving this a shot as the USP here is “Pyaar bhara ghar ka khaana and Koli style SeaFood
Check out their facebook page for their Meal Plans or call Mithilesh @8879377316.
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The Bengali New Year celebration is popularly known as 'Poila Boisakh' (Poila = first, Boisakh = the first month of the Bengali Calendar), which marks the first day of the Bengali New Year and falls in mid-April every year. Bengalis adore food and their penchant for gourmandizing good food comes through best on this auspicious day, when household kitchens exude the aroma of freshly prepared delicacies. Those who prefer to go out to eateries get to have some pure pleasantries for the palate, and other mouthwatering dishes as most Bengali restaurants have a special menu to mark the New Year! The Poila Boisakh cuisine for lunch, of course, contains various preparations of fish, rice and sweets as it's thought to be a good omen to start the year with mishtanna!
At the suggestion of our foodie friends, we had gone for the Special Lunch Buffet at the Bijoli Grill outlet in Powai next to Hakone’s Children Park. Priced at INR 750 (excl) it promised to be an expansive affair with all the famous Bengali Dishes & I am glad it lived up to its expectations!
We reached the restaurant at 2:00PM only to find that there was a 30 mins waiting, but the restaurant had made good searing arrangements under the shade for people. Our turn came sharp at 2:30PM and were guided to a table at the corner by the area manager. The first thing that struck me was that, despite being a buffet where self-service prevails, they had waiters who would serve you at your table. Later I found out that this is the typical Bengali way of serving food to guests even in Bengali weddings & functions.
Chanar Chop & Mutton Kobiraji Cutlet
We started off our starters with Veg Chop which was a small piece of aloo cutlet well fried in mustard oil. It was crisp on the outside and soft & warm on the inside. After this I went for the Chanar Chop, which is basically a paneer cutlet – again crisp on the outside and soft paneer chunks on the inside. I loved this so much that I ate 3 of these. The specialty of Bengali food lies in the perfect blend of sweet and spicy flavours.
Bhetki Fish Fry
Next up was the Mutton Kobiraji, essentially a minced mutton cutlet & deep fried. It was just too soft to bite into. I gobbled two of these with mustard oi, much to the delight of the waiter serving me! Sensing my growing adoration for the food, the waiter nearly sprinted towards to me with their much famed Bhetki fish fry. Its basically fish fillet rolled in a coating of eggs and breadcrumb and then deep fried, to make the brown, crunchy fish fry. I took one bite of the the crunchy outer layer, revealing the sweet fish inside and I was in food heaven!
With starters done, I decided to move on to the main course. It started with the light & crispy Luchi and spicy aloor dum. What really struck me as delightfully different about the aloor dum was the complete lack of garam masala, cilantro or tomato. What I later came to find was that the masala was cooked in the traditional Bengali panch phoran, which enhances the taste of potatoes! After devouring 2 luchis, I figured that I had not been through even half the menu and decided to slow down. I then asked the waiter to serve me shukto, a slightly bitter vegetable dish with drumsticks and bitter gourd cooked in a light milk & mustard gravy. This famous Bengali dish is usually eaten first & is served with steamed rice!
Pabda Fish
After a good helping of shukto & bhat, it was time for Aamer Diye Dal (Dal with raw mango), Kancha Lonka Mangsher Jhol (or green chili mutton curry), Chingri Malai Curry (prawns curry) and Pabda Macher! The famous Bengali dal is best eaten in summers and is prepared with raw mangoes which gives it a sour taste! The mutton curry was light yet flavorful, while the Pabda fish curry was out of this world! The highlight of the main course was definitely the prawns curry and the fish. The fish though had some small bones, but that did not impede me and gobbling it down! What sets Bengali curries apart are the distinctive flavours of mustard oil, poppy seeds and turmeric with sweet undertones that warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and mace impart.
Desserts: Payesh, Rosogullas & Raw Mango Chutney
No Polia Boisakh meal can ever be called complete without the authentic sweets. On the menu, they had Payes & Rosgulla. The Payes was nothing extraordinary, the Rosgulla was extremely soft & dripping with chaashni, while the raw mango chutney was very homely. I nearly licked the plate dry!
All in all, the buffet cost us INR 785 inclsive of service charges, a fair amount to pay for this luxurious feast! It’s a pity they didn’t have Sandhesh and Kosho Mangsher on the menu! And going by the menu, buffet on the weekdays is total VFM! As they say in Bengali, su tripti!
Aah Waffles! You may have had yours topped with powdered sugar or brown sugar, topped it with jam, a variety of fruit compotes, whipped cream or with fresh fruits, drizzled with melted chocolate or caramel, with or without a scoop of ice cream … the choices are endless!
The waffles as we eat them today originated in Belgium, where they are eaten as a mid-day snack and not as breakfast! The two most common varieties of the waffle today are the Brussels & the Liege. The basic ingredients are the same (flour, milk, eggs and a pinch of salt), but points of departure include yeast, caramelized sugar and leavenings. On the request of a friend, we set out to on a quest to find the best waffles in Mumbai and here are our findings. Bon Apetit!
1. The Wafflist, Carter Road: This place serves amazingly hot waffles and if you happen to be around Carter road, the aroma of waffles is enough to pull you inside. The waffles here are crisp and freshly baked while the chocolate syrup along with the nutty toppings are enough to make you smack your lips in delight and lick your fingers in earnest! We recommend that you try Chocoloaded Waffle, Black Forest Waffle, Nutella Waffle and the Strawberry Chocolate Waffle. Apart from waffles, they also serve pretty good shakes such as Belgian hot chocolate shot, Choco Chilli Shots (must try) and Oreo shakes. The outlet is a little small, but if you have a craving for something sweet, you should definitely give it a try!
Image Credits: Palak Shah
2. Chocolateria San Churro, Bandra West: A place where you can fulfil your chocolate cravings completely! This place is easy to locate, ambience is cosy and serves wide variety of desserts from churros, waffles, cakes and chocolates. As the name says, this is mainly known for their Spanish hot chocolate. The Waffles here are hot, crispy & served with chocolate sauce. We recommend ordering their signature Brussels Waffles, which are served with chocolate sauce, maple syrup, ice cream and fresh cut fruits.
3. World of Waffles, Kurla: If you are in Phoenix Market City, you must drop in at this small waffle place on the lower ground floor. They serve nice fresh waffles, which are very fairly priced and total value for money! The Rocky Ride and the Banana Waffles are my personal favourites. The Rocky Ride is full of white chocolate, oreo and vanilla ice-cream, whereas the Banana one consists of Nutella. Loved them both as was quickly served with freshly prepared waffles. They keep adding new fruit flavours to their waffle menu as per the season.
Image Credits: Sahil Haria
4. Kala Ghoda Café, Fort: Kala Ghoda Cafe is a quaint little cafe tucked away in a gully near Rhythm House in Fort. It has a lovely vibe – perfect for hanging out with friends and a select menu that largely consists of egg preparations, waffles, sandwiches and hot & cold drinks. They serve waffles with a dark chocolate sauce and honey butter instead of the traditional maple syrup. The waffles are big, yummy and freshly baked and we recommend ordering the ice cream or nuts/fruits to go with it! Other must eats here are the Carrot cake & Dark Chocolate cake. Cappuccino, Omelette du Fromage. A definite must visit for breakfast people!
Image Credits: Kavya Tolia
5. 212 All Day Café & Bar, BKC: When in Phoenix Market City Kurla, 212 Café is hard to miss out. Went here as we were craving waffles and were impressed with the toasted waffles along with generous servings of maple syrup and honey. Glad to not get the syrup as a dipping sauce! The decor, music and service were good too. Will definitely visit again!
Image Credits: Jamian Gomes
6. Salt Water Café, Bandra West: Located near the Lilawati hospital, the restaurant is quite cozy and welcoming. The best part is that you can go anytime of the day and with anyone and always have a great experience. The waffles and french toast are a must try if you are going for breakfast – they are perfect, filled with chocolate and with white sugar powder sprinkled on top. They come with maple syrup which when dribbled on top turns them into a sinful delights for anyone with a sweet tooth. Dig into a plate of warm waffles with some pancake syrup and jam, and soak in the heavenly smells emanating from the kitchen, you won't realise time fly by. We also recommend trying their meat platter, seared basa, masala omlette, salads and beverages.
Image Credits: Beda Sonwal
7. Di Bella, Bandra West: So, being a waffle person Di Bella was one amongst those 'have to visit' places and it sure did not disappoint me. They not only offer a wide variety of waffles but also each one was distinct and mesmerizing in their own way. The waffles here can easily satiate your craving for waffles. If you're having trouble picking: Nutella Waffles > Chocolate Explosion Waffles. The Oreo shake was brilliant too, in all a good and a decently priced place for the ones with a sweet tooth. Go NOW.
Image Credits: Adeba Naqvi
8. Jamjar Diner, Andheri West: My quest to find the best waffles in Mumbai led me to this quaint little outlet close to the Versova beach. Its easy to miss and drive by but trust me the food here is really good! I don't know what I like more about this place – the decor, the music, the waffles or the milkshake served in a Jam jar. I have had waffles at a lot of places in India as well as in Europe and US but here the Jamjar chef sure knows how to prepare. I highly recommend the Mighty waffle! I also tried the Fruit Waffle which was well made with the right texture and served with fresh cut fruits overload, albeit without maple syrup which I had to request and wait for. Other must have dishes include the Jalapeño Mac & Cheese, baked macaroni with cheese and the BBQ Veggie Burger.
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9. The Pantry, Fort: Tucked away in a quiet corner just off of Kala Ghoda, The Pantry is the perfect spot for a leisurely weekend brunch. As soon as you step in, you are transported to a cafe somewhere on the pavements of a charming European country. The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of this place are the waffles! Mmmmm Waffles! You must try the Double Chocolate and the Caramel Banana Waffles, both of which are must-haves. The waffles are baked to perfection - not too crispy, not too soft and are accompanied with fresh fruits, honey and yummy organic custard. Other items to try are the Sandwiches, Eggs Florentine and the teas!
Image Credits: Koquettish
10. Indigo Deli, Lower Parel: Located inside the Palladium, this restaurant has a very rustic look to it. The food here is excellent and the chefs pay special attention to the food presentation. When at Indigo, Pancakes and Waffles are a must! Be it with nutella, compote, or just maple syrup, they are soft fluffy and delicious. The whipped cream tastes amazing with it. But that's not the only reason we keep going back to Indigo. The paper thin pizzas are one of the best you can get around, it actually had a very thin base and was very well made.
11. Le Pain Quotidien, Powai: Set in the centre of Powai's Hiranandani area, LPQ is a very peaceful very nice location to put away a peaceful brunch or a romantic breakfast. They have arguably one of the best breakfast & lunch spreads out there at a very competitive price point! You must definitely try the Belgian Waffle, which is served with a side of fruits, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and blueberry compote. The waffle served here are one of the finest we've ever had in Mumbai. The maple & honey sauce & dark chocolate perfectly compliment the taste. We also recommend trying the Ham & Cheese Omelette and washing the food down with a cup of freshly brewed Coffee.
12. Prithvi Cafe This is probably one of the best cafes in Mumbai! The theatre, the bookstore, the food! Need I say more? So lively is this place that you will never find it empty. Coming to the food here, the waffles are to die for and their coffee and tea are impeccable. We implore you to try the Excessive Chocolate Waffles which are second to none! Other must order dishes here include the thin crust Bbq Chicken Pizza and the Sulemani Chai. We recommend going for the Kit Kat Shake, Prithvi Special Irish Coffee and the Cheese-Cream-Garlic Maggie!
13. Waffle House, Goregaon East: The Waffle House has come a long way from being a pop-up in Lil Flea Festival (last year & this) to the Oberoi mall in Goregaon East and become the go-to place for every waffle lover. Located on the 3rd floor food court, it is a small yet tacky place for an interesting concept - Waffles on a stick! The best part about the waffles here is that its really crisp, hot and not too sweet. While you cannot go wrong with the classic Nutella Waffle with hazelnut, we recommend you to try the Dark Chocolate Ganache, which they top up with almonds. Other waffles that you must try are the Blueberry Cheesecake and Cookie & Cream Waffles. Definitely a must try!
14. Aromas Café, Powai: It is rightly quoted that, "all happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast”. You can go there anytime of the day and enjoy amazing food & ambience. This place is certainly worth each penny. The whole menu is brilliant. Every dish is made to perfection. The waffles here are crisp on the outside and soft inside! The chocolate milkshake is divine! We recommend that you try the Lasagna, Pasta, the Spanish Omelette, the thin crust pizzas or the caesars salad, the sandwiches or the burgers.
Image Credits: Ishank
15. Fat Man's Café, Bandra West: Tucked away in a quiet lane in Bandra, Fat Man’s Café is a great place to chill out with your friends while munching on some good food. The café in general is quite small (seats 15-20 people) but its ambience gives a very nice homely feel. The menu ranges from the contemporary egg dishes (Fried, Poached, Scrambled Omelettes or Bhurji) to some really good tasting dishes like Egg Florentine, Fat Mans Special Baked Egg Bowl, Hash Browns, Pancakes, Waffles Etc. We recommend their signature Nutella Coffee shake, Mac & Cheese Pizza and the baked egg. The Waffles here are nice and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, pretty good too!
Image Credits: Sarthak
Lets us know what you think of this list and what places you have been to! Use DishKhoj to discover amazing food around you!
In DishKhoj’s ongoing mission to help people discover amazing food around them, we’ve come across many bloggers – some famous ones and many upcoming ones. In this post we salute the rising stars of the Mumbai food blogging scene who are not just great at writing or taking great pictures but committed to using their words & images to create a delicious story for their readers. Here’s part 1 of that list! Join us in congratulating all of them !
1. MoodyFoodie:
Abhilash, also known as MoodyFoodie, switches between many roles during the day. From being a successful entrepreneur, a photographer, a traveler, to a die-hard food enthusiast, the list goes on. Food blogging came to him very naturally. While in college, he started off a blog in the fashion & lifestyle segment called GlamShutter, which stood for all things beautiful and eventually, food also became part of it. His idea behind being a food blogger is simple - share food experiences with the world.
Food has always been a passion for him. “Right from when I was a kid, I was always fascinated by different kinds of street food. But as usual parents, mine also did not let me eat all the stuff I wanted. I remember instances when I used to steal money and sneak out of the house to eat the malai kulfi at the corner of the street. Sweet memories.” Even though he entered the blogging scene recently, he gained instant attention. He is an Expert restaurant reviewer at Zomato and has also collaborated with many brands & restaurants. It just doesn’t stop there, his plans for future are big which includes a gourmet restaurant by the sea and a food truck. That’s quite a big dream for a 20- something, isn’t it?
Urban Foodaholics is the brainchild of two passionate foodies and ardent travellers- Tejal and Kelvin. The duo pack their bags and travel across India and abroad to explore food at various destinations and share reliable reviews about their experiences. Their journeys have extended from London to Thailand, from Kerala to Rishikesh, from Delhi to Bangalore, and many more. With a plan to bag more such destinations, the duo pledges to keep their followers high on food and spread their Foodaholism to the entire world!
The blog features in-depth information detailing the food and the ambience of each place visited by the duo, thus giving readers an idea of what to expect at On-The-Go hideouts, Casual Hangouts, Food Fests and Fine Dining Restaurants. The blog serves as an inspiration & plants ideas about what followers can expect while travelling to similar destinations. The blog's food expertise is reflected with the title of 'Super Foodie' on Zomato with over 2 Lakh viewers. UF's followers know 'Where' to eat and 'What' to eat. Being Mumbaite by heart Urban Foodaholics leave no stone unturned and try both old and new hangouts in the city and share our foodaholism with our food fanatics. Our belief 'Stay High On Food!'
Back in 2013, Nikki Gupta had realised how much food excited her! It wasn’t just the eating but also reading about food and shopping for unique ingredients. So she started to list down restaurants around the city where she could try different cuisines and meet like minded people over great food. With each passing day, she realised how much there was learn and it got her all the more excited!
Food Avalanche was started by her in July 2014 after brainstorming a name for her food blog with her close friends. She first started instagramming pictures of food and then started writing about food on her own website to reach out to more people. She confesses, “The kind of person I am, the only thing that keeps me going is when I have something to look forward to each and everyday & I finally found it.” Food Avalanche is in line with her philosophy “Knowledge gained & passed ahead just makes me feel like I’m gaining positive karma for myself & thats a great feeling. If you find any information useful, do share it.”
An Indian Foodie, may sound racist but is not! The blog is run by two foodies, Priyanka Sharma and Sumit Panchasara, while the lady is the Writer and the man designs creative, vibrant Graphics for the blog and fans.Their love for food and motive to help people with the eagle view of restaurants around them, encouraged them to start blogging. It’s been a while that they have started with the reviewing the places they try on their blog, however, Priyanka has been active on other review sites for long and has become Expert of some areas.
Talking about their dreams and future plans, they dream of Restaurateur inviting them for their opinions, not just about food but for overall services that a place provides. These guys are easy to reach through social sites as they are highly active. You can reach them through any social media mentioned below, as they will be glad to reply, solve and interact with their fans and other foodies!
Tuckers - Pathway to Food was started by Saba Vakani and Rohit Jogadia on Jan 1, 2015 as an attempt to document food, places around to eat and everything else about food that your mind can think of.
Post graduation they sat down and talked about life and how to go about it (They were trying to be serious). Each having different set of goals and ambitions. Midway they realised that one having an avid interest in food and other having a flare in writing, why not combine it and create a platform to outburst all the thoughts that were just restricted to the table, nukkads and stalls.
After having this discussion everything came to a pause until 1st Jan ‘15. So between that, they met, they talked, but still there was no progress, then finally on 1st Jan the blog kick started.
So consider Tuckers as your buddies who will be providing reviews of some drool, some cuisine and exciting places to eat in Mumbai & Navi Mumbai. Also, feel free to get in touch with them about anything on the blog, also you too can send them your review about your favorite cuisine or restaurant. They will happily upload it over the blog.
If you are a Mumbaikar and you are looking for a place where you can grab a bite in less than 100 bucks, then these places are the ones for you. We list down 20 incredible places in the city where you can eat a hearty meal in less than 100 bucks and still feel satiated.
1) Khao Galli, Ghatkopar
Image Courtesy
Mumbai has a number of Khao Gallis or Food Lanes that have cropped up near commercial centers but the one in Pant Nagar near Ghatkopar Station is most famous for quick bites & snacks. This is the perfect place for street food, be it the lip smacking pav bhaji, spicy vada pavs, masala thumbs up or mouth-watering jalebis. Definitely try the dosas here – you get to choose from over 30 types of them!
Specialty: Street Food
Price: Rs. 40 onwards
2) Mohammed Ali Road, Crawford Market
Image Courtesy
This road is a hub of food joints which serve delightful and juicy non-vegetarian snacks, like tandoori chicken, seekh kabab, and chicken tikka. They are cooked in the open and their aroma is enough to attract you from afar.
Specialty: Mughlai food
Price: Rs.65 onwards
3) Udipi idli house, Matunga
Image Courtesy: Tushar Chemburkar
Matunga is a South Indian food lovers dream come true and if you thought you’ve had the best idli till now, wait till you try this place. Like most Udipi restaurants, the ambience here is nothing to write home about but you'll love this place as long as your priority is to try out the most authentic idlis. You must try their famous Kanchipuram Idli, Rasam Idli and Butter Kakdi Idli or a typical Manglorean breakfast of Khotto drizzled with coconut oil/ghee with red chilli chutney.
Specialty: Idlis
Price: Rs. 50 onwards
4) Yazdani Bakery, Fort
Image Source: Amritha
If you are a Mumbaikar, you'll surely know you what to expect from an age old Irani cafe. Situated inside a Japanese pagoda structure, Yazdani bakery is adorned with antique German posters, simplistic table-bench arrangement and gives the feel of “old Bombay”. Add to it the aroma of freshly baked bread that fills the place and you can sit for hours over a cup of irani chai. This irani café is famous for its freshly made bread, brun maska and apple pie!
Specialty: Baked food.
Price: Rs.30 onwards
5) Punjabi Moti Halwai, Fort
Image Courtesy: Esha Shroff
Situated in the by-lanes of Fort, this unassuming restaurant looks like a typical snacking joint. The ambience is not that great, but trust us the food here will transport you to Punjab. Almost everything is made in pure ghee and tastes very authentic. They specialise in Chhole with Samosas, Gulab Jamuns, and Aloo Parantha. We recommend ending your meal with their special lassi!
Specialty: Punjabi Food.
Price: Lunch for Rs 100.
6) Crystal, Chowpatty
Image Courtesy: Rohit Chandrashekar
If you are missing home-made Chapatis, Rajma Chawal and custard then Crystal, opposite Wilson College in Chowpatty, is the place to be. The prices are real cheap and their service is quite fast! The menu is exactly ghar-ka-khaana and is served in steel plates. The sabjis are 'oh-so-cheap' and great with the homely taste. It's super easy on the pocket and you'll always leave the place super stuffed. No wonder the place is always full!
Specialty: Homely food.
Price: Rs.45 onwards
7) Cannon Pav bhaji, Near CST Station
Image Courtesy: Esha Shroff
Located bang opposite Mumbai CST, Canon Pav Bhaji is one of the most iconic Pav Bhaji places in Mumbai. The heavenly aroma of butter & bhaji will help you locate this humble kerbside stall as you cross the road from CST. They serve two kinds of pav bhaji – the regular one with dollops of Amul butter floating in your plate or the Cheese Pav bhaji. The bhaji here is moderately spiced, just the way it should be, while the pavs are literally soaked in butter!
Specialty: Pav Bhaji
Price: Rs.100
8) Amantran, Thane
Image Courtesy: Gaurav Keswani
Located in the Talopali area close to Thane Station (west), this restaurant specialises in Maharashtrian dishes and is known especially for its Missal Pao. We recommend trying the Missal Pav, Kharvas, Paneer handi. If you love spicy food, then order the Thikat Misal Pao and wash it down with spiced buttermilk for a hearty meal!
Specialty: Maharashtrian food
Price: Starting from Rs.40
9) Guru Kripa, Sion
Image Courtesy: Sandeep Nair
Located in Sion, this pocket friendly outlet has been serving delicious food to its patrons for decades. Mostly popular for its piping hot Chhole Samosa, Ragda Pattice & crunchy Pani Puris, its Gulab jamuns and Gajjar ka Halwa are not to be missed. As testament to its quality, it needs to be mentioned that most Samosas that you find in multiplexes in Mumbai are made here. One of their signature dishes, Dal Pakwaan is served only between 8 AM to 9 AM, so make sure you don’t miss it.
Specialty: Samosa Chaat
Price: Rs. 25
10) Manjeet Chole Puri Wala, Sion
Image Courtesy: Tapan Pandyaz
Located in a small street in Sion Koliwada, this family run outlet has been serving piping hot Chhola Bhaturas to its patrons for decades. The taste & aroma of the food they make road can make you feel as if you are in Amritsar. Piping hot Chhole Bhaturey, Bhatti Kulchas and Dal are the only items available every day. The Chhole are low on chillies, heavy on fresh masalas, and well-cooked, while the Bhaturas are puffy and large. Good thing is it opens around 6:30AM in the morning till late midnight.
Specialty: Chhole Bhaturey
Price: Rs. 40
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11) Bagdadi, Colaba
Image Courtesy: Edith Bert
Looking for good tasty place to eat which doesn't burn a hole in your pocket? Well, your search ends here. Located right behind the Taj Hotel in Colaba, Bagdadi is known for its tasty, non vegetarian, tandoori/mughai food. Don’t expect much on the ambience front, but the food is heavenly. The chicken/mutton Masala is a must have along with their HUGE tandoori roti! Butter chicken, Chicken Liver fry and Surmai fry are dishes you shouldn’t miss.
Specialty: Mughlai Food
Price: Rs. 65 onwards
12) Café Madras, Matunga East
Image Courtesy: Sucheta Thakur
As you enter this café, it will give you the feel as if you are in some part of south India. They serve delicious south Indian dishes but Raagi Dosa, Pineapple Sheera, Mysore Pak, Filter Coffee and Medu Vada, are simply the best.
Speciality: South Indian breakfast
Price: Rs. 60 onwards
13) Gulati’s, Andheri East
Image Courtesy: Farheen Jamal
The owners of this fast food joint located in the heart of Sher-e-Punjab society are the pioneers of Chhole Bhature in Mumbai. The restaurant serves authentic punjabi fare at a very nominal charge considering they make everything with pure ghee. Chhole Bhature, Samosas, Jalebis are all must haves. They are also known for their Indian sweets and is the only place in Mumbai I found where I can get jalebis like you get in Delhi.
Speciality: Chhole Bhature & Sweets
Price: Rs. 66
14) Aaswad, Shivaji Park
Image Courtesy: Ayush Biyani
Aaswad is one of the very few restaurants in Mumbai that serves authentic Maharashtrian Cuisine. There is a long queue at peak hours, so be prepared to wait for a few minutes. They serve mouth-watering Patal Bhaji, Piyush, Masala rice, Thalipeeth and Missal and are known for their home style of cooking. The dishes are reasonably priced and all the dishes are up to mark. Thalipeeth with white butter and curd is to die for, so is the Kothimbir vadi and Dadimbi usal. Piyush is a must have after-the-meal dessert or you can have it along with your food.
Speciality: Maharashtrian Food
Price: All are priced under Rs. 100
15) Sarvi, Byculla
Image Courtesy: Yusuf
Located at Nagpada, Mumbai, Sarvi serves up lip-smacking Mughlai food at extremely nominal rates! The restaurant has a very rustic look to it and doesn’t even have a board outside, but the smell of seekh kababs that fills the narrow street will ensure you don’t walk past by this gem of a restaurant! The speciality here is their seekh kebabs – soft, tender and melt in your mouth kinds. The Butter Chicken is another dish that you’d want to come back for. You can't afford to miss the Heavenly Caramel Custard.
Speciality: Seekh Kebabs
Price: Rs. 50 onwards
16) Raju Sandwich Stall, Churchgate
Image Courtesy: Nikhil Gosrani
This place is heaven for sandwich lovers! A small food joint right opposite HR college does really amazing job. The sandwiches are stuffed with loads of veggies. The rolls are marvellous especially the cheese noodle roll. The very fact that it survived and still challenges its competition of Relish, Samrat, 210, KC and HR canteens,shows enough proof that the food is lip smacking. The best eats are the Samosa Cheese Toast,Pasta Roll,Chilli Cheese Roll and Cheese Pannini.
Speciality: Sandwiches.
Price: Rs: 35 onwards
17) Pancham Puriwala, Fort
Image Courtesy: Naresh Shah
If it is lunch time and you are looking for tasty yet home cooked food, then this one is for you! Pancham Puriwala serves simple delicious home style meals the hard working people of Mumbai's busy business district. The menu is quite simple with Puri being the star attraction with no compromise on quality. They also serve delicious thalis, which have a variety of dishes served with hot rotis and desserts. The place is small and cramped, you will have to wait and most certainly end up sharing the table with someone. But its worth it.
Speciality: Their thalis
Price: Rs. 45 onwards
18) Ashok Wada Pav, Prabhadevi
Image Courtesy: Manav Chotrani
They serve delicious, tangy and the tastiest Wada Pav in fort. Lip smacking Wada’s served with spicy chutney’s and small bhajiyas. If you are a Mumbaikar, you just can’t be satisfied by 1, you need 2-3, as they are that good.
Speciality: Wada Pav
Price: Rs. 20
19) Narayan’s Dosa, Grant Road
Image Courtesy: Sourabh Bhattad
Tucked away in a corner of the same street as Mama Mia is a tiny shop, which is famous for its variety of dosas! As the name suggests, it is only dosas and Uttapams that one can get here. The dosa’s are served fresh, hot and with delicious chutneys. The Sada dosas are nice and crispy and can be devoured in minutes. Sambar is not made here but the two chutneys that they have do not even make you wish for sambar. We also recommend you try their paneer chilly and Mysore masala.
Speciality: Variety of dosas
Price: Rs. 50 onwards
20) National Restaurant, Bandra West
Image Courtesy: Abhay Singh
National Restaurant is synonymous with the term value for money! To start with, it's a small dingy place very close to Bandra station. The menu is written on a common blackboard for all to read. But don't let the place's ordinary ambience deceive you, as the food here is extraordinary for the given price. The food here is cooked in coal and not gas, which gives it the earthy taste. They serve chicken, egg and vegetarian fare only (no mutton). Dishes worth tasting are Kadhi Pakoda, Chicken liver masala and Sarson da saag and Makki di roti.
Specialty: Home-style cooked food
Price: Rs 50 onwards
Contributed by our fellow foodies above and collated by our prolific writer Batul Kapasi. That’s it folks! Comment and let us know what all you’ve been to :)
It has been learnt from our key sources that the NDA Government at the centre is planning an immediate ban on the iconic Vada Pav! With the list of things that can be been banned almost getting exhausted, the government in a hurried decision will implement the ban starting 1st April 2015.
On being questioned about the logic behind the Vada Pav Ban, government spokesperson Mr Bhukkad responded that it was a strategic step towards helping turn around the Indian Economy! Citing the study conducted by IIN University Professor Viru Sahastrabudhhe (Famously known as Virus) who found that consumption of Vada Pav is the main reason for lower GDP Growth for the last 5 years! With the Indian work force mainly relying on Vada Pav as their staple diet, causing them to not only increase their waist size but also releasing unbearable gases during working hours causing mass hysteria!
The Vada Pav Ban has sent shock waves across the country, with hardcore Vada Pav fans planning to go on a nation wide Dharna. We interviewed Mr Ramesh Rameshpurkar, a self confessed Vada Pav connoisseur and the head of Vada Pav Bachao Andolan, who has eaten Vada pav every day since the day he was born. His mother even confessed giving him mashed vada pav instead of cerelac during his childhood days. He told us that he is in deep shock and grief. “A Mumbaikar may go without oxygen for a day, but never Vada Pav”.
While many believe the findings of the research report is the reason for the ban, many are of the opinion that the government wanted to be seen as doing something since it had promised in its election manifesto that it will be a progressive government.
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Mumbai, the city, which never sleeps, and neither does the food stalls. While most of the restaurants shut down by 1:30 AM thanks to BMC, there are ample of places in Mumbai, which serve delicious food, even into the wee hours of the morning. So here is a list of the best food joints in Mumbai, which should satiate most late night munchies!
1. Zaffran , Crawford Market | Open Till: 6:00 AM
In the wee hours of the morning, anything edible is acceptable as dinner, be it stale crackers or over ripe fruits, but getting good, delicious food at that time is a dream. Situated next to PK Wines in Crawford Market is Zaffran, an Indian/Mughlai restaurant that remains open till 6:00 AM. Coming to food, there are plenty of dishes to try out from Veg & Raan Biryani, Butter chicken, Yakhni Pulao and other mughlai dishes. In the desserts, Saffron Firni Chhena Payes and Gulab jamuns are something one can never go wrong with. Definitely give this a try if you are in town!
2. Bachelorr’s, Charni Road | Open Till: 4:00 AM
One of the best-known late night munching places, Bachelorr's has become synonymous with Mumbai, much like Bade Miyan or Vada pav or Prithvi. Coming to food, you must absolutely try their milkshakes, sandwiches and ice creams. Hands down, they serve the best shakes in Mumbai and we recommend the Classic Chocolate Shake. This milkshake is rich and thick. The Paneer Tikka grilled sandwich is heaven on a plate! Once again, no compromise is made on the slices of paneer or the layers of chutney. It's too delicious and MUST BE HAD. Another amazing thing is their Green Chili ice cream. Its surprisingly (really) good!
3. Ayub’s, Fort | Open Till: 4:00 AM
Located in the tiny bylanes behind Rhythm House, this place is more like a hidden gem - food is delicious and mouthwatering. What started off as a limited menu of kababs and rolls has turned into a more full fledged menu of biryani and chicken dishes and kababs and rolls. I would stick with the kababs and the roll, our favourites are the chicken tikka, seekh kabab, bhurji and for the vegetarians this place has some great options too. I prefer this place for veg rolls compared to Bademiya. Its a treat to the stomach when you are looking for options for late night munching!
4. Bademiya, Colaba | Open Till: 4:00 AM
There is hardly anything new that one can say about this iconic roadside eatery that is a part of Mumbai’s glorious history. Bademiya is to Mumbai what Kareem’s is to Delhi and Putiram is to Kolkata -- a meeting place of the hungry multitudes who come from near and far to taste the kebabs, rolls and rumali rotis. This place serves yummy chicken bhuna roll, rumali roti and mutton seekh kabab. The highlight about this place is that it is very close to gokul (popular bar), so you can have a drink too. This joint is open till 4 am and is generally very crowded.
5. Adarsh Annapoorna, Kalbadevi | Open Till: 4:30AM
Situated in one of the bylanes of Kalbadevi is a delightful little place that stays open till 4:30AM and is a perfect place to eat at after those late nights. Do not let the lack of parking and near-dinghy interiors fool you, this place serves really good vegetarian fare. They have a good selection of Chinese, Punjabi & Rajasthani dishes, which means enough choices for you. We highly recommend the Paneer Makhanwala with Ghee Phulkas & Papad Churi and the Sev Tamatar vegetable, which was very good. All in all fast service and value for money!
6. Amar Juice Centre, Vile Parle | Open Till: 3:00AM
Located close to Mithibai college, this fast food center serves quick bites like pav bhaji, sandwiches, dosas etc and is a great saviour for people working/partying late into the night. With very little seating available and waiters serving to parked cars it gives a feel of a drive-in restaurant to any onlooker. But make no mistake about the food here – it’s mouth watering, especially the pav bhaji, sandwiches and the fresh juices. The bhaji is spicy, tangy and well balanced; their cheese pizza & veg cheese grilled sandwich are loaded with generous amounts of cheese. Overall a decent place to go when you're really hungry late night!
7. Sigdi, Bandra | Open Till: 4:00 AM
Sigdi is one of places my mind goes to when I want to have a bite post mid night. With no appreciation for anything resembling ambience at this time, all I want is something that satisfies me and on this count Sigdi scores. Their rolls and Chinese food is a little bit pricy, but more than makes up for it with its outright quantity. From every conceivable type of mainstream Chinese soup to kathi rolls veg and non-veg, they have never disappointed me and that it’s open late is a bonus. Don't expect to be wowed by anything fancy if you head here, but know that you'll find something to your taste and it’ll be more than decent to enjoy.
8. Sagar Chinese, Juhu | Open Till: 4:00 AM
If you are looking for Chinese food at midnight then this is the place to be. Finding it is relatively easy as it is the only place crowded at night near the Nakabandi in Juhu. Food is pretty good & satisfying for a street food joint. They don't scrimp on quantity and the taste by Chinese street food standards is right up there. We recommend the chicken lollypop starter, Chilly chicken and triple schezwan rice. The quantity of rice they serve is amazing, and total value for money.
9. Fatboy's Kitchen, Andheri West | Open Till: 3:00 AM
The burgers & sandwiches, at this takeaway/delivery outlet in Andheri. are to die for. Quite literally! We recommend the Black Jack, which comes with the patty, salami, fried eggs and some flavoured sauce in it with a side of french fries; and the Juicy Lucy. The burgers are seriously huge and you'll be surely satiated by the time you gobble it down. So if you are tired of sleeping hungry because you worked till late or skipped dinner and there aren't enough options around to get some great post midnight feasts, then give them a call. They won't disappoint one bit!
10. Sukh Sagar Juice Center, Chowpatty | Open Till: 1:30 AM
An institution in itself, this popular south Mumbai eatery is frequented by a variety of people, from tourists to ordinary visitors to chowpatty beach to the affluent. Their food has been consistent over the years, and their idli, dosa and pav bhaji are really good. They also do fresh fruit juices and ice creams and their strawberry with fresh cream and sitafal ice cream are very popular. Best part is that it remains open till late night so.
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11. Apna Dhaba, Andheri East | Open Till: 4:00 AM
For people living in Andheri East, which is devoid of many late night eateries, this restaurant is a blessing. Open till 4AM in the morning, Apna dhaba gets it right with the food as well making it an ideal place to spend the night out with your friends or office colleagues. The North Indian fare is perfect on taste. We recommend the Manchow Prawns, Non veg platter, Chicken gravies which are mildly spiced with smooth thick texture that go well with their tandoori Rotis. In a nutshell, good food at a reasonable price.
12. The Third House, Andheri West | Open Till: 4:00 AM
Located in the bylane next to Masala Mantar in Andheri West, this take away / delivery place is open all night and serves tasty food to its patrons. They have a huge menu to choose from, the food is mostly bang on and the portion sizes are quite big. It also helps when the person taking your order knows the food and gives good recommendations! Our recommendations include the Butter Chicken, Paneer Tikka, Veg Souvlaki served with a spicy yogurt dip, Paneer masala and chicken in paprika sauce. Although everything on the menu is good!
13. Jantar Mantar, Juhu | Open Till: 3:00 AM
If you happen to be in Juhu and are in the mood for some Indian food, Rolls, kebabs and biryanis, then look no further than Jantar Mantar. It’s a small takeaway place that accepts food orders till 3AM in the night. Our recommendations include their special Paneer Makhanwala Naan, which is Cheese naan neatly stuffed with paneer makhanwala curry. Their biryanis are superb in taste and massive in quantity! Definitely give this a try!
14. Bhagwati Pav Bhaji, Kandivali West | Open till: 3:00 AM
Bhagwati is one of the few places that remains open to feed your empty stomach when Mumbai shuts its door for food. This place is famous for its pav bhaji, masala pav and Tawa Pulav. Arguably this place serves the best pav bhajis in Western suburbs. From a late night eater’s perspective the taste is really good and the quantity is usually sufficient and would recommend this restaurant any day.
15. Khurshid Pav Bhaji & Bhurji, Vile Parle West | Open Till: 5:00 AM
Located in Vile Parle West, Khurshid’s is the place to go for all your egg cravings post midnight! The minute you stop your car a guy comes and reads out the menu to you: bhurji pav, omelette pav, half fry, pav bhaji, tawa pulav. At 80 bucks, the egg bhurji and pav bhaji are total VFM and super delicious. The pav bhaji doesn't disappoint either – it’s yummy and the pav is just buttered but never soaked. Please don’t expect this place to be super clean, its not and that is the charm of the place!
16. Sheetal Restaurant, Khar | Open Till: 1:30AM
This place in Bandra hasn’t really changed much over the years. The good thing is that they deliver till 2:00AM in and around Bandra. Our recommendations include paneer rolls, chicken lollypop, fish chilli dry and dal khichdi. The fish chilli dry is bass fish in a very very spicy, garlic dry sauce – yummy for those late night cravings ! Delivery is prompt and food is always delivered piping hot and fresh ! Each dish is prepared well and is extremely flavorsome. We can assure you that this will be your late night pick always if you try them for once.
17. Achija, Ghatkopar East | Open Till: 1:30AM
ACHIJA , which means come again in Kutchi, is a famous restaurant owned by a kutchi Mr. Bharatbhai, a person who with his amazing smile and sweet talks can win over hearts of many people. If you are living in mumbai and have At Least one gujrati friend then I am sure this place is no stranger to you. Open till 2-3am, this restaurant is famous for its pav bhaji and masala pav and is a delight for the party heads to head back and hog on to some delicious food. Besides pav bhaji it also serves other veg fast food.
18. Mini Punjab, Bandra | Open Till: 4:00AM
Located at the corner of 16th and 33rd road in Bandra West, Mini Punjab has always been our go to joint for some grub after partying in Bandra and it has never disappointed us. It is one of the very few joints in Bandra open till the wee hours and so you will find it packed even at 2 in the morning! We recommend the tandoori chicken, butter chicken masala and Dal Makhani. You can never ever get bored of their Chicken Bhuna Roll or the Tandoori Reshmi Roll. The Chicken Oyster roll is a delicacy and hence a treat to suit your hunger pangs late into the night!
19. Ice n rolls, Juhu | Open Till: 2:00 AM
This popular roadside joint right opposite Bhaidas auditorium is open till late night and is famous for its fast food and shakes. The Ferrero Rocher milkshake is a MUST try here. Something totally different and new. All the other items like the garlic bread, pasta, sandwich are also good. Reasonable prices for the upmarket Juhu area.
20. Khau Galli:
Khau Galli or food lanes in Fort, Churchgate or Ghatkopar are famous for running till quite late in the night. You can sample a variety of food there!
Contributed by foodies Pankti Chheda, Vishall Bansal & Batul Kapasi. That’s it folks! Comment and let us know what all you’ve been to :)
Pav Bhaji is the quint-essential Mumbai street food! It’s a spicy preparation of mashed vegetables, a generous dose of fresh tomatoes, a dollop of butter and consumed with pav, which is usually buttered on all sides. Sounds Yummy doesn't it?
The history of the pav bhaji is as delicious as the dish itself. As per popular folklore, it originated back in the 1850’s when textile mills flourished in Mumbai. Textile workers, who didn't have a lot of time to eat their lunch, wanted a light meal as they had to return to their physical work. A person saw this problem and in true mumbaiya sense came with a jugaad. He replaced the roti with a pav and the curry with a spicy concoction of vegetables. And thus Pav Bhaji was born!
We asked our fellow foodies to name their best places for Pav Bhaji in Mumbai and we've come up with a list of 12 such places in Mumbai. Read on to find out more!
1. Sardar Pav Bhaji, Tardeo
Image Source: Twitter
Sardar Pav Bhaji serves arguably the best Pav Bhaji in Mumbai and if you’re a Pav Bhaji fan, then this is a place you just cannot miss. Pav Bhaji here can be described by just one word- BUTTER!!! Eat at Sardar's only if you love butter. And by "love", I mean LOVE LOVE LOVE butter. The Bhaji here is not as spicy or hot as compared to others and the brownish black colour of the Bhaji is brought out by their secret masala. If you're in for a cheesy kick, then order a Cheese Pav Bhaji, which is served with a mound of shredded cheese. Definitely check this one out!
2. Maruti Pav Bhaji at Vile Parle
Vile Parle’s best kept secret (well, not anymore), this is a place frequented by those in the know and it never fails to amaze me just how much of a fan following this place has. Ask any random guy for directions to this place Maruti, and he will guide you. This guy starts from 7PM and does not have closing time, as people just keep coming. Usually, there is a waiting, but its worth it, as the Pav Bhaji is spectacular and tastes unlike any you'll have elsewhere (it's a little on the spicy side too, so be warned if spice isn't your thing). His main ingredient is butter and black pepper and this is what lends the black color to his Bhaji. The masala pav too tastes very unique.
3. Bhagwati Pav Bhaji, Kandivali West
Image Source: Google
A late nighters’ paradise, this place is open till 1AM in the night and is famous for delicious lip smacking food. It also serves one of the best pav bhajis I have had in Mumbai. The pav and bhaji has a generous amount of butter but that is how it is supposed to be ;) It has the right amount of spices and perfect for any palate. Along with the bhaji is served spicy red chutney, which I was rather sceptical about but found to be almost as good as the bhaji itself. Other dishes you might want to try are the Masala Pav, Tawa Pulao, Grill sandwiches and Dosas.
4. Sukh Sagar, Chowpatty
Sukh Sagar is an awesome place for vegetarians all food lovers and in my opinion, their Pav Bhaji is actually quite good. I just love their pav bhaji for the amazing buttery delicious pav. We also recommend the cheese pav bhaji! With a wide and diverse variety there paw bhaji with masala pav is one of the finest you can hog on in south bombay and is a must try.
5. Cannon Pav Bhaji, Fort
Image Source: Google
Located bang opposite Mumbai CST, Canon Pav Bhaji is one of the most iconic pav bhaji places in Mumbai. The heavenly aroma of butter & bhaji will help you locate this humble kerbside stall as you cross the road from CST. They serve two kinds of pav bhaji – the regular one with dollops of Amul butter floating in your plate or the Cheese Pav bhaji. The bhaji here is moderately spiced, just the way it should be, while the pavs are literally soaked in butter! You'll need another helping of those Pavs to polish the bhaji off your plate. They also serve the Kadak Pav, if you prefer that instead of the regular pav. We recommending rounding off your mail with Masala Chaas, Lassi or gajar ka halwa.
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6. Dp's, Matunga East
Image Source: Google
This is one of those restaurants, which gained its popularity due to the proximity to colleges, but now is quite well known. The ambience here is simple, the food yummy and their service fast. When it comes to food, people including me swear by their Masala Pav. The Masala Pav is like light & fluffy cotton balls soaked in butter and spicy masala. Their pav bhaji is yummy and the pav is well buttered.
7. Amar Juice Center, Vile Parle
Image Source: Google
Located close to Mithibai college, this fast food center serves delicious food till 3 AM in the night. So if you’re in Vile Parle, you know where to head for mid-night munchies. The Pav Bhaji here is nice and spicy, just the way I like it. So well buttered that it goes so smoothly in your tummy. There’s something different about the masala they use for the pav bhaji and serve it with grilled pav, which is their speciality. Other things you might want to try are the Cheese pav bhaji, Tawa pulao, Chutney Masala Pav, Butter idli and Chocolate milkshake.
8. Umesh, Matunga East
Image Source: Pinterest
If you're crossing Maheshwari Udyan in Matunga in the night, there are high chances that you will come across Umesh whose stall is popularly known as chatai pav bhaji wala. He serves up a super spicy pav bhaji on his open stall. Other lip smacking dishes you might want to try are the masala pav and tava pulao
9. Manohar, Girgaum
Image Source: Google
Manohar, a typical fast food-joint located opposite Central Plaza, serves only pav bhaji and pulav and is most famous for its butter-laden pav bhaji and spicy pulav. The Bhaji here is pretty thick unlike the watery bhaji that is dished around these days. The taste is not derived from the spices but from the combination of veggies. You can actually witness it being made in front you as the kitchen is at the entrance. Moreover they make the bhaji in batches and serve the customers, so you can be sure that the stuff in your plate is freshly made. If Pav Bhaji is your poison, then this is the place you should visit once to differentiate ordinary and the “extra-ordinary”
10. Shiv Sagar, Vile Parle
Image Source: Google
Shiv Sagar is one of the pastmaster of Pav Bhaji in Mumbai. A very few restaurants come close to the near perfect taste. The bhaji is bereft of any extra / generous helpings of garam masala / Pav Bhaji masala, letting the taste of veggies evolve in minimal spices. The Pav too is not dunked and drowned in butter, but just a customary swipes of butter and heated on the tawa. Definitely a must try!
11. Pappilon, Vile Parle East
Image Source: Google
Pappilon is located in Vile Parle East just as you enter Irla Shopping center or exit from the back gate of Bhaidas Hall. This restaurant is every vegetarian’s delight and is famous for it's lip smacking Pav Bhaji. The bhaji is spiced just right! Other things on the menu we recommend are the special falooda, dosas and idli sambhar.
12. Soli Pav Bhaji, Haji Ali
Image Source: Google
Its hard to believe that Ambani’s favorite place to go in the whole of mumbai is a pav bhaji stall in Haji Ali. If you're in Worli and craving for some spicy bhaji then Soli Pav Bhaji, outside Heera Panna is the place to go. Its open from 7:30 PM to midnight.
That’s it folks! Let us know in the comments what all we missed! We'd like to thank our fellow foodies - Anish Deshmukh and Pankti Chedda for contributing to the article!
Berry Fondue. The cranberries were like little tangy bombs exploding in my mouth!
After a sumptuous Sunday Brunch at the Romano’s @ JW Marriott Sahar last week (you can read the experience here), I was tempted to try out the Sunday Brunch @ JW Cafe as well. I had heard a lot about the extensive dessert spread and their multi-cuisine buffet, priced at a very nominal INR 1310 inclusive of taxes. Neeraj, who runs the Foodies in Bombay/Mumbai group, had organized the brunch and booked a table for us. I reached slightly earlier than agreed and made my way inside the restaurant to click some photos before the crowd poured in. Last time, I remember JW Café was bustling with people having a gala time around great food!
Coming to the food, this has to be one of the largest Sunday Brunches I've ever been to. Period. This brunch has over 200 dishes, which includes the Soups, Starters, Rice & Noodles, Cold & Hot buffet, Desserts, Breads and Beverages. You name it and they probably have it! The moment you enter, you are welcomed by an assortment of desserts which included donuts, Mexican churros, fondues, chocolates, muffins, candies, jelly beans, cheesecakes, pastries, tarts and cinnabons.
They have a separate section for Indian sweets like Malai Chum Chum and they also serve fresh waffles. I am going next week for the desserts again!
The Indian sweets contingent, was well represented!
As you make your way inside the restaurant, you pass the cash counter on your right and reach a table where Chef Vinit is serving Alaskan King Crabs, Prawns, Scallops and smoked Salmon. This was my first experience with the crabs as I had hitherto seen them only on Discovery Channel :)
Alaskan King Crabs!
Without wasting much time, I grabbed a plate, placed some crab, scallops, smoked salmon & prawns and drizzled it with lime juice & mustard. The mustard was slightly overpowering but I am not complaining J. The crab meat was juicy & sweet. I love how they serve it with its natural sweetness. The scallops, again which I was having for the first time tasted like prawns to me. As a football commentator would say, we are off to a flier!
Scallops, Prawns & Lobsters!
They serve Indian buffet and have live counters for Italian cuisine, where they make pasta & pizza; Thai food, where they serve Satays, Phad Thai Noodles, Pineapple Red Curry & Bean Sprout Salad; Continental, where they serve Roast Lamb & Chicken and a Grills section where they grill prawns/fish/lobsters. I decided to first try the Sri Lankan Chicken Kootu Parantha. The server asked me to take my seat, but I decided to watch the chef cook my meal right before my eyes. A little bit of butter, eggs, malabar parantha and chicken curry went on the stove as the chef mixed them well together. It was really yummy, not too spicy unlike I had imagined and the paratha was really soft. I followed this up with Chicken Satay, live-cooked by Chef Pungtiwa Soralee. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the chilli sauce added that bit of tanginess & sweetness at the same time.
Sri Lankan Chicken Kootu Parantha
Chicken Satay
I am not a sushi person, but who can say no to Octopus sushi! I ordered it at the counter and asked them to deliver the same at my table. On the way back, I made a detour to the cold cuts section. I was slightly disappointed to see only 2 kinds of meat, but their selection of breads and cheese more than made up for it :) The Blue cheese was so good & pungent and went really well with the baguette and Prosciutto!
By the time I reached my table, they had already served the Sushi with wasabi & soy sauce. The one with the octopus tentacles looked the most promising so I dipped it in soy sauce and gobbled it up first! The tentacles were really chewy but the Tuna & Salmon were strictly okay. In between, we also ordered an orange gola, which was really tangy. You must try the gola!
Tuna, Salmon & Octopus Sushi with Wasabi and Soy Sauce
I then decided to take it slow, and took a tour of the restaurant before deciding what to order next. The Italian counter looked nice with their array of toppings & pastas so I ordered a 4-cheese pizza for the group and went to the Thai section to try their thai red curry, phad thai & green sprout salad. The pineapple red curry went really well with the Phad Thai Noodles. It was spicy & the pineapple added the sweetness to balance it out.
Pineapple Curry Vegetable
Phad Cha Seafood!
Home Style Bean Sprout in Soya Sauce
Phad Thai Noodles!
Not quite feeling full, I made my way to the Continental section, where I asked for the Orange Glazed Roasted Lamb & Thyme Roasted Chicken. The roast lamb & chicken was similar in taste to what I had the last time at Romano’s last week. I love the way the Chefs soak up the flavors before serving loved it the last time and therefore decided to try it again. The apple sauce they make, is really good! Although they have great Indian food, I decided to skip it for today!
Now it was time for desserts. I ordered Waffles with Whipped Cream & Mixed-berry Compote Sauce, which was slightly soggy. I went up to the desserts section and placed one each of Berry Fondue, Salty Caramel Custard, Bitter chocolate mousse, Raspberry Pistachio cake, Royal Apricot Tart, Summer Berry Streusel Tart and Chocolate Hazelnut Tart on my plate! The highlight of the desserts was the Salty Caramel Custard, which comes highly recommended by the General Manager, Mr. Saeid Heidari. The cranberries in the berry fondue were like little tangy bombs exploding in my mouth. :) I recognized the summer berry streusel tart from last time. Though the biscuit was slightly dry the filling was perfect! Other things one should try are the Indian sweets - Malai Chum chum, Chandra mukhi, Triveni, chandrakala, Kalakand, Anjeer Barfi, Mohanthal, Petha pan.
Salty Caramel Custard!
Brownies with Sprinkles!
Waffles with Whipped Cream & Mixed-berry Compote Sauce!
Before we knew it, it was 3:30PM and the staff had started clearing the buffet area. With great conversations & good food, it was an afternoon well spent. I regret missing on Indian food - chaats, Buffet and desserts. Oh well! Something for the next visit! Last but not the least, their service was impeccable and you really feel you are dining in 5-star hotel. Over the course of our brunch, I remember various chefs coming up to our table to ask us if everything was alright!
The Executive Chef Vivek Bhatt with Thai Chef Pungtiwa Soralee!
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Out of the two things that has put Thailand on the map, the second is undoubtedly the food. *wink wink* Thai cuisine is essentially a marriage of centuries-old Eastern and Western influences harmoniously combined into something uniquely Thai. The cuisine has borrowed generously from Indian, Chinese & Western cuisine to evolve not only in cooking style but the choice of ingredients. Harmony is the guiding principle behind each dish and the cuisine in general.
There are two famous curries from Thailand – the Red (Gaeng Phet Gai) & the Green (Gaeng Keow Waan). Both the curries are coconut milk based and derive their respective colors from the ingredients – red color comes from red chillies while green color comes from green chillies, cilantro & basil. The green curry is slightly milder due to generous amounts of coconut milk added to it and so it may come across as being milky, while the red curry is much spicier and less rich! Its best served with Jasmine rice but some restaurants serve it with regular steamed rice. Some restaurants in India serve the Yellow Curry and the Panang Curry as well.
We sent our blogger friends far & wide to find the most pungent & flavorsome Thai Curries in Mumbai. Here’s a list of 12 restaurants you cannot miss!
1. Thai Pavilion - Vivanta By Taj President, Cuffe Parade
Without comparison, Thai Pavilion is the best Thai restaurant in Mumbai. Do not miss their Thai Red, Green curry and the Papaya Salad at any cost. The Thai Red Curry is very well made as all the flavours blend beautifully with vegetables which are cooked to perfection. It's not too spicy, not too sweet, but a perfectly balanced combination of coconut milk, spices and lemon grass with veggies. They serve the curry with a very abundant and comforting portion of rice. Do give it a try!
2. Koh by Ian Kittichai - InterContinental, Churchgate
The restaurant ,started by Ian Kittichai, an award winning chef from Bangkok, is also one of the most decorated restaurants in Mumbai. The very high ceiling gives it a regal look and the Thai food they serve is equally royale. The chef’s philosophy is that Thai Cuisine is more than just curries & phad Thai and it reflects in the quality of the Thai Food they serve!Our food recommendations include the Thai Green Curry, which they serve in a paper bowl. We also tried the Phad Thai, which was phenomenal and so was the Satay Kai. The flavours are very authentic and the plating of the food is very simple and traditional.
3. O:h Cha, Lower Parel
Finally an authentic Thai Restaurant in Mumbai that has made be go back to it a few times already. The decor is slick and trendy and you’re greeted by the Thai Chef as you make your way to the table. The Thai Red curry here is rich and aromatic. It has the perfect consistency and right mix of spiciness and tanginess. Among other things on their menu, the starters - the satay & fish cakes and the desserts are quite good. Absolutely recommend: Salmon salad, Crumb fried prawns, Stir fried kang kong, The lemongrass creme brûlée is to die for and Scallops. Overall a nice place for Thai food.
4. Mekong - Palladium Hotel, Lower Parel
The Palladium hotel has some really amazing food options, Mekong being one of them. Its on the same floor as Li Bai and Exo, the 37th and boasts of quite a view. We ordered a hearty meal for 3: fungus dumplings, duck and pork from the barbecue, a tom yum soup, Red Chicken Thai curry and Jasmine rice. The Red Thai curry is the best I have tasted in the city and perfectly blended without the excess coconut milk. It was not too overpowering and rice was beautifully cooked too. Definitely worth another visit!
5. Facing East, Juhu West
Hidden among the lanes of Juhu is a restaurant that serves one of the best Green Thai Curry I have ever had! The first thing that you will notice is despite being small its very well done up and has a very trendy feel to it. The one dish which I insist on trying is their Thai Curry. You can almost taste the various ingredients – the hotness of the chilies and the tanginess from lime. Other things you might want to try is the chili garlic noodles, crab meat in garlic sauce & chili braised lamb. The food is yummy (I still can't get over the Thai Curry)! Go for the Green Thai Curry! Its Delicious!
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6. Bungalow 9, Bandra West
Bungalow 9 is one of the more famous restaurants in Bandra, and as the name suggests is literally a Bungalow converted into a restaurant. This lends the place a very unique and cosy feel and it reminds you of old Bombay. The service, here, is excellent and most importantly, the food is amazing. This place has an extensive menu with cuisines such as Italian, Thai and Japanese on offer. But when it comes to Thai Food, their Phad Thai is one of the best I have ever had and their Thai Red Curry with Jasmine Rice is to die for. The Jasmine Rice is well flavoured and served with a generous helping of Thai Veggies.
7. British Brewing Company, Lower Parel
British Brewing Company at the Phoenix mall is a British Pub themed restaurant. Its comfortable laid back interior design with old wiskey barrel themed lamps & ambience takes dining to a whole new level. Beside the regular pub food, they have really good Thai Red Curry (who would have thought?).Other things to try are the alfredo pasta, raps, cheese corn balls.
8. Busaba, Colaba
Tucked away in one of the lanes of Colaba Causeway – lies this quaint restaurant. Walk up the staircase and it almost seems like you’ve stepped into an old Goan home. This is a great Pan-Asian restaurant and the food tastes simple, authentic & yum. Our food recommendations include the Phad Thai, Chicken Satay, Prawns and Red/Green Thai curry. BTW, this place has one of the Burmese Khow suey in Town.
9. Joss, Santa Cruz
The word joss means "good luck". Its a rather scary name for a restaurant, if they need to wish you luck just to eat there. Just Kidding! They recently closed their outlet at Kalaghoda and opened up at SantaCruz. This place, headed by chef Farrokh Khambata, has everything from Sushi to Bibimbap and even a few Thai and Balinese dishes. Right from our assorted platter of dimsums to mushroom starters to Thai curry, everything was just perfect. The smooth and tasty Thai Curry and rice really helped the meal come together. It was beautifully cooked with an aroma that disappeared within minutes.
10. Busago, Bandra West
BusaGo is a unique restaurant that serves Burmese, Vietnamese and Tibetan food. There aren't too many of them in the city. It's nestled between Thai Ban and Papa Pancho's just off Pali Road in Bandra. Don't miss their steamed momos, it doesn't matter if you try the vegetable, chicken or prawn ones, they're all light and tasty. They make a delicious and flavourful khow suey that will leave you positively satiated and the Thai and green curry are something that would give any fine dining thai restaurant a serious run for the money.
11. Mamagoto, Fort
One of the great places that serve great Asian food. Its a small cozy place with bright colored walls & beautiful oriental art and paintings. We recommend making a reservation before hand as the place is usually full. For the main course we recommend Khow Suey and Thai Curry with Jasmine Rice. The Thai curry with veggies paired with jasmine rice is simply delicious! A must try. Other food recommendations include the Soggy Thai Basil Fried Rice, Veg Panang Curry Bowl which simply put is an explosion of flavours in the mouth and Chili Potato Straws.
12. Eat Thai, Bandra West
It replaced what was earlier Thai Baan which was one of my favourite take out places and served one of the better Thai curries in Mumbai. They serve their Green Thai Curry with a portion of sticky rice and is undoubtedly the best dish on the menu. I could taste the galangal & the lemongrass but it wasn’t as spicy. Nevertheless, a good place for flavorful Thai Food!
Contributed by our fellow foodie - Anish Deshmukh who is a sous chef at the Tea Trails, BKC. Y’all should definitely check it out!
Festivals in India apart from its religious importance also are a reason to binge on amazing delicacies to celebrate the occasion. On the occasion of Gudi Padwa, here’s our list of the Gudi Padwa essentials.
Puranpoli
A classical Marathi dish, Purapoli is the quintessential Gudi Padwa preparation made with a mixture of jaggery, chickpeas with a pinch of turmeric for color and had with a generous sprinkle of hot ghee! The stuffing is known as puran and the outer cover is known as poli. Made across India but is called by a different name such as Vedmi, Holige, Obbattu, etc. have their own twist of ingredients available in the region.
Shrikhand Puri
This one is to die for! Made of strained yogurt, sugar along with ingredients such as cardamom, saffron or even mango pulp. Shrikhand prepared with mango pulp is also popularly known as Amrakhand . Puri (pronounced poori) is made with unleavened dough of whole wheat flour rolled evenly into circles which are neither too thin nor thick and deep fried. The combination of Shrikhand Puri is a must have on the occasion of Gudi Padwa.
Aam Panna
Renowned for its heat-resistant properties, Aam Panna is a popular tangy summer cooler made from raw mangoes which is boiled and infused with spices like roast carom seed, fennel and cumin seeds. If you haven’t yet tried Aam Panna, you should give it a shot this Gudi Padwa as well as for the upcoming summers.
Hope you’ve enjoyed reading, here’s wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Best places for Eggs Benedict/Florentine in Mumbai
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Eggs Benedict is an American breakfast dish that consists of two halves of an English muffin, topped with ham or bacon, poached eggs, and Hollandaise sauce. Eggs Florentine substitutes spinach for the ham and Mornay Suace for Hollandaise. As such, it’s as much about the textures as it is the flavors. Hollandaise is smooth & creamy sauce with a mild tang to it while the Mornay Sauce has a cheesy texture. Eating eggs Benedict should be like biting into a soft, fluffy, cloud. A good English muffin should not to be too crispy, as one should be able to cut into it with a knife without it cracking or crumbling. Here is a list of 10 places in Mumbai where you get a good Eggs Benedict/Florentine.
1. Café Basilico, Bandra West
This place is famous for its egg preparations and notably its Eggs Benedict. Perfectly placed poached eggs over the English muffins, finished with a generous blanket of amazingly yummy Hollandaise sauce. Sided with stir fried chicken sausages & potato slices which blended very well with the eggs. The poached eggs in the Eggs Florentine were slightly overcooked but were placed over a bed of garlicky, creamed spinach and two crispy English muffins. The dish is served with a side of pan tossed potatoes garnished with chilli flakes and parsley and three cocktail chicken sausages sautéed in the same garnish.
Damage: Eggs Benedict: INR 425
2. Café Zoe, Lower Parel
Cafe Zoe is quirky, bright and fun. A large industrial-inspired setup transforms from it’s cafe-feel in the day to a livelier space by sunset. The Eggs Benedict were perfect, the eggs poached just right, sitting atop a layer of deliciously salty smoked salmon and doused with creamy hollandaise.
Not sure if there is anything more to say that hasn’t been said about this place already! I loved the experience of eating here. They have the option of both outdoor and indoor seating and we chose to sit indoors! The interiors are charming with wooden panelling and tiny shelf like detailing. I had been there with my friend for breakfast recently and ordered for Eggs Benedict (served with Bacon on the side) and Peanut Butter & Banana Smoothie, while my friend ordered an Eggs Florentine. The eggs were poached to perfection and the English muffin was just right! What a great start to my day!
Located in a very urban part of Bandra, SWC offers a continental menu with a variety of options for dining throughout the day. I loved place for its service, ambience and most importantly the food. This is a great place for breakfast - the eggs benedict (with salmon) is a must try and pancakes seemed tasty as well. The yolk oozing out beautifully in the Eggs Benedict deserves a special mention. I also love the sunny side up eggs on a bed of smoked chicken, potatoes and roasemary. You can order for smoked salmon (my favorite) or the crispy bacon on the side.
The ambience is simple yet soothing with white being the dominant colour. The place isn’t that big hence gets full pretty quickly. This is one of my go to places for good food around BKC. I have frequented this place way too many times to name single dishes that really appeal. However, for people new to the place, I have a few recommendations. Do have their Eggs Benedict if going for a brunch. One of the very few places that get their poached eggs right - the one with Smoked Salmon is to die for, they not only have an awesome breakfast spread but also have lovely soups, salads, entrées and mains!
Damages: Good Old Eggs Benedict: INR 320/ Eggs Florentine: INR 310
6. Theobroma, Colaba
The place is famous for its desserts but its sandwiches and eggs to order are equally good. I was introduced to this bakery by a close friend and I can’t thank him enough since this is now my go to place whenever I want to satiate my sweet tooth. Besides the amazing deserts and coffee, breakfast here is amazing. Try the Egg frittata or eggs Benedict both are good.
This is a perfect place to spend your evening peacefully away from busy life of Mumbai. The ambience of the place is very comforting and the wooden interiors are gorgeous. I ordered an Eggs Benedict with belgian ham, hollandaise sauce and sauteed vegetables, while my friend called for Eggs Florentine with spinach & mornay sauce. I clearly remember the hollandaise sauce and meat enhancing the flavor of the eggs. My friend devoured his Florentine, which he said was the best he’s ever had in a long time.
Tucked away in a lane right across from Forbes Building is the Nut Cracker, a wonderful addition to the happening Kala Ghoda area! The small seating area, yellow chairs and flowers hanging from the top give this place a very cozy and homely feel. They do not serve non-veg but serve eggs. We recommend the Eggs Florentine, which has just the right amount of spinach; Scrambled Eggs, the Mushroom Omelette, Salli eggs served with crispy potatoes and Eggs Kejriwal. The eggs are cooked to perfection and I like how every detail is taken care of during presentation.
Damages: Eggs florentine: INR 240
9. Café Sundance, Churchgate
Cafe Sundance located under Eros theatre is a place to chill as the ambience takes you into fun/relaxation mode. Most evenings you will probably in queue to get a table because this place is quite a hit in this part of town for its food & coffee. Vegetarians may find themselves with fewer options, since the menu is rather egg/meat centric. I tired the Malasa Omlette, which was good and the Eggs Florentine, poached eggs to perfection on a bed of spinach, mustard & English muffin. The food was delicious and was presented beautifully.
First things first, the cafe is huge and exudes a very nice feeling about eating in general. Its nice and airy and houses a lot of food ! Their breakfast buffet is huge and serves really good poached eggs! I loved the Eggs benedict with ham - the muffin (base) was soft, the salmon salty, the eggs soft and yolk runny and the hollandaise sauce perfect without being overbearing. The eggs were perfectly cooked and almost the same colour as the generous amount of hollandaise sauce it was under. Don’t miss this!
Chinese cuisine is definitely coming of age in India and we seem to have evolved from Indian Chinese to develop a taste for Cantonese cuisine. This can be seen by not just the number of authentic Chinese restaurants that have sprung up but the quality of the food they serve. One of the classic Chinese Dishes is the Peking Duck and its history is as delicious as the duck itself.
The story goes that the royal family of the Yuan Dynasty (1206 - 1368) wanted an alternative to the suckling pig. Two chefs from the royal kitchen began working towards a dish they reckoned would replace the pig at the regal tables. The dish was the Peking Roast Duck. By the 15th Century, under the Ming dynasty, the Peking Roast Duck was a perennial guest at the tables of the ruling class. But after the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911, renegade chefs left the Forbidden City and set up their own restaurants in Beijing. It was then that the Peking Duck was introduced to, and became a favorite of, the masses.
A Peking duck takes close to 1 hr to prepare but it’s worth the wait. The duck goes through an elaborate process of being lacquered with molasses, pumped with air, filled with boiling hot water and roasted over fruitwood fire until it is crackly golden-brown delicious! The best Peking Ducks have a crisp outside layer while the juiciness of the meat is retained inside. It is served with bowls of soy-bean paste, sugar, slices of cucumber and spring onion, and garlic paste. Just the thought of this makes my mouth water!
Eating Instructions are very simple: Hold the pancake; dip the meat in the soy-bean paste and spread it on the pancake; add slices of cucumber and spring onions; roll and eat. This is a food that demands your attention and a good amount of skill with the chopsticks! It requires a certain amount of work — interaction with the ingredients — that heightens the senses.
1. China House - Grand Hyatt, Santacruz East, Mumbai
Before my visit to this place I was told, this is the best place in the city for the duck and I am happy that it lived up to its reputation. The imported ducks are roasted in custom-made wood-fired ovens and monitored by chefs who are specialised in the art of cooking this Imperial Dish. At China House, the magnanimity of the dish is matched equally by their grand service. Here, the chef himself comes to your table with the duck, freshly out of the oven and cuts it into pieces – skin separate, then meat with skin and lastly, meat alone. Fine pieces of each are plated down separately on your table right before your very eyes!
Damages: INR 1950 (Half )/ 2900 (Full)
2. Yauatcha, Bandra Kurla Complex
Undoubtedly, Yauatcha is one of the best Asian Restaurants in town. Located in the posh area of BKC, it offers everything a fine diner would expect. It’s classy, high end and yet so homely. We ordered the Crispy Aromatic Duck, an egg fried rice and a lamb in a gravy. The duck was cooked amazingly well. The dish was served with tiny flat pancakes, chopped greens and an assortment of sauces. Although I felt that the duck meat was slightly dry, this is is truly one of the best places for the Peking Duck.
Damages: INR 1750 (Half)/ 2750 (Full)
3. India Jones, Trident, Nariman Point
Here, they call it the Beijing Ya, a Crispy Aromatic Roasted Duck, served with pancakes. Due to the difference in the style of preparation, this meat has lot lesser fat and is drier and crispier than the one at China House. However, it is served in a similar style, the skin, meat with skin and meat plated separately. The accompanying sauces are also different, giving the duck a different flavor. Here, it is served with a plum and yellow bean sauce and spring onions to wrap in the pancakes for a great meal. Try some crackers along with the rolls for a crunchy bite along with the sweet and sour taste of the rolls, which mesh with the duck meat to give a variety of flavors on your palate.
Damages: INR 2400
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4. Golden Dragon, The Taj Mahal Palace, Colaba
Located in the opulent Taj Mahal Palace, Golden Dragon was the city’s first Chinese restaurant. The Peking duck here is crisp, lovely and tender. It was served with a stack of rice pancakes and just the right amount of hoisin and plum sauce, which was delicious.
Damages: INR 4000
5. Hakkasan, Bandra West
Hakkasan, the only Michelin Star rated restaurant in India is easily one of the best dining experiences you can have in Mumbai. While this place may serve the best dimsums and the most aromatic fried rice, many do not know that Hakkasan specializes in Duck. A whole Peking duck with set you back by INR 5000 and if you order a 30g Ossetra Caviar it will cost another INR 4000.
6. Royal China, Fort
Having eaten here numerous times I can say with the utmost confidence that this restaurant never disappoints with its authentic Cantonese Cuisine. The crispy duck (comes in half portions thankfully) was presented on the bone after which it was shredded for putting in the pancakes. The sweet plum sauce and crisp cucumber and spring onions all went in the pancake to provide an especially unique taste profile, with the duck and the sweet plum sauce complementing each other perfectly.
Damages: INR 1950 (Half)/ 3450 (Full)
Contributed by Hazel Correa. An avid foodie she likes to sample various cuisines of the world. Let us know what you think about this list and how was your experience there!
Kaapi or in other words a steaming cup of South Indian filter coffee – known for its exhilarating aroma, creamy golden brown froth, a fulsome nutty flavour and a lingering, slightly sharp aftertaste – is all you need to jumpstart your day. If you are in Mumbai and you hear a coffee enthusiast shout out “Oru Kaapi” (Tamil for ‘One Coffee’), then you are probably in one of the best Kaapi places in Mumbai. Here, we list 12 such places in Mumbai.
1. Café Mysore, Matunga East
Located in Matunga, this is a great food joint that serves authentic South Indian food. The Filter coffee here is truly exceptional and stays true to its South Indian style. Our food recommendations include the Mysore Masala, Dilkhush Dosa, Onion rava masala, Molagapodi and Rasam vada. If you are in Matunga and are famished, you cannot miss this place!
2. Café Madras, Matunga East
This is a must-visit restaurant any day of the week for a quick filling breakfast in Matunga and there is a high chance that it is going to be overcrowded. Whatever you eat you must try the traditional Filter Coffee. The waiter actually won't let you leave without having the filter 'kaapi' which is strong and bitter! Trust us, you won't get a coffee of that kind elsewhere. Other food recommendations include idli butter podi, dahi misal, tuppa dosa, rasam vada, ginger lemon & the Neer Dosa.
3. Amba Bhavan, Matunga East
Relatively quieter and less crowded than its neighbours, Amba Bhavan Coffee Club is a hidden gem and strictly a no-nonsense South Indian joint. You come, order, eat and leave. As simple as that. The ambience gives you a feel of the old coffee houses that operated few decades ago. Two items which are always on my list irrespective of the other items are the idli sambar and the filter coffee. The coffee is so good that it feels like you just keep on sipping it.
4. Mani’s Lunch Home, Matunga East
Mani's lunch home, started by V.S.Mani Iyer, serves authentic South Indian fare. The ambience and Tamil speaking waiters greet you with warmth and make you feel like you're almost in Madras. I will remember the aroma and the taste of their filter coffee till the end of time. There are times when I get obsessed and lyrical about a particular offering at certain establishments; for me Mani’s means filter coffee, I never leave this place without having two vaati’s (or three if I'm careless on that day) of their divine coffee.
5. Café Bean Garu, Powai
Located above the Haiko Supermarket in Powai, this is a good place for Tea / Filter Coffee alongside snacks like dosa or idlis. We recommend the Andhra filter coffee for the coffee lovers. Sugar is provided separately, so add according to your taste. Food recommendations include the Nellore pulusu & Chilly Mushroom Dosa.
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6. Ram Ashray, Matunga East
The real Jewel of Matunga, this is one of the best places to feast on authentic South Indian food. The simple ambience of the place combined with a super fast service will keep you coming back for more. Sitting inside one cannot miss the aroma of filter Kaapi, which is made in a very traditional manner and served in the authentic dabra. Our food recommendations include the 'tuppa' masala dosa, their wide range of sheera's and the neer dosa along with the chutneys. Everything tastes fresh and delicious. A must try place when you are in Matunga.
7. Arya Bhawan, Matunga East
This place usually has a long waiting line but its worth the wait because the food is tasty. A plain dosa with only chutneys is a good meal and after that a hot cup of filter coffee and you're good to go. The sambhar and the coconut chutney are to die for, while the filter kaapi (coffee) is a tad bit dark but really superb.
8. Banana leaf, 7 Bungalows Andheri West
This is the best restaurant for authentic South Indian food in Andheri West. They have a a lot of options on their menu and the best part is, everything tastes delicious. The coffee here is much better than what you get in those expensive coffee shops.
9. Dakshinayan, Juhu
One of the best south Indian restaurants I've been to and the food here is ‘Simbly’ amazing. One cannot miss the ragi dosa or the malgapudi idli. Soaked in ghee, each small idli equivalent to size of a morsel just melts in your mouth. Their sambhar and chutney are spectacular. This all must be washed down with their signature filter coffee, which is a tad bit dark but really superb.
10. Sharda Bhawan, Matunga East
Matunga gives you the feeling of having walked into a bylane in Chennai or Kochi! The ambience is a huge plus point as the restaurant has huge windows and a huge entrance which makes it airy and well lit. A perfect stopover for a quick bite of the Masala Dosa Ulundu Dosa, Mysore masala, Molaga Podi (Spicy dal chutney in oil) and the perfect filter kaapi to wish it down with!
11. Rama Krishna, Vile Parle East
Conveniently located (bang opposite the railway station) this has been a crowd favorite for a long time and is literally full from 7AM in the morning till late in the night. Our food recommendations are the Idli Wada, Mysore Masala, Punjabi Samosa, Onion Uttapam and of course the filter coffee, which is one of the best you can get in Mumbai Suburbs.
That’s it folks, do let us know in the comments if we have missed out a few places.
After a very successful foodies meetup at EATC in Bandra (link), I had suggested Neeraj that we organize another one to keep the ball rolling in the Foodies in Bombay/Mumbai Group. After much deliberation and discussion, Neeraj suggested that we try out the Sunday Brunch at the swanky new JW Marriott on Airport Road. The JW Marriott Sahar (as it is called) boasts of two restaurants - JW Cafe where Indian, Seafood, Thai & Sushi are served and the Romano’s which serves amazing Italian buffet. Since the hotel opened recently, they are running a promotional offer for the entire month of March wherein the non alcoholic Sunday Brunches are priced at INR 1111 (+ taxes) and alcohol costs INR 1500 extra per person.
We decided to meet at 1:00 PM sharp outside Romano’s. First Neeraj walked in followed by his friends Saurabh, Harshad & Nitisha. After a small session of meet & greet we decided to survey the room and click a few photographs of the exquisite buffet spread. And in this process we had worked up quite an appetite. Neeraj was armed with a Canon 7D and 24-105 lens, while I had the Canon 650D with a 50mm prime lens.
Their selection of Frittata
We started from the cheese counter - they had 7 types of cheese & two types of baguettes in all. A pity, I didn't photograph them with my camera. On the chef’s recommendation we tried the Taglio cheese along with fruit preserves. I tried the fig preserve and it was delicious along with the cheese. I then moved to their meats section where they had 5-6 types of cold cuts. I liked the prosciutto along other cuts. So far so good!
I then raided the main course. Took out a plate and placed Chicken Roulade, Pork Legs and Roasted Lamb on my plate. I wanted to try the shrimp, but unfortunately there wasn’t any left then. Slightly disappointed because I didn’t see that be refilled during the course of our buffer. However, I liked the Chicken Roulade the most with the baguette. I also tried the eggplant dish, which was quite nice & tangy along with Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms, which was delicious.
Roasted Lamb Leg
Roasted Pork Leg
Chicken Roulade
Having lost myself in the deliciousness of the Roulade, the softness of the Portobello Mushrooms and the tanginess of the Egg Plant dish, I recuperated a little before resuming the brunch again. This time I went straight for the pasta corner. In a large carved cheese barrel, they were serving two types of Risotto - Asparagus & Mushroom Risotto. Hands down it was the best Risotto I have had. With every stir of the hot Risotto within the barrel, it would get even more cheesier!
Risotto in a carved cheese barrel. Unlike anything you have seen or tasted!
The Frittatas (Fluffy Italian Omelettes) were slightly cold for our liking. At the counter, we placed an order for the Carbonara, Pumpkin Ravioli and Pasta in Pesto Sauce. Since these dishes were being prepared fresh on the spot, the chefs told us that these will be served to us on our table. The Carbonara was the best among the three - very cheesy and you could taste the Bacon with every bite of the pasta!
The Carbonara. You can see the bacon here. Brilliant!
Pumpkin Ravioli in Sage & Mushroom Sauce. Had this for the first time.
Pasta in Pesto Sauce. Regular Stuff.
And finally, the desserts. They had mouth-watering array of desserts on the table. From the Tira Misu, which had me asking for more, to the Pecan Pie & Fig Cookie Pie which was suggested to us by our gracious host (Lenka Heidari). There were so many kinds of desserts, that I couldn’t even note them down. I took the help of Chef Santosh in identifying them :)
Orange Marmalade Crostata
Summer Berry Streusel Tart
Royal Apricot Tart
Chocolate Hazelnut Tart
Maple Pecan Nut Tart
Fig Firangipani Tart
Strawberry Jalousie
We also loved the hospitality offered to us by Lenka & her team of extraordinary chefs! The food here is really great - Risotto & Tira Misu alone are enough for you to come visit this Italian Restaurant.
A Kejriwal is fast gaining popularity in Mumbai, which is good news for the aam aadmi. But it is not Arvind Kejriwal we are talking about here. It is ‘Eggs Kejriwal’, an iconic Mumbai Sandwich that is fast becoming available in mainstream restaurants across the city! Like most classic dishes that have a cult following, the ‘Eggs Kejriwal’ is as brilliant as it is simple. This one comes packed with cheese, chillies and a healthy serving of egg; fried, poached and sometimes, sunny-side up.
The story of the ‘Eggs Kejriwal’ is as peculiar as the name itself. Mr. Devi Prasad Kejriwal, grandfather of Mr Alok Kejriwal (of Games2Win fame), was a regular visitor to the Royal Willingdon Club in Tardeo. Despite being from a strictly vegetarian community where even eating eggs is frowned upon, Mr. Devi Prasad was a bit of a rebel and went against norms of his community. Since he liked eggs and couldn’t eat them at home, he used to eat at the Club a lot. His favourite dish there was eggs on toast with a bit of cheese thrown in between and a healthy sprinkling of chopped green chillies on top. Gradually, it started gaining popularity among his friends and then within the club, where it became ‘Eggs Kejriwal’. As its popularity grew, several mainstream restaurants started including the dish on their menus!
The Bombay Canteen, Lower Parel
Situated inside Kamala Mills Compound, this newly opened restaurant has an old Bombay bungalow feel to it and serves contemporary Indian food. Run by Chef Floyd Cardoz, a Top Chef Masters winner, this place does full justice to its menu with a funky & innovative fusion of flavors. Recommended items on the menu include Kejriwal Toast (a must have here), Desi Tacos, Nargisi Scotch Eggs Koftas, Theplas with chicken and Old Monk with Gulab Jamuns.
Theobroma, Colaba
Theobroma is undoubtedly one of the best bakeries in Mumbai and is heaven for people who love brownies, tarts & cakes. Of late, the restaurant has expanded its breakfast/snack menu. If you are an egg lover, you have several options here –Eggs Florentine, Eggs Benedict, a Full English breakfast or the famous ‘Eggs Kejriwal’. Served on a bun, the Kejriwal consists of chopped onions, coriander, green chillies, processed cheese, chilli sauce and a dash of ketchup, under a pair of sunny yolk which also holds it together.
Damages: INR 200
Jamjar Diner, Andheri West
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While Versova’s sea-facing Jamjar Diner offers a cozy ambience for a dinner date, there are plenty who prefer dropping by for a late breakfast. Together with akoori and waffles, there is the Eggs Kejriwal to dig into. Included in the menu since 2012, this sandwich here is served with cheddar, topped with double fried egg, sprinkled with green chillies and served with a side of hash browns. We also recommend the banana caramel milkshake.
Damages: INR 225
Royal Willingdon Club, Tardeo & The Bombay Presidency Golf Club, Chembur
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Royal Willingdon Club is where the dish originated and therefore it deserves a place on this list! At the Chembur golf club, the Kejriwal sandwich is part of a special menu, created by a chef, of the same name, several years ago.
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Khow Suey is a delicious Burmese noodle dish with a delicately spiced coconut milk sauce and is served up with an array of different contrasting condiments/ toppings that takes this dish to the next level. An ideal Khow Suey has the perfect balance of sweet, spicy and tangy flavours in the curry and is served with crisp, fresh, and generously portioned condiments.
There are as many versions of khow suey as there are variations in the way it is spelt in restaurant menus (kaukswe, khousuey and khao soi are a couple of the spellings commonly used). It is said that each community in Myanmar has a unique version of Khowsuey. Here are the 5 best places to sample this Burmese Delicacy.
Busaba, Colaba
The Busaba in Colaba is situated in a gorgeous old Art Deco building with a lounge on the ground floor and a restaurant on the first. Its been around for a while and serves up a sumptuous Pan-Asian fare. The Burmese Kaukswe here is a lovely combination of coconut based gravy, noodles, crunchy fried garlic, crunchy fried caramelised onions and a dash of freshly squeezed lime and is easily the best in the city and there’s even an option for Veg lovers. Other dishes that the restaurant is famous for are Pajeon Pancake, Bulgogi, Som Tam (raw papaya salad), the lemongrass fish and the kiwi dessert.
BusaGo, Bandra West
Busago, right next to Suzette, Bandra Pali Hill serves very nice Asian food. The Burmese Kaukswey is highly recommended. A bowl of noodles, zingy coconut curry generously loaded chicken pieces and an array of condiments makes for a delicious meal.
Burma Burma, Fort
Burma Burma is a nice cozy restaurant in a small by-lane in Fort that specialises in tasty & authentic Veg Burmese Cuisine. The ‘Burma Burma Oh No Khow Suey’ comes highly recommended. It is served with a variety of condiments - namely fried onions, peanuts, cilantro, lime and spring onions which you can add as per your taste & palate. The Khow Suey is excellent, extremely well-cooked and leaves you with tingling on your taste buds. There’s a lot more to Burmese cuisine and we recommend you pay a visit to the only Burmese Restaurant in town.
Nom Nom, Bandra West
A name so nice, you spell it twice :) Set in a busy Bandra lane with cozy interiors and an overly courteous staff this restaurant is known for Thai, Burmese and Japanese food. The variety is enough to satiate one and all and keep you coming back for more! The Khowsuey here, is a fine blend of flavours which lingers on your palate and the mild coconut chicken gravy with flat rice noodles has a nice taste to it. Surely not an item not to be missed.
Trikaya, Andheri West
Trikaya is one of those few places that serve good Asian (read Malay, Thai, Korean, Burmese & Indonesian) cuisine. The Khow suey, the khmer curry, and even the Thai curries are quite good. The Khowsuey has the right ingredients with the perfect flavours starting from the curry which had the orgasmatic aroma of crushed kafir lime to lemon grass accompanied by crushed peanuts, crispy onions, garlic, bits of cilantro, sliced peppers, lime and the tangy taste cherry tomatoes.
Contributed by Hazel Correa. An avid foodie she likes to sample various cuisines of the world. Let us know what you think about this Top-5 list and how was your experience there!
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