TGI Friday's, Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel

TGI Fridays is one of the worlds most famous and iconic restaurant chains. Brand America is what it promises to deliver and it succeeds in every aspect. Good music, great music and decently good if slightly expensive food. The decor is unmistakable American, open bar, seating all the way around the bar and in small 4 seater tables, the look and feel exactly the same regardless of which branch of the chain you enter. Sometimes I wonder how they manage to achieve the level of consistency at all American restaurants.
TGI Fridays offers great starters and we were not disappointed with the order of Jalapeno poppers and Nachos with Spicy Chicken that we order. I am particularly a fan of Nachos and this preparation with a cover of minced chicken covered in cheese were very nice and were served in pretty decent quantity as well. The Jalapeno poppers were also very tasty though not nearly enough from the quantity perspective.
For main course we ordered Mexican food, the restaurant has apparently won the Times food guide award for the best Tex Mex restaurant and we decided to sample the fare. I ordered the Chicken Chimichangas. The first thing I noticed about the dish was the size of the preparation - It was enough to feed two people. The dish was really served on a very hot plate - so hot that the waiter could barely hold the dish for a long enough time to place it on the table. The chicken was wrapped in tortilla and soaked in cooked cheese, it tasted quite awesome with the tomato flavored sauce the chicken was cooked in combining delightfully with the melted cheese. There was also a bed of rice covered in some Guacamole sauce, sour cream and diced tomato. Very tasty but far too large for one person to finish. I drowned the meal in an interesting offer of unlimited regular Cold drinks for Rs 130/- which is a standard offer at the restaurant. Slightly expensive when you consider the offer standalone but decent comparing the prices at the restaurant.
Overall great food but at expensive prices. Once more typically American!
A meal for two at TGI Fridays without drinks will cost you approximately Rs 1300/-
How to get there: TGI Fridays is on the 2nd floor at Palladium Mall, Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel

O Coqueiro, Porvorim, Goa

O Coqueiro achieved national recognition when Charles Sobhraj just could not resist the Chicken Cafreal served up by its award winning chef and laid himself open to being arrested. What the papers forgot to mention was that the rest of the food was as good and it was just Mr. Sobhraj's partiality towards the Chicken Cafres. O Coquiero is definitely one of the most famous restaurants in Goa and also one of the very best.

O Coqueiro is a must do in Goa. Not only for the food but also for the decor and the ambience. O Coqueiro is a restaurant housed in a large stately Portuguese bungalow, tall ceilings, tastefully done up interiors give quite a grand, yet homely setting while the delicious dishes just keep piling up on the table.

We ordered Cheese Mushrooms and Beef Chilli Fry for starters when we were there. The Beef Chilli Fry was very tasty but what really caught my attention was the Cheese Mushrooms. The Cheese Mushrooms I think was as close as the vegetarians will ever get to Chicken-a-la-Kiev. The mix of cheese and butter burst once the fork is pierced through the fried crust around the mushroom, the aroma and the taste were all outstanding.

For mains we ordered a serving of Goan Prawn Curry rice and Pork Vindaloo. The Pork Vindaloo was slightly disappointing but the Goan Prawn Curry rice was very nice and easily one of the best that I have ever tasted. It was light and not very tasty, incredibly good to the palate.
A meal for two of O Coqueiro without drinks will cost you approximately Rs 900/-

How to get there: O Coqueiro is also in North Goa on the way to Panjim or the Airport from Mapusa. It is in a place called Porvorim just off the main highway.

Souza Lobo, Calangute, Goa

Souza Lobo is a Goan institution. It is possibly the most famous and revered restaurant in North Goa if not in all of Goa. Established in the early 1900's Souza Lobo has been serving up Goan delights for years and has recently opened a branch in Delhi - according to a poster in the Goan outlet.

We went to Souza Lobo for dinner on a Saturday and were lucky enough to not have to wait for seats. The approach is not the greatest and you do not feel that you are entering a top notch restaurant but once you get in, its a different story. Souza Lobo is on the beach and one side of the restaurant is completely open to the sea. There was a live band playing when we went, decently good and belting out a variety of numbers like Black Velvet and Goan local tunes. There was also a dance floor set up in the middle of the restaurant and we could see some of the more adventurous customers entertaining themselves before resuming dinner. The set up however succeeds in its objective - setting up a typically Goan, merry ambience while serving some delicious food.

We ordered quite a spread -Fried Squids, fried batter prawns, Goan pork sausage - chilli fry, Pork Vindaloo and Veg Xacutti. The fried squids were standard and not very spectacular to taste. The fried batter prawns were very good, not as deeply fried as the ones you get at Brittos but even better to taste. The Pork sausages were not as good as the serving at Brittos as they made the error of serving the potatoes as fries and not cooked along with the Goan Pork preparation. My vegetarian friends swore on the Xacutti but what made me agree with the institution status that Souza Lobo enjoys was the Pork Vindaloo which was the best preparation of the dish that I have had so far. The gravy was just right, not too spicy and not too sweet. The remarkable aspect of the meat however was its quality and the absolutely right combination of fat and meat on the pieces. The pieces absolutely melted in the mouth.

A meal for two at Souza Lobo would cost you approximately Rs 1500/-. Slightly expensive but the Vindaloo makes it completely worth the cost.

How to get there: Souza Lobo is slightly off the main Baga - Calangute Road. It is towards the beach from the Calanugute Chowk very near the Calangute residency. You wont have a problem to get there however as it is easily one of the most famous Goan landmarks.

Caravela, Taj Holiday Village, Candolim, Goa

Caravela is the 24 hour dining option at the Taj Holiday village situated at Candolim, Goa. We went there to get the 5 - star dining experience in Goa and were not disappointed. The best thing about the restaurant is the location within the property. The restaurant is situated right on the edge of the beach almost giving you the feeling of being on the sea. The decor is chic and comfortable, nice comfortable chairs and well spaced out table giving customers a sense of privacy. The Caravela is a great place to have a nice, long leisurely meal which is exactly what we had.

We started off with the Maharani Kebab Platter, interestingly the Kebab platters are named Maharaja and Maharani for non Vegetarian and Vegetarian. As we were with Vegetarian friends we decided to be nice and ordered the Maharani platter. The food was excellent and I loved the Corn, Aloo and Paneer Tandoor kebabs. For main course we each ordered a dish. I ordered the steamed fish with ginger and cilantro. There were three options for the fish - Snapper, Salmon or Pomfret and I went for the snapper. The fish was served on a bed of mashed potatoes and was nice but I realised that you had to let the taste of steamed fish grow on you. The later bites tasted far better once the palate had grown accustomed to the taste and the fine flavour of the ginger and cilantro working their magic on the fish. Overall a fantastic preparation. The dish was my first experience with steamed fish and will certainly not be my last.

I also had the opportunity to sample some of the Spaghetti Carbonara which was served with bacon. It was slightly on the drier side but quite clearly there was no compromise on quality with the burnt bacon and the cheese combining to create a rich and extremely delicious flavour.

My vegetarian friends were also raving about the Vegetable Biriyani which I steered clear from.

A meal for two at Caravela at the Taj Holiday Village in Candolim Goa without drink will cost you approximately Rs 1700/-

How to get there: The Taj Holiday Village is in Candolim and is in between the Fort Aguada and the Kingfisher Villa. The Caravela restaurant is quite a walk after you enter the hotel and is almost on the Arabian Sea.

Chalston, Calangute, Goa

The last time I was in Goa, we had an opportunity of sampling the food at the shack of Chalston Hotel. The decor is very basic but what really works is the view of the sea which is totally uninterrupted.

The food itself was decent without being spectacular. The menu contained a fair variety of Continental and Goan preparations. I tried out the Goan Pork Sausages which were ok but not a patch on what you get at Brittos. I also tasted a bit of Basil Prawns on a bed of butter rice which was quite nice. We had also gone with some Vegetarian friends who vouched for the quality of the Vegetable Stroganoff. Overall I would not recommend the food given the choice that Infantaria, Brittos and Souza Lobo offers - all 3 are in close proximity. If however you feel that you have enough of the spice and vinegar that Goan food offers, you can definitely go ahead and sample its more than decent and very reasonable Continental cuisine.
A meal for two at Chalston without drinks would cost you approximately Rs 500/-

How to get there: Slightly difficult to get there. The hotel is very near Cafe Infantaria at Calaungute. The locals would know the place as it has been there for a decently long time.

Britto's, Baga, Goa

If you want a slice of heaven on Earth, go to Goa, go to Baga, go to Brittos!

The recipe for heaven:-

1. Great company, family and friends.

2. The Arabian Sea making its presence felt on the sands of Baga.

3. One large pitcher of beer. Half Empty. The other half in your semi inebriated body.

4. One Plate of Goan Pork Sausages - Chilli Fry.

5. One Plate of Fried Prawns.

6. Delicious desserts (mostly chocolate based) numbering greater or equal to the number of people on your table reminding you of what follows the meal.

The Vegetarians can replace the Goan Pork Sausages and Fried Prawns; the beer haters can choose other drinks. But you get the drift - the six dimensional picture painted in my mind is my slice of heaven in Goa. Britto's, Baga, the beach, the beer, the prawn, the pork sausages and of course the good company - in this moment I fell in love with Goa!

Britto's on Baga beach is one of Goa's institutions and one of its undoubted hot spots. Its a must do to complete your Goan experience. Just enter the shack. Order whatever you want in the menu. Stare out into the sea. Chill out. The decor is nicely done up and gives a very Goan feel, innovative lighting made of bamboo baskets, pieces of rock and other similar unusual bits. The place is completely casual. The waiters take their own time in serving you. You take your own time in eating. The waiters take their own time to serve you. You take your own time to pay and leave. Strictly Goan protocol and beautiful!

The food is very good but one dish that deserves special mention are the Goan Pork sausages. The pork sausages at Brittos are the best that you get in Goa and are the best that I have ever had. The potatoes are diced and are served in the meat and is cooked with it. Just perfect and unbelievably tasty! The other part of Britto's which people swear by are the desserts. There are people who come to Britto's just for the desserts and nothing else. Each to his own I guess, the desserts are really good but I could never come to Britto's and have just the dessert. That would be sacrilege!

The last time I was there at Britto's we also ordered a Chicken Cafreal - a slightly dry Chicken dish with a strong coriander base and a greenish taste. I did not like it but that was probably due to the fact that I had just finished with the sauasages and prawns. The sausages and prawns as usual were a slice of heaven!

A meal for two at Britto's without drinks would cost you approximately Rs 800/-. Baga does not have any alcohol offer like Infantaria's so you end up shelling out a bit more on drink but Britto's has the beach!

How to get there: Brittos is also on the Baga/ Calangute road. Unmissable and every cab driver in Goa knows where it is located.

Cafe Infantaria, Calangute, Goa

If there is any place in Goa that really encapsulates all that makes Goa the place that you yearn to return year on year, it is Cafe Infantaria. I make that really controversial statement for the following three reasons:

1. Cafe Infantaria is renowned for its breakfast. Breakfast in usually the first meal that one has in Goa if one is travelling by rail, bus or air. Land in Goa, hit Cafe Infantaria and let Goa hit you with all of what it has to offer.

2. Cafe Infantaria is located in North Goa. There are takers of the 5 - stars of the South, there are lovers of the romance of Panjim, there are those who swear by the quaint Goan houses by the river in the interiors. I am sure all are very nice, but to me, because of the crowd, the drink and the food, North Goa is THE place to be and drink and eat.

3. 6 Pints of Beer for Rs 100 (the condition is that the food bill must be Rs 300/-). Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to Goa! Welcome to Cafe Infantaria!

Cafe Infantaria serves as an all day dining option and specialises in Breakfast. The breakfast options are a-la-carte and set meals. Among the set meal options they serve a Cafe Infantaria special and a Mini Breakfast. The menu described the Cafe Infantaria special to be a magnified version of the Mini Breakfast which options on what kind of egg preparations and some other options on meat. As I wanted to sample some of the a-la-carte options also I decided to go for the Mini Breakfast, the 'Mini' Breakfast serves buttered toast, two fried eggs sunny side up, some baked beans, around two decent sized bacon strips, one quite large fried sausage, tea/ coffee as per taste and orange juice. I managed to get through the 'Mini' breakfast and also found the energy to taste some Mushroom on Toast. It might have been the ambience and the fact that I was already a couple of beers down but I really though that the Mushroom on toast was the best that I have tasted in my life. Cooked with Garlic and a decent helping of oil, the Mushroom on toast was the highlight of the meal and given the competition it had to beat in the Mini Breakfast, that is quite an achievement. Welcome to Goa! Welcome to Cafe Infantaria!!

Of course our meal was washed down by the offer of 6 Pints or 3 Draft Cans for Rs 100/-. Apparently the offer is standard which makes Cafe Infantaria rise even higher in my eyes.

A meal for two at Cafe Infantaria without drinks should cost you approximately Rs 500/-

How to get there: Cafe Infantaria is on the main Calangute - Baga Beach Road. It is an institution in Goa and is impossible to miss.

Tao, Tunga Regale, Andheri East

Tao is the fine dining Chinese outlet of Tunga Regale hotel. The decor is classy and of fine dining standards as is most of the food. Unfortunately as is the fate of most such restaurants in office infested areas in Mumbai, the positioning of the outlet as a fine dining experience is obscured by the great value for money buffet that is served at the restaurant and is devoured in plenty by ravenous Chinese food seeking office goers in the SEEPZ/ MIDC areas of Andheri East.

Tao gives you an upmarket fine dining feel with its decor, the only area of improvement would be the spacing which is slightly cramped due to reasons of economy. The staff is well dressed, polite and attentive. They are willing to go out of the way to get a few dishes to the table also.

The buffet spread is fantastic, ranging from a choice of soup, to a large array of starters and main course. Tao also has a fair choice of 4 to 5 types of dessert to choose from which nicely rounds off the selection. You get all this for the great price of Rs 249 for Vegetarians (the spicy baby corn is really nice) and Rs 299 for Non Vegetarians (no sea food but the price in unbelievable given the quality).

The food itself is well made and very tasty, the spread offers 3 to 4 types of Chinese preparations of Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian dishes. The preparations are good, I particularly like the Hong Kong Chicken which was there both the times I went, its slightly dry and spicy - exactly the kind of chicken preparation I love in Chinese food. The last time I was there, I also loved the shredded chicken preparation which was prepared in a mild white gravy - the combination with the fried rice was perfect. What I do not like at Tao is the flattish noodle they serve similar looking to Phad Thai. I am sure it tastes great but according to me it does not go with the rest of the buffet. Tao also serves a variety of other preparations of Tofu, Baby Corn, Mixed Vegetable and Lamb - all good but not as brilliant as the two chicken dishes I mentioned.

The dessert had Vanilla ice cream, honey noodles and a few pastries. The best part is that you get all of these for just Rs 299/- inclusive of taxes in the year 2010! Unbelievable and deliciously so!!

A meal for two at Tao without drinks will cost you Approximately Rs 500 - Rs 600 depending on your Vegetarian/ Non Vegetarian preferences.

How to get there: Tao, Tunga Regale is on the MIDC road connecting Mahakali caves road to JVLR. If you are driving towards JVLR the restaurant falls on your left. Take care not to confuse the two Tungas, The Tunga Regale falls to your left. The other Tunga hotel where Something Fishy is situated is far earlier on the right.

Something Fishy, Tunga International, Andheri East

Something Fishy, at Tunga International is one of the favorite haunts of office crowds at MIDC who want to have a good meal and are willing to spend some good money for some really good food. The way the restaurant operates is simple enough. A buffet lunch - All you can eat for Rs 355/- only. This includes Non Vegetarian food and usually on Fridays - it includes Prawns also!!! I would however advise Vegetarians to stay away because the options for Vegetarians are not nearly as great as that for the Non Vegetarians. The decor is not flashy and not too elaborate. Slightly crowded as they obviously wanted to pack in as many people as possible.
Last time I went to Something Fishy was unfortunately on a Thursday. The lack of prawns however was largely sub vented through a more than decent option of fried fish - Bangda, Konkan preparations of a hot and spicy mutton and a not so hot, coconut flavoured chicken. There was also the very popular Pomfret curry as well. I am sorry but I do not remember the Vegetarian option. The dishes are to be had with plain rice, fried ginger rice or Kerala Paratha. An earlier visit had Appams instead of Parathas but Kerala Paratha was what we got this time around. The dishes were OK from a taste perspective. The chicken particularly was outstanding! We rounded off the meal with Vanilla Ice Cream and honey noodles. There were also a decent mix of cakes and pastries but we just did not have enough space to accommodate.
A meal for two at Something Fishy without drinks will cost you approximately Rs 710/-
How to get there: Something Fishy is on the MIDC road linking the Mahakali Caves road to JVLR. If you are travelling from the Mahakali Caves road and moving towards JVLR you will find Tunga International and Something Fishy on your right approximately 200m from the turning. You will need to take a U turn to get on to the other side of the road.

Bijoli Grill, Powai

Yes, I was overjoyed when I heard that Bijoli Grill had opened in Mumbai. Yes, I was overjoyed that it had opened in Powai. And yes, I went to Bijoli Grill salivating at the thought of Prawn Cutlets, Fish Fry and Kosha Mangsho. The food was good and was authentic Bengali cuisine. But, No, I will not recommend it unless one desperately wants to try out good Bengali cuisine in Mumbai and does not want to go to Andheri West. Bijoli Grill food, the little that I had tasted does not get you the quality or the variety served up at Oh! Calcutta. Nor is it the decent value for money fare that you sample at Calcutta Club. To me it seemed like Bijoli Grill was trying to cash in on the brand that it has built in Kolkata but it seems to me that erosion is all that will happen to the brand value unless they get their act right and that too very quickly.

I went to Bijoli Grill during the Puja's for a relatively light lunch due to the amount of snacks that had been devoured during a quintessential Pujo morning. Given the potency of Bengali food however we landed up sampling a bit of Prawn Cutlet, Shaada Bhaat and Kosha Mangsho. The Prawn Cutlet was good, it was prepared with the bit of the prawn tail sticking out; which to me is definitely the way to set the saliva racing. The taste was OK without being exceptional. The Kosha Mangsho was not too spicy but seemed to be in the middle without anything in the preparation to make it memorable, the mutton itself was soft and well cooked. The shaada bhaat was good as per standards at most high end restaurants. In case you are thinking why the review of the food is at a disconnect from what I said in the first part of the blog, it is because I really crave and love Bengali food. It is not that the food is not tasty. It is, but Bijoli Grill charges a premium and as a customer I would demand a value for that premium which I did not get. For this type of food, I would choose a Calcutta Club any day.

A meal for two at Bijoli Grill without drinks would cost you approximately Rs 1500/-

How to get there: Bijoli Grill is at Hakone, in Powai. It is situated right at the mouth of the entertainment park. In case you are unfamiliar with Powai, travel down the JVLR and enter the Hiranandani Gardens through the Pizza Hut entry. Hakone falls to your left before any turn can confuse you. Bijoli Grill is on the entrance slightly to the left.

NH1, Andheri East

NH 1 or National Highway is an institution in the Andheri East Area for Non Vegetarian lover. It also has very decent Vegetarian dishes. The location might be an issue - it is next to the Chakala Market which is not the place where you would like to take your wife/ kids for a leisurely afternoon walk. The ambiance might be an issue - definitely not the place I would recommend for your first date. The place looks dark. The decor is slightly awkward with far too large tables strewn to get the maximum seating capacity in with large glass table tops. But the food rocks and it is great value for money! Also, I think the milestone on the door way is a nice touch!

Last time we went to NH 1 or National Highway we sampled the Paneer Butter Masala, Kaali Daal, Chicken Bhuna Highway and Garlic and Butter Naan. As always the food was very tasty and great Value for Money. NH has been a favorite for the office going fraternity in and around Andheri East. A lot of people swear by the Chicken Biriyani and my vegetarian friends swear by the Paratha Meals which they offer - they include two full Parathas of different varieties, curd, a soup and some Chana. I somehow, have found their Chinese Meals to be really great for an office lunch. They serve Chicken Rice or Noodles with gravy choices ranging from Manchurian to Chilli to Hunan, they also serve alongside the meal three pieces of spring rolls as starters. The food is not authentic but it tastes good and the meal costs you Rs 97 inclusive of Tax. It is easily the most Value For Money good tasting Non Vegetarian food you will get in Andheri East. Luckily, they deliver as well - Only thing you need to take care is the way you order. Ideally say - Chinese Meal! Non Veg! Rice/ Noodles with Manchurian Gravy. Try not to be descriptive as otherwise you might land with separate servings of Chinese Fried Rice or Chinese Noodles with a separate gravy and a rather large bill!

A meal for two at NH 1 without drinks will cost you approximately Rs 300/-

How to Get there: NH 1 is situated at the corner of the Chakala Market and the 2nd highway east ward from the Western Express under the Andheri Fly over. It is on Cardinal Gracious Road. If you are driving from Bandra to Kandivali. You need to go under the Andheri flyover and take the 2nd right. Go straight and take the right at the crossing which has a really large Skoda showroom. The restaurant will fall to your right once you take the right at the crossing.