Chilis, Powai

Chilis is an American Burger and Margarita joint that started out of Dallas in the year 1975. They opened in Powai around a year back and is fast developing a reputation of being a preferred watering hole of upmarket corporate types inhabiting the offices that have mushroomed all around the suburb. While it definitely is a great place to have a drink with airy well spaced out sitting area and smart, well spoken waiters, the food is under rated and deserves far more mention and word of mouth than the place currently gets. Guess the reputation of a bar first is good on the economics but the food as I found out is very good and deserves more credit.
Chilis was hosting a Fajita festival during the week when we visited, the effort part of a visible positioning strategy of the outlet as an authentic Mexican option in Mumbais foodscape inspite of their Burger centric origins - I guess they feel that the Burger has limited viability in an already McDonald-ised India. To partake in the festivities we decided to sample the Chicken Prawn Fajitas and for starters, we went with the ever popular. The Nachos were distinctly and pleasantly different from what you get at most joints and looked and tasted more authentic (although I have had very few brushes with Mexican cuisine). They appeared as they were freshly baked and the cheese sauce was tasty without being incredibly over powering. The salsa sauce served with the Nachos was positively brilliant and what was better was there willingness to serve seconds when we requested for more. An outstanding dish and a must - have if the best Nacho you have presently tasted in Mumbai is at Cream Centre, Bombay Blue of TGI Fridays.
The Fajitas were also served in a very different manner. The prawns, chicken and vegetables were served sizzling on a hot plate, the Tortillas were served separately in a covered dish almost similar to how you would serve hot chappatis in a typical Indian meal. The condiments and sauces were also kept completely separately to be mixed and had as per once flexibility. Again the authentic way to serve the dish and very different from the usual rolled up version available in the Mexican sections of most restaurants. The patrons are then expected to roll up the Fajita as per their individual tastes and proceed to have the dish. A very nice dish both in terms of taste and in concept and it definitely left me yearning for more.
We wrapped up the meal at Chilis with a dessert so sinful it deserves mention, we ordered the Molten Chocolate Cake, a large dollop of chocolate cake with molten chocolate on the inside waiting to burst out given the opportunity, served on a hot plate with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream. Just before serving chocolate sauce is served on the sinful mass to add the sizzle effect on the hot plate. Calorific, sinful but completely delightful.
The sense that you get from Chilis overall is a over riding sense of style, the food, the decor, the service all exude a certain confidence and class. What I would also ask you to do is to order a Margarita as '007 'would have ordered it. The waiter will literally shake the drink in the mixer on the way from the bar to your table!
A meal for two at Chilis without drinks will cost you approximately Rs 1200/-
How to get there: Chilis is in Hiranandani Gardens, Powai. If you are driving from Haiko to D-Mart, Chilis will fall to your right. It is situated right next to Great Kebab Factory.

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