Anjappar, Ashok Pillar, Chennai

Anjappar is synonymous with Chettinad Non Vegetarian cuisine in Chennai not only is it like the last word on Non Vegetarian food, I suspect Anjappar is almost infamous given that it borders on the exotic offering preparations of quail and rabbit ( I tasted them when I visited Chennai for my summer training almost seven years back) along with the standard chicken and mutton.
The decor of Anjappar at Ashok Pillar in Chennai is basic almost to the point of being sparse. Plain simple furniture; banana leaves and Tamil meals. Unlike the Andhra meals where it is usually vegetarian, the meals at Anjappar come in both the vegetarian and the non - vegetarian varieties. The Vegetarian meal is standard, the difference from the Andhra meal is the absence of Podi and Pappu, and instead you have some Tamil vegetarian preparations and multiple types of Rasam and Sambhar. The Non Vegetarian meal very innovatively comes with unlimited servings of gravy - mutton, chicken and fish. You might find the odd piece of meat but the same needs to be ordered separately.
Last time I was there I ordered the standard meal along with a portion of Chicken Chilli Dry Chettinad style. It makes your eyes water if you are not careful, but with the armour of curd you can send your taste buds drooling.
A meal for two at Anjappar will cost you Rs 250/-
How to get there: Anjappar has around 12 branches in Chennai. We went to the one at Ashok Pillar, 100 feet road.

Fusion 9, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad

As against the Nawabi expectation from Hyderabad cuisine Fusion 9 clearly caters to a more cosmopolitan 21st century India. The restaurant is a pointer to Cyberabad, the IT city thriving with development and increasingly growing as a corporate hotbed of Modern India. The place is nice and chic with a nice ambiance, good music and comfortable seating.
We had gone there to catch up with some old friends and the setting was perfect for the occasion. The music was audible without being loud and the layout ensured that we did not feel that we were being overheard. After drinks we moved over to the main course of Steaks and Sizzlers. The preparations were tasty and the servings were adequate. The slightly funny event was at the time of placing the order when a friend of mine almost changed the order when the waiter asked thrice to confirm if the order was indeed that of lamb chops.
A meal for two at Fusion 9 without drinks will cost you Rs 500/-
How to get there: The restaurant is right next to the Apollo Hospital at Banjara Hill.

Desi Dhaba, Oberoi Mall, Goregaon

I have been eyeing Desi Dhaba for some time now after being greatly impressed by Only Paratha. I was in the mood for some vegetarian food, yes on some rare occasions I do get some blasphemous feelings, and we were at Oberoi mall which does not have an Only Paratha outlet. The situation was just right for sampling Desi Dhaba and I went ahead and ordered myself some Chola Bhature. The Kulchas were very large, enough to be the subject ogle for every sub ten year old passing my table but the compliments unfortunately end there. The Kulchas had far too much oil and the accompanying daal was not really that good at all. It was not the kind you feel like finishing once you are through with the Kulcha. I might have chosen their worst dish to sample but the daal which is a common accompaniment for most dishes in joints like these makes me put Kailash Parbat at a distant second to Only Paratha.

A meal for two, without drinks at Desi Dhaba would cost you approximatley Rs 250/-

How to get there: Desi Dhaba is in Spoon - the food court of Oberoi Mall

Sankalp, Powai

Firstly, my sincere apologies to all those of you who have clicked on to the link over the past one and a half months and have seen no updates on the site. Its not that I have not been eating as the next set of posts will testify. Just been a bit busy and lazy... I promise that the same will be rectified going forward.
Sankalp, Powai is in the Guinness Book of world records, they are there because they have made the longest Dosa ever in the world - some 27 feet long. The achievement is prominently displayed as part of a pretty classy upmarket decor - spacious and very comfortable. The only issue is the Hindi music which according to me takes away from the ambience of a South Indian restaurant.
Sankalp serves both your traditional dosa, idli , uthappama as well as appams and non veg preparation from the South of the country and we ordered a mix of both. We ordered a Dosa platter and were served a combination of Paneer Dosa, Chettinad Dosa and Dhaniya Dosa. The dosas were tasty although slightly on the more generous side when it came to the oil. The highlight was the assortment of podis and chutneys on offer. Alongwith the standard white coconut chutney they serve chutneys based on garlic and mint which were really nice and different from the usual fare that one is usually accustomed to. We wanted to also try out the main course preparations and also ordered Iddiyappams and an Andhra Chicken preparation Royal Vepudu. The chicken was OK, but the Iddiyappams were a disaster, they were served like you serve noodles which really put me off and will put off anyone who has had the real stuff down South!
Overall I would say that Sankalp serves a better than an average Dosa given the options usually available in Mumbai, specially Powai. Stay away from the main course South Indian dishes - the same is not a patch on what the authentic fare down South is like.... Maybe its not really there fault. After all they are a North Indian South Indian food chain based primarily out of Gujarat. The ubiquitous Dosa is prepared quite well but the South Indian food should be steered clear of.
A meal for two at Sankalp, without drinks will cost you Rs 200/- if you stick to Dosas.
How to get there: Sankalp is in Hiranandani Powai. If you are driving from Haiko towards DMart the restaurant will fall to your right.

Apna Dhaba, Andheri East

Apna Dhaba on Andheri Kurla Road is another one of the decent, if unspectacular food joints in the Andheri East area. The restaurant takes its Dhaba promise very seriously and the decor is great if slightly over the top. There are a sprinkling of posters of old Hindi classics, but what strikes you are the Matkas and Khatiyas which hang from the ceiling. Giving the place a definitely Punjabi touch and feel.
On the food front we ordered Chicken Patiala, Paneer Kadhai and Yellow daal. The chicken Patiala had a little too much gravy for my liking and after the first two servings one had to really fish for the chicken pieces. The Paneer and the Daal were fine. The food was decent without being really great, and "passable" would be the most apt adjective.

A meal for two without drinks at Apna Dhaba would cost you approximately Rs 350/-

How to get there: Impossible to miss, Apna Dhaba is opposite the Trade Star building that houses Axis Bank on the other side of Andheri Kurla Road. For those who are not as conversant with the area. Drive on Andheri Kurla Road from the Western Express Highway towards Sakinaka. Apna Dhaba will fall on your left around five minutes after you cross Kohinoor Hotel.

Pop Tates - The Unrestaurant, Ghatkopar

I have been a long serving loyalist of Pop Tates Mumbai and have visited 3 outlets of the joint, at Versova, Saki Naka and the latest one at Ghatkopar.
Pop Tates as the name suggests is modeled as an American style cafe. Lots of posters of Hollywood movies with the usual favorites Clint Eastwood and Marilyn Monroe adorning the walls. A large dummy beer pint bottle hanging from the ceilings. Muhammad Ali peering at you saying that he moves like a butterfly and stings like a bee. Good, typically American decor giving a warm and welcoming ambience.
The food - Pop Tates serves good continental and American food. Great steaks and sizzlers and decently good Lamb and Chicken Stroganoff. We ordered Chicken Stroganoff the last time we went and it was good as usual. My love for the Stroganoff stems from the great days spent at Tomatoes in Ahmedabad where the Stroganoff is made in brown sauce and is slightly spicier. The Stroganoff at Pop Tates is made in a lighter sauce and while I tend to prefer the browner version in my memories, the Pop Tates version is pretty good. The warning though is that Pop Tates has some disaster dishes notably the Biriyani which we once ordered. You may argue that the fault lay with us for ordering the same at an American cafe but they still have not knocked that off the menu! Same with the starters. The nachos are pretty decent at Pop Tates but our latest experiment with Batter Fry Butterfly Prawns back fired with the highlight of the dish being the sauce which accompanied the prawns. The dish was very unspectacular, seemed that the prawns were just fried in batter - no evident flavor at all.
We tried some interesting mocktails at Pop Tates. The combinations were pretty interesting with fruit juices, pulps, black salt and chillies available. My advice would be to try the same but avoid pulp mixes as it makes the drink too thick to really act as a compliment to the meal.
The only sour point at Pop Tates was the service. There is actually too much noise with the place being packed most of the time for the communication from the table to be always seen but that is a problem that needs working on. Overall however Pop Tates is a great place to visit and enjoy great food at a decent price.
How to get there: Pop Tates, Ghatkopar is on the private road connecting Powai to LBS Marg Ghatkopar. If you are coming from Powai. You need to take the road going uphill opposite to Galleria Mall and the KFC on the opposite side. You will come to a T crossing and take right. The right will force you to take the car through some iron gates leading to the private road. The road will take you through some swerves but there are no terms. After some inclines and swerves you will come out on a relatively straighter stretch leading up to LBS. Pop Tates is on the right before you reach LBS Marg. You will not need to take a turn after you hit the private road. If you come upon a T with a large Cafe Coffee Day in front you will know that you have missed it. Just take a U Turn and keep looking left.

Cafe Indigo, Andheri West

We went to Indigo Cafe on a lazy Saturday afternoon and it seemed just the right place. Although slightly difficult to locate the place is nice and welcoming. There are two different seating areas - firstly semis outdoors with the sides and top covered by opaque glass. The area was nice and sunny and we sat there. There was also an indoors option which we could peer through at through the glass partition. The feel is very casual and is typically suburban Mumbai. People seem to be casually chatting all around and everyone seems very comfortable. As is the case with most cafe's the menu is not really a large one but what they make, they seem to make decently well. I had the fillet beef steak which was recommended as being one of the best in Mumbai and the same did not disappoint. Great sauce and great mash potatoes. The quality of meat was inferior to what I had in South Africa but that is a wholly unfair comparison! The others at the table ordered Pasta - ok and Pork ribs which was served in humungous quantity. We also sampled some of their blackberry cheese cake for dessert which was quite nice. I would rate the food to be better that Salt Water Cafe but not as good as a mainstream restaurant. A great place to go during the day but I personally would prefer Salt Water Cafe by night.
One sour point - They forgot that we ordered a starter, having mixed the order up with one at another table and that is really bad.

A meal for two, without drinks at Cafe Indigo would cost you approximatley Rs 1400/-
How to get there: Cafe Indigo is on Vastu Heights lane in Lokhandwala. You need to drive towards Lokhandwala from Cinemax Andheri West. Go straight ahead past the Lohkandwala market. Do not enter the Lokhandwala Market. At the circle turn left. Do not take the first left - which is the Oh Calcutta left. Take the lane after the Oh Calcutta left, also on your left. You will see a signboard pointing towards the Vaastu Heights building and indicating the Vaastu Heights lane. Just drive along the road. Cafe Indigo will fall towards your left.

Kabab Lucknow Wale, R-City, Ghatkopar

The first time I had food from Kabab Lucknow Wale I had gone there with great expectations. I had recently read somewhere that Lucknow's great Tundey Kebabs were expanding to other centers and certain office colleagues of mine had told me that Kabab Lucknow wale was the place. I had immediately planned and gone. I had come away disappointed. Kabab Lucknow wale was no match for Tundey Kebabs. But hey neither is Michael Slater a match for Sachin Tendulkar - that does not mean he isn't a good batsman and isn't fun to watch.
However the experience had made me strike off Kabab Lucknow wale with a big red mark and not even consider it as an option in the R-City food court. It happened by accident when my younger brother ordered a plate that an offering landed on my table. I tasted and found that it was actually pretty good. Whether the serving was actually as tasty as it seemed or whether it was the effect of low expectations and hence surpassing of expectations we will know when I go there next. But the basic level of achievement has definitely been achieved. Kabab Lucknow Wale is where I will be having food from on my next visit to the R-City food court.
A meal for two at Kabab Lucknow wale will cost you approximately Rs 350/-
How to get there: Kabab Lucknow wale is on the R-City Mall food court in Ghatkopar.

Salt Water Cafe, Bandra

Salt Water Cafe Bandra is well...very very Bandra...atleast for the common suburban Mumbai resident. Chic interiors, casual decor, uncovered wooden benches and tables which I have seen to be a common feature in most Bandra restaurants and of course the upmarket, trendy crowd creating a rather casual, typically Bandra ambience.
The food is good without being really memorable which is fine really as the food is not the prime reason for going to Salt Water Cafe. Salt Water Cafe lives up to the promise of giving you the right ambience for an evening out with friends. We were a largish group of eleven people and were able to sample a decent variety of the fare. The Cafe has a set menu with not too many food options. The wine list easily outdoes the food menu. There was a decent vegetarian population among us and we had a lot of veg food on the table, both starters and main course. The highlight of the starters was the Feta Cheese with Olives and the Sea Food Crab Cakes. The cheese is served in a smallish jar and is really nice - it serves as a great accompaniment to your drink. The crab cakes were pretty tasty even though the quantity served was pretty small. For mains we had ordered among us Risottos, Pasta and servings of Salmon. I ordered a serving of salmon which was good but the quantity was too small to act as a main course. Luckily for me the risottos were actually too much for a single person and I could have my fill. The risottos were a little bit too creamy and cheesy for my liking. I also sampled some traditional pasta with tomatoes and olives, which my vegetarian friend claimed to be the best amongst Italian joints in Mumbai but I cannot corroborate that as I did not want to have seconds. While the vegetarians are a rather under privileged lot - I am sure they can do better.:)
I just realised that the blog has been rather harsh but seriously the food is fine. It is just not a patch on the Italian cuisine you get in other places in Mumbai. So do go to Salt Water Cafe. Go there to have reasonable food in a great ambience. Go there with lots of good company. Go there to get some typically Bandra eye - candy. The only sour point in terms of ambience was that our table was close to the door and due to the crowd, it was getting slightly hot, but I guess were just slightly unlucky.
A meal for two at Salt Water Cafe without drinks will cost you Rs 2000/-
How to get there: If you are coming from the eastern suburbs, take the Western Express highway and use the Lilavati Hospital exit. Go right around the hospital and keep following the road. You will see a natural right which the cars going towards Bandra take. The Salt Water Cafe will fall on your left soon enough.

Lings Pavillion, Colaba

Lings Pavillion in Colaba will stay in my mind for its Chimney Soup. The Chimney Soup which is essentially a large bowl of soup having almost everything you can think of, from chicken to sea food to sea weed!... They will avoid beef if you instruct them. They will also tether on refusing to serve you anything more before just yielding. It may be a marketing strategy but it does work!This post is however not about the Chimney soup. The first para was an outcome of the association with Ling's and the uniqueness of the Chimney soup. Last time I was at Ling's I was not my usual regimental Chinese self but ventured out to try the set meals that Ling's has on the last page. After a round of regular wanton soups which were slightly on the salty side, we sampled the assorted meat stew - which was a real revelation. The assorted meat stew is a mild white gravy with lots of meat and vegetable pieces served over a bed of white rice. There is a pretty large ginger influence and the gravy tastes really nice. The highlight though is the perfection on the rice which is somehow soaked just right with the sauce. The dish was certainly a highlight and I will be definitely turning back to the set meals section, the next time I go to Lings pavillion.

The other aspect of my visit which I will always remember was the mode of communication between the manager and the waiters during our visit. When we asked the manager if there was seating available, he did not speak to the waiters, neither did he use hand signals. He "clucked" and that is not a misprint. He got a cluck right back and the waiters led us to our table on the mezzanine floor. Overall Ling's definitely is a must-go if you are in Colaba side for Chinese food. The joint is comfortable and reasonably classy. They have a ground and mezzanine floor. You will also notice the slightly odd ceiling decor. There is an attempt to recreate the heavens with a moon and lots of stars. I don't think it works but I guess nothing is perfect.

How to get there: Lings Pavillion is in Colaba. Take a left from Cafe Mondegar towards the gateway. Lings Pavillion will fall on your right just as you take the left towards gateway.

A meal for two without drinks at Ling's Pavillion will cost you approximately Rs 500/-

Uttam da Dhaba, Marol, Andheri East

Uttam da Dhaba on Marol Maroshi Road in not in a great location. The decor is not great. The atmosphere is not great. So why should you go there? Well I am not saying that the place deserves a mention in the Top 20 restaurants in Mumbai but it offers quality food at a great price. Go there with office colleagues, preferably in a large group and relive in a small way - the enjoyment of eating in a roadside dhaba. Sit on the khatiyas, gossip about office and enjoy well made, tasty and very affordable priced food.
The hotel is very unassuming and difficult to locate. The outside is a red brick wall on which there is a signage in Hindi and a larger one in English which was unfortunately for us hidden by plastic. The get up is the highlight of the place and is done up in a quaint if slightly funny manner. There are a number of khatiyas laid out around tables and each table is labeled after a city from the land of five rivers i.e. Jalandhar, Patiala etc. I think we were sitting in Jalandhar. There is no AC which is a real downer (maybe it adds to the rustic experience ;p), although that is made up somewhat by large standing fans. The food is actually very good even if you do not consider the price. We ordered saag chicken, chicken bharta and kadai paneer. The chicken preparations were decently good but what was really nice was the kadai paneer, really large pieces of paneer cut into squares and a rich onion laden gravy. The same was far better than the multi vegetable laden kadai one gets at most shops. The chicken bharta was a dish I was having after years and brought back memories of Ballygunj Phari Dhaba - but do not get your hopes up as it was not as good. Sigh!
Another downer was the service which was really slow, but we really were not in a hurry. Although the negative points on this post outweigh the positives. I would still recommend a visit as it is a decently adventurous outing with office colleagues, very different from the regular fare that one is usually served up.
A meal for two at Uttam da Dhaba without drinks will cost you approximately Rs 250/-

How to get there: It is difficult to locate and is on Marol Maroshi road. If you are coming from Powai, get into the SEEPZ exit towards Andheri. At the turning for ICICI Bank on the right. Go left, the opposite way from ICICI Bank. You need to go straight down, past the HDFC Bank on your right. Continue over the flyover and turn right at the signal. You need to go straight after that, no turns to be made. The restaurant falls on your right after a decently busy signal. This might sound confusing but it is. You might need to ask around a bit.

Aromas, Powai

Aroma's in Powai is one of the classier cafe in Mumbai. I really like the place. I do not know if I can put a finger on why I like the outlet so much. Maybe its the frontage and the location, giving it a feel of an European bistro. Maybe its the get up with some options of outdoor seating separated from the interiors with glass doors. It could also be the well placed, yet unobtrusive televisions or may be its the colour of the seats and the interiors a mild and very understated crimson. I just feel that it is a very chic place, perfect for an evening out with someone you love, or even for a quick lunch with some office colleagues. I have been to Aromas, a number of time, mostly for some coffee and snacks, both of which were decent without being extra special. Last time I was there was for dinner, which although not really exceptional will stay with my taste buds for a decent amount of time, especially the lemon grass chicken.

We were two of us and between us ordered servings of Egyptian Keftas with Pita Bread - the place has some uncommon sounding dishes, a club sandwich and a plate of Chicken Lemon Grass. The Egyptian Keftas with Pita bread definitely had some arabic influence, there was hummus and pita bread and a few keftas which were very like kebabs. The kebabs were made with minced chicken and were very light, with a decent amount of lime and olive. I must say they were presented very well and were pretty tasty, at least as much as minced chicken kebabs can be.

The club sandwich was just about Ok. Not as good as a club sandwich should be, but really how bad can a sandwich having ham and eggs get? What was really worth remembering was the chicken Lemon Grass, when I hear Chicken Lemon Grass the tendency is to think Thai or Chinese but this particular preparation was chicken pieces served in skewers. It tasted good but what was really noteworthy was the essence of Lemon Grass that the chicken pieces had. It was really strong, without being over powering. The dish is a definite must have for Lemon Grass lovers and fans. I would recommend you go once anyway for a coffee - just for spending some quality time at a pretty cool place.
A meal for two without drinks at Aromas should cost you approximately Rs 600/-

How to get there: Aromas is in Hiranandani Gardens Powai, on the opposite foot path to D-Mart. You just cannot miss it as it covers the entire corner.

Only Paratha, R-City Mall, Ghatkopar

Only Paratha is probably the second entry of a pure vegetarian restaurant in this blog, that fact complimented by my going there more than once and my intent to do so again as testament to the quality of the fare served up by the outlet. If you are vegetarian and even if you are not you must go there pretty soon and its my word that you will not be disappointed.

Only Paratha serves its Parathas with two servings of Daal, some onions and some Boondi Raita. This time luckily for me they gave me the option of taking some Rajma instead of the yellow daal. There is no guarantee that they will do this for you too, but go ahead and ask... If there is any milk at all to be had... it will go to the baby that cries! I am not very adventurous at ordering veg food and therefore stuck to a Aloo and Gobi Parathas. Only Paratha serves more than 50 varieties so all you veggies can really freak out. You will not be disappointed, more than the Parathas I think what they really do well is the combination they serve. The rajma and the kaali daal were both very very good. Must do when in the mood for some really good vegetarian Punjabi food.

A meal for two at Only Paratha will cost you approximately Rs 300/-

How to get there: Only Paratha is in the food court in R-City Mall

Shalimaar, Bandra

The name Shalimar is the name of one of the more famous Mumbai restaurants, not this outlet in Bandra but the more famous one in Mohammad Ali Road, with its highly renowned Raan Biriyani - a pleasure that I have yet to experience... but more on that if and when that treat befalls me. I have had the regular Biriyani there but it has not really set me salivating. Anyways more on that later.

Shalimar, on Linking Road Bandra, although having the same name does not proclaim to be part of the same chain. The rather guarded waiter when asked curtly replied that it was owned by a cousin of the more famous Muhammad Ali road outlet. I was there with a colleague of mine - a meat lover and we ordered two dishes I do not usually choose. First (and don't think I have gone mad) Chilli Garlic Prawns as starters, and the second Nalli Gosht. Both were rather surprising in their own ways.

Chilli Garlic Prawns - Although an incredibly strange order in a Muslim restaurant. The same is almost blasphemy (like ordering curd in a chinese joint), however for the second time running - I had also had the same at Persian Durbar, pretty good and the best value for money for the same dish in Mumbai. I have to write here that I have yet to bring myself to order the same as it is still just to blasphemous but if by chance you chance upon it - it will be one of the most value for money prawn items you have ever had.

Nalli Gosht - The dish was fantastic and is easliy one of the better regular mutton preparations, non - Kebab that I have had at restaurants. Not too spicy, and very very tasty. The dish went a long way to dispelling my abhorrence of ordering regular mutton curries at restaurants. Definitely a must have if you are yearning for a good mutton curry in and around Bandra.

A meal for two at Shalimar, Bandra will cost you approximatey Rs 250/-

How to get there: Shalimar is on Linking Road Bandra, very near the Shoppers Stop. It is on the opposite side of the road. If you are traveling from Khar to Bandra you have to cross Shoppers Stop. The restaurant falls on the other footpath of Linking Road on your right. It falls before Persian Durbar which is on your left.

Kebab Corner, Andheri East

After many a relocation in the Andheri area, Kebab Corner has relocated to a really nice location in a rather out of the way area. It is located on Mahakali Caves road, at one of the slightly sharp turns that are present on the winding stretch of road. The problem that compounds the location is that the frontage of the shop is half hidden by trees. This makes it so difficult to spot that you will take some time to figure out the location even if you know the exact spot. I will try to tackle that challenge in the "How to get there" section. If you do however you will find a great layout with an outdoor and an indoor option. We sat indoors but I liked the outdoor layout which can give a feeling of eating on a verandah with a large tree as a natural curtain overlooking the traffic.
The food was great and because we went in a largish group, we ended up sampling quite a few dishes. We tried the Amritsari Paneer, Pind-da-Chana, Chicken Reshmi Kebab, Chicken Kalimiri and Garlic Naan. The chicken dishes were good without being exceptional - tasty, value for money food, the Kalimiri was a decently mild version and avoids scalding sensitive tongues and lips. The paneer was sweet and tasty, could be a problem for those who do not like sweet food but not a problem for my palate. The Pind-da-Chana was almost as good as the name of the dish, the preparation was delicious without being accompanied by the excessive oil which usually accompanies Chana dishes in most standard restaurants. The highight of the meal according to me was a tasty, but slightly over the top garlic naan. I either have never ordered Garlic Naan or this was a rather special version, it sort of freaked me out. It was like at least 40 (and i am not exaggerating) pieces of chopped garlic on top of the Naan, not that it tasted bad, according to me garlic always does, but I happily reverted to plain Naan for the next round of order. I would actually order a piece next time from the sheer novelty of the experience but order a regular Naan also alongside.
A meal for 2 at Kebab Corner, Andheri East will cost you approximately Rs 250/-
How to get there: You have to drive down the Mahakali Caves road from Andheri Kural road towards JVLR. Kebab corner will fall on the right. It is right on a sharpish right turn, which serves as a mini round about with a tree bang on the middle of the road and tree on the right and the left as well. That should serve as the landmark. You could alternatively stop at all mini round abouts and ask people who are usually helpful in Mumbai.

Bistro Grill, Hiranandani, Powai - Paradise Lost

Bistro Grill was till a year back one of my favorite Mumbai restaurants. It was in Juhu where a fancy upmarket hotel now stands and it was no more than a shack. It was easily one of the most hard core food joints in Mumbai. No more than 7 or 8 plastic chairs in front of an oven where you could see that around 4 or 5 whole chickens being roasted. To me that presented a surreal sight. The chickens were tasty and the fact that you got the same on the road added to the taste-buds delight. One could order whole barbecued chickens for Rs 250 ans it was right up there with the more Value for Money non veg food options in Mumbai. At that point of time I also was not a Shawarma fan (which I am now big time), and they had a pretty decent Shawarma option as well.

Then one fine day we found the 4 seasons and we mourned the fact that Bistro Grill was no more. The mourning was over once we saw take aways ads in Powai. The Bistro was back with Shawarmas being ordered regularly, though the chickens were not being barbequed in full view, we were still happy.

Then the Bistro moved upmarket, we saw that they had moved from Powai and had opened a restaurant. I fell out of love with Bistro Grill, the day we had dinner there. No plastic chairs, No live oven, the Bistro Grill was a plush lounge. Quite frankly, I really do not care about the food which I guess is and would still be quite good. It would definitely be more comfortable, great for a romantic evening and I am sure they will do well with higher margins. Maybe those who have not visited the outlet in Juhu will rave and rant and salivate...but I wont. Not unless the same format as what was there in Juhu is back. Maybe a Bistro Cattle Class? I hope so but unlikely... You don't advertise in bus backs if you are opening a VFM format. Go there... As the Bus Back Ad says "Sheesh Taouk tastes like Shees Taouk" but I won't. I will continue to miss the food and yes, even the ambiance of the Juhu outlet.

A meal for two at the High End Bistro Grill will cost you Rs 450 without drinks.

How to get there: Bistro Grill is in Hiranandani Gardens Powai. If you are going towards D-Mart from Hirco. Take the right from the circle. Bistro Grill will be on your left.

Gajalee, MIDC

We Bengali's usually have an attitude to fish. Do not get me wrong. We love fish - but we usually turn up our noses at any preparation which is not Bengali. We are completely enamoured with European preparations, the grill, the Muniyar we are in love with but usually we feel that if it is Indian cooking we are talking about, no one cooks the fish as well as the Bengali. This is where Gajalee proves a point for Konkan cuisine with outstanding fried and Tandoor preparation of the Bangda and the Pomfret. However they have reached culinary nirvana with their version of the Bombvil or the Bombay Duck. If you can stand the smell of fish, you must... try the Bombvil fry at Gajalee and I will insist... Do squeeze some lemon on top before devouring the fry.
Gajalee also serves some great Crab Butter Garlic and Squid but I think the last visit was one of our most focused and hardcore. There were three of us and between us we polished off 4 plates of Bombvil Fry and 2 plates of Bharwa Bombvil (Bombvil stuffed with prawns). The Bharwa Bombvil is great on its own but I do not rate it as the sum of its parts separate servings of prawns ans Bombvil fry is far greater than the whole. Overall a fantastic option and I can declare that if I ever had time for one meal in Mumbai, I would go to Gajalee and order the Bombay Duck.
Gajalee can burn a hole in your wallet if you freak out on the large crabs and prawns which are priced as per catch. Standard meals involving Bombvil fry, Neer Dosa and Prawn Gassi/ Mutton Masala should cost two people without drinks approximately Rs 750/-
How to get there: Gajalee has multiple branches in Mumbai. Phoenix Mills would be easiest to reach, we last went to the one in Andheri East, MIDC. It falls on the lane to the right if you are on the MIDC road going from Chakala towards JVLR (look out for the sign on the right that is visible from the road).

Kobe Sizzlers

When I think of sizzlers, it invariably brings back memories of Calcutta's Peter Cat. When the dish was served it invariably meant that your table was the cynosure of all eyes in the restaurant. The hissing noise ensuring that all small talk at tables were temporarily suspended as the dish descended on your table. With the steak houses in Mumbai however, that bit of having a sizzler is extinct as everyone around you is having the same dish. The taste is however as good as it tasted in Peter Cat and the variety is a lot more, although you have to order the right one. Kobe's incidentally is in my opinion one of the best the city has to offer.

For the uninitiated, having a sizzler in Mumbai might be a harrowing experience. A fancy sounding order might have you floundering in the smoke to find your plate overloaded with rice, sauce and cheese. Yes... You do get these disasters and some people actually like them. Be sure to follow these Golden rules

1. Always ask what will be served along with the meat

2. In case they venture rice or noodles, always insist on replacing the same with french fries or mashed potatoes (they usually comply, if they refuse please ask them to leave out the rice in any case)

If you do the above, you will be served a pretty well made sizzler. The preparation is usually well done by default (i think they allow you to ask for rare/ medium rare but I have not really asked). I usually choose the satellite without cheese and sour cream as I am very fond of mushrooms. The shashlik, garlic and pepper sauce versions however are all very good. Last time we went we also sampled a steak bun. The steak bun is actually a mini burger (non sizzler) and is pretty tasty, I would recommend it if you fancy something light or want to share the same as a starter. I would also ask you to order the Ice Tea at Kobe's which goes very well with the sizzler.

Overall a good meal, with large quantities of meat. You will need effort to get back to work after this!

A meal for two at Kobe's without drinks, will cost you approximately Rs 650/-

How to get there: Kobe's is on Andheri Kurla Road, near the Saki Naka signal. It is on the right if you are travelling from the Western Express to Saki Naka.

City Kitchen, Colaba, Mumbai

I had first heard of City kitchen in an episode of the foodie (on Times Now) and the episode had focused on Mumbai food. City Kitchen was one of the first outlets highlighted and was said to be the place for the most authentic Goan cuisine in Mumbai.
Unfortunately closed on Sundays, and the fact that it is located in Ballard Estate makes a visit to City Kitchen require some planning but as I found out the planning is worth its while especially for lovers of Goan food.

The decor is very sparse, at the entrance is the counter where the owner sits and there are approximately 8 small tables each seating 4 people. The place is decently clean but has the feel of a low end restaurant and is not the place you would want to have a romantic dinner, fortunately however, they pass a bit of the save to the customer :P.

Now about the food. Undoubtedly the highlight has to be the Goan Pork suasages which are always good anyway. At City Kitchen they cook it exactly the way I like it, with the sweet, the spice and the vinegar combining well and most importantly, with a decent quantity of potatoes which i feel adds a lot to Goan sausages. The pork pieces are chunky and quite substantial. The dishes are served with Pao which is kept at the centre of the table. They did not seem to have or offer rice portions although to be fair we did not really ask.

We also had Pork Chilli fry which was great and the Prawns Chill Fry which was a big disappointment and smelled slightly. We rounded off the meal with the obvious order in a Goan restaurant, the Pork Vindaloo which did not disappoint and made up for the Prawns Chilll Fry. There has to be something to do with pigs and Goans, I really think the Goans, atleast within India understand how to best cook pork (atleast whatever little I have tasted)... Overall an excellent meal and I would rate this above Goa Portuguesa as THE place in Mumbai to sample some Vindaloo and Pork sausages and bring back memories of Baga beach and Brittos... Sigh!

A meal for two at City Kitchen will cost you around Rs 300/-, that is if you hog. If you eat right you can get a great meal for 2 for Rs 200/-

How to get there: City Kitchen is just before entering Ballard Estate. Take the left past CST and drive towards Ballard Estate. Take the right just after crossing the post office. City kitchen will be to your left quite a bit down the road after around 4 lanes. A tip - Chances are you will find it difficult to reach and need to ask people. Do not ask passersby, you will find it easier to ask a regular shopkeeper or a generous restaurant owner.

Nice Fast Food Corner, Santacruz West, Mumbai

Mumbai! The city never stops surprising (I am talking positive surprises here) you, and fortunately neither does its cuisine. I have to admit I have been a big critic of Mughali food options in Mumbai... The city unlike Delhi does not have outstanding Galouti kebab in all localities. Mumbai biriyani is not liked by my palate and the aroma is not as appetising as the ubiquitous Shiraz, Aminia, Zeeshan biriyanis all across Kolkata. Not often can one afford to sample the heavenly servings of Dumpukht at the ITC Grand Maratha and other 5 star restaurants of similar ilk.
However, as I have found out, the city DOES have its share of outstanding Mughlai food joints and Nice Fast food corner is just one of those joints. Nice is a shack - closed by day and open only in the evenings like the more famous Bade Miyan in Colaba. My theory is that it is a guarded secret of the hard core Mumbaikar foodie (like my friend Khusru) who only share the information with fellow club members.
The place does not reek of hygiene - it is a roadside shack. There is no seating. You can either have the food in your car or use the bonnet as a table. You can stand and hog or as I did, you can get the food home. I ordered Baida Paratha, Sheekh Kebabs, Mutton Tikka and Khiri. The Baida Paratha is the Mumbaiya Moghlai Paratha and was very good at Nice. A decent quantity of mutton and not too oily. The Sheekh was good, though I have never really been a Sheek fan... What blew me out of my mind was however the Mutton Tikka and the Khiri. The Mutton Tikka was as good a Tikka as I have ever tasted (no hyperbole). The Khiri, which I was tasting for the first time was soft and tender and absolutely delicious though obviously it is a dish not for the faint of heart for obvious reasons. I wish I could have sampled the Chicken Tangdi and other servings but that was all my appetite could permit. Overall I would put Nice right up there with Bade Miyan on the list of Mughlai non-veg options in Mumbai, it does not have the Bheja which will make ravenous trips to Colaba still worth my while but the Mutton Tikka is outstanding and that is something that Bade Miyan just does not have... Nice Fast Food Corner is definitely a jewel in Mumbai's culinary crown. Here is hoping that I manage to discover a lot more.
A meal for two at Nice will cost you either Rs 120 to Rs 160. Two plates of Baida Paratha and one plate of Mutton Tikka should make for a quick dinner. If you are hungry order two plates. Almost every item at Nice is priced at Rs 40.
How to get there: Nice fast food corner is open only in the evenings and is on S V Road. If you are driving from Parle to Bandra the shack will fall to your left. It is right beside Five- the more famous continental restaurant.