Banana Leaf - Idli with a Difference

Please say 'Aye' if you are a fan of hot pipping Idli which when dipped in super awesome sambhar taste even better but Banana Leaf located at Versova, near 7 Bunglows has changed the full definition of the Idli what we used to eat.

First visit was few months ago after a night out with friends and one of them was insisting we should try it, and after bowing down to her wishes we reach Banana Leaf on lazy late Sunday afternoon and luckily got seats in A/C section which my friend says is minimum waiting of 40 mins during peak hours.

The setting is nice, tall ceilings and enough place between the 2 tables so you do not overhear other people conversation. We started off with Rasam Soup which is regular Rasam with huge quantity of black pepper [If you have a sour throat this is the soup for you forget Hot and Sour or Manchow soups]. Then comes the magic of Banana Leaf the Idlis which is cooked in variety of masalas, I guess around it takes around 3 big idlis per serving cut in 4 pieces we started off with
1. Hyderabadi Tomato Idli
2. Chef Special Dakshin Masala Idli - This one was everyone favorite
3. Mulgai Idli

If you are the ones who love to try out different things well start off with this place and you shall not be disappointed.

For dessert you can go the regular Payasam route or try out the Nutella Walnut dosa which is a must try.

The overall cost per person came around Rs. 300 and it was totally worth it.

Sagar Ratna - Something missing.

I have being coming to Gurgaon and staying on and off for atleast 2 weeks at a time but never went beyond CP, Chandni Chowk and Khan Market to have a grub whenever I visit Delhi, well you will ask why? here it is, I have no freaking idea how to travel and find other places and luckily for me Deepak Sharma @intellectassests on twitter invited me for dinner in Delhi which I could not say no to.
So this is how my journey began, took a metro from HUDA Center in Gurgaon to Qutub and then walked up to Lado Sarai met up with him, chatted for a while and then decided to go for dinner and he said few names for me which were heard for the first time, as it was Monday and some Somwar was happening we decided on going to Defense Colony aka "Def Col" called by Delhites.
Walking into the food heaven court we walked down to Sagar Ratna which is a big hit amongst Delhi people and fully excited we enter in. Looked at the menu which had the regular fare of south indian dishes and my eyes came upon a fixed thali which had Poori, Pickle, Rasam, 3 Veggies, Raita, Curd, Rice and Sambhar for Rs. 140 which I must say was decent. And my friend ordered a Mysore Masala Dosa which was basically just Masala Dosa with red chutney in it.
Ok let me talk about my food, the order came within 5 mins and I was all ready to eat it up. The 4 pooris just got over as soon as it started so did the veggies with it. Rasam was delicious. Then came the rice and sambhar which was just OK. What the problem was it left me wanting for more but we had to have some desserts so I avoided to order more.
But I must say all the people who came there were enjoying it very much but again for me it was pretty OK.
Ohh! and a special mention to the green chutney which they give it is spoon licking good

Village - Place for Large Group

I had always suggested my friends to go to Village as they have awesome appetite and they went 4 times before i went for the first time with my cousins. All kids were happy and chirping and they say they would enjoy the big place and play around.

We all drove to Kandivali Raghuleela Mall, and then walking through hoards of peoples and shops into a zig zag path reaching Village. As soon as you enter you feel like you have come to small small village with trees and brownish colour everywhere, which i think does not exist anywhere in India but we were here to have fun.

There were clothes and bags for display wuhich one could buy from and also there was a guy making pots, which i later came to know that you pay him and they will also teach you to make pot.

Enter the main restaurant you are greeted with hostess and host checking in your coupon and letting you in.

You find yourself a big Charpai (village style sitting) and settle in. First task is to go around and check whats on the menu which is almost the same most of the time. After roaming around which almost takes 5 - 7 mins and deciding on what you want to eat and in which order. Grab a plate and go to the counter and fill your plate.

Suggestion: Make sure you dont eat one thing alot coz you might miss out on few things.

So the menu card goes like this
1. Dosa
2. Bhel Puri
3. Idlis
4. Corn
5. Pav Bhaji
6. Golas.
7. Sugar Cane Juice
8. Punjabi Dishes
9. Gujju Dishes
10. Marwadi Dishes
11. Hell lots of sweets.

And then there are puppet performance where you can just leave your kid and you enjoy the food (thats what my cousins did). And live orchestra will play with dandiya and garba adding to the mix which makes it delightful to watch and play.

So if you are a couple make sure you dont go and if a big group of 10+ then give it a shot.

Again for Rs. 300+ VFM for fun and food.