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

Mainland China (Andheri) - Lunch Buffet

After ages decided to go for a Buffet on Sunday which friends said is quite good but as it turned out one friend had some work on Sunday and we decided to go on Saturday for which she could not come. Finally 2 of us decided lets go and reached Mainland China in Andheri Link Road behind Hyundai Showroom at around 2 pm. We were told to wait for few minutes just so that we can get a seat and soon we entered seeing the buffet for Saturday I was pleasantly surprised and rubbed my hands in anticipation.

Buffet Details:
Cost: Rs. 699 (inclusive of taxes)
Soup: One Veg and One Non Veg
Starters: 5 Veg and 5 Non Veg
Main Course: 5 Veg and 5 Non Veg (excluding Rice and Noodle)
Desserts: 14 Varieties
Also as complimentary you do get a Kingfisher Beer/Iced Tea/Fresh Lime Soda

The good thing is the waiters serve you the soup and the starters so that you can relax on your table, talk and eat no need to get up again and again. As we were pure non-veggies decided to go for Chicken Dumplings, Chicken Satay, Prawns Satay and one black chicken which looked like manchurian but Chicken was too hard. For veg there was Veg Dumplings, Spinach Wanton and Veg Chrispy which we tried. Sometimes the food used to come out cold and later we saw to keep them warm they kept it under a bulb (yes! brilliant idea! not)
We got ourselves a Sea Food Delight Soup which had, I think, around 5 varieties of fish in it tasted average but no complains.
After chatting a bit as we both were stuffed with the starters, walked out to get the main course which was super considering it had Fish, Shrimps, Crabs, Lobsters and Lamb with dash of Rice and Noodles everything tasted quite good and was worth it.
Dessert section was amazing which now I regret of not having it before the main course it had different kind of fruits, lots of pastries and one Chinese specialty (starts with a D) name which I currently don't remember.
So if you want to have value for money meal this place is good enough, bit noisy as the place was full but nice place.

Thai Ban - It should be called Thai Banned!!

I would say one of the most suckiest food eating moment was at Thai Ban in Bandra next to Papa Pancho in Pali Naka. I would say one of the places you can definitely avoid in Mumbai. Well there are few reasons to it,
Service: Sucks, even if they see empty Ice Tea glasses on the table they leave it there.
Food: mmmm only other than Phad Rice and Thai Yellow Curry which looked like Kadhi nothing is worth mentioning. I had the most worst Cheese cake ever in my life it felt like i was having a Blackberry Yogurt.
Cost: I would say only saving factor, fine by what quantity they serve.

This would be one place you should go at your own risk.

Bhagat Tarachand - Not to be missed! Never!

Was there in 2007 with a friend in October celebrating our birthday together by hopping around the city and our last destination was Bhagat Tarachand for food and that was my first time. Zoom ahead to year 2010 going out with a pure veggie alcohol drinking couple and my motive is to find the best veg eating joint for them and for me also.

After coordinating we decide to meet around 1 pm near Bhadshad Falooda but their taxi wala such a good person took them through a shorter route from Flora Fountain and drop them at MumbaDevi Mandir. While after having a chilled Falooda we walk towards Mumbadevi through Zaveri bazaar.

Note: There are almost 7 Bhagat Tarachand but the one which comes first after Zaveri Bazaar on the right hand side and you have to walk up a floor to reach the hotel. I am sure you will miss it once...

Weekend as it was we waited for 20 mins while the jovial manager was taking down notes on who and where  one should seat...it is funny if you just observe his talking style and at times he cracks you up also.

Looking at the menu is very confusing and very different from other Mumbai Restaurant. So instead of you searching randomly I will say you what to have coz we had the same things and we were not disappointed at all.
- Papad Churi - Regular papad crushed and cooked in oil with onions and spices. Super amazing.
- Kutchi Beer aka Chaas aka Butter Milk - One of its kind served in a beer bottle and super duper tasty. Thick with hint of masala but no pieces of masala. (we had 2 bottles)
- Hara Bhara kabab - The regular one but they do also have 2 - 3 more varieties of starters. Do check with them.
- Double Dal Takda Fry - Yesh you read it correctly DOUBLE! Tasty is an understatement it had a flavor which we went on arguing about whether it was a taste of Jaggery or Onions.
- Sindhi Kadhi - Dahi preparation Sindhi Kadhi with pakora was good and worth a try.

Now the best part as we are part of Sweet tooth group, waiter comes in and ask what about sweets?
S: Do you have Gajar halwa?
Waiter: Yes we do
V: Get 1 of that.
Waiter: You should also try Rabdi it is our specialty. (with a hint of smile)
N: Yes get that one too
Waiter: What about Gulab jamun?
S: Is it hot?
Waiter: yes
V: *3 second thought* Get one of that also.

And I must say we did not regret it. Overall experience was priceless but cost us Rs. 350 each.

If you are not a veggie hater this is a must try place...they have opened up at lots of places but this is the real deal

Address:
Mumbadevi Commercial Centre, 51-53
Zaveri Bazaar, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400002
022 22420215

Oven Fresh - From Breads to Cakes to Cookies

Well, mom and dad out of town for 2 days and it was dinner time so I knew there will be nothing at home. Called up Soumya and Nanda also joined in meeting me at King Circle. Driving past the Mumbai evening traffic we decided to go to Oven Fresh instead of the planned place (which I have yet to recall the name).

Situated in small lane called Ranade Marg (hard place to find a parking kinda road) near Shivaji Park. Weekday, and we had to wait, yes yes the place is not that big but on a weekday waiting for 15 mins does speaks high laurels of the place.

As soon as you enter you see breads and donuts and muffins on your right and next to the couch counter you will see pastries there waiting for you to eat and not the regular ones though...something interesting like Premium Black Forest, Orange Hazelnut, Banana Cream Pastry. Only one Banana Cream Pastry was left, both me and Soumya fell in love with it. Purchased it before anyone could get their hands on it (and we are glad we did).

I am not going to talk about the place and ambience of the restaurant who gets a waiting on weekdays..lemme talk about the important stuff.....FOOOOOD!!

I will go by the chronological order of what all we got...

1. Cheese Garlic Bread, half plate which gives you 4 small decent size breads.

2. Veg Steak in Barbeque Sauce: Herb flavored rice with aloo cutlet (a big one) and red spicy sauce. Bit cold but we did not complain coz it was tasty

3. Pasta Ravioli in Mushroom Sauce: Ravioli, with a totally different kind of sauce, creamy orange colour one.

4. Chimichangas: Red beans in a big fried kind of bread with yogurt and salsa

5. Veg in crepes in Smoked herb: Brocolli in steamed nachos..nothing worth writing about also can be avoided

6. Spicy Tropical Diaquri: Gauva, pineapple smoothie with a hint of tobassco

7. Green Apple Fizz: A refreshing fizzy apple drink

8. Hazelnut chocolate smoothie: Super thick chocolate smoothie with hazelnut cream

9. Hazelnut Orange Cake: Not a cake cake style but something different...a must have

Total cost: Rs. 980

Satisfaction: Priceless

Address: 

Oven Fresh

J Ranade Marg, Dadar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra

022 32492666‎

*so for all pure veggies this is a place to go and have some super dooper awesome food*

Sushi Spice - Will this Spice Up Mumbai?

Was surfing on Facebook as usual and found an add saying Sushi Delivered at your doorstep. I clicked on the link (oops there goes $0.1 of SushiSpice) and was surprised to find an unique initiative or thing happening in Mumbai.

I am not a big Sushi Fan but do like it at times. I have not ordered anything from there coz looks a bit expensive as one can go to Global Fusion and have unlimited Sushi's for Rs. 800.

So no more writing check out the menu:  Sushi Spice Menu

KongPoush - Food on a Shikara

The only place in proper Mumbai to serve authentic Kashmiri food with Shikaras (real wooden boats in which you sit and dine) as the USP with the well known Kashmiri hospitality to match.

This is what they claim and it is true to a point, finally after deciding so many times me and my sister ended up going to KongPoush as no one was home to serve us food as we enter. I used to pass this place often but in the morning so always used to miss it and in the evening you can never miss this place all tress nearby are lighted and so is the entry.

The restaurant is on the first floor and the place was super well done. They have created Shikara (a Kashmiri boat ) and big photos everywhere displaying Kashmiri Beauty.

Time for food now, we were thinking of going for a'la Carte but the steward suggested to go for Kokur Thaal and Gaad Batta which we did and we were surprised.

Kokur Thaal, this dish started with Chicken Tikka with a different flavor and 3 different chicken curries and 1 veg curry (Lotus Stem with Spinach). The food was delicious and tasted totally different from the actual fares what you get in other hotel.

Same thing with Gaad Batta, which was a fish plate again Lotus Stem and 3 fish curries.

The good part is unlimited roti and unlimited rice with the plate and firni to top it off.

Kokur Thaal: Rs. 349.00
Gaad Batta: Rs. 379.00

A bit steep but good for having once in a while.

Jimmy Boy - A bit boyish it was

This post is done by Kaiwan Yezdani (my foodie colleague and friend) which i have copied on my blog.

To start with, i went there on the Parsi new year. So i guess the place was a little bit crowded...

What did i eat?
Lagan nu Bhonu

What is that?
Some saria (waffles)
Laganu nu achaar
3 Rotis
1 Piece of Paatra ni Macchi OR 1 piece Saas ni macchi
1 Portion Salli murgi OR salli ghosht
1 serving chicken / mutton pulao
Dal
Lagan nu custard.

What did i drink?
Raspberry soda.

Quantity?
Average. Just one serving (in parsi weddings u can take as much u like and the caterers charge nearly the same.)

Price?
475 Non veg
350 Veg

Quality
The fish was good, but the salli murgi was a let down. Pulao was just OK. Nothing great. Biggest disappointment was the lagan nu custard; it was as hard as broon pao.

Service
Maybe because the place was packed or maybe because we were 11 of us but the service was very poor. I was literally coordinating with the waiters on what needs to be served, what orders are pending, etc. The Parsi Uncle taking the orders was very soft spoken and slow at things.

Tilt?
For some one who is dying to have good patra ni macchi without going to a parsi wedding then this is the place.

Would i go again?
No i had enough

Raj Bhog - Do you have an appetite.

So it was Monday evening, just about to leave office colleague asks want to go for dinner "a veg dinner" I go "ummm, lemme think, where are you guys going?".
Colleague "we are planning to go to Raj Bhog in Khar."
Me "Unlimited Thaliwala place?"
Colleague "Yes"
Me "Ok, let me call home and say that I am going to eat out."

After an hour we reach Raj Bhog in Khar West near the station.
Complete address Raj Bhog, Cosmos Commercial Centre, 3rd Road, Near Railway Station, Khar (W), Mumbai Phone 26486196

The menu is placed outside the door, we enter a well lighted and not so spacious restaurant which has 2 floors the upper floor is smaller but i guess saturday and sunday's it will might be full. As we check the menu the plates comes in with 7 katoris.

We started by getting Tomato "Sweet" Soup, which could have being definitely be passed as just by having 2 spoons of it, I thought it would be better to wait for other options to come in.

Then after a while remaining stuff started pouring in.
1. Raj Bhog (a deep fried food with aloo filling)
2. Dhokala
3. Aloo Capsicum
4. Sweet Dal
5. Kadi
6. Spicy Dal (which was not spicy)
7. Roti or Phulka
8. Puri
9. Khichdi
10. Rice
11. Basundi (Desert)
12. One more sweet forgot the name.

So if you do like things bit sweet in your food then it is the place for you. As it was my first time i kinda had almost everything once and enjoying 3 bowls of Basundi.

So after 1 hour with our stomach full and even more, we all got tired and decided to head back home which was the most difficult task to do.

Damages: Rs. 160 per person which i think is ok if you do come here once in 6 months. All in all VFM coz it is unlimited and person with awesome appetite will surely enjoy it.

Kerala House - Dinner

My first hand experience of Keralite food was in Udaya Restaurant a hotel in Chembur just near the station. That place also had chinese and other cuisines served with beer so all in all a typical Mumbai Restaurant but with Keralite Dishes also.

My second experience was in Kerala House - Vashi next to Raghuleela Mall. (not next but down the road towards Vashi Gaon) a blue tiled building with 3 floors. We were first introduced to that place by our colleague R who is from Kerala and at times after leaving office he used to go there for dinner. We got curious and interested about what the food is like and what's the cost. So we joined R for my second experience of Keralite Food. (here it goes)

This place serves Chicken Curry, Fish Curry, Veg Curry, Appam, Parotha, Rice, Chicken Fry, Fish Fry and Kappa (a tapioca based vegetable). Thats it for the menu....when you enter the building you would have to ask the guard where they have set up the hotel you enter a big room with massive tables and chairs waiting for you. A young guy well dresses in shirt and pant (i was sad that..they should come with lungi and kurta, would have made it more authentic) and when we asked what they serve pat came the reply with the stuffs which I have written above. So instantly we ordered Chicken curry, fish curry, appams and parotha, everyone says that Keralite food is spicy and I am the one who does not like spicy food much but I dared. Food was served in minutes as they have it already prepared and we started eating like people who did not have food for a very long time and it was spicy (but the spiciness meter changes from day to day), and as R says the food also taste like home to which we were happy that we are getting authentic food.

After first round of Curries we ordered another round but added Chicken Fry to it, and do our surprise Chicken fry was nice freshly made and hot. Eating and clearing up each bowl we were stuffed to the limit and now waiting for the bill which made us think it would come around Rs. 600+ but to our surprise 2 Fish Curry, 1 chicken curry, 8 appams, 2 parotha, 1 chicken fry and 1 plate of rice costed us only Rs. 240 which when we saw had to recheck whether they did a mistake and after that point this has being our favorite place for cheap food.

Thanks R for such a wonderful discovery.

Truly value for money and also beware of the warm water they serve (take a bottle of bisleri with you to enjoy the food at its max)

Hotel timing - 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm