China1 - mmm OK!!!

Located just next to Grillopolis, I think they share the same wall, is a new Chinese place called China1 which opened up recently ie in Jan 2011 and lot were written on the billboard and banners on the Link Road. It was republic day and was meeting up with a friend who loves Chinese not the Indian Chinese though, well after reading all the billboards I said why not try this.

First of all they have a big waiting area outside which can hold a mini party of 15 people and inside it is all white and black. The ceiling is huge and place is well spread out. So it has a good feel, but I still did not understand why were they playing Titanic OST. If they say that it kinda brings you near China we should be hearing Chinese flute and other Chinese music. Well just my thought.

In afternoon they have buffet and in the evening it is a la carte. We were escorted to our seats and were asked what would we prefer for drinks which was Iced Tea and Juice.

We were first served some hot steamed veg dumplings and then chicken dumplings, this was the first time I saw through the dumpling skin they were super thin and we said "mmmm...not a bad start" then came another super starter (forgot the name) it was again dumpling skin with minced chicken cooked in soya sauce. It was the really really tasty.

Then we had to get up and get some main course, they had separated the veg and non-veg section and I actually did not see veg section at all. Non - veg had 5 starters Chicken, Fish, Prawns, lobster and Crab out of which Lobster in black bean sauce was great and fish was amazing other were just OK fair.

Then for main course was Lamb in black sauce and shredded chicken with the regular fare of rice and noodles. Everything was basic nothing to talk about.

Deserts was a big let down nothing was right.......not the best blueberry cheese cake, tiramisu was OK, souffle was just fine.

The overall cost for 2 was Rs. 1200 which is pretty OK in what they serve, Mainland China will serve more and maybe better at same cost.

La kebabiya - Lunch Buffet

Near my new office there are lots of eating joint located and one is Le Kebabiya located opposite Hyundai showroom in Lokhandwala.

When I went there last time it was for drinks and hookah and IPL matches but did not know it serves you Lunch buffet also. Colleagues were planning to go for Friday Buffet and i tagged along.

The place is bit cramped in terms of space but the spread is nice which is written down.
Soup (veg and non veg) we got Manchow soup
8 starters (4 veg and 4 non veg). The good part about the starters was they were prepared only after guest arrive so we would get them hot and nice. The best of all was Malai kebab which was soft and tasty. Also there are 2 chinese in the starters and 4 Indian and 2 Mexican. The waiters serve it to you so you do not have to leave the table again and again.

Then there was main course which had 12 dishes in total out of which there was Mexican, Italian and Indian again....the buffet is such a risky deal if you are lucky you can get the best or the worst. But we had an 50-50 deal in terms of quality and taste.

The best of the lot was the dessert, we had 5 flavors of Ice Cream, Chocolate Souffle and Firni which was super duper tasty.

All in all for Rs. 325 without taxes on Friday it is a good deal if you want to sleep at work.

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.

It's Mirchi - Not so Spicy

It's Mirchi, rooftop restaurant of Ramee International (Juhu - Mumbai) is one of the places including Barbeque Nation in Bandra in which food is barbequed on your table. But the actual thing is, it is already hot and put on over a burning coal.

My cousin coming over and staying in Novotel, wanted to go someplace near we decided to go to It's Mirchi after lot of discussion. Located on the rooftop but it is an air conditioned rooftop so you won''t get any breeze from the sea. The seatings are like diwan style low and comfortable while there are few regular ones also.

Waiter comes in with the menu card of the day and how and what they will be serving to the table. One bad thing of the whole 5 Star Hotel is that they give you borewell water not the regular Mumbai ka pani one but the one which you get in the villages which has that different taste. How can a big hotel like that serve you such water I mean what..ok let me get back to what actually blog is here for Food...

Prawns, Chicken, Paneer comes in the skewers and we get Sheekh Kabab and Surmai Fish served by the waiter. Well the first 3 things were ok not that great but remaining two was cold which was duly replaced after we complained about it.

There are Pani Puri, Bhel Puri, Dosa, Pav Bhaji, Roti and Curries of Fish, Prawns and veg have live counters which are decent but the staff one number less as one has to wait once the place gets full. Ohh there are also Jalebis also whipped on demand..that is a uber cool feature.

Food was 2 Soup, 2 Non Veg, 4 veggies and 4 Deserts nothing to write about the regular basic stuff.

Yes they do serve alcohol..timing are from 7.30 pm to Midnight but until and unless you don't drink alcohol you won't stay more than 1.5 hours.

Cost is Rs. 435 exclusive of taxes which is ok enough for the food they serve.

Midnight Buffet - La Brasserie (Le Meridian)

Immense bay windows overlook the shimmering pool. A sumptuous buffet presents familiar and exotic selection of Indian, French, Italian, Oriental, and Mediterranean specialties. The midnight buffet is especially popular for a late night haunt.

This is what they have written on their website to which I agree to the last sentence about Midnight Buffet, being too few in Mumbai and for me this one tops the list.

With 2 soups, 10 starters, 10 main course, ice creame and live kitchen. At times you do get a bottle of beer or glass of wine complimentary. The service is generally good and food does taste really good.

Damages: Rs. 550+ per person

Generally the Buffet closes at 3 am.....

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

MidNight Buffet - Parabola (Rodas ECotel Hotel)

As many would say not the best nor near the best amongst the buffet and I would seriously agree with them but this is one place where you can get food after 12 pm. So you hungry and insomniac soul who just want to sit and eat their very very late dinner in Powai so this is the place.

Cost around Rs. 350+ per person this place gives you almost everything 2 soups, 6+ starters, 6+ main course and at times an live kitchen. Service is good but not that great. Also note that they do not refill the food which is finished so make sure you do reach there by 12 or else you might miss some of the food as the place is packed (coz there is only one around)

Also check out the menu card of Parabola here

So a 2.5 star rating for Parabola

Kerala House - Lunch

After the dinner experience me and K always wanted to check out the lunch. As in their hotel there was a photo which displayed that food were served in Banana Leaves and we always like south indian food that way.

We reach Kerala House during lunch time and we had to buy coupons when asked how much for 3 people...he calculated in his mind and said Rs. 120 (that becomes Rs. 40 for each person), and we added Chicken Fry to it which Rs. 60 for 2 pieces per plate.

We entered looking at peoples plate as we search for a place to sit. As we sit down the plates come in and after some waiting the rice starts its way towards us (though i am not fond of plain rice that much but i kind of made an exception for this). Few moments later see a bucket with Sambar in it and I gleefully let him pour the sambar in my plate. Then came our favorite part Chicken Fry so my combination was Rice, sambar and chicken.

After having double serving of rice...we almost fell sleepy....and with Rs. 100 for the whole meal it was just worth it.