Eating Out in Bombay..

The Hamptons Part 1 - Montauk

2018-06-16T22:50:00.001+05:30

The Hamptons,are a series of Hamlets, about 2.30 hours from New York City. Southampton is the richest one while Montauk, sitting on the easternmost tip is the farthest one which is why it is also called The End.

It is an area of great beauty and is rich in history. The name is derived from a native American tribe, Teddy Roosevelt & The Roughriders frolicked on the beach and whiskey smugglers during prohibition used the beaches for a different kind of activity altogether.A simple fishing village it ain't.

My previous experience of The Hamptons has been mostly Saturday drinking sessions and shenanigans, returning home on Sunday in time for brunch and regret.Returning twenty years later, this time with the wife, I was worried about how she would react to what is essentially a significant change in pace and scenery from NY, a city she had declared she liked as much as her fav city in the world (London)

We hopped the LIRR from Penn Station to Southampton ($21/$29 Non Peak & Peak) or you can buy onboard the train as well but it is pricier ($27/$35 Non Peak & Peak) 2 hours later we hopped off at Southampton Station

and hoofed it across the street to pick up our rental car from Hertz (2018 Toyota Corolla, $48 a day including insurance, unlimited mileage, not inclusive of fuel)

Pro Tip : Exploring the Hamptons or even one of its forks, is not possible to do easily without a car. The train has a limited schedule and all other transport is either to be flagged down or unreliable. Cab rides can be expensive (Southampton-Montauk is about 48$, same as a days car rental)

We drove 30 miles straight to beautiful Montauk, through Southampton, East Hampton, it is a lovely drive. Montauk is a lot less busy than some of the other more easily accessible points of the Hamptons. Since there is a lot less action there is also more peace and quiet.

Our hotel was the historic, Montauk Manor, a Tudor style condo/hotel which has been around since 1927. The hotel sits on a little bluff and one must drive up a small hill to get to the property.
Once you are there though, it offers sweeping views of the Roughriders Development, Navy Beach and the water.

Montauk Manor

Lobby

Inside, it is a bit of a time warp, high ceilings, chandeliers, a working fireplace. The property has an indoor and outdoor swimming pools, restaurants, tennis and squash courts as well as a Spa. Summ

View from the property

Absolutely stunning on a bleak day, on a bright sunny one it's ethereal beauty will stop you in your tracks.

The rooms are essentially 1-3 bedroom apartments, ours was a 1-bed (Living Room, Kitchen, Bed Room & 2 Baths) The decor was kind of what you expect, hardwood floors, American colors and a nautical vibe.

Montauk Light House is famous but it is also one of the many across the Hamptons. It can get breezy so be prepared. Parking is supposed to be $8 but no one came to collect. You can climb up ($11) and look out, wistfully and wonder why you don't permanently live in a place like this (because it gets frighteningly cold)

Kirk Park Beach, sits across the main street and is easy to access. There is a parking lot right outside and it is a short climb to an absolutely stunning view. Sand and Water as far as the eye could see, nobody else around, just us and the sound of waves.

John's Pancake House, is a Montauk institution, like most old-school diners from tv shows, this one has crusty people behind the stove and a matronly lady up front willing to listen to your desperate need to change up the order (the cook disagreed)

The Pancake was pretty terrific and my cheddar cheese omelette was the biggest one I have ever had.

Gringo's is a great taco/burrito joint, you can also head to Gossman's for some great sea food and lovely view.

All in all Montauk was exactly what I was expecting it to be. Quiet, rustic, lots of wood and salt, red, white & blues. Offering a direct contrast to the sunkissed surfer vibe of California. Montauk is a great example of East Coast Americana, Ralph Lauren has used it as a base and an inspiration and it's mark on American Iconography is undeniable.

Weekdays are the best time to be here, the city folk are back at home and Montauk belongs to the locals. it is quiet and empty and achingly pretty.

If you are on the East Coast and have 48 hours, I highly recommend you get to The-End.

Sunday Brunch - The Table

2015-10-18T17:51:00.002+05:30

Rest : The Table
Meal : Brunch
Loc : Apollo Bunder, Colaba

After a few years of having terrible celebratory meals, i decided to go for something tried and tested namely the best restaurant in the city The Table. Although i visit with some regularity, it had been a while since i tried their Sunday Brunch. So we got there bright and early for our 1130 table and ran into the lovely Gauri Devidayal (@gauridetails) who just happens to own the place.

We went to our first floor table and I immediately got myself a traditional Bloody Mary instead of their Bombay Mary because its the one drink i don't like much variation in (they do a terrific Margarita, Old Fashioned and an insane Pineapple Martini)

The Jalapeno Cheddar biscuits with mushroom gravy was terrific. Not to be missed by anyone that loves mushrooms. Not a light dish though, so beware.

The breakfast quesadilla with avocado was the only real disappointment of the day. blandish with no real flavor. wasn't quite going anywhere this one.

Probably the best damn mac n cheese you will have anywhere. the black truffle helps. just brilliant. i urge you to try this when you are there. its worth the wait and the money. brilliance in a plate.

The Tiramisu pan cakes.. diabolical. I ordered knowing full well Mrs Jain would like them even though she was insisted she was full, one bite and she pulled the whole plate throwing me a few scraps here and there. it was that good.

The food was terrific, next time, im hoping to try out some of the waffles and choose from the appetizers. The menu isnt very big but it has plenty to choose from. Ideally, don't drive, so you can drink a little. Best way to spend a Sunday in my book.

The service was quick, prompt and friendly.

Food : 8/10
Service : 8/10
Damage : 3500 for two with a drink.

The Sun, Napean Sea Road

2015-09-15T10:51:00.000+05:30

Rest : The Sun,
Loc : Napean Sea Road,
Meal : Lunch

The Sun, is still, in my opinion the best Punjabi restaurant in Bombay, it has been consistent for over 25 years that i have been going there and despite its extremely small size it really delivers big. The menu is fairly traditional and relatively expansive but a lot of the dishes are executed in their own unique way which thankfully hasn't changed over the years.

Start off with a stash of poppadums while we wait for lunch to begin.

The Chana Masala was decent and it was the first time we ordered it, the navratan korma was its old sweet spicy self.

The Malai Kofta to rule all Malai Kofta dishes worldwide. For all the years i lived away, this was the one dish in this one restaurant that signified home. Its just so uniquely done and has such a unique flavor, it will imprint itself in the taste center of your brain, never to leave.

what is a punjabi lunch without some Garlic Naan ?

The Small neighbourhood restaurant continues to kick major ass, we have been loyalists every since it opened and continue to do so. A lot of people who have been here agree. I dont write about it much since i dont want it to get popular at large.

They have a branch at Breach Candy, which i have oddly never been to.

Food : 9/10
Service : 8/10

Damage : 2500 for 6.

Onam @ Dakshin Costal, ITC

2015-09-09T08:15:00.001+05:30

Rest : Dakshin, Coastal
Meal : Dinner
Loc : ITC, Grand Maratha, Sahar

I am not a religious guy nor much of a traditionalist but i always find a way to celebrate Onam by having a blowout meal. For the last few years i have been alternating between Mani's in Matunga and Dakshin Coastal at the ITC. This year was the turn of Dakshin Coastal.

Onam, the harvest festival of the south is celebrated with the sadhya meal served typically on a banana leaf with a traditional selection.

The menu was expansive and one of the advantages of dining with them is one can ask for accompaniments not strictly true to the festival.

The Rasam was their regular concoction, tomato and lentil among other things. Tangy, peppery, damn near perfect.

The tamarind chutney was simply terrific, the tempered yoghurt was delicious as well. The beetroot chutney was kind of weird but then i am not a beetroot kinda guy.

The buttermilk was not bad but not the typical sourish brew one gets at southie joints.

The Olam, a coconut stew was terrific, with bits of onion, the dish of the evening in my opinion. There was also dal and a pumpkin stew. The dal was nice, the stew felt very North Indianish to me, not that its a bad thing. The sambar was Keralite, good but not nearly as good as the onion sambar that Chef Padamja cooked up on my previous Onam visit.

Both the Thoran & The Avial were brilliantly done, as always its a problem of too many, which is a decent problem to have i suppose.

A lot of Onam meals now are served with red rice as is traditional. However nowhere have i seen folks do appams, if your lucky its a chapati or puri otherwise its just rice. On my last Onam meal here, i lamented that i didn't want to cheat by getting one but this time, they offered right away and the Olam was just too good. I couldn't quite resist.

We even asked for their regular podi, gunpowder stand which was served with a spoonful of Ghee on the side. Happiness.

The paysam was brilliant, light and delicious while the Pala was much like a regular fruit salad you would make at home.

Topped off with an okayish filter coffee to stay awake during the drive home.

Overall, Dakshin Coastal continues to be the leading fine dine, South Indian specialty restaurant although its frightfully expensive. In this case, the meal is price at 2250 + taxes which is actually nearly 40% lower than their regular thali, so its a steal.

Service was quick, friendly and eager to please as expected.

Food : 8/10

Service : 8/10

Tanjore, New South Indian Joint In Colaba

2015-08-14T20:24:00.000+05:30

Rest : Tanjore by Angie

Loc : Near the Colaba Fire Station

Meal : Dinner

Most people know what a sucker i am for a good south indian meal, especially one that goes beyond the idli-vada-dosa trinity. A long time ago there used to be a Tanjore at the Taj and i have only faint memories of the place, mostly about some sort of jali screen or pillars, i cant be sure. Anyway, this Tanjore by Angie, has been open for a while and i have been meaning to make it there but didn't quite make it until now.

The space is small and the vibe was what you would get at an East London joint, very quaint, functional with limited seating. The menu has a few different types of Idli, Vada, Dosa, Uttapam& Upma. They also serve a Thanjavur tiffin which is like an udipi platter with a helping of the above and a meal which i ordered.

The filter coffee was nice, not to sweet, not too strong either though. Id say it was decent but not nearly as good as say a idli house but then again, little else is.

The Molgapudi Idli in Til oil were fabulous. Three largish idlis coated with podi just how you would want it. Just brilliant. Served with some ordinary chutneys but a brilliant, sourish sambar , surprisingly like they make at my parents.

The chaas is a must get, not too sourt but served super chilled. All ive ever wanted with all my restaurant meals at a Ramanayak or a Mani's has been chilled chaas but its never possible.

So the other meal they do is the thali, which is a platter for one person and consists of a Rasam, Sambar, Pickle, Cured, Sweet, Parotta, Rice, Kadi, a dry potato vegetable and a gravy. Overall this was not too bad, the potato was like the dosa stuffing, the kadi was okay. Rasam was decent but served lukewarm. The sambar as i mentioned already was great. Ideally, they need to take this up a few notches to make it noteworthy.

Overall, the menu is very interesting looking, there is even an appam id like to try at some point. So if you go there, avoid the thali, it promises a lot and delivers little, however going by the idli and the coffee, their strengths lie perhaps in the more familiar dishes, some of it which look delectable.

Since its mostly a no-frills joint, the prices arent terribly high but certainly not udipi grade.The service is quick and friendly and i would like to give them a go for the rest of the menu. Folks who have been to Dakshinayan wouldn't find this to be below par.

Food : 7/10
Service : 8/10
Damage 600 for 2.

Sunday Brunch @ JW Cafe

2015-08-10T14:46:00.002+05:30

Rest : JW Cafe

Meal : Sunday Brunch
Loc : JW Marriott Hotel, Sahar. Belly of the International Airport

This past Sunday we got to partake in the Sunday brunch at the new J.W. Marriott, Sahar, which is right in the belly of the international airport. While i am not one to travel far for a bite, on Sunday, the route drive was about 25 mins and my parents were residing at the hotel to boot, so it was a decision made fairly easy, since we had to go pick them up. (Now, justifications done, onward)

The Juhu JW Marriott, is a massive property with half a dozen restaurants and bars and the new Hotel is much smaller with fewer dining options, however, they have done a stupendous job with the rather boringly named JW Cafe, which is way better than the gargantuan but ultimately middling Lotus Cafe.

While its pretty, well furnished and large its not quite the centerpiece that Lotus Cafe is. Anyway, enough comparison. There is a lovely section by the windows and insist on table, 1-6, which are by the doors leading to the garden. Well lit yet offering a semblance of privacy as they are a bit away from the main dining section.

Now, even as brunches go, this was one massive spread, food was laid out in every corner and you were not more than 10 feet away from a bite. You place your order at a counter and they serve you on the table which beats having to queue.

I started with the soup, the choice was a clear Thai soup or a Tom Yum. I chose the Tom Yum which was close to a Tom Kha, with a strong coconut base. It was excellent, despite the base, it was spicy, hot deliciousness topped of with some mushrooms.

Next up, the Mezze section, was end to end with hummus, tabuleh, ganoush, labneh, moutabal as well as rice and some more meat dishes. It was just wow, easily one of the star turns, not a single thing that was not up to the mark. They even had a chef warming pita and making falafal pockets if one were not inclined to do so.

The falafals too were kind of different. The texture, shape and color varied from from what i have usually consumed. Brilliant still however, i kinda like the discs better than the rotund falafal balls.

The anti pasti section was adequate with peppers, squash, eggplant, tomato but the artichokes were the stars here. brilliant isnt the word.

Next up another star turn, the Italian section was populated with this stunning potato with some green onion was mind mindbogglingly good but when compared to its neighboring dish

the mushroom ragout, it became at once pretty ordinary. If i had to pick a single dish that stood out i would say it was this and that is saying something. It was like some mushroom god had granted flavors on a plate.

they have a sushi section of course but its strictly okay, atleast the vegetarian section is.

the pineapple curry which i chose on noodles was again staggering, just the right mix of sweet and spicy and bursting with flavor, this was second only to the ragout and NOT by much.

they have a small section doing tacos and nachos and it doesnt quite work, its neither authentic nor is it fully local a la cream center and kind of falls flat.

i avoided the indian appetizers but took a little taste from Mrs Jain's Indian selection and found it to be decent, the dal was good the paneer average.

The pizza looked the part, this was the four cheese, perfect crust around the edges but limp in the middle, served a tad cold and largely tasteless.

the spaghetti was much delayed in getting to our table and it didnt quite incorporate what we wanted (kinda important when you its made to order) It wasn't bad just not what we asked for.

the egg benedict was lonely and under salted and kind of disappointing.

the waffles which we chose with blueberry and maple syrup was on the money. should have picked up a side of some fruits with that but i wasnt quite thinking healthy.

the cheese selection was adequate with Parmesan, Cheddar, Swiss, Edam and Feta. A stronger cheese (Bleu, Gorgonzola) was missed. Also couldn't find any olives around so i improvised by stealing some from the Italian live counter.

the dessert section was massive with everything under the sun although at most buffet's i prefer getting ice cream or sorbet.

so i chose the kulfi rabdi falooda which was great but kept hurting my tooth and it was impossible to eat easily with the massive spoon and tiny cup but somehow i managed.

they also had a home made gulkand ice cream which wasn't half bad. Mrs Jain tried most of the western desserts and chocolates which im afraid i didn't have a go at.

Overall, its a pretty massive spread, possibly the biggest in the city with a lot of hits and the odd miss which is rare and usually the other way round. A few of the sections arent even pictured like the chaat and the Indian appetizers, Chinese etc. I think a South Indian section would be a good strong addition, a dosa counter with curd rice and rasam is surely a good idea. Personally, i dont see the need for Chaat at brunch but then , thats just me.

Beyond being good, the Middle Eastern, Thai & Italian are proper, restaurant grade preparations and not making up the numbers which is likely in a spread this wide. In fact, when i went for a second helping of the mezze and the pineapple curry i went from man to pig.

The pasta section is slow and needs to speed up and get the orders right while the pizza sections needs a bit of a revamp. This would be a popular section, so hope they fix it up soonish.

Also i think their selection of beverages is a little ordinary, with tetrapack juices and soft drinks out of big bottles. I think cans and fresh juices is the way to go and would be far more appropriate.

From what i gather, the carnivores would find this to be even more exciting, as they have Shawarma, Australian Leg of Lamb and Alaskan Crab which is surely a novelty and a massive satay section with various things on a stick. So rejoice.

Besides the decent ambiance and superlative food, the single best thing about the brunch was there was not one, and i mean not a SINGE kid running around screaming or being obnoxious.

They were all hanging with clowns and balloons and slides. Not something you would see at another brunch and that alone is worth the price of admission.

I went straight up to the room for a quick nap.

Food : 9/10

Service : 8/10

Damage : 2015 + taxes without booze.

Food Ordering Apps in India

2015-08-03T13:38:00.004+05:30

Food ordering apps are everywhere, some have raised millions of dollars while others are in the process of doing so. By coming into existence they have gone and marginally disrupted (i should stop meeting VC's) the way food is ordered and consumed. You fire up your chosen app, select a restaurant, pick the dishes, make a payment online or COD and 30 to 60 mins later you are up to your elbows in curry.

Except you arent. I've used very single food app over the last few weeks and they have misfired once or more rendering the experience and the ensuing conversation with their customer service to be excruciatingly painful, to say nothing of being a very angry dude because my food didnt show up on time (or not at all, which has happened thrice across apps)

I won't name names because this isn't meant to be a takedown of any particular app or brand. To be fair, i used the big named, well funded ones with the sexy UI and online payment gateways, so go figure.

While i think its great that these services have come into play, bringing a seamless ordering experience and where one can order from restaurants hithertho deemed too far and to bring into the fold joints which one couldnt order from. However, this greatness is only achieved when the app follows through on its promise of you know, actually delivering the food.

You click a button the order goes through and a clock starts ticking, counting down the time to delivery. However many, many minutes after estimated delivery time all you have is a dropping blood sugar and no food.

This is because these apps ultimately lose out to that particular element which has been the root of all evil and misery across millenia, if you havent guessed it already, its us, humans. The human element is what let's the technology down, every single time. Is it any wonder that Skynet wanted to get rid of us all ?

When the system works, its a beautiful thing, seamless, painles, cashless. Utopian even. But it doesnt quite do so often. Maybe the restaurants aren't used to smartphones, maybe they arent used to prepping for delivery, maybe the riders don't know where they are going or they miscalculate traffic, the call centre folks arent well trained enough. In the end it really comes down to people and that folks, is what they call a fatal flaw.

The result is that the food seldom reaches on time (this is my experience) and then you complain and spend time dealing with customer servic execs recounting the minutiae of the experience while you are fobbed off with a few hundred rupees and a scripted apology. Then start the game again the next time you fire off the app.

Will things get better ? Will the restaurants, the app makers, the delivery men all work as a well oiled, cohesive unit ?

No, they won't.

Why not ?

I am glad you asked.

1. Because this is India. That sounds like a completely daft thing to say i know. But this is the nation where a man sits outside a vending machine to press buttons, a seemingly complicated task which must be perfomed by a trained proffesional, who might also double as a watchman.

We are the nation of jugaad, ordered efficiency is not something we do very well. Activities that rely on repeatedly efficient, last mile human connectivity rarely ever work. Why ? i can answer that but its beyond the scope of this blog.

2. The apps are well funded for now, so what they are doing with their money is spending it wisely on sponsoring IPL teams, outdoor advertising, radio jingles and of course, indulging in the greatest of all Indian past times, discounts.

Money and time that can be used in creating an enviably efficient organisation is now spent on making the loudest noise and trying to attract customers by losing money on every sale.

So no, it ain't getting better.

Just my 0.02 cents.

Blanca's Alex Leonard cooks at The Table

2015-07-21T21:33:00.001+05:30

Rest : The Table
Loc : Colaba,
Meal : Dinner

Brooklyn's three Michelin starred, Blanca is a hot ticket with a 30 day wait for tables. So when i heard that my current fav restaurant The Table had their Chef De Cuisine down cooking a five course meal, it was a no brainer.

Pre Dinner cocktail was an old fashioned, which was brilliant and what i always get there. They also do a killer Margarita and i had a sip of a stunning pineapple martini which is also a must have.

Melon Parsley Verde, Radicchio Amchur & Black Sesame, Malai Leeks & Potato. I am not a fan of Melon or Radicchio but all of it was brilliant. Great start, the melon verde was pesto like but for me the malai leek potato was the star here. brilliant.

One of my fav dishes at the table was the parsi cheese which is unfortunately no longer on the menu. This was the farmers cheese with burnt onion and it was probably the dish of the evening. Like eating air and a hint of the onion on there, brilliant. Has to have been hard to do :

Celery Root, Parsnip & Carrot Puree was salty but weird, good weird at that. Again not a parsnip fan but i guess its all about how you cook things.

Eggplant ceviche, baba ganoush, leche de tigre. Brilliant, the leche de tigre was as the name suggests was dangerous. the heat just snuck up on you.

orecchiette with grapefruit and pecorino. Interesting, a little chewy, probably the weakest dish of the evening but still fairly good stuff.

Peruvian White Asparagus, Coconut and Black Lime. The Asparagus was lucious, brilliant and the coconut was sweet, i wasnt expecting a sweet course so it kinda threw me, still good, the coconut flavour wasnt that sweet.

Chocolate, Parmesan Truffle, boy was this weird. The chocolate was great but the truffle was strong and weird but it was fun to have together. The puffy rice was kinda weak, didnt add anything to the dish but otherwise it was excellent.

Overall, this was quite an experience, the portions were small but in the end youre there for the experience and more than that the creativity. Its great to have a cutting edge meal in the city and its exactly the kind of thing one would expect from a place like The Table, which has so far been super consistent (sad to say my previous fav Thai Pavilion has really dropped their game)

I am glad i had an open mind regarding a lot of veggies i never eat, hell i even had a piece of broccoli off @dharmeshg's plate and it was brilliant as well. Compared to some of the other Michelin star meals i have had, this is def in the top 5.

Service was quick and prompt and friendly as one would expect.

The dinner was priced at 3500 without drinks and for the dimwits thinking its a steal, it isnt actually considering they serve 20+ courses for the equivalent of 12500 not that i am complaining, it was money well spent.

Thanks to my friend @qtfan (who booked the table and pre-paid risking no shows :) and his lovely wife C, @dharmeshg and @ankitsoni who joined us for the evening. Good Times.

Malgudi Tiffin

2015-06-25T19:41:00.002+05:30

Rest : Malgudi Tiffin
Meal : Dinner
Loc : Bangalore Airport

Malgudi Tiffin has been the best dining option at Bangalore Airport and i always have a meal there before heading out. I love the cuisine and it makes for a nice goodbye to have one more meal before heading back. As always i opt for their terrifically value for money Thali.

Started of with a Rasam & some poppadums. brilliant, peppery red rasam. what is not to like.

the thali was practically the same as my last meal there so not much to say other than it was good. still dont get the yellow kadi business but the onion sambar was fantastic as was the gravy . the paratha was different from the ones i have had there before. the dahi wasnt tangy this time and neither was the chass. a little disappointed with that.

Overall, the meal was great, no complaints. if you are there and in mood for a lunch walk in here and you wont regret it. they also have a express counter but ive never even looked at it.

The service was kinda aloof and surly, i was 10 mins early for lunch service and they werent too enthusiastic about me hanging around until lunch began. i sat down and ordered a chaas anyway until their schedule allowed for service.

food : 8/10

service : 4/10

damage : 550

Terrific Food, Fantastic Service at Karavalli, Bangalore.

2015-06-15T19:50:00.001+05:30

Rest : Karavalli

Loc : Gateway Hotel, Residency Road,
Meal : Lunch

Yet another Bangalore trip, this time for a wedding which meant most time would be spent in the hotel and with family rather than roaming Bangalore. One of my other trips my SIL took me every landmark in Bangalore in one day (here and here) but since it was her wedding, i was on my own.

Having been to most of the locally famed eateries i thought i would give the cuisine a try in a finer setting. Karavalli, came highly recommended from almost everyone i spoke to and it wasn't a difficult choice.

Its nestled in a very green spot within the Gateway Hotel, which happens to be in the middle of the city but you wouldnt know it if you walked out back. This much greenery takes getting used to for a Bombay Boy.

The space itself is very refined yet reflects the local touch. Understated elegance, gives you a feel for how the patricians of the south must have lived during the Raj.

The menu was akin to Konkan Cafe, in that it covered a particular region rather than say a Dakshin which has a comprehensive and exhaustive menu covering a great many regional cuisines.

i was determined to get the thali and the thali is what i ordered. Why choose when you can have it all ?

we started off with a little bowl of papads which i quite enjoyed. there was a terrific garlic pickel along which i might have finished half way.

red chutney was terrific. i think i got em to refill it a bunch more times.

the rasam was all pepper and fire, just brilliant. Got the appetite going

So this was the thali, there was yam, potato, lemon rice, yogurt, onion sambar, a veggie curry and a stew.

these were served up with appams or parottas made to order. i had the appams exclusively, and loved em.

they offer regular or red rice and i chose red of course.

the dessert was brought out separately, the payasam, i am a big fan of these but i like em cold, but that's a personal preference.

a slew of paans to end the meal.

Overall, my meal was terrific. a good thali in my opinion has no real standout dishes but works in tandem which was the case here, the dishes were in harmony and it wasn't too rich or complicated. Simple fare is hardest to do right anyway.

The pricing for what you get is terrific value for money. Its almost the third of the price of a Dakshin and nowhere is it weaker in what it offers which is saying something.

I must also say that the service was terrific, from the moment we entered till we got the check, they were extremely hospitable. They insisted we have something to drink, when i refused, they got me buttermilk anyway and then refused to let us pay for it saying it was on the house as we were their guests.

They ensured we knew the meal was not limited and we could more of anything we wanted. Explained all the dishes in detail and like at a family meal, they were nudging us to try this and that and warned us at the outset not to ruin our appetite with too much papad.

A great many restaurants and restaurateurs could perhaps dine at Karavalli if not for the great food, terrific ambiance then just possibly just to learn why they run one of the best service teams anywhere in India

Food : 8/10

Service :10/10

Damage : 2500 for two without drinks.

Masala Library w my Pops

2015-06-15T18:25:00.001+05:30

Rest : Masala Library

Meal : Lunch
Loc : BKC

While i have been to Masala Library a few times now, this time i was able to take my dad along as we were both heading to a meeting in Andheri post lunch. Being a Saturday i was not sure if we would get a table and tweeted ML the night before and they got in touch. After a brief time on the waitlist i was assured a table for 1.30.

Annoyed that they claimed to be full, i wanted to make sure they weren't just pulling the old trick, (they weren't. when we got there, ours was the only empty table)It was very kind of them to accommodate us.

We started out with the pappad platter, which is still pretty kick ass and like all papad platters a bad idea when on a table for two. we kinda filled up on this but it was still worth it.

the pesto kebabs, dryish, hint of pesto with a little sweetness, not your regular old kebab this one. The Paneer had a grainy texture and a very familiar taste, it was served with bits of asparagus which was interesting but didn't add to the dish at all.

the mushroom chai brought out like tea service for two, with dried mushrooms representing tea leaves, truffle powder representing sugar and a mushroom broth representing water. still a hit.

the mishti doi palate cleanser is a so good. they should bring em out in stacks.

this was the malabari parotta served as a quesadilla , i recall it being on the money and pretty different

This was the aloo tikki i think, served with a little bit of corn and chana, again, dry but on the money.

the dessert was this pista burfi thing paan style with coconut foam on the side. too rich, should have gone for something else. It was not bad, just not my thing.

Overall, the food continues to be pretty good, it was a pity we missed the tasting menu time slots, i would have really liked my dad to have experienced the wider menu but perhaps another time. I do wish they expand the menu somewhat, having been there four times now, it seems like the same stuff each time.

We didnt get to the mains at all because we stuffed ourselves on the appetizers and the papad platter did most of the damage.

Still a great place to go once or twice a year.

Food : 8/10
Service : 8/10
Damage : 4500 without drinks (pretty expensive for just appetizers. word to the wise, the tasting menu is way WAY better value for money) and most importantly, dont let your dad see the check.

Indigo Deli Colaba

2015-06-03T11:50:00.003+05:30

Having struck out at getting a walk in Table at The Table (Not funny) we walked into Indigo Deli w Baby Jain for a quick dinner.

Their famed pizzas are still awesome, especially this one, the pesto. just awesome.

its one of the dishes that's been on the menu forever and one knows what is coming. however

the risotto was not the freshest thing, having been made and perhaps flash warmed.. its not hard to tell.

unfortunately the baked mac and cheese was completely runny. we tried to get them to fix it but the same problem came back. runny cheese. usually its not as runny and the crust is burnt. so clearly this was not cooked properly. also the chowderish sauce, is dangerous if made early and left sitting. i got violently sick after a similar dish at Ellipsis.

overall, the standards and the occupancy both seem to have fallen at Indigo Deli and the place really needs to re invent itself, not so much from the menu standpoint but from the quality standpoint. There has been lots of drama on the management side but they shouldn't let the food and customers suffer.

Have been a long term patron and its sad to see things in this state, the service was good, they didnt charge us for the risotto but its getting harder and harder to defend them (i was able to pull out a picture on my phone from another meal a few months ago so they couldn't argue much)

I think Phoenix is their best outlet.

Cafe Lota

2015-04-30T13:24:00.000+05:30

Rest : Cafe Lota
Loc : India Habitat Centre

Meal : Lunch

Cafe Lota, is what you would expect a Delhi eatery to be, quaint, artsy located in a handy craft centre, its a Delhi restaurant done right in more ways than one. A brilliant place to be when the temperature is right.

Its got this lovely stone cut sign on the outside and a screen door lets you in to a large open space, casual dining at its best. packed on a weekday too. the menu is small plates and large plates but all the dishes are from different parts of the country.

i ordered a masala chaas, which was excellent but the nimbu paani was totally bizarre.

the mini rava idli molgapodi was excellent and it went so well with the chutney they served on the side. great idea to start a meal with like this.

the chutney was served in this little home style jar, as one would expect.

The Kerala Vegetable Stew serve with Appam was excellent. The stew was almost Thai curry like which is not a complaint. I even improvised and had some with rice.

this was a total experimental pick. The Bhatti Ki Churkani, Bhang Chutney, Kumaoni Raita served with rice and

Raagi Roti. Overall, it was just too alien a taste for my buds, never had anything so sourish and vague. While i dont think it was bad, it was just too different.

The Bappa Doi cheesecake was as good as it sounds.

Overall, its a great place for a afternoon lunch before the heat rises, its busy, so try and get there a little early. The concept of the dishes ranging from various parts of the country does make it more interesting than your generic cafes, where else will you get a Uttaranchal Dish rubbing shoulders with Idlis ?

Food : 7/10
Servie : 8/10
Damage : 1200 for 2 without drinks

Scenes from Delhi

2015-04-28T12:31:00.004+05:30

Was in Delhi last month and basically went around eating like some sort of a pig. A lot of it was of course repetitive but then when else would i get a chance to go eat like this. they really have their food down pat. so much better than Bombay, sadly.

Raj Kachori,

papdi chaat

Chole Bhaturey, all of these were had at Haldiram's and each item was bloody terrific. You wouldn't expect a chain to serve up good consistent stuff but this was just mind bogglingly good. They throw in little pieces of paneer with the choley and its just on the money. Def check em out, they are all over the place.

the wife had these samosas called for at tea time one of the days and these were really good. REALLY GOOD

Another random choley bhaturey

this is one of the most unbeliveable servings of Lassi you will ever have. its a thick, THICK lassi with a layer of cream on top and khoya added on. Someone on my twitter or insta account called it a heart attack in a cup, which sounds about right.

a myriad chaat vendors ply their trade on the highway leading in and out of Delhi, this is just one of them.

and he was pretty freaking good. this was a aloo chaat, had piping hot.

one sunday morning, we drove down to the outskirts to try out these pakoras, cheese, green pepper and potato

and spinach. all of em super terrific.

another glass of kickass highway store lassi. super terrific.

Kurries n Burries

2015-04-14T19:40:00.001+05:30

Rest : Kurries n Burries
Meal : Dinner
Loc : Opp Starbucks near Chowpatty

Kurries n Burries, replaced Rock Salt who i ordered from a few times and liked immensely. The new avatar offers Chinese & Mexican much like LocoChino who do Mexican & Dim Sum (and oddly Khau Suey)

The menu is fairly straightforward, something for everyone.

The chilly paneer was terrific, hot and gone in less than a two minutes.

their mango drink was a little too thick and the nuts on top are kinda over kill.

i think this was the burrito and was cheesy good.

unfortunately, i think their mexican is just so so, the mix isnt quite there yet. compared to the likes of Cream Centre which is out and out Indanized or something more Tex Mex like Loco Chino, they have a lot of work to do.

Their Asian however is terrific. The dumplings were fantastic and the Red Curry was pretty good too.

All in all, their Asian is worth checking out, especially to have it delivered since the place is small and parking tight. Glad to have them back.

Pricing is very value for money especially the platters shown above, which are about 650 a go.

Zen Cafe

2015-04-10T01:00:00.000+05:30

Rest : Zen Cafe
Loc : Raghuvanshi Mills
Meal : Lunch

The Zen Cafe is a quiet all vegetarian cafe in a furniture store in Raghuvanshi Mills with a fairly decent menu with something for everyone.

The Mezze platter was awesome, i dont care much for the basil hummus but everything else was terrific.

The tomato mozzarella panini was again just excellent. the side of mustard not so much but this one was a hit.

The Giardino was a thin crust sun dried tomato, black olives and capers. very good.

The margarita too was good but not nearly as good as it looks.

the chocolate brownie was good, would be well worth getting that scoop of ice cream with it.

cafe mocha to wash it all down.

Overall, the place is quiet, secluded and out of the way. but they make up for that with a menu which has something for everyone and is executed fairly well. Their 575 lunch meal where one can order as many items as they wish is good value for money.

Service is a tad bit slow but no real complaints.

Food : 8/10
Service : 7/10
Damage : 575+ taxes

Doolally

2015-04-08T22:21:00.002+05:30

Rest : Doolally

Loc : Bandra, Near Lilavati Hospital

Doolally is a craft brewery from Pune and the hottest ticket in the city right now. Since they opened last week, they have run out of beer twice.

Their food menu is limited and with some usual suspcects but also some atypical dishes for a bars. Mushroom ragout with rice, my buddy @dharmeshg says the stew is terrific.

The serve 3 beers, IPA, a wheat beet and one with oats. The fourth and easily my fav is their apple cider. Total win. A little gassier would have been preferable but it was good stuff. Its a good idea to get a little taster of all the brews and then order a pitcher which is good value for money if you intend to have more than 2 pints.

The burger with hot sauce was wow. Crumbly, messy, saucy, fell apart at first bite but it was possibly the best ive had in a while. Everyone at our table got one post tasting mine. it was that good.

Overall, the place is pleasant, young and by 830 it is heaving. Service is a little scatter brained but they mean well, i am sure it'll get sorted in a few weeks.

Food : 8/10
Service : 7/10
Damage : 1200 for 3 pints and a burger.

The Bombay Canteen

2015-03-13T18:33:00.000+05:30

Rest : The Bombay Canteen

Meal : Dinner

Loc : Kamala Mills

The Bombay Canteen is possibly the hottest dining ticket in the city right now, tables are extremely hard to get and are much sought after. It is Floyd Cardoz's India debut and is high on concept, of all the recent openings thus far, it is definetely the most innovative. From the register like menu, to the Rooh Afza bottles for water and of course the food.

The menu is rather limited and can best be descibed as India inspired, most dishes spin out of familar things but go their own way pretty quickly. They have a chotta and bada concept (some of it is pretty large) and they also have the chintu which float around and should be grabbed everytime they pass by.

the boiled egg was a chintu with a filling of egg bhurji i reckon, delicious.

Fried lotus stems are so much better than regular chips, SO MUCH BETTER. Lotus stems should be on more menus i reckon.

cheese sticks. what is not to like ?

the moong dal fritters, very good, tasty chutney but the chana kachumbar mix was diabolical. they need to put it on the menu as a separate listing all together. this was gone very very quickly.

they do a selection of toasts, this was the spicy tomato bit with peanut salsa and home made paneer. Tad spicy and a little underwhelming but by no means bad.

the eggs kejriwal were unlike any i have had but were terrific. easily one of the starts of the menu. def get them whilst there.

the masala coke, was smaller than id like and had more masala than id like. could be improved.

so the indian tacos were dissapointing, didnt go anywhere, too gimmicky. although i am told the non-veg taco was terrific.

so this was my main, the baked cabbage and paneer kofta, the first serving was over salted so we sent it back. it came back somewhat fixed but not quite. i had it with a steamed garlic bun which was terrific and must be had.

the old monk rum laden gulab jamun was terrific. a combination that works extremely well together.

the guava pastry with mirchi ice cream was okay, i didnt find it to be that great but everyone else loved it.

the falooda sundae with some skim milk. terrific. a falooda SUNDAE so simple yet so amazing.

the ice cream sandwich was dissapointing all around. the bon bon and jim jam are great but need to perhaps switch the ice cream filling.

the masala chai popsicles were exactly as weird as they sound. look like kulfi but taste just like frozen chai (not as bad as it sounds) my companions liked this more than i did.

Overall, the space is pretty cool, the vibe is great and its heaving with people. So for now, its def going to be the place to go.

I was the sole vegetarian of the crew and i found the food to be okay, the menu is kinda eclectic and fairly limited. Its not traditional in any sense. I am told they will take another two months or so to add more veg options. So the place def does have potential, hope to check them out in a month or two.

Also, as @anaggh rightly pointed out, the menu is kinda limited therefore will have to change frequently otherwise one could go through it all in two visits and then it gets kinda boring. the word is that the menu will change every couple of months.

The non-veg was voted to be amazing, so i guess meat eaters should not feel shy about ordering.

The desserts range from terrific to good to weird good. So no chance of making a mistake there.

Service was quick, prompt and friendly. Id say go for it.

Special thanks to @dharmeshg @qtfan and @anaggh for a great evening out, sorting out the table and eveything else.

Food : 7/10
Service : 8/10
Damage : 12000 for 4 w cocktails

Sassy Spoon

2015-02-06T18:29:00.000+05:30

Rest : Sassy Spoon

Meal : Dinner
Loc : Express Towers, Nariman Point.

Finally, Mrs Jain, Miss Jain and i set out to have dinner, this was the Mrs J's first night out since December, was our wedding anniversary and was also the first time Miss Jain was going to be out in public. we chose Sassy Spoon because it wasnt too far from home and there would be no parking issues. In addition, a bunch of family members were there a few days ago and loved it.

So, the space is kinda rustic in a hipster sort of way, if you dont look around at people you dont feel like you are in Bombay. there is an outdoors section which is a good choice on Feburary evenings. The menu is predominantly Italian-Mediterranean. I didnt see any salads on the dinner menu but i am told they do serve that as well as sandwiches at lunch as well as a breakfast menu on weekends.

Bread basket was strictly okay. nothing great.

The White Onion & Smoked Scarmoza was excellent, though i didnt get a very strong onion flavour in it, nor was the cheese overpowering the taste. it was somewhere in the middle. A light start to the meal.

The Ricotta Ravioli with walbuts & pine nuts was just fantastic. A garlic infused sauce, this should be a main, its a shame its on the appetizer list. I wouldnt order ravioli for an appetizer but this was higly recommended by mates and def a must have.

The berry cooler with bluebrry, some orange and lots of kala khatta. i never get coolers because they are always weird mixes but anything kala khatta i will try and it was freaking awesome. a little too sweet but still diabolically delicious.

spaghetti in lemon buerre and parmesan was lovely. dryish, the lemon flavour was very subtle. Mrs Jain who is a fan of aglio olio style, enjoyed this a great deal.

while, i loved my mushroom tortelini in a porcini sauce. both things worked well together and the dish tasted fantastic. i found this to be superior to the spaghetti. while mrs Jain found it otherwise.

the rasberry sorbet was way too sweet, sickly sweet in fact.

the mousse cake was good but i ate it under protest because frankly, mousse is just boring.

Overall, the ambiance is lovely and the food excellent, no complaints, other than the fact that the portions are kind of smallish, a little bit more would be very welcome, or maybe i am just a greedy pig and shouldnt be complaining.

The service though was outstanding. We were out with a baby for the first time and they went out of their way to be helpful, got us an extra chair, helped set up the carry cot so we could keep Miss Jain in the middle. They were on the money with the recommendations as well.

If they can dial down their propensity for going overboard when sugar is in play, this would be damn near perfect.

Super impressed.

Food : 8/10
Service : 9/10
Damage : 3000 without drinks.

A Tale Of Two Thalis

2015-01-17T18:34:00.000+05:30

As mentioned before, i was parked at the Saifee Hospital for a bit and took an outstation guest for lunch to Golden Star which is just around the corner. For some reason Golden Star has never really been high on our radar, perhaps because my dad never favoured it and also because it has no parking available.

Great food, not so great service but that's okay.

A photo posted by Gaurav (@gauravgjain) on Dec 27, 2014 at 10:32pm PST

Thalis have become more and more about excess, cramming things in and offering vareity as well as more and more desserts.

While the food on the whole was pretty good, no complaints with quality or taste. I do think that adding Dal Bati which was strictly okay was excessive and its not quite Gujju. The Undhiyu too is always around in these months but is a specialist dish it should be done carefully. I am not a fan of puris either, a bhakri would have been kind of good.

In any case this was my guests first thali ever and he loved the experience. The service was pretty slack and i had to pretty much ask for everything i wanted which is the sign of a badly run crew. The dhokla showed up only twice.

Price wise, it was def not cheap, 400 bucks per person is hefty.

A photo posted by Gaurav (@gauravgjain) on Dec 27, 2014 at 10:32pm PST

#lunch

A photo posted by Gaurav (@gauravgjain) on Dec 20, 2014 at 12:34am PST

One of my fav meals, this one, i cant go more than a month without a visit. this one too was pretty spectacular, Luckliy enough on a weekday we were able to get our tables without too much of a wait.

Overall, nothing new except the awesome food but the beans which were very tasty but seemed kind of odd, i wouldnt have expected them in a meal like this. Will check up on this when i can but there is little to complain about here. Rasam & Sambar were terrific, the buttermilk was super spicy and yoghurt as it should be - tangy. The tamarind chutney was awesome too.

Bliss. at 150 bucks.

Misal at Vinay

2015-01-12T15:15:00.000+05:30

Dahi Misal #snack

A photo posted by Gaurav (@gauravgjain) on Dec 28, 2014 at 4:57am PST

Vinay is an age old name, another one of those joints my dad turned me onto. unfortunately their menu largely has less maharashtrian stuff and more south indian and sandwiches than it should. Most of it is not that great in any case.

This though is the star dish. no one in the city does it as well. NO ONE. Its spicy sweet but with just enough yoghurt to dial it down.

Sharma's at Tarabag

2015-01-10T15:12:00.001+05:30

Ever since i was a kid, my folks have been taking us to Sharma's for Chaat, since its located on a very busy street, we attack it like gureillas with someone watching the car while the others gorge, or we take a cab.

Although i haven't been here in a while because i hate being the guy stuck in the car during peak hours.

Recently I was parked out at Saifee Hospital next door, which meant i was at Sharma's a whole lot, sometimes twice a day for my meals.

kanji vada is one of my fav things in the world. Not easy to find. This one was above average

A photo posted by Gaurav (@gauravgjain) on Dec 28, 2014 at 4:59am PST

The Kanji Vada, is a rare thing to find, this is the only place i know where these are available, they can be hit and miss, the taste depending on how well the water has been pickled and for how long. The guys here serve it nice and cold, which i love.

Dahi puri after years

A photo posted by Gaurav (@gauravgjain) on Dec 15, 2014 at 8:54am PST

The Dahi Puri, is another specialty, the dahi can be cold sometimes which is not much fun but this is rarely a miss.

Ragda Pattice just as good as I remember it

A photo posted by Gaurav (@gauravgjain) on Dec 15, 2014 at 8:57am PST

the Ragda Pattice is easily the star here. love it. served UP style, although not fried red, like the northerners like it.

The space, is cheap, even now, each dish is about 30 rupees. My mother swears by their Pani Puri and they do serve more things like bhel, sev puri, dahi samosa, etc. So its a short but varied enough menu. And you are served almost immediately.

Do check em out if in the area.

LocoChino

2015-01-10T15:03:00.001+05:30

Rest : Loco Chino
Loc : Peddar Road, near Vama
Meal : Lunch

Loco Chino replaces the ill fated Buddha Belly at Peddar Road, a location where parking is nigh impossible and that is about the only drawback i see with the place. The menu oddly is Chinese & Mexican, perhaps to capture two rather popular cuisines which would suit the residents in the area just fine.

While i was there strictly for the Mexican i could not resist getting the Turnip cakes, which were FIERY hot, not to taste as such but a few hours later, they were raging. good but be careful with these. you have been warned.

the nachos, well they were generous with the sour cream salsa and the guacamole but i was not too impressed with the chips. i hope they switch to a different, plainer kind, still worth getting however.

my brother went for the burrito bowl which is what happens to a burrito when it implodes i suppose. pretty good.

the chimichangas, everyone has given me grief over this picture, well its fried people, this IS a chimichanga, its unfortunate that its been cut and presented like a quesadilla, but this too was pretty good.

the soft shell taco was again good but small.

the burrito, going by the bowl, was not going to be bad and it wasnt. worked out well, this one.

Overall, i loved the food here, id like to give some dim sum a try but i think the mexican is a winner here. Infact, i was shocked at how good the food was. I chalk it down to freshness, even the Guacamole was fresh and generously shared.

Dont know how long they will be able to keep the standard up, i hope it is for a while, def going back for more this weekend.

Only complaint so far is that the salsa chips arent that good to taste but that could be just me. The portions could be bigger. Its not expensive but again, its not cheap either.

Service is kinda slow but hopefully they will get their act together soon.

meal for 2 was about 1100.

Crystal

2014-12-09T19:58:00.000+05:30

Went back to Crystal after ages, this time with usual Crystal partner in Crime Shailesh Prabhu (@yellowmonkeygames) for a pretty terrific meal. As usual we got there just at 1.15 pm and got an empty table.

Slash and i usually vary up our orders but this time we stuck to the usual the dry aloo, the chana masala and the paneer bhurji. unfortunately there was no space for a rajma chawal this time but in any case, the food was terrific. no complaints whatsoever.

The prices though have shot up. it was 350 for two which is about 70-80 more than i would pay usually. A few days after this i got another round of take out for some friends where we had malai kofta and rajma as well as the chana masala and the sukha aloo. terrific then too. easily one of the best places ever.

Byblos

2014-12-05T19:32:00.001+05:30

Rest : Byblos

Meal : Lunch

Loc : Phoenix

Byblo is the new Middle Eastern/Lebanese restaurant that has replaced the much lamented Komala's. It is the second middle eastern restaurant in Lower Parel, the splendid Aqaba being the other. I

met with @vbubber for a nice drawn out lunch. Varun had already been there on the second night and said the menu now was actually shorter than the launch menu from a few days ago.

Still, its a pretty substantial menu, with plenty of mezze, flatbreads, salads, sandwiches , shawarma, some pasta and my fav Byblos all day iftaar breakfast which has some dishes you wouldn't find around the city easily.

started off with the hummus with fried chick peas, which i didnt like at first bite but then it grew on me. good stuff. also they have the toum which is a garlicky butter which is just awesome. make sure you get your hands on it.

The full egyptian fry up from the breakfast menu was freaking HUGE. with the medames (fried beans) potato, tomato and mint salad, this was something else. i was oddly expecting a skillet for some reason but this was pretty brilliant if a little unwieldy.

The Red Velvet Gnocchi was pretty amazing, the sauce was kind of like an Alfredo sauce but pretty good nonetheless. Worth a try certainly.

Varun also got the peri peri chicken which he said was amazing but pretty hot. We were suckered into splitting a brownie with some caramel (sweeter than id like)

Overall, i think the menu is a tad too large but going by all i had, if they do all the dishes well enough, no complaints. The prices are okayish, just a little less than what you would pay at Indigo Deli.

Its a great place to go in a bigger group so one can share dishes. Def hoping to make it back soon to order some of the dishes i missed out on. There is a bar too and considering its slightly secluded location, it could pick up as a place for a bit of a party.

Food : 8/10
Serv : 8/10
Damage : 3300 for two without drinks.