Friday, July 29, 2005

Mumbai Guide

MUMBAI GUIDE

Seafood (Indian)
Gazalee - MIDC Andheri (E) and Vile Parle(E) - moderately priced - very good food - fish and crabs
Saaybaa - outside Bandra Stn. (W) - very cheep and very decent place - limited seating - avoid rush hour
Mahesh lunch home - Fort - off the Citibank lane on DN Road - probably the most popular seafood - expensive nowadays
Apoorva lunch home - Fort - near Mahesh - off the lane opposite to Mahesh - cheaper and equally good
Excellensea/Bharat lunch home - newar RBI building - the biggest prawn I have ever eaten - very good food
Priya Lunch Home - Right opp. Vikhroli Station - cheap and good
Malvan Samudra - Outside Vikhroli station (W)
Sion Lunch Home - near Sion station - Speciality: Mangalorian food
Fountain Plaza - near Fountain - off DN Road, the street that goes left at Eastern Watch. Inexpensive and great fish
Maharaja - near chakala - good choice of crabs
Highway Gomantak - under the flyover of Bandra (E) - moderately cheap and great food
Steaks
Cafe Royal - opposite Regal - very costly - the best juiciest steaks in town in my opinion
Kobe sizzlers - Sakinaka, Andheri Stn (W), and Girgaon Chowpatty - slightly costly - nice steaks in the form of sizzlers
Alps - behind Regal and Bade Miyan - very cheap - decent steaks with beer - smoky place
Rodas Parabola - Hiranandani Powai - expensive - the midnight menu has excellent steak
Yoko sizzlers - Lokhandwala, Khar - I have had diametrically opposite experiences here - so take a shot
Midnight Buffets
Le Royal Meridien - Intl. Airport - 325 per head all days - as good as you expect a midnight buffet to be - good salads and deserts - ok main course food - 12 to 3 - but 12 to 2 on monday
Rodas Parabola coffee shop - Hiranandani Powai - 225 per head on weekends and 199 per head on weekdays - again good salads and deserts - deserts get over - not on mondays
Renaissance - Powai - haven't been there - only weekends - 350/400 per head
Lotus Suites - they have stopped their midnight buffets
Leela, Marriot, Oberoi, Taj - when last called upon, they didn't have midnight buffets
Intercontinental, The Grand - Intl. airport - 350 per person - weekends only
Best midnight buffets - outside railway stations all over Bombay :)
24-hour coffee shops
Oberoi - now called Hilton - Nariman Point - very good lounge with a sea view - though you can't see at night - have bottomless coffees for about 80! :)
President - Cuffee Parade - Also Library Bar with live music but closes at about 1 am.
Rodas - Hiranandani Powai - midnight buffet available here
Leela - Intl. Airport - Good lounge for coffee - the bar behind the lounge closes at 2 last I know
Hyatt Ragancy - Itnl. Airport - Great glassy lounge - standard coffees/smoothies available
Grand Maratha Sheraton - Intl. Airport - excellent coffee shop and ambience - great food
Basically most 3-4 star and all 5 star hotels have some kind of food and drink available throughout the night
South Indian food
Mysore Cafe, Madras Cafe and Anand Bhavan - all located bang on King's Circle (70/head)
A. Rama Nayak's Lunch House - right outside the Matunga station platform south side
Amba Bhavan Coffee Club - King's Circle
Sharada Bhuvan - Opposite the Matunga Station Main Ticket Window on the East.
Mani's Lunch Home - Matunga Gymkhana
Ram Ashraya - Kabutarkhana, Matunga(C.R), on the junction of Napoo Rd and Bhandarkar Road.
Udipi - Matunga Station
Woodland - Mulund Cheknaka
Kamat's - Chembur naka part of a narion-wide chain
Dosa Diner, everywhere (120/head).. Try the Non-Veg thaali if you happen to be non-veg
Marathi food
Prakash - Next to Shiv Sena Bhavan, towards Portuguese Church, serves an excellent Misal.
Aaswad - Near Shiv Sena Bhavan, towards Mahim. Used to be like Prakash, but now they serve Punjabi, Southie dishes too.
Trupti - Opposite Plaza Cinema (in the same building that was destroyed in the 1993 bomb blasts). Aaswad above is owned by it's ex-Manager.
Panshikar's - Opposite Dadar Stn(W), again for traditional Maharashtrian grub.
Madhura - Between Plaza and Shiv Sena Bhavan(N.C Kelkar Rd), similar to Prakash.
Dattatraya - same row as Prakash aobve in Dadar
Misc Indian treats
Gujju thali @ 100 - Hotel Maharana - Chembur Naka
Rajasthani/Gujarati thali - Royal Challenge II - Thane (W) near Teen Haath Naka
Treat places - for IITians
Potpourri (continental) & Kabab Corner in Bandra
Olive (Meditteranean) in Bandra
Orchid Hotel (continental) Late Night Buffet in Vile Parle
Yoko Sizzlers & Dynasty in Santa Cruz
Pop Tate's (Italian) in Versova
Sanuk Thai in Bandra
Tamnak Thai in Shivaji Park
Sidewok in Nariman Point
Kobe Sizzlers (Andheri West, Bandra, Opera House)
San Marzano (Italian) near Churchgate
Little Italy (pure veg Italian, Tiramisu highyl recommended) in Juhu
Please note that in each of the above, damage per head > Rs 250 (excluding beverages).
5 Spice - authentic chinese - opposite RBI headqarters, walk from VT - Highly recommended - everything on the menu - Desserts (incl. Death by chocolate) - quite cheap without compromising authenticity, presentation or quality. Daaru available.
Mama Mia's Fast Food at Opera House - excellent selection of subs, pizzas, pastas at very reasonable prices - avoid desi chinese here - no daaru, no a/c.
Sassanian Boulangerie - opposite Metro Cinema/Masjid roundabout - clean place, excellent non-veg, parsi-Irani and good european/continental, chinese, italian food - serves sizzlers - quite cheap - has a bakery too - no daaru (unless you klnow the owner and bring your own).
The '80s Place - start of Linking road Bandra station side - excellent veg buffet joint Rs 80. - the pub nearby by the same name is a money-sink
Mama Mia (www.mamamiapizzas.com) - Opera House - American, Italian, Mexican (Pizzas, Subs and Fast food) - moderately cheap - good veg variety





Mumbai food spots - details
Name
Place
Description
Price,Rating
Gazalee
One branch at Vile-Parle (E) the other where we usually go is near Seepz
Possibly where Sigfood started. Amazing sea-food. Used to be excellent, recently we feel it is slightly down. The latest trip was however a huge success. They bring you huge crabs and kapri the moment you are seated - very pricey but excellent if had - recommended for large groups. Otherwise you can get off at reasonable rates. The thali is excellent value for money. The Solkadhi is divine
Moderate,Great
Cafe Churchill
Located on Colaba Causeway opposite the second Barista
Mind blowing continental food - stews, goulash, pasta and out of the world deserts. Each dish is about 150/- and enough for one person. If you want the deserts it is 50/- each for a rather small helping but hell it is worth it
Moderate,Excellent
Koolar and Company
at King's circle near all the colleges in Matunga East
One who cares for his money, shops and eats at Koolar and Company - That's the cool jingle welcoming you to that best of Irani places in Mumbai. Sells amazing omelettes (double cheese masala being our favourite) washed down with generous fresh lime soda. Can double up as breakfast and lunch or even a snack and dinner
Cheap,Great
Gypsy
Dadar West bang in Sena Bhavan chowk
Very very good chinese place. Pricey but amazingly good. Try the dimsums and Daar-san at the end
Pricey,Great
Great Punjab
Linking Road - Bandra
Very good Punjabi food with great butter chicken and black dal (proper style). Pricey for a student budget
Pricey,Good
Grand Maratha Sheraton
near international airport
Mind blowing customizable sandwich and cocktails. Being a 5-star I needn't tell you about prices
Expensive,Great
Sanuk Oriental
near Rhythm House, Kala Ghoda
Used to be Sanuk Thai. Very good oriental food. Quite pricey
Pricey,Great
Persian Darbar
Start of Linking Road
this is where we discovered Masala Raan. I will not do the sin of describing it. Take 4-5 huge appetite people and go and have one
Moderate,Good
Saaybaa
right opposite Bandra station on the west side on the busy main road
An old and very famous seafood place. Cheap and good fish
Cheap,Good
Mai Thai
Near NCST, Andheri West
Great 7 course Thai meal. Small portions but good sampling. Really spicy cocktails
Moderate,Good
Alps
The lane behind Leopold leading to Taj backside
Great cheap sizzlers, beer but be prepared for a smoke cloud
Cheap,Good
Cafe Noorani
Haji Ali Circle
Absolutely great mutoon dishes and fried ice-cream
Moderate,Good
Haji Ali Juice Center
Haji Ali Circle
Fruit-cream - two words for those who know what it means. Only place open beyond 1 am for the days after a late night in town and if you have a car
Pricey,Great
Mahesh Lunch Home
Fort
One of the oldest original seafood places
Moderate,Good
Apoorva Lunch Home
Fort
Another great office-goer joint. Great seafood
Moderate,Good
Bharat Lunch Home (Excellen Sea)
Fort, Near RBI building
Very very good seafood - possibly the best pomfret and super tiger prawns I have ever eaten - meet the old chef later if he is still around
Moderate,Great
Yoko Sizzlers
Khar and Oshiwara
Have had diametrically opposite experiences here
Pricey,Ok to Good
Kobe Sizzlers
Girgaum Chowpatty
Good sizzlers - bad seating on the top floor - avoid that
Moderate,Good
Cafe Royal
Bang opposite Regal
Possibly the best steak in town - extremely costly though
Expensive,Excellent
Marine Plaza
Maine Drive
They used to have a great buffet dinner
Expensive,Good
Sidewok
Nariman Point
I don't remember anything about the food - you go there for only reason - flaming cocktails! Amazing bartenders - go and stock up on your gyaan
Expensive,Excellent
Starters and More
behind Eros
Happy hours - one cocktail free with every ordered cocktail - and the more you drink even in normal time, the more complimentary ones you get to drink
Pricey,Excellent
Rodas
Hiranandani Gardens, Powai
Used to have a good buffet but has been time restricted lately. Very good chinese food on the first floor - the chinese one will be rated great
Pricey,Good
Oberoi, President, Leela
all over town
the only use for the 5 star ones is all night coffee outings
Expensive,Good
Time and Again
Lokhandwala
Good food, decent cocktails
Pricey,Good
Badshah Coldrink House
Crawford Market
Great Faloodas, ice creams and juices
Moderate,Great
New Martin's house
Colaba, turn left after Churchill's petrol pump and first right
Super cheap non veg. Goanese style
Cheap,Good
Kulfi Center
Girgaon chowpatty
The best and the original. Beware of nearby imitations
Moderate,Great
Goa Portuguesa/Culture Curry
Mahim, next to H.P.O.
Good Goan food. They have a soup in the menu called the best soup in the world - it is really good. Good feni and non-veg
Moderate,Good
Akarshan
Vikhroli stn. road
One of the favoutire iit treat places. normal restaurant. Used to make good Bloody Marys. Not as of last time
Moderate,Good
Chakra
Sakinaka
Possibly iit's favourite treat joint. Really good food. Has a decent bar and service and the iit discount
Moderate,Great
Atithi
Mulund stn. West
Another iit treat joint. Normal decent restaurant
Moderate,Good
Legacy of China
Near Seven Bungalows
One of the best Chinese restaurants in town
Pricey,Excellent
Delhi Durbar
Colaba Causeway
Good north Indian food. Very good Biryanis if I remember right
Pricey,Good
Maddu Mess
Powai
Don't even try to find it without an iitian in tow. You won't dare eat there normally but boy, are you mistaken. I had to write about this
Cheap,Excellent
City Bakery
Worli
Don't pass through Worli without having some yummy treats here
Cheap,Good
Galleria
Hiranandani Gardens, Powai
Powai's very own food court (khau galli)
Moderate,Good
Nebula
Sena Bhavan Chowk, Dadar
Really good food. Normal decent restaurant
Pricey,Good
Tamnak Thai
Dadar(W), Shivaji park southside, Opposite Catering College, Veer Savarkar Marg
Absolutely great Thai food and good wine collection and bar
Expensive,Excellent
Naval Military Stores
Behind Regal
Good quick cheap Biryani's in the area with costly restaurants around
ModerateGood
Five Spice
Near RBI - 10 mins from VT
Amazing food, spicy and very tasty(great flavours)
ModerateGreat




Price ratings - Cheap(about Rs.50-100 per person), Moderate(150-200), Pricey(250-300), Expensive(350+) - these are without drinks and indicates price for starter, main course, desert where applicable - this assumes that when going out you are willing to spend some moneyFood ratings - Ok (aceptable), Good (very very decent), Great (yummy! will go again), Excellent (don't miss this for your life)

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