tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28375029471718794302024-03-18T20:16:09.119-07:00Satiating the sensesOne of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating ~ Luciano Pavarotti
and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-44391051950750919752010-05-11T04:09:00.000-07:002010-05-11T11:33:41.206-07:00The Jail<b>3rd Floor, Sindhudurga Bhawan, Above Grande Imperial Banquets, RTO Road, 4 Bungalows, Andheri (W), Mumbai. Phone: 26316100, 26316101.<br />
Landmark: Near Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Ambience:</b><br />
This theme-based restaurant takes its name seriously and the detailing in the interiors is just perfect. From waiters dressed as inmates and the maitre de and other staff dressed as inspectors, to a police van, with a blinking emergency light on, parked on the side and typical jail-type chairs and tables making up the furniture. They also have ‘cell’s’ which accommodate small and large groups. Even the cover of menu card resembled a cell door :) Muted lighting adds to the effect. <br />
<br />
<b>Service:</b><br />
After reading the reviews about the shoddy service I went expecting the worst, but was I was in for a pleasant surprise! The wait staff was polite, patient and prompt. The service was super quick, faster than any restaurant I have been to so far, and very efficient.<br />
<br />
<b>What we ate and drank:</b><br />
Caribbean BBQ Chicken (Rs 425)<br />
Grilled Chicken with Mushroom Sauce (Rs 425)<br />
Spaghetti Nepolitana (Rs 330)<br />
Grilled Fish with Mint Sauce (Rs 475)<br />
Fresh Lime Soda (2) (Rs 80)<br />
Fresh Lime Water (Rs 40)<br />
Kinley Water (Rs 25)<br />
<br />
<b>Service Charge:</b> 7.5%<br />
<br />
<b>They also have a buffet, Rs 450 per head, on the weekends.</b><br />
<br />
Except for the delicious Spaghetti Nepolitana, the rest of the food tasted strictly average. The chicken in both the dishes was dry and tough and the portion size of the vegetables, and chips served with the fish, was meager. Presentation was good. The quantity was just right, for me, but if compared to the pricing, which is a bit much, it did seem like they could either increase the quantity or decrease the price a little. <br />
<br />
The Jail is an ideal place to go with a group of friends, just to savor the unique experience of this remarkable restaurant.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-6164951434837007312010-03-20T09:24:00.000-07:002010-03-20T09:42:12.672-07:00Mosate<b>Jharna Apartments, next to Barbeque Nation, Dr Ambedkar Road, Bandra (W) Ph: 2646-5133. <br />
They accept all cards except AmEx. Service Charge 5 %.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Cuisine:</b> Pan-Asian<br />
<b>Valet Parking:</b> Yes<br />
<b>Serve Alcohol:</b> Yes<br />
<br />
<b>Ambience:</b><br />
When the cuisine has the words Asian, pan-Asian cuisine to be specific to Mosate, it is but expected that you will encounter lots wood and accessories from Southeast Asia. Mosate doesn’t disappoint either, as this L-shaped restaurant works in wooden slats as partitions and statuettes from Southeast Asia studding the walls and ensconced in niches. The largely beige and brown hued restaurant is softly and beautifully lit though. I also noticed that it wasn’t noisy, in spite of being full.<br />
The seating compromises of wooden benches and low chairs facing them, both extremely uncomfortable. A large ‘family’ table takes up one wall. <br />
<br />
<b>Staff and service:</b><br />
Well groomed, cheerful, accommodating and really, really slow. Though we were seated immediately, and handed the menu pronto, the pace turned languorous after that. The food took a while to arrive. <br />
Moreover I have a major quibble; the person taking our order had a heavy accent, so when he said Bangkok Chicken we heard Mango chicken and Almond Torte sounded like Onion Roll. Very confusing!<br />
<br />
<b>The Food:</b><br />
We sorely regretted following the servers recommendations after we’d ordered;<br />
Chicken Bangkok Style (Rs 190) Bite sized pieces of chicken and a smattering of bell peppers in a ketchupy red sauce. Passable.<br />
Chicken Burnt Garlic Fried Rice (Rs 150) The tiniest of rice grains tossed together with bits of chicken. No evidence of Garlic, burnt or otherwise.<br />
Chicken Khowsuey with Rice Noodle (Rs 270) tasted sweet, too milky, and too creamy. Chicken Farang Stir Fried (Rs 250) Just when I sent up a prayer of thanks, to have finally bitten into a tasty dish, at the end of my meal I bit into a piece of raw chicken. Ewww!<br />
Fresh Lime Soda (Rs 50)<br />
<br />
Their serving sizes are generous.<br />
<br />
Mosate has a great location, the restaurant is roomy and tastefully done up, and their pricing is good too. However they really need to pull their socks up where the most important aspect of a restaurant, the food, is concerned and speed up their service.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-73669909849912214602010-02-21T03:23:00.000-08:002010-04-01T06:38:26.918-07:00Da Vinci’s<b>Shop No 2A, Fatima Villa, 29th Road, Pali Naka, Bandra (W), Mumbai – 400050.Tel: 32486032/32486033</b><br />
<br />
<i>Service Charge:</i> 10%<br />
<i>Serve Alcohol:</i>Yes<br />
<i>Valet Parking:</i>Yes<br />
<br />
Tucked away in a busy bylane of Bandra, the restaurant could take a few hits and misses to get to if you aren’t familiar with the area, as the lane Da Vinci’s is situated in is a one-way/no-entry from the main road and a bit of driving around from the next lane leads you to it.<br />
<br />
The staff, and they have quite a few of them, flit around like busy bees in spite of which the service is incredibly slow. It takes ages for you to catch a servers eyes after he’s placed the menu in front of you and is back to flitting around the place. <br />
<br />
Looking around while you wait, you’d notice that grey and brown are the dominant shades used in the interiors of this almost rectangular shaped restaurant. A small bar and dessert counter next to the cashier greet you at the entrance. The seating is basic, and the tables and chairs very economically sized. Large disk-shaped fixtures of muted light individually placed above each table light up the restaurant. <br />
<br />
Fortunately the servers, when they finally appear at your table, are well informed about the items on the menu and make some excellent suggestions from the same. Just as you begin to wonder if your first impression could be false, your food takes simply ages to make an appearance! When it does arrive, at last, you’re pleased to realize it is worth the wait. <br />
<br />
The thin crust pizza, (Rs 225 + extra for toppings of choice. We chose, grilled chicken-Rs 45, onion slices-Rs 10, bell pepper- Rs 20) made from scratch, was simply divine. A bite into a steaming slice and it just melted in the mouth. <br />
<br />
Pasta in Pesto sauce with chicken (Rs 225 + Rs 50 extra for the chicken) had the right balance of a creamy texture without being too heavy.<br />
<br />
Pollo Steak (Rs 275) Chicken breasts in a rich brown sauce. Delicious!<br />
<br />
Pollo E Spinachi (Rs 265) As the name should very obviously suggest, it is chicken in a delicious and creamy spinach based sauce with pasta added to it. Different and really nice!<br />
<br />
Pollo Diavola (Rs 250) Chicken breasts in a tomato based sauce with mashed potatoes on the side. Yum!<br />
<br />
Though each dish tasted great and was presented well, they could have been a bit more generous with the portion sizes.<br />
<br />
Virgin Kiwi Margarita (Rs 150) Refreshing, with just the right hint of tartness from the fresh kiwis.<br />
<br />
Virgin Cranberry Margarita (Rs 150) It was nice, but a tad too sweet for my taste.<br />
<br />
Fresh Lime Soda (Rs 50)<br />
<br />
Chocolate Mousse (Rs 140) A generous bowl of a really sinful mousse coated with a thick layer of chocolate on top. The perfect way to end the meal!<br />
The dessert we ordered before the mousse tasted a bit off and the staff was gracious enough to acknowledge it before they swapped it with the mousse.<br />
<br />
The food and drinks were really nice. Now, if they’d just spruce up their service, Da Vinci’s would be perfect!Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-2315785274950545242010-02-09T02:15:00.000-08:002010-02-09T03:19:19.759-08:00Theobroma<i>29/30 Link Square Mall, Near KFC Restaurant, Bandra(W) Mumbai – 400050.<br />
Tel: 26469010/26469040<br />
<b></b></i><br />
<br />
Ever since Theobroma debuted in Colaba a few years ago, I have been hearing nothing but copious words of praise about everything edible they have on their shelves. Too lazy to make the trip to their Colaba branch I always joked that as all good things come to those who wait, I would wait for Theobroma to come to me. I guess a lot of suburbanites were wishing for the same too as Theo’s has finally opened shop in our midst in the happening area of Linking Road.<br />
<br />
The heavenly goodies on offer are the incentives that make you come back for more.<br />
So far, I’ve tried the;<br />
Truffle Cake ( Eggless) ½ kg (Rs 300) When they say ‘truffle’ they mean truffle! This rich, gooey and divine cake had equal amounts of chocolate and cake, as compared to the dry cakes passed of as Truffle cake by other patisseries.<br />
Coffee Caramel Mousse (Rs 75) This wedge of delicious perfection is a must have for coffee-lovers!<br />
Millionaire Brownie (Rs 65) Their signature Brownie, I believe. Take a bite of the sinful layers that make up this brownie to find out why it’s so famous!<br />
<br />
I also tried their Raspberry Cheesecake which tasted so good, it has replaced my all time favorite Blueberry Cheesecake as a favorite!<br />
<br />
Everything I’ve tried here so far tastes a cut above from what other patisseries offer. I suspect they use top class ingredients which is why they seem to be priced a tad higher too. <br />
<br />
The Service and staff are a real letdown though. The first time I went there the staff was too busy, placing a bucket under a dripping air-conditioned at the entrance, mopping the floor and yelling out instructions to each other, to attend to the customers. On my 2nd visit, though there was no dripping aircon, the staff, seemed totally clueless about the desserts on display. They take their own time to seat you, clear the table and get your order. I specified I would be having the pastry there, twice, and was handed a takeaway after being kept waiting for 15-20 minutes!<br />
<br />
Though they are very polite, the staff does need to step up with their service and knowledge of the food on display. Since the Linking Road outlet just opened on the 31 of December 2009, maybe the issues are just teething troubles which will be sorted out soon, hopefully.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-24463712800710231322009-11-30T05:59:00.001-08:002009-12-04T01:48:59.530-08:00Gajalee<b>Hotel Jaltarang Pvt Ltd, Amrapali Shopping Centre, JVPD Scheme, V.L.M Marg, Juhu, Vile Parle (W) Mumbai – 49. Ph: 26107040.<br />
Landmark: Next to Patio </b><br />
<br />
<b>Valet Parking:</b> Yes<br />
<br />
<b>Ambience:</b><br />
Climb up to the first floor to get there and the first thought that comes to mind is how spacious this L-shaped restaurant is. Well spaced tables give you enough privacy as well as a view of the entire restaurant from wherever you are sitting. Floor to ceiling plate glass windows allow you to look over the busy Juhu Road traffic even as they shut out the sound of it. A well-stocked bar runs along one wall and a dessert counter displays the desserts of the day. Soft lighting and comfortable seating adds to the ambience. Just wish they would invest in an air purifier to get rid of the strong odor of seafood which hangs heavily in the air.<br />
<br />
<b>Service:</b><br />
The servers are courteous and knowledgeable and the service is extremely quick. Do follow their recommendations/suggestions from the menu, you won’t regret it. Live seafood is brought to your table for you to choose the size. <br />
<br />
<b>The Menu:</b><br />
The menu is pretty vast, but since their specialty is seafood, it’s a good idea to stick to that. <br />
<b>What we ate and drank:</b><br />
Pomfret Butter Pepper (Rs 600) delicate, melt-in-the-mouth! Scrumptious! <br />
Butter Chicken (Rs 300) good<br />
Garlic Butter Naan (Rs 50) soft and crisp at the same time. Wonderful! <br />
Ghavne (Rs 20) I’m a fan of their rice flour dosa/pancake! Love the light and fluffy texture!<br />
Cranberry Punch (Rs 100) tangy and tasty.<br />
Fresh Lime Soda (Rs 40)<br />
<br />
The quality and presentation of the food is tops and their serving sizes are pretty good as well. I’ve eaten here twice and both my meals have been simply wonderful! Will surely be going back for more!Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-76821127226407552782009-11-23T00:06:00.000-08:002009-12-04T01:51:12.592-08:00Melting Pot<b>148 B, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu, Mumbai – 400-049.<br />
Ph: 26134949 / 67834949<br />
Landmark: Opp Hotel J. W. Marriott</b><br />
<b>Valet Parking:</b> Yes<br />
<b>Reservation recommended: </b>Yes. <br />
The restaurant seems to be very well-liked and is always full, more so during the daytime as it is very popular with the ‘kitty-party’ crowd, so making a reservation will ensure that you don’t have to wait for a table. <br />
<br />
<b>The Ambience:</b><br />
The décor, though eclectic, leans towards being predominantly Asian, with, gorgeous, portraits of the Buddha dotting the walls at regular intervals and a statue welcoming you opposite the main door. A mosaic border runs along the tiled floor and a bronze-hued air conditioning duct snakes along the ceiling. A seemingly well stocked bar runs along a wall. Warm lighting and comfortable furniture provide an overall elegant mood. <br />
<br />
<b>The Service:</b><br />
Extremely polite, knowledgeable and unobtrusive. The servers, thankfully, didn’t hover around the table but were there the moment they sensed you needed them. We were glad we followed the dish suggestions the maitre d’ made. The food took a while to make its appearance at the table, but it was well worth the wait. <br />
<br />
<b>What we Ate and Drank:</b><br />
Whole Rawas with Lemon Parsley dressing (Rs 445) recommended by the maitre d, this was the most succulent and delectable fish I’ve had in a while. An instant favorite! <br />
Whole Rawas in Singapore dressing (Rs 445) tender fish in a great tasting dressing.<br />
Chettinand Chicken (Rs 295) good, and spiced just right.<br />
Appam (Rs 110) pretty good, but could be better. <br />
Fresh Lime Soda Sweet (Rs 90)<br />
Tiramisu (Rs 195) frankly, it didn’t taste remotely like Tiramisu should. Tasted like a regular fresh cream pastry instead.<br />
<br />
Service Charge – 10%Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-87441227228843604152009-11-19T02:48:00.000-08:002009-12-04T01:53:01.629-08:00Yellow Tree Cafe<b>at Clove, 33rd & Ambedkar Road Junction. Bandra (W), Mumbai – 50.Ph: 26487800 / 65287800<br />
Landmarks: Opposite Brownie Point/Sweet Bengal/ Si Branche Boutique.</b><br />
<br />
<b>The Ambience:</b><br />
White-washed walls, a slanted, sunny yellow ceiling, aqua tables and white chairs make up the peaceful interiors of this restaurant. Cookbooks, novels, and little knick knacks are stacked on a shelf, and high windows let in the sunlight and shut out the sounds of the street outside. Hugging the corner of a busy Bandra street, the restaurant has ample parking available on the roads surrounding it.<br />
<br />
<b>The Service:</b><br />
After hearing and reading stories of bungled up reservations, snooty staff and whatnot I played safe by calling up the previous day to reserve a table. We were seated immediately on arrival and, since the restaurant was empty when we got there, we even changed tables after a bit. <br />
The staff is courteous and accommodating and if they just sped up their service a wee bit they would qualify for excellent.<br />
I requested a dish which wasn’t on the menu, Grilled Chicken Breast with Steamed Veggies on the side, and they not only accommodated my request instantly, with a smile might I add, but rustled it up with a delicious dressing as well. <br />
<br />
<b>What we ate and drank:</b><br />
Lemon Iced Tea (Rs 90) served in tall glass.<br />
Basil Ravioli (Rs 255) creamy and delicious.<br />
Grilled Chicken Breast with Steamed Vegetables (Rs 295) <br />
Banger’s and Mash (Rs 315)<br />
Flourless Chocolate Fudge (Rs 125) very nice and different.<br />
Crème Brulee (Rs 125) The Crème Brulee that arrived was actually a chocolate mousse with a layer of burnt sugar on top. Though it was delicious, we were in the mood for some authentic Crème Brulee and asked to replace it with the traditional version. The Chef’s aide informed us that this was their ‘hazelnut flavored version of Crème Brulee’ before he replaced it with another dessert of choice.<br />
<br />
Full marks to the presentation, taste, quality and quantity of all the dishes and drinks we tried.<br />
<br />
The Menu of Yellow Tree is refreshingly different and very interesting, tempting me to go back for more, very soon.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-22239992014862695882009-09-21T01:56:00.000-07:002009-12-04T01:53:35.031-08:00Olio<strong>Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, Balraj Sahani Marg,Juhu Beach,Mumbai – 49.<br />
Tel: 66394444</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Cuisine:</strong> Italian and Mediterranean.<br />
<br />
<br />
A slippery wooden floor, a splash of orange and a bit of red, open kitchens and a wine rack taking up an entire wall make up the rather disappointing ambience. The sunny smiles of the efficient staff manage to light up the rather drab, and surprisingly noisy, atmosphere. <br />
Their fascination for olives comes through with the image being embroidered on the napkin, embossed on the plate and the actual thing being added to every dish we ordered. <br />
<br />
Hummus (Rs 185) the hummus suspiciously tasted like it had come out of a can. <br />
Penne Chicken (Rs 630) If you want to find out how a restaurant can go wrong with a simple dish of penne with chicken in cheese sauce, come to Olio.<br />
Chicken and Pickled Lemon Tagine (Rs 650) served with couscous. Ho-hum…<br />
Raspberry Chocolate Bombe (Rs 295) Summon Hercule Poirot, I want to find out where the raspberry disappeared to, from this dessert! <br />
<br />
Olio was hugely disappointing. From the dull ambience, to the below par food and its presentation, nothing seemed to impress. The only saving graces; the able and cheerful service and the dessert trolley which they bring around at the end of the meal, for you to choose your dessert from.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-48541213678464484722009-08-18T07:38:00.000-07:002009-12-04T01:57:32.709-08:00Salt Water Café<em><strong>Rose Minar Annexe, 87, Chapel Road, Next To Mount Carmel Church, Bandra Reclamation, Bandra (W), Mumbai. Ph: 022 26434441.</strong></em><br />
<br />
Insipid ambience – Drab limestone floors and uncomfortable backless wooden benches.<br />
Just a fancy Udipi-joint style seating and decor, really. And yes, you can also work on your tan if you sit by the huge windows overlooking a busy road.<br />
<br />
Pathetic and S.L.O.W Service – Disinterested waiters who can’t seem to know what to suggest and then refuse to improvise with the menu. I asked for a simple grilled chicken in a lemon butter sauce with vegetables on the side (all items picked from varied dishes on their menu, mind you) and was promptly declined.<br />
<br />
The soup I ordered had way too much salt while the other dishes ordered had none. The waiter had to be reminded to bring in the bread which was an accompaniment with a Chorizo dish. The Tiramisu served had gone bad. <br />
<br />
The food took a little over an hour to arrive at the table and wasn’t worth the wait either. With exactly 3 occupied tables the entire time we were there, I wonder what their excuse could be.<br />
<br />
Bad day, maybe?Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-69766894018433406052009-07-17T10:48:00.000-07:002009-12-04T02:00:09.063-08:00The Tasting Room<em><strong>The Tasting Room, The Good Earth Company, Raghuvanshi Mansion, Raghvanshi Mills Compound, 11-12 Senapati Bapat Marg, Mumbai – 13.<br />
Tel: 24951954. 24953840.</strong></em><br />
<br />
Valet Parking: No.<br />
<br />
Nestled in the commercial environment of a busy compound is this haven of tranquility. A roomy expanse, lofty ceiling and an abundance of natural light pouring in from large windows create a languid atmosphere which puts you at ease instantly. Wooden beams running across the ceiling and unfinished walls add charm to the interiors.<br />
<br />
Take your pick from the eclectic seating, from tables and chairs of diverse heights to comfortable sofas. And if you like what you see, you can walk away with it for a price. Located inside the very posh furniture and lifestyle accessory store Good Earth, everything in the restaurant is for sale. <br />
<br />
Soak in the atmosphere and munch away on the tray of goodies placed before you, various types of bite-sized breads, crisp breadsticks and a sinful swirl of garlic butter, as you wait for your order to arrive, which does take an age to appear.<br />
<br />
You’ll most probably polish off the enitrie tray by the time the food does arrive, and realize the wait has been worth it. Elegantly served in large square plates and earthen bowls, feast on the presentation before you feast on the food itself. My tastebuds rejoiced at the delicate flavoring of the Paprika Grilled Chicken (Rs 325) <br />
<br />
Do try the delectable desserts, especially a wedge each of the A.B.S.O.L.U.T.E.L.Y S.I.N.F.U.L. Mud Pie (Rs 110) and Philly Cheese Cake (Rs 160) (When they say cheesecake, they mean cheesecake!)<br />
<br />
The Tasting Room is also Mumbai’s first wine bar.<br />
<br />
Average meal for 2 (without alchohol): Rs 900Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-76090300284231047102009-04-24T11:57:00.000-07:002009-12-04T02:03:02.949-08:00Mochamojo<strong>Classic Corner Building, Next to Holy Family Hospital, Hill Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai - 50.</strong><br />
<br />
The former Mocha Bandra has recently reopened with a new name ‘Mochamojo’ . The Café has been given a makeover, and how! Retro is the flavor used, with bright psychedelic colors and print adorning one wall and Warhol type cartoon strips adorning another. The rear of an ambassador car has been converted into a sofa <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quicksilver6/3471808078/" title="Mochamojo by Quicksilver6, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3582/3471808078_55de7fcfff.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Mochamojo" /></a><br />
even as a cozy red fur lined cubicle is tucked away into a corner. The seating outside was eclectic as well, with a swing set and some pretty eye catching furniture spread around. <br />
<br />
The descriptive and colorful Menu, which has a vinyl record for the cover, is a delight to go through. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quicksilver6/3471812750/" title="Menu: Mochamojo by Quicksilver6, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3323/3471812750_95a7569ac1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Menu: Mochamojo" /></a><br />
The food and drinks have only got better.<br />
I had a Bailey’s Irish Cream shake (Rs 135) and a Multigrain Bread Chicken Panini (Rs 165) both of which were super-yum!<br />
<br />
They serve their smoothies and juices in jam jars which we thought was a cute touch. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quicksilver6/3470970091/" title="Pink Lemonade: Mochamojo by Quicksilver6, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3335/3470970091_3dedb8891a.jpg" width="280" height="500" alt="Pink Lemonade: Mochamojo" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quicksilver6/3471785844/" title="Smoothie: Mochamojo by Quicksilver6, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3408/3471785844_0950e2e0af.jpg" width="300" height="500" alt="Smoothie: Mochamojo" /></a><br />
Their unusual custom made cutlery was another thing we noticed, and found delightful. <br />
<br />
Regular water is served in a bottle with a sprig of basil in it. <br />
<br />
Service was good; with attentive waiters who guided us through the vast menu and helped us choose the right dishes. <br />
<br />
Mochamojo is vibrant explosion of color that delights you with every discovery you make.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-27217614197686528522009-04-12T02:11:00.000-07:002009-12-04T02:03:48.738-08:00Sammy Sosa<strong>Shop N0 18, Meera CHS, Oshiwara Link Road, Near Mega Mall, Andheri (W)<br />
Phone: 65278722/8744.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Cuisine:</strong> Mexican and Continental.<br />
<br />
<strong>Serve Alcohol:</strong> Yes <br />
<br />
<strong>Valet Parking:</strong> No<br />
<br />
<strong>Ambience:</strong>A small and cozy little restaurant, with two levels on the inside and the option of open air seating on the outside. They play good music which, when coupled with all the talk around, does get a tad noisy when the restaurant fills up. A strategically placed flat screen TV played the IPL match while we were there which had most eyes glued to the television and most mouths glued to draft beer. Seating is really close but comfortable. <br />
<br />
<strong>Service:</strong> The service was great. The slim slat-like menu is descriptive. (Going through the menu was like reading a very interesting book :) The waiters, dressed in cowboy hats, are prompt and polite. The Maitre de was conversant and we loved his recommendations. The owner, Samrat Kapoor, is a lively presence as when he wasn’t stopping by every table to exchange a few words, he was whizzing around the restaurant busily checking the orders or placing them. Our desserts took a while to arrive and the waiting time was studded with profuse apologies from the Maitre De and the owner. <br />
<br />
<strong>What we ate and drank:<br />
Starters;</strong><br />
Nachos Chico’s (Rs 120) Cheese nachos and chilli and with sour cream and salsa dip on the side (The crispest, most delectable Nachos I’ve had in a while)<br />
<br />
Charmulla. Chicken slices coated in thick coriander sauce, served on individual skewers (Rs 180. 6 skewers) (The distinctive sauce made this dish really outstanding)<br />
<br />
<strong>Main Course:</strong><br />
Rick Onion Chicken (Rs 230) Chicken slices suffused in Onion sauce with boiled potato disks smothered in sour cream and onion sauce on the side (HEAVEN!)<br />
<br />
Mama’s Enchilada (Rs 190) Chicken and beans with sour cream and salsa dip on the side (This was okaish. Found it to be a wee bit dry)<br />
<br />
Ranchado Chicken (Rs 220) Chicken bathed in tangy dressing with Mexican rice, with just the perfect hint of sweetness, on the side. (Unusual and delish!) <br />
<br />
Mama Sita Chica (Rs 240) Chicken with mushrooms covered with a medium spicy sauce on a bed of Mexican rice and mashed potatoes in sour cream and onion sauce on the side. (Really good)<br />
<br />
<strong>Desserts: </strong><br />
Mud pie with ice cream (Rs 130) Piping-hot scrambled mud pie served in a martini glass with a table spoon sized scoop of vanilla ice cream (Delightful! Though a regular sized scoop of vanilla would have worked better)<br />
<br />
Belgian Delight (Rs 130) A layer of brownie sandwiched between two pancakes and generously drizzled with chocolate sauce (Loved the unusual dessert!)<br />
<br />
Virgin Kiwi Margarita (Rs 130) (Really good)<br />
<br />
Pepsi (Rs 30)<br />
<br />
Total Bill for 4: Rs 1800 (including the VAT charge of Rs 200 @12.5%)<br />
<br />
All the dishes were presented beautifully. The portion sizes were really good. The chicken used in all the dishes was succulent and the cheese they used was simply delicious.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-55973627397709743562009-04-09T02:23:00.000-07:002009-12-04T02:04:54.564-08:00Royal China192, Turner Road, Bandra (W) Mumbai – 400-050. Ph – 26425533, 26425111, 67049553<br />
<br />
<strong>Serve Alcohol:</strong> Yes<br />
<br />
<strong>Parking: </strong>Valet available<br />
<br />
<strong>Ambience:</strong> Plush, spacious,comfortable and serene. Beige and red are the basic colors used with a dash of purple adding some more color. The restaurant is warmly lit which adds to the decor. Comfortable furniture is spaced apart well, through the two levels of this restaurant.<br />
<br />
<strong>Service:</strong>Quick, efficient, intelligent and courteous. While placing the order my friend mentioned she was allergic to seafood and would prefer vegetarian, to us. The Maitre de taking our order made it a point to specify if seafood or eggs were a part of any of the dishes we were considering ordering. ‘The Mud pie contains egg, Ma’am, I think you should know’ made us smile. <br />
<br />
<strong>What we ate and drank:</strong><br />
Creamy Sweet Corn Soup (Rs 275) (Nice)<br />
Thai Veg Tung Yum Soup (Rs 215) (Nicer)<br />
Chicken with Vegetable Clear Soup (Rs 225) (Nicest, and very filling)<br />
<br />
<strong>Starters were;</strong>Stir-Fried Chicken with Chilli (Rs 375) (Finger licking good!)<br />
Dim-Sum: Chicken Cheung Fun (Rs 285. 3 pieces) (Good)<br />
<br />
<strong>Main course was;</strong>Sauteed Chicken with Chilli (Rs 395) (Very nice, but tasted a lot like the stir-fried chicken starter)<br />
Greens with Black Mushroom (Rs 400) (Really nice, if you love your mushrooms)<br />
Chicken Fried Rice (Rs 350) (Delish) <br />
<br />
<strong>Dessert of the day:</strong>Mudpie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (Rs175) (Y.U.M.M.Y)<br />
Caramel Custard (Rs 175) (A wee bit eggy, felt some)<br />
<br />
Coke (Rs 60)<br />
<br />
Total: Rs 3,106 (including a 6%(Rs 176) service charge) for 4 people<br />
<br />
The delicious aromas that emanated from the food whetted our appetites even as we were being served. The dishes were garnished and presented well and the portion sizes were good. They are known for their dim-sums and though the dim sum was good, I’ve had better.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-14907520336510479512009-01-26T02:19:00.000-08:002009-12-04T02:05:34.449-08:00Del Italia<em><strong>This review won the <a href="http://97.74.123.42/search/review/rv_159">'Favorite Review of the Week' </a>award on www.grubhogs.com AND a cash prize with it on the 10th of Feb '09!!:))</strong></em><br />
<br />
Opp Juhu Beach, Juhu Tara Road, Mumbai 400-049.<br />
Tel: 022-26184050/26184040<br />
<br />
<strong>Ambience:</strong><br />
Using a rustic décor as a theme has allowed the people at Del Italia an excuse to use faded upholstery, badly laid wood flooring and barely a lick of pain on the walls. The seating is uncomfortable, to say the least. The lighting was a tad too dim as well.<br />
What appalled me the most was that the glass fronted side of the restaurant, that hugs the corner and faces Juhu Beach, wasn’t sound-proofed at all, as I had assumed it would be! The result; blaring traffic noises and pedestrians looking in at you like you are a species in a zoo. A very distracting, and unpleasant experience. If that wasn’t enough, some crazy, tuneless music began blaring out of the speakers, suddenly in the middle of the meal, startling us. <br />
<br />
<strong>Service:</strong><br />
The waiter attending our table looked spaced out. To top it he had a heavy vernacular accent which made it very difficult to understand what he spoke and the Sunday traffic cacophony outside added to the confusion. After much hand gesturing, pointing to the menu, straining our ears and trying to read lips we managed to place our order and hoped that’s what we would get on our table.<br />
The staff is slow and seemed rather unenthusiastic, untrained and ill-informed. <br />
And we were the 2nd of the only two tables that were occupied in the entire restaurant, on a Sunday night. The service was S.L.O.W.<br />
<br />
<strong>What we ate;</strong><br />
Tetrazzini (Rs 310) The sauce was unnecessarily rich and heavy.<br />
Sautéed Mushrooms (Rs 250) The caramelized mushrooms were delicious!<br />
Woodfried Chicken (Rs 210) The chicken was dry, almost leathery and the sauce was insipid.<br />
Pesto Gnocchi (Rs 310) Once again, the sauce was unnecessarily rich and heavy. The dish could pass off for a new fangled version of palak-paneer. <br />
Mushroom and Onion Rotolo (Rs 280) Strictly okay! The pasta was overdone and dry.<br />
<br />
For an Italian themed eatery, and the prices charged, their serving sizes are surprisingly small. <br />
<br />
<strong>Dessert was;</strong><br />
Pannacotta with warm wild berries (Rs 150) Airy, creamy and just perfect! Btw there were exactly 4 ‘wild berries’ <br />
Mascarpone Torte ( Rs 150) Really good!<br />
Chocolate and Grappa Torte (Rs 180) The best dessert! Gooey chocolate layers with a hint of coconut laced with a generous amount of grappa. <br />
<br />
The desserts were the best part, and the saving grace, of this disastrous and overpriced meal.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-59316442841007698872008-09-21T10:55:00.000-07:002009-12-04T02:11:53.157-08:00China GateLink square Mall, 3rd Floor, Linking Road, Bandra (W).<br />
Tel: 2646 9003 / 2646 9004<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Mon-Fri Dinner 800 per person (ladies 450 per person)<br />
Service charge 5%, VAT 12.5%</strong></em><br />
<br />
<em>Cuisine:</em> Largely Chinese, with additions of Japanese, Thai and Korean.<br />
<br />
<em>Open for:</em> Open for Lunch and Dinner. The restaurant can get awfully crowded during lunch on certain days of the week as it is very popular with the ‘kitty-party’ crowd. <br />
<br />
<em>Serve Alcohol:</em> Yes<br />
<br />
<em>Parking:</em> Valet available<br />
<br />
<em>Ambience:</em>The first thing that is sure to strike you when you enter this restaurant is how spacious it is. Though they have, the prerequisite for any Chinese Restaurant, usual faux ponds with koi fish swimming in it, toads sprouting water, dragons greeting you at the door and Chinese silk paintings dominating a wall, this restaurant is done up extremely stylishly. Soft lighting lends warmth and comfortable rosewood tables and chairs are spaced widely enough to offer adequate privacy to each table. <br />
The spacious floor space has been tastefully divided into areas which hold tables to seat large groups/families and those for couples and groups of four.<br />
<br />
<em>Staff;</em><br />
Attentive, quick and courteous, though language was a slight problem with some. The manager was very attentive too, doing the rounds of the tables and guiding, chiding and keeping an eagle eye on the staff.<br />
<br />
<em>What we ate;</em><br />
<br />
<em><strong>The buffet includes;</strong></em><br />
<br />
Soft drinks and fresh fruit juices<br />
<br />
4 types of soup (2 veg and 2 non-veg) <br />
(I had the chicken manchow soup, which with delicious)<br />
<br />
A mind boggling array of starters with non-vegetarian choices far out favoring the vegetarian ones in number. The starters are mostly fried and steamed. 4 different types of sauces are the accompaniments.<br />
(Do try the dumplings and the sticky rice starters)<br />
<br />
A sushi counter <br />
Vegetarian (mango sushi!) and non-vegetarian sushi which were strictly a-okay. The sushi wasn’t rolled very expertly, nor did it seem very fresh. Though the pickled ginger slices were good, the wasabi paste was extremely dry, the consistency of clay! <br />
<br />
Main course<br />
Steamed rice, fried rice and noodles. 4-5 varieties of vegetables/curries. <br />
Once again, very little choice for vegetarians, with just 2 veg dishes. I had steamed rice with red Thai curry, the curry was really nice. <br />
<br />
<em>Dessert </em> <br />
The dessert counter showcased diamond-shaped Chinese desserts like chocolate, blackcurrant and lemon jellies (please avoid!) along with squares of tiramisu, cheesecake, gateau’s and torte’s (really, really good!) and wedges of tea cakes like butter cake, walnut cake etc (very dry!)<br />
Do try the tiny cookies though, they were super-yum! <br />
They also have a Baskin-Robbins ice cream counter with a dozen flavors to choose from.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>I think you should know;</strong></em><br />
The staff do not inform you of what all the buffet compromises of. <br />
The main course and dessert are served in the inside dining room, as a result of which most people unknowingly skip those or find out about only much later.<br />
The buffet has limited choices for vegetarians.<br />
The strong smell of the non-veg food being fried, on an open counter, could be off putting for vegetarians.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-31790814433017845602008-09-07T09:28:00.000-07:002008-09-07T10:16:16.076-07:00Golden Kiwi<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1ot6IA8FmaUW3Rz36jjdLEcu7ruRyREFzEvVp8nGY-Xz4DNVnLDiuDwf3pj96VcgMFj2pSgCGK69l-DDTMr-P8A524UqXYsqNKaoSBsOQdjg0cuR-zR5chYfzk07vFbCaSxAOisQBUE/s1600-h/kiwi.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1ot6IA8FmaUW3Rz36jjdLEcu7ruRyREFzEvVp8nGY-Xz4DNVnLDiuDwf3pj96VcgMFj2pSgCGK69l-DDTMr-P8A524UqXYsqNKaoSBsOQdjg0cuR-zR5chYfzk07vFbCaSxAOisQBUE/s320/kiwi.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243318734497811442" /></a>On a recent visit to the supermarket I was greeted by these in-your-face banners advertising ‘Golden Kiwi’ with a picture showing a kiwi fruit cut in half displaying a lurid yellow color! So of course I had to head to the fruit section first, to pick it up immediately!<br /><br />How Golden Kiwi differs from the regular Kiwi Fruit: The skin is less furry. It has fewer seeds than the green Kiwi. The texture of the fruit is just like a regular Kiwi fruit, minus the tart taste which I so love (Honestly, it tasted like Dudhi!) The only thing I liked about it was the cute plastic spoon-cum-knife that came with it. <br /><br />Rs 45/- for 2Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-5661114209411902932008-08-02T10:16:00.000-07:002008-08-02T10:36:57.106-07:00Britannia NutriChoice 5 Grain BiscuitsThe elegant green and blue pack informed me that Oats, Corn, Ragi, Rice and Wheat are the 5 grains this biscuit is made of, with honey as the natural sweetener.<br /><br />The size of the biscuit was a surprise, with each tablet shaped disc slightly bigger than my palm!<br /><br />I have to confess; the initial aroma of the biscuit was slightly off putting, to me, as it smelt, rather strongly like jaggery. But once I bit into it, I didn’t stop till I polished the whole biscuit off! It was crisp, scrumptious, and very filling with bits of oats and corn delightfully interrupting every bite. <br /><br />A slim pack of 6 biscuits (100 g) costs Rs 18/- and is very convenient to carry to work, as the plastic tray they rest in don’t allow them to get crushed to smithereens in my cavernous handbag.<br /><br />The only thing I have a tiny qualm about is the calorie count, which the pack lists as 500 k cal per 100 g. Which, after eating the biscuit, I think is a less generous figure displayed.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-62485829836601702712008-07-01T07:30:00.001-07:002008-07-06T09:50:19.935-07:00Bru Ice CappuccinoBru’s latest instant coffee is bound to be a hit with coffee lovers. Available in four flavors – Irish crème, Mocha berg, Berry Blast, and Chocomint, in single serve sachets of 24 gms each and priced at for Rs 15/-each, there is a flavor for everyone.<br /><br />All you need to do is empty the sachet into a glass of chilled water (170ml)and voila, your delicious, iced cappuccino is ready. Though it was disappointingly flat, and not as frothy as it is shown to be in the advertisement or on the sachet. <br /><br />The basic coffee is balanced just right with it being neither too strong, nor weak and the additional flavoring is subtly perfect too. I personally love all 4 flavors.<br />But Berry Blast, which was a wonderful surprise with the delicious aftertaste of sweet berries that delicately spreads in your mouth as you sip the first mouthful of coffee and then lingers for a while, was an instant favorite. I mean, who would have imagined that the fragile flavor of berries would taste so good with the robust taste of coffee! <br />Chocomint, was my other favorite, because I am a big everything-that-is-mint-flavored fan. Chocomint too had the same effect, with the subtle flavor of mint staying behind after I had taken my last sip. <br />Irish crème was lovely and the flavoring was slightly stronger in this one, with the almost-whiskey flavor dominating the coffee. <br />Mochaberg was good. Just your usual cappuccino.<br /><br />The sachets are colorful and attractively packaged. Very few shops sell single sachets, as it is usually available in a box of 5, all the same flavor.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-6299348469701891522008-06-30T09:58:00.000-07:002009-12-04T02:08:09.081-08:00Satva – The ChocolateI recently tried the much hyped low-cal chocolate called ‘Satva’. The texture was powdery, it tasted musty and the aftertaste, really bitter, was absolutely awful! Though I tried the Orange-flavored bar, there were no traces of the flavor at all. And the after taste lingered for so long, that I had to pop in a mint to get rid of it!<br />
<br />
Available in Orange, Vanilla and Premium. Rs 24 for a 25 g pack. <br />
<br />
And there’s this big tamasha of texting a certain number with your area pin code and they text back with the address of the shops this godforsaken bar of mud is available in! Though it is now also available in most of the big general stores.<br />
<br />
Personally, I’d rather munch on a proper bar of chocolate and walk 20 minutes extra on the treadmill!<br />
<br />
Read more balderdash about it here; http://www.satvafood.com/product.htmDeliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-80965259379663767082008-06-27T02:00:00.000-07:002009-12-04T02:06:40.627-08:00Banana Leaf1 to 8, Shubham Co op housing Society, Next to United Bank of India, Juhu Versova Link Road, Andheri (West), Mumbai - 53. Tel: 26239999/26709999/26289090<br />
<br />
Cuisine: In their own words ‘Fine Veg Dining & Coffee House’<br />
<br />
Valet Parking: Yes<br />
<br />
The ambience;<br />
The restaurant is spread over a spacious area and done up to resemble a stately home of South India with wooden rafters on the ceiling and gleaming pillars, giving it a very old world charm. Really well-done R K Laxman sketches adorn the length of the walls. There is a gorgeous mural of the Madurai temple on one wall with banana leaves and brass oil lamps flanking either side of it. I specially loved the fresh and vibrant green wall (exactly the color of a banana leaf). The tables are placed too close to each other with only a wire mesh separating some. Also, the restaurant was way too noisy! And adding to the cacophony of sound was the classical music blaring in the background. <br />
<br />
Staff.<br />
The waiters were a confused lot; the ones serving our table did not understand Hindi nor English nor gestures. And we had to wait awhile till we could get attention. The maitre de was helpful though. He suggested that we were ordering way too much for 3 people and helped us with the order. (That’s a different topic altogether that the dishes suggested by him were awful) <br />
<br />
What we ate and drank;<br />
Sweet Lassi (Rs 60) too thick. <br />
Aam Panna( Rs 75) the overwhelming taste of jaljira masala hit us first (even after it was stirred well) it was way too thick for an Aam Panna I suspected ample green food color being used. <br />
Paneer Gassi with Appams (Rs 175) didn’t taste remotely like gassi. I could only taste coarsely ground khus khus, which I am sure is NOT an ingredient used in a gassi. It almost tasted like paneer makhani. <br />
Malabari Curry with Appams (Rs 175) thankfully the curry was delicious. But way too vibrantly red. Artificial food color used once again, I thought.<br />
Appams (Rs 50) were leathery. Not fluffy and light, like appams should ideally be.<br />
Hyderabadi Biryani (Rs 150 ) it was green! Probably didn’t want the color left over from the Aam Panna to go waste! And tasted anything BUT like a biryani, Hyderabadi or otherwise! Just green rice and vegetables tossed together.<br />
The meal rounded off with a South India paan which was delicious.<br />
<br />
The reason I mention the use of food color repeatedly is that I am allergic to it, red food color in particular, and I had a flaming allergic attack right after this meal, confirming my suspicions of food color being used liberally.<br />
<br />
The meal, the ambience, and the service nothing worked for us. Reservation is a must. And even after you’ve reserved, expect to wait a while for your table. Without a reservation, expect to wait for an hour. And the options, for while you wait, are either standing on the footpath outside the restaurant or under the makeshift canopy in the verandah of the restaurant.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-59794693330296414912008-06-27T01:59:00.000-07:002009-12-04T02:06:08.569-08:00Penne - Restobar - Lounge14 Silver Beach Estate, AB Nair Road, Juhu, Mumbai- 49, Phone: 26255713, 26255706<br />
<br />
Nearest Landmarks: Right opposite, Spinach the supermarket. Close to the ISKON Temple and Hotel Ramee Guestline.<br />
<br />
Cuisine: Italian<br />
<br />
Open from: Open for Lunch and Dinner<br />
<br />
Serve Alcohol: Yes<br />
<br />
Parking: Valet available<br />
<br />
Ambience;<br />
Penne has two markedly defined areas, the Al Fresco area outside and the fine dining area inside and both have a warm and inviting feel to them. <br />
The canopied al fresco area is landscaped with greenery and thus shielded from the hustle and bustle of the road outside. It would be ideal for a meal combined with a leisurely tête-à-tête or just a languid afternoon/evening spent sipping the beverage of choice over pizza or munching on nibbles. <br />
The uncluttered and cozy elegance of the fine dining area welcomes you with its matt gold walls (I absolutely loved them!) and is softly lit with black chandeliers. The tables were well spaced, keeping privacy in mind. Minor Quibble; I wish the span of the individual tables were slightly more spacious, as the serving dishes were quite large and thus ended up crowding the table uncomfortably. <br />
<br />
Staff;<br />
Quick, courteous, unobtrusive and very well informed. <br />
<br />
What we ate;<br />
Starters;<br />
Fusilli Con Pollo Arenza (Rs 395) a spicy chicken starter, with bits of bell peppers, flavored with herbs. It was good<br />
Funghetti fritti Al Spin (Rs 235 for 6 pieces) a starter that was made of a mushroom each, packed with a gooey mix of cheese and spinach and dipped in bread crumbs and deep fried to golden perfection. Recommended by the waiter, this one left us salivating for more! <br />
<br />
Pizza Trastevere (Rs 395) an oh-so-thin crust pizza, crispy crunchy on the rim and sodden with our chosen toppings in the middle. It came to the table piping hot, straight from the oven. <br />
<br />
Pollo Siciliana (Rs 275) was penne and chicken in cream sauce. Delightful! <br />
Rosotto Ortolana con aspa (Rs 295) the most divine risotto I have had in a while. The consistency was creamy and melt in the mouth. <br />
Garlic Bread (Rs 80) Crisp, airy bread slivers saturated just right in butter and subtly flavored with garlic.<br />
<br />
Dessert was;<br />
Triple Chocolate Biscotti (Rs 225) 2 scoops of ice cream and bits of chocolate cake covered in 3 different types of chocolate sauces and sprinkled with roasted almond slivers and topped of with bits of biscotti. Though it sounded very tempting on paper, it was a disappointment otherwise. Their version of biscotti turned out to be plain old chocolate wafer biscuits and the sauce was just ordinary melted chocolate. <br />
<br />
What we drank;<br />
Since all of were teetotalers, we sipped on;<br />
<br />
Virgin Kiwi Margarita (Rs 150) a tangy sweet and sour drink with the delicious after taste of kiwi. <br />
Virgin Black current Margarita (Rs 150) was good too, but I thought it was a tad too sweet, for me. <br />
Iced Tea (Rs 150) was average. <br />
<br />
All the ingredients used seemed absolutely fresh, with a special mention to the pizza dough which was freshly kneaded and all the sauces that were flavorful and light. Penne is priced on the slightly higher side, but it’s worth every penny.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-56589880487535813682008-06-27T01:54:00.000-07:002009-12-04T02:07:39.769-08:00Aromas of ChinaCrystal Paradise – The Mall, Off Veera Desai Road, New Link Road, Andheri (West) Mumbai. Phone: 67254444/67253691<br />
<br />
Open from: Open for Lunch and Dinner<br />
<br />
Parking: Valet available<br />
<br />
I have been hearing extreme views about this restaurant for a while now. On one hand people swear by it, while on the other hand people swear off it after their very first visit. <br />
<br />
Ambience;<br />
The serene countenance of Buddha greets you as soon as you enter. The walkway is made of large wood squares with channels of water running all around them, pretty but not very practical. Esp if you have children accompanying you. Watch your step, nonetheless. Another water feature runs along one of the walls and giant gold Buddha’s stand guard on either side of the dining area.<br />
The refined interiors are done up in shades of old rose, beige and dark wood. Wooden mesh serve as partitions, dividing the spacious restaurant into three distinct areas; a small area that has tables for two, the bigger area with table for 4 and more in the middle, and the third being what I assumed to be a family area, with large tables to accommodate families and big groups. The tables were spacious and the seating comfortable. <br />
Papier-machie cylinders suspended from the ceiling light up the restaurant giving it a warm glow. <br />
<br />
Staff;<br />
The staff moved at the speed of light. We were told that the food would be at our table in 5 minutes, and it was. My only quibble being; the staff didn’t seem to be very well trained and well informed. They kept bumping into each other as they served us and passed dishes over our plates. Also, they seemed to be in a tearing hurry for us to leave. The moment I put down my fork on my empty plate, the waiter materialized to ask if he could clear it. Even though it wasn’t very crowded nor was there a queue of people waiting to be seated outside. <br />
<br />
<br />
What we ate;<br />
A tray that held bowls of Kimchi, a sweet and sour seasoned cabbage and cucumber slivers seasoned with vinegar salt and sugar was placed before us as soon as we were seated. Both were delicious. <br />
* Steamed Chicken Dumplings (Rs 150.6 Pieces) that were lukewarm, bland and rubbery textured. They tasted like they were insufficiently heated up in the microwave and then placed in the bamboo steamer. Thumbs down for this one!<br />
* Chicken Clay Pot Rice (Rs 255) Regular rice, with bits of chicken steamed in a clay pot. Thankfully good.<br />
* Five Treasure Vegetables in Spicy Sauce (Rs 215) As the name suggests, five vegetables, of which I only remember the crunch of water chestnuts, the sponginess of black mushrooms and the baby corn in a brown sauce. This one was the best dish of the lot. <br />
* Braised chicken and black mushroom in clay pot (Rs285) The black mushrooms were limp and the chicken wasn’t fresh either. The brown soy based sauce wasn’t memorable. Ho-hum! <br />
<br />
Fortune cookies rounded up the meal.<br />
<br />
We skipped dessert. <br />
<br />
Though their servings are very generous, none of the food seemed fresh. And surprisingly, none of the dishes came to the table steaming. In fact, they bordered on lukewarm, and I mentioned this on their comment card as well.<br />
<br />
I loved the ambience, thought the service could be spruced up a bit and I can’t make up my mind whether the food was the way it was only on that particular day. So it would be safe to say that I am on the fence, regarding my personal opinion about Aromas of China.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-5702951855288508072008-06-27T01:53:00.001-07:002009-12-04T02:08:42.789-08:00Masala Mantar1st floor, Mohid Heights( Rear Entrance), Exactly Opposite MHADA Lane, 4 Bungalows, Lokhandwala Road, Andheri(W), Mumbai-53. Tel: 65028944. For Home Delivery: 26396032/33.<br />
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Cuisine: Largely Mughlai. But they have Seafood on the menu as well.<br />
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Valet parking: Yes.<br />
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Liquor served: Yes.<br />
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Ambience: <br />
As you take the stairs up to the restaurant you notice happy pictures of people with vegetables, shot by ace photographer Jagdish Mali, lining the wall. The restaurant itself is quite spacious. Bare bubs suspended on wires from the ceiling light up the place, the interiors of which are done up to appear like a cross-between an old ‘kothi’ of Punjab and a Dhaba. The white, brick-coated-with-choona walls, covered with still more pictures by Mali, give the restaurant a spacious feel. Simple wooden tables are well spaced out, giving each table the required amount of privacy from the ones surrounding it.<br />
Do note the cashier-corner, which consists of two little desks, the kinds a ‘munshi’(cashiers) in the movies of the old days used.<br />
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Staff:<br />
Well-informed, cheerful and courteous staff who were unobtrusive otherwise but promptly at you table the moment you required them. I have no idea if this is the norm, but on the day we were there, the staff had the day’s specials and special offers written on brightly colored paper squares, pinned on their all-black uniforms. Pretty innovative!<br />
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What we ate; <br />
Since none, out of the 4, of us were particularly hungry, we ordered an odd assortment of dishes;<br />
Chicken Shorba, that was a really yum broth and seasoned just right enough to border on fiery.<br />
Gilafi Chicken Seekh; a colorful chicken and vegetable seekh kebab, which was okaish.<br />
Roasted Kaali Miri Kebab; as the name very obviously suggests, tandoori chicken pieces flavored with crushed black peeper. It was exemplary!<br />
Murgh Mirch; a rather unusual tasting tomato based gravy chicken dish that had a tangy taste and the aftertaste of green chillies.<br />
Naan, Garlic Butter Naan and Tandoori Roti; all three of which were soft on the inside and crisply roasted outside, just perfect!<br />
Phirni for dessert which was creamy, light and awesome!<br />
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I would like to specially mention that all the food that we ordered has almost no visible extra oil which is otherwise so typical of Mughlai dishes. The food arrived promptly and the serving sizes were very generous.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2837502947171879430.post-31983432309718892182008-06-27T01:48:00.000-07:002009-12-04T02:09:27.559-08:00Costa Coffee52, Gulmohar Road, JVPD, Juhu, Mumbai - 49 <br />
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Costa Coffee, the largest coffee chain of UK, opened its first branch in Juhu, Mumbai. A quick run through the menu revealed that much of it consisted of similar things that our very own Café Coffee Day and Barista stock, but priced surprisingly higher than both. <br />
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I tried the English Toffee Milkshake (Rs 78) which though unusual, could have done with a wee bit of additional flavoring to make it taste really good. <br />
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My friend sipped on a cup of hot chocolate (Rs 65) and gave it top marks, specifically mentioning that ‘it wasn’t extra creamy or heavy but was light and frothy like a milkshake.’ <br />
We munched on a Chicken Wrap (Rs 87) which was chicken with mint chutney and onions wrapped inside a crisp cover of a white-flour roti. Which was good.<br />
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But what transported me straight to heaven was this sinfully divine dessert called Chocolate Tavoletta (Rs 50) A decadent bar of sin made up of chocolate, nuts, raisins, bits of shortbread biscuit and nougat, that just melts in your mouth even as you crunch down on the crusty biscuits bits. A must try! <br />
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Certain beverages are available in small, medium and large serving sizes and cost appropriately. <br />
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The staff is polite, well-informed though slightly myopic, as we had to really try hard to catch their attention.<br />
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The location of the coffee shop is perfect; it hugs the corner of a very busy crossroad of Juhu. Huge windows give you a clear view of the constant traffic snarl outside :) You can choose any of the various comfortable seating arrangements of the chic maroon and beige coffee shop and contently watch the world trying to go by. <br />
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Worth a visit, if you are in the area.Deliciously Alivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17431992268355546378noreply@blogger.com1