Mumbai

Hi Foodies,
I thought this should be my first post.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jagansayshi/Food/photo#5237327791276963106

Cheers,
Jagan

For the kind of place this is, I am amazed at the fan following and the kind of crowd it attracts.

No frills means absolutely no frills. This place defines the term. No frills in food, no frills in service, no great shakes on decor - even the building is a creaky old structure that looks like a hundred years old.

So why does the place attract a lunch crowd of young professionals from the nearby banks and offices?

Let me describe the experience.

First of all, for people who aren't the urban explorer types, it is a little tough locating this place. The regulars just brush you off. "It's opposite Sterling yaar" - is the most concise direction I got. I've never found the place in the first attempt (I always ended up at the wrong place, then try a couple more buildings and watchmen) until my office shifted close by. So here's how - get to Sterling cinema, and walk towards the Cathedral and John Cannon School (in the opposite direction from CST). The second building on the left side of Wallace street is the decripit Apeejay Chambers with many old world offices.

You could go around to the back of the building for a rickety lift ride up to the fourth floor - or take the equally rickety wooden stairs up. If you are in lunch hour - 12.30 to 3.00, simply follow the well-dressed crowd.

Right. Now you are on the fourth floor. See a dining room? No, don't barge in there. You are advised to meet the well-built man on the counter on the left side, and buy a token of Rs 40/- (TR coupons accepted). Then, join the queue.

Modern Hindu Hotel serves eaters in batches. There are two halls, which seat around 12 people each. Only when either of these halls empty out, are you invited in by an old gent. You sit in a chair-table combo, and then it all starts.

You can chose to eat in a steel plate or a plantain leaf. (Shed your north Indian sensibilities and nod for the leaf, man). The quick, mechanical, efficient procession starts as soon as you have sprinkled water on the leaf. First, two katoris (small steel bowls) get plonked (If you like your dal in a katori, ask for an extra) on your table. Sambar (a delicate, yellow type which looks and tastes more like a Gujarati kadhi with cucumber, than the Udipi sambar we are all used to) comes first, followed very quickly by rasam (tangy gravy-soup made of tamarind, dal, tomato) - these are filled in your katoris. Then a curry of the veggies of the day (it was beans + gourd + brinjal once and beans + pumpkin the other), and a creamy but light dal, on your leaf/plate. You could ask for a spoon, but everyone else would be eating with their fingers.

Chapatis follow. Once you are done, rice, dahi and a large papad follow.

That's about it. You could ask for extra helpings of the same stuff which are free of charge. However, chaas, extra papad and sweet (Mysore Pak, usually) are charged separately.

The meal isn't exceptionally rich or heavy. Niether is it made with desi ghee or the finest, most expensive ingredients. But it tastes homely, simple, light and easy on the palate and wallet. No great gastronomic experience. But I go there again and again because it somehow reminds me of a simple time long ago, when you did not have to bother about trans-fats and lifestyle diseases - because they just did not exist. There is much joy in partaking a simple, hot and filling meal.

Modern Hindu Hotel is open for lunch from 12.30 to 3.00 pm and dinner from 7.00 to 9.00 pm.

As a pizza lover, I have eaten pizza at almost every place in Mumbai.. (psst.. I dont rate the stuff dished out in the countless UDIPI-s in the name of 'pizza', cheese 'pijja'.. stay clear of them)

Till recently, the tragedy of eating pizzas at places like smokin joes, dominos and the other chains was that their pizzas were invariably 2 cm.s plus thick bread-y base (aaargh !).. rendering pizza eating a punishment rather than an enjoyment.

This is precisely the reason we (spouse and I) hopped on five-star restaurant to another.. in search of the perfect pizza, really really thin crust, with gourmet cheese/toppings...

Of course, we did come across some good ones price around Rs 350-500 for a standard 12-incher.. thin-thin crust ():

- Oberoi Hilton Nariman Pt
- Taj Lands End Bandra
- Hyatt Vakola
- JW Marriott Juhu

non 5-star
- Don Giovanni Juhu
- I-forgot-the-name-of-restaurant in the Pantaloons shopping complex in Lower Parel
- Penne Juhu (yes.. their pizza is indeed good !)

Recently,

- Dominos (try their thin crust pizza)- I have become their latest fan
- Garcia's (try their whole-grain healthy thin crust.. its amazing)

But pls pls AVOID the following places for PIZZA. Once bitten, forever shy !! They made me think if these guys knew anything about pizza at all !!

- Le Meridian Sahar
- Trattoria (yes..Unpleasant surprise..I was shocked beyond belief !)
- Leela Sahar
- Hyatt Sahar
- ITC Sheraton Sahar
- ITC Sheraton Parel
- Intercontinental Sahar

non 5-star

- smokin joes (god !! they do not understand the concept of thin crust.. hope they do sooner.. for their toppings are pretty good.)

- the various udipi eat-outs in mumbai (their standard 5 inch 'pizza' or 'pijja' is about piling up some grated cheese, capsicum, onions over a readymade 1-inch thick disc of maida)

If anyone has come across really good thin crust pizza-s other than the above, pls let me know. Happy navratri.

The New & Hip venture of the one at Irla, also has a couple of banquet halls & hotel.

Well spaced out tables, similar menu, lots of parking outside (one of the reasons of giving irla a miss)constantly improving service & willingness to help you with off the menu trials.

The vegetarian edges out the non vegetarian by a wee bit; probably because of some new dishes, whereas the non veg does not seem different.

Afternoons are quiet & evenings till 9 are ok before it starts getting crowded.

A small cozy place which can seat 30-35 with another 15 standing. Plays retro music, has a Dj who is more than happy to play requests. Has 1 LCD TV. Open from 7.30 pm to 1.30 am. Do not know about the mornings since never visited it that early. Has a happy hour till 9 pm. One free on every two AND YES allows you to stack the drinks at 9.

A family restaurant, that has been in existence since the time lokhandwala complex came up. Been a visitor since 1993. Earlier they served chinese & mish mash. After their renovation some years ago, it is only punjabi, indian & a couple of moughlai dishes. Reasonably large, with enough space between tables & open till 1 am in the night. Home delivery is prompt & efficient. Afternoon Buffet is OK, but can be avoided.

The vegetarian spread is pretty nice, with some good off the menu dishes being offered. The chef ensures that he listens to the requirements & different dishes HAVE different gravies & taste.

The rotis are made out of wheat & not maida. The stuff kulcha, have real mixed stuffing & not only aloo.

Deserts are standard Kulfi, gulab jamun but combining them is a good bet.

Had been hearing about this place quite a lot. Finally visited it. A typical restaurant. Close Tables that you can overhear conversation on the next. The service at 7.30 to 9 was pathetic with the waiter training the trainee who could not understand smirnoff. Stingy with the freebies. Looked like a typical place where only the regulars may end up getting service. Food nothing to write about; the same red & brown gravy. Their new one in Malad seems to be better? Would visit & compare.

A place to lounge around till the music starts getting louder & the crowd younger after 9.

A quiet place on the 2nd floor with nice round tables that are not occupied most of the evenings. Visited it a couple of times. They have good crisp nachos & garlic bread with cheese. Pasta was decent but can be improved upon. However the one in white sauce was much better. The drinks OK priced but no accompaniments so you have to order.

The mughlai/indian mini meal is sufficient for 1 person since it comes with parathas.

All in all a convenient place to go with a couple of business associates or a loved one, where the idea is to spend time & not gorge.

The service is good & they let you drink in peace if you tell them.

Mumbai is known for its kaleidoscope of gourmet restaurants catering to varied taste-buds and ambience expectations. While some of these cater purely to gastronomic delights, others provide for memorable

experiences or simply a “fun-time out”!

Few places offer an irresistible combination of good food, great ambience and “reasonably light-on-your-pocket” experience.SPICES & FLAVOURS (or SNF as it is popularly known)at Worli,Dr.A.B.Road is one of them! Being a neighborhood eating joint, I have frequented it many a times. And have come back satisfied every time!

As one arrives at this joint tucked away at a corner of the Worli Sea Face Rd he cant miss too see it. There is AC & Non AC section. And since the place is new , the waiting time for a table can be quite long on a weekend evenings. They do take reservations on weekdays.

And then as u enter u feel it was worth it! The ambience inside is arabic nd moroccon. Colourful lights and the shamiana look with all walls havin somewall hangin u cant miss and a mocktail bar counter with all marbles in it. They have an Indian seatin with a table made of a big chakki stone. This is the best and most comfortable seating. All the other tables too have some theme in it.The menu has a lot of items indian and italian also. Its purely vegetarian

My personal favourites include the tandoori platter, followed by shyam savera(have never tasted another delicious preparation!) and some lovely kulchaas or missi rotis. mirchi ka salan with spl roti is also really awesome. My meal at Spices & Flavours is never complete without the “dal-khichdi” served with curds, which can be very plainly described as “mind-blowing”!

You cant miss to the hookah at snf They serve the best hookah ever. the pan masala or golden pan flavour. They have a spl fresh fruit hookah wehre they serve the real watermelon as a hookah itself.

The management of SNF seems to have its pulse on the food business knowing well that a good food product is never complete without equally good and competent service standards. This is one joint that I can bank on for entertaining friends to some good, homely food away from home amidst good ambience