Bombay (Mumbai), the financial capital of India is famous, amongst other things, for unusual restaurants and lunch homes. The city has several distinct type of cuisines to offer. The ubiquitous Vada Pao, Salli Boti, Bombay Duck and Puran Poli provide unique tastes that no other city can offer. Whereas, we have the popular Maharashtrian/ Kolhapuri/ Konkani dishes, the city is home also to Parsi/Irani fare, Gujarati meals and delectable Seafood. Mumbai’s gastronomic journey is a sheer delight of ingredients, flavors, textures and spices. The time taking, meticulous preparations, marinated in love and the sheer joy of cooking makes eating in Mumbai a soul stirring experience. The city is full of eateries like Bangkok or Singapore and each colony boasts of at least one popular joint which all residents swear by. Some have over years gained such popularity that patrons visit from far off places. The high end Five Star hotels also have their own exclusive and esoteric restaurants. Some even offer a unique fare of midnight multicourse & multicuisine dinners. Mumbai can flaunt names like Wasabi, Ming Yang, Dum Pukht, Avartana, Dakshin, LeopWell, Masala Library etc. Many have been awarded Michelin Stars. Alongside co – exist iconic eating/coffee bars like the Copper Chimney, Leopold Cafe, Café Mondegar, Burma Burma, Arya Bhawan, Govindas. Mumbai has it all. One can say in Mumbai one will always find a restaurant which serves from the hoi polloi to the riche. Today, yours truly wishes to share with NewsIP readers three quintessential Mumbai restaurants which have carved out a name for themselves. These are but a few out of the humongous list of famous culinary landmarks of this bustling city.
Britannia & Company, Fort Mumbai
This Restaurant has been dishing out authentic Irani & Parsi food from year 1923 onwards. Yes, it’s that old! The Berry Pulao, Patrani Machi, Salli Boti (chicken/mutton), Caramel Custard et al, to be washed down with Ginger Soda, is an out of the world experience. It is housed in a colonial heritage building amongst the fort area of Mumbai, has peeling paint, loosening cement in walls and now a rarely seen, wooden staircase.
The restaurant owners claim that they use old Parsi recipes, authentic spices and the unique berries are still imported from Iran. The grand old owner makes it a point to visit each table and talk to customers. The old world charm, laid back unhurried pace of service, the pet dog and cat in the premises create an inimitable dreamy atmosphere of sorts. One is transported to the more leisurely times when life was less hectic and one could enjoy every moment of living. The costs are not prohibitive and if one were to spend a lazy afternoon reminiscing of times gone by, this is the go to place.
Mahesh Lunch Home, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu, Mumbai
With a commonplace, domesticated name Mahesh Lunch Home opened its doors to Mumbai folks in year 1977. It is the destination for Mumbaikars looking for authentic Mangalorian Coastal fare. It’s a place, much sought after, by celebrities and commoners alike. The outlet has a live display section of Crabs, Lobsters, Pomfret, Sole Fish and other seafood. Customers are encouraged to choose from the variety of seafood on offer which is then cooked to perfection as per the style preferred. This display and option of choosing was quite unique when the outlet initially opened and is now copied by many others.
Mumbai, a coastal metropolis like many the world over, has a rich variety of ‘catch from the sea’. Fresh and delectable, they are cost effective, crisp and unprocessed. This source along with some seafood cultured in house, helps Mahesh Lunch Home provide a fare which is both tasty and healthy. Combined with Neer dosa, Appam or Mangalorean boiled rice, the sea fare is delicious and wholesome. The cost of a meal here is reasonable and the approach no nonsense. Being in a commercial area, office goers frequent this outlet for lunch and sometimes there is even a waiting period to gain entry.
Goa Portuguesa Restaurant, Mahim, Mumbai
This exotic restaurant is located in the Matunga area and was founded by Dr Suhas Awchat. Master Chef Deepa Awchat is also associated with it. It’s a fun place which has won several awards and serves Goan, Portuguese and Continental dishes, both Vegetarian, & Non Vegetarian. It also specializes in seafood delicacies. It was set up in December 1988 and welcomes aficionados and newbies alike for a unique, fun filled and fulfilling experience. Apart from iconic Goan dishes like Vindalho and Balchao, it also offers a variety of traditional Hindu vegetarian preparations. Live music in the Restobar is an added attraction. The owners go out of the way to make the visitors feel at home and relish the carefully curated fare. The vegetarian delicacies are a rare addition to the traditional Goan & Portuguese fare of pork and fish.
The outlet serves rare Goan Beer in Mumbai. Some guests, in their reviews have stated, it also has keto friendly dishes. Just as one enters the restaurant, one is engulfed in the soothing warm white light and the seating arrangements are amazingly cozy. The staff is polite and ever willing to suggest dishes to suit the occasion and mood of the guests.
The service is prompt and crisp. Prices are well within the affordable range. Over all, it’s a place for a relaxed, leisurely lunch or dinner. It’s also ideal for weekend sojourns for couples and families looking for some discreet our time. The place provides for that subtle sense of privacy which many look for but are unable to get in crowded restaurants with obtrusive staff and high table turn time. The subtle cocoon like environ is quite soothing to the senses. Prices do not make a dent in the budget of an average citizen. The place has mostly repeat customers or those who have heard of it, by word of mouth.
Well, for non Mumbaikar readers, a suggestion – Next time you are in Mumbai, keep some time free from visiting dazzling Malls, Zaveri Bazar or even that hectic shopping spree at Linking Road, Bandra, to visit these timeless places for an experience of an eon. And, of course, as the French say, Dis-moi ce que tu manges, je te dirai qui tu es; meaning tell me what you eat, and I’ll tell you who you are!-By-Sidhartha Mukherjee
