Up in the Sky...

Review: Sky Cafe

Alfresco dining is not a very popular choice in Mumbai. Two reasons for this 1) not many options 2) its too hot most of the year. But with the weather getting cooler by the day (yesterday Mumbai was 11 degrees, yes 11 degrees and yeah in Mumbai), its great to share a meal under the starry sky.

Sky Cafe is one such place. Located bang opposite my favourite cinema hall Sterling, Sky Cafe is actually the porch to FreeMason Hall at Fort. Am sure the word freemason reminds you of t'he sting operation on the Roman Catholic Church novel' - 'The Da Vinci Code'. So is Freemason a secret cult? I would say more like a Machiavellian cult based on the principles of ‘humanity and brotherhood’. But this would make another topic of discussion, for now lets discuss Sky Cafe and it’s food.

The decor of this Cafe is simple, lots of plants around, blue and white mosaic chipped tables and wooden chairs.  On a hot summer day you need those several wall fans and coolers facing you but on a winter night you would need a stoll and warm holding someones hand to keep you warm. A perfect setting for a romantic meal!

The menu is a mix of middle eastern food with mezze and shwarma, Chinese with burnt garlic fried rice and European with Pastas & Risottos.

We start of the with Cream of Mushroom and Almond Soup – the creamy thick broth was beautiful almost silky however the only thing disappointing was that there were no chunks of mushrooms.

We move on to the Chicken Khowsuey – with a colour so saffron, the Shiv Sena would be put to shame! However it was not all that bad, it had a slight zesty flavour to it but not the authentic ‘Busaba or Joss’ one you would expect.

We move on to Penne Romano – penne in a creamy white sauce topped with broccoli and French beans – scrumptious and cooked a la dente. Pair it with the garlic bread and you would know why Bryan Adams sings ‘Cloud no 9’

The next was the Pan Fried Chicken in Paprika Cream with Spaghetti – while both the grilled chicken and spaghetti seem to be delectable separately they didn’t go well together as a combination!

For drinks we had the Virgin Mojito which was nice and refreshing.

A meal at Sky Cafe would cost anywhere between Rs 200 - 350

Verdict:

Food: Good, Sasta ne Saaru!

Ambience: Beautiful

Service: A bit Slow

Quick Tip: Great for a quiet alfresco meal, serves some good variety and inexpensive food which is quiet a rarity in Mumbai. Must go in this weather!!

The Co-ordinates:

Sky Cafe

Where: Freemasons Hall, Marzban Road, Fort , Mumbai

Tring Tring: 22055557, 22055558

Timings: 12:00 PM to 11:30 PM

Food Type: Chinese, Continental & Middle Eastern

Payment Methods: Credit cards accepted

The Seafood Diet

Review: Pratap Lunch Home

A:  Do you eat fish?

Me: I love seafood!!

A: Do you eat Pomfret?

Me: No, I like Surmai better…

A: Aah, Surmai fish eaters are the real fish eaters!

This was the fourth or the fifth time we were having this conversation however it didn't seem to amuse us any less. Everytime felt proud at being acknowledged for my eating habits by a father figure and he feels proud for having made a conversation with a daughter he never had.

This post is dedicated to a loved one who passed away recently…..

Situated in the part that I love most, reminds me of our history, the british legacy and their majestic architecture – Fort, Pratap Lunch Home, was originally this dimly lit permit room kind of place. But recently it has been done up, inspired by Suraj Barjatya’s film – family friendly!!

On the walls you will see a sketch of a coast with burlesque’s of typically koli women selling their catch of the day to their customers.

The menu is a mix of Koli, Malvani, Mangalorean, Chinese and Mughlai fare.

We begin with Chow Chou Prawns – king prawns batter fried and topped with dhania seeds (coriander seeds) and green chillies. The potent dish was a rare yet divine combination. The next was the Tawa Ravas – again brilliant grilled Rawas and coated with traditional Malvani spices.

Chow Chou Prawns

Tawa Rawas

The next was the Crab Butter Garlic – steam crustacean topped with dressing of garlic and butter. Armed with a bib, bone marrow spoons and crab crackers we dig in. I thought the gravy was too thick, it did not combine well with the juicy crab meat to give that wholesome taste. It also lacked flavor. The one at Apoorva (check: http://luv4allthingsyum.blogspot.com/search/label/Sea%20Food) is more appetizing.

For the main course we order Prawn Gassi (Manglaorean Curry) with Neer Dosa and Rice. The curry was delectable with the flavor of coconut milk and mustard seeds. Pour it on a dollop of rice and eat it with your hand. Beware of eating your fingers though. It’s that delicious…

Butter Pepper Garlic Crab

Prawn Gassi

There was no room for dessert after this meal … Actually all I wanted was for someone to pick me up and take me home. Alas the Undertaker is not based in Mumbai.

A meal at Pratap Lunch Home w/o alcohol would cost anywhere between Rs 350-400 per head

Verdict:

Food: Excellent

Ambience:  Good but can get noisy

Service: Can misguide you. We asked him if 1 plate of crab would suffice 6-7 of us. The waiter said no and we ordered for 2 portions. We kept eating and eating and it wouldn’t get over!

Quick Tip: Got get some really good seafood at really reasonable prices and eat your heart out… Do not miss the Chow Chou Prawns, they are to die for!

The Co-ordinates:

Pratap Lunch Home

Where: 79 Janmabhoomi Marg, Fort , Mumbai

Tring Tring: 22871101, 40021101, 22871818

Timings: 11:00 AM to 12:30 AM

Food Type: Koli, Malvani, Mangalorean, Chinese, Mughlai fare

Payment Methods: Visa, Amex, Master, Cash, Credit cards accepted

Royal Feast

Review – Royal China

Mumbai has always been home to some of the best Chinese fare. Whether it’s the roadside spicy affair or the finer more authentic ‘peking duck’ et all offering places Mumbai has it all!

Royal China has been in the Mumbai Chinese circuit since sometime now. Quite popular amongst the hoity toity it’s located at next to Sterling Cinema. The first time I went there I didn’t quite like what I ate. Blame it on my HR College fiery Chinese upbringing! But last time I went there, the meal was something worth writing home about. It also has Bandra outlet.

Now for all the Apple/Mac suckers and for the usual technoholics ordering at Royal China is quite a treat with an Ipad Menu. Personally I loved the experience of just holding in my hand, delicately touching the screen, to view the dishes I am about to order. That’s the best part you can actually see a picture of what your ordering making it an awesome experience.

Hot & Sour Soup

Stir Fried Chicken with Chilli Oil & Spring Onion

We start our meal with the traditional Chicken Hot & Sour Soup, a brilliant peppery and tasty broth not the one you would usually find.  The next was Salt & Pepper Prawns which was crispy batter fried prawns sprinkled with wok tossed Chilly and Garlic. Again yummy in my tummy! The Stir Fried Chicken with Chilli Oil and Spring Onion, which is actually a main course but we ordered on suggestion from our Maitre d’ and also lack of options on the appetizers bit, was good as well. Pan tossed Chicken flavoured with light Chilly oil made for delectable combination. In the vegetarian the Lettuce Vegetable Wrap is also a great dish. A mix corn peppers, crispy fried noodles is provided that needs to be filled into fresh crunchy lettuce leaf that painted with Plum Sauce

Salt & Pepper Prawns

Braised Mushroom Noodles

Chicken in Black Pepper Sauce

Lotus Leaf Wrapped Rice

In the mains we order for the Chicken in Black Pepper Sauce was delicious. The Lotus Leaf wrapped Rice had a beautiful aroma emanating and with a taste so ambrosial it could give the whole Hrithik Roshan in Spain Combination of ZNMD a run for its money . The Braised Mushroom Noodles – pan-fried noodles on a bed of Lettuce Leaf topped with braised Shitake mushrooms was a divine dish! Nothing like I have had before, this dish is a must have especially for the lovers of Shitake Mushrooms.

For dessert we had the dulcet Banana in Toffee syrup – crispy batter fried bananas topped with honey and sesame seeds served along with Vanilla ice cream. The crispy exterior, the hot goey banana interior combined with chilled ice cream made the dish saporous! Not for the diabetic or calorie conscious though!

All in all the experience at Royal China was great. I think with a menu like that, Royal China manages to cater to the growing sect of discerning foodies and is doing especially well at it taking by the crowd that started to fill the place on the day I went.

An average meal for two would be a mere Rs 800 – 1000 per head

Quicktip: If you love your Chinese and want to eat it too! Royal China is a must go. The Lotus Leaf Rice and Braised Mushroom Noodles are must haves!

The Co-ordinates

Royal China, Behind Sterling Cinema Building, Hazarimal Somani Marg, Fort , Mumbai

Phone: 66355310, 6635531, 22077513, 22072492

Timing: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM to Midnight

Food Type: Chinese, Pan Asian

Serves Alcohol: Yes

Payment Methods: Credit Cards Accepted

It’s the thought that matters...

Review – Food For Thought, Kitab Khana

I love libraries and bookstores! Can spend an entire day at such places surrounded by books of all shapes and sizes & the smell of the oak wood shelves. And thus when I noticed this new book shop in flora fountain I couldn’t help but get inside.

It was sheer luck and I must say a good one that I noticed this store while scurrying for my admission fornmalities. The name itself ‘Kitab Khana’ is very old school and just adds to the vintage charm that flora fountain/fort exudes. Not the usual Landmark and Oxford kind, this bookshop is neither humouguous nor is it over flowing with people. Just the perfect atmosphere! You know the kind Bombay Stores and Fab India give. Ofcourse not a day there is a sale.

What I like about this place is the layout and architecture. At every turn you’ll find something new. Some of the walls are engraved with doha’s by Sant Kabir, verses of Sant Tukaram and other great philosophers.

Located to the far left corner of this bookshop is a quaint cafeteria called Food for Thought. A charming and dainty café, of just 7-8 seats, walls of which are adorned with movies related to food – Ratatouille, Julia and Julia, No Reservations. Mental Thought: Culinary Muse loves this and promises herself to get these for her home. Anything to do with food!

The all vegetarian menu lists down a limited yet impressive selection of Appetizers, Salads, Sandwhiches, Pastas, Deserts and Drinks

Penne Aglio Olio

We get on to ordering. The first Penne Pesto – is brilliant with yummy, nutty green sauce, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil flavor and a portion of bread on the side. The second pasta – Penne Aglio Olio was too dry and tasteless, quite a disappointment compared to the Penne Pesto. In the drinks we had the Ginger Lemonade, which was quite refreshing considering it is still so hot. The Earl Grey Tea was the normal, tea bag version.

Apple Crumble

In the desserts, we had the Apple Crumble – beautiful presentation with Cinnamon Powder sprinkled all the over, the dish was an equal delight in taste. The crunchiness of the outside crumb and the soft warmth of the apple inside was just brilliant.

A meal for 2 here would cost anywhere between Rs 250 – Rs. 500

Verdict

Food: Good

Ambience: Old School

Service: Slow yet Hospitable with the owner personally interacting with everybody

Quicktip: Don’t be lazy, forget Flipkart for a day, come buy a new book or just explore the ambience of Kitabh Khana and give Food For Thought a try! The Apple Crumble is a must!

The Co-ordinates

Kitabkhana, Somaiya Bhavan, 45/47, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Flora Fountain, Fort , Mumbai

Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM (Open All Days)

Food Type: Continental, Fastfood, Confectionery, Cookies

For the Love of Seafood!

Review - Apoorva

Located on Mumbai’s very own Wall Street – Fort, Apurva is a sea food lover’s dream. Although this area is flanked by many popular eateries and seafood joints like Trishna & Mahesh Lunch home, Apurva has managed to distinguish itself from the crowd with its authentic coastal & Manglorean fare. The restaurant maintains its cost effectiveness, catering well to both the parsimonious and the wealthy.

In the day, it is pretty crowded with herds of office goers flocking here during lunch hours. In the evening too, it’s pretty crowded with families and ‘packs of men’ celebrating their few hours of singledom, the famous ‘boys night out’ over fried fish & beer. You would be lucky if you didn’t have to wait for a couple of minutes. There are two sections - the upper one is air-conditioned while on the ground floor there is the sasta and tikau wall fan  and mirrors all around. Do people really like to see themselves while eating? Voyeurs! If you are with your family then I’d suggest you opt for the air-conditioned section and if you with your buddies, your ‘pack of single men’ take the ground floor. The pricing in the menus is different; obviously the food on the upper level is more expensive. Note the upper air-conditioned section is low ceilinged so if your tall be a little careful.  

For appetizers we first order fish - the Surmai Tawa is delicious, one mid-sized slice of Surmai Fish which can suffice two people. Coated with delicious batter, it is crunchy on the outside while tender fresh on this inside.  The Rawas Tikka is delectable, with succulent pieces of the tandoored fish which just melt in your mouth, a must have at this place. The Bombay Duck is crispy fried but I found it a oily and less meaty. The next appetitzer Clams Sukha  is  amazing if you’re a fan of shell fish, this one is cooked in a dry malvani style masala of chillies, grated coconut, mustard seeds and of course the unctuous shell fish meat  (I hope no PETA people are reading this). Then we are served the prawns- the Prawns Koliwada are batter fried prawns, quite the usual crunch with a hint of spice and the Prawns Chilli are what fine dining gurus like Veer Sanghvi would call Sino-Ludhianvi food with garlic, chillies and peppers, however its quite tasty. The Squid Butter Pepper Garlic is rubbery but then again I am not quite a fan of squid.

After this, comes the most satisfying part and if I may say the most orgasmic moment in the history of food, Apurva’s speciality, the Crab Butter Pepper Garlic - A whole crab cooked in loads butter, spring onions and garlic. Insert Salivating Smiley here. You would be given a along napkin – a bib to be precise, nut-cracker like cutters and a marrow spoons to scoop the meat out.  Even if you’re the most sophisticated eater in this world, I suggest you use that bib. This is going to be messy!  The waiter will serve you the pieces of crab ask him for extra gravy on the side, brace yourself and dig in. Literally. If this is not the most orgasmic food moment of your life I don’t know what could be. The crab meat, velvety soft and naturally juicy is combined with the zing of butter and garlic. Simply Sinful! It’s quite a tedious task though, scooping out the meat and then chewing on the bones. So you might end up losing some weight insteadJ (seriously praying that no one from PETA is reading this!)

Then comes the main course- a spicy fish curry called Gassi flavoured with tamarind, chilly, mustard seeds. Had best with Neer Dosa, a very thin rice dosa or Steamed Rice. You can even have the prawn or chicken gassi. There is also the soulful Chicken Stew, delicately flavoured with coconut and non spicy. Best had Appam, a thick dosa or rice (Yes lots of carbs so plan a rigorous workout the next day)

If you are wondering on my carnivorous review with nothing on the vegetarian side, in my defense, I would say that even though the restaurant also has of vegetarian food on the menu, I would not recommend you go there if you come from a place where eating meat is sin. If you are forced by your non vegetarian colleagues you can try the Navratna Korma or the Chinese. A warning you will feel like Bella amongst the Cullens more appropriately Bella amongst the Cullen Sucking on Blood!

All in all if you’re a seafood aficionado this is the place for you. The price per head is also economical with Rs 250 – Rs 400.

Verdict

Food: excellent                                                                                         

Ambience: Hell who cares

Service: Prompt

Quicktip: Go in big groups to be able to order a lot. Variety’s the Spice! Men should celebrate ‘boys night out’ here over your beer, fried fish, some more beer and ‘how they wish they had a BMW 7 series’ talk.

Co-ordinates

·         Apurva Bar & Restaurant, Noble Chambers, S. A. Brelvi Road, Near Horniman Circle, Fort, Mumbai400001, India

·         2870335,2881457

Timings: 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM to Midnight

Serves Alcohol

Accepts Credit Cards

Home Delivery within 5 kms