The Vegetarian Foodgasms

"Oyee..
Butter Paratha, Butter Nan, Butter Masala, Paneer Tikka, Sarso da Saag... 
sab asli makhan de sath oye!!"

The Punjabi Fare

You know you are an Indian when this ceaseless rant above, reminds you of a portly looking sweet Sardar mouthing the specialities of what we all Indians endearingly call as the "Punjabi Food!"

Precisely bringing out this authentic feeling of the state that churns out scrumptious food in equal numbers as the number of army bravehearts, is "The Curry House", an ambitious take-away restaurant in Versova, the brainchild of a brother sister duo hailing from the center of North India, Delhi!

Recommendations: Aaloo Tikki (starter), Paneer Pasanda(gravy), Cheese Garlic Naan, Gulab Jamun.

---

You know you are in for a lavish meal when like a tingling tiny Jerry, you waft through the thin air behind the delicious aroma of food. For me, the phrase "First Impression lasts long" inadvertently translates to "First aroma lingers long". Food by default becomes tasty, when it smells exotic and the Curry House strengthened my belief in my self-proclaimed idiom (Yay!).

Coming to the restaurant, The Curry House is a take-away joint specializing in North Indian cuisine with delivery upto Goregaon on one end while Vile Parle and Santacruz to a certain extent on the other. With Punjabi cuisine haunting my thoughts through the day we placed an order with TCH, which left me sure of one thing - that "Jab Punjabi ho khana, Curry House ko kabhi na bhulana!"




The basic essence of takeaway joints is how fast they deliver and more importantly how hot is the food when they deliver. And when it comes to TCH, it passes off with flying colors in both the criteria!

Here's a lowdown on the best and the good ('bad' category simply fails to make a mention here!):

1. Paneer Achari Tikka (INR 190++) : verdict - Good! Spicy though a tad oliy, could've done without the excess oil. ---4/5
2. Veg Moti Seek Kebab (INR 160++) : verdict - Better!
Crisp exterior, but soft enough to have a bite with a delicious filling. *thumbs up*  --4/5
3. Aaloo Tikka (INR 150++) : verdict - BEST! Spicy, mouth watering and delicious. Undoubtedly, the HIGHLIGHT of the day! --5/5
4. Paneer Pasanda (INR 250++) : verdict - BEST! Large no, no correction - MAMMOTH chunks of Paneer in a green gravy - YOU NEED TO ORDER THIS! --5/5
5. Veg Lahori (INR 180++) : verdict - Average! I am a huge Lahori fan, trust me. The amalgam of vegetables spiced with masala - 'That's my spot!' However, Lahori here disappointed. ---3.5/5
6. Brown Rumali Roti (INR 30) : Precaution: Eat these while they are hot, because once it gets cold as with every Punjabi food, it doesn't taste great. ---3.5/5
7. Aaloo Paratha (INR 45) : Same like the roti, Aaloo Paratha tastes excellent when hot! ---4/5
8. Cheese Garlic Naan (INR 55) : Why oh why are you so delicious???!! Bang on to the size, taste and flavors, Cheese Garlic Naan as well makes it to the HIGHLIGHT of the day. Don't forget ordering this!!  ----5/5
9. Paneer Tikka Roll (INR 120++): Splendid! The flavors of Paneer wrapped in a Rumali Roti are clearly distinct, though it could have done with a little more spiciness! ---4/5
10. Butter Paneer Biryani (INR 210++): Mixed opinions here. Although the majority of the guests did love this, a tad few like me didn't find it up to the mark. ---3.5/5
11. Malai Phirni (INR 50) : Not a Phirni fan, so making any judgements about it would not put up a good picture. Still, it was sweet and with a particularly good viscosity. (Small portions are served!)
12. Gulab Jamun (INR 45): 2 pieces of Gulab Jamun are served in one dish. The size is big and the taste impeccable. ----4.5/5

Value for Money: If you think this is expensive, then someone quite recently sent me to a place when I annoyed them beyond limits, endearingly called by Mumbaikars as "bhaad". I think you might really need a short trip to the same. Good quantity in terms of price adding up to the amazing authentic taste, I see no reason to call up TCH for one more Punjabi outing.

So people, when in need for some Punjabi 'tadka' but you don't want to end up 'kadka', call up The Curry House and you won't end up 'bhadka'.
(Please don't kill me for my sad poetry :P)

To order from Curry House:
Their contact details are :
+91 9167616999
+91 9967979619

Call them for some mouth-watering Punjabi food! 

Coming from the family of the legendary Zoravar Kalra, is yet another masterpiece - one which not only appeases your stomach but makes sure you drool over every single piece you intend to gulp down, so much so that at one point you might start questioning yourself -"To eat or not to eat is the question?!!"

Molecular gastronomy at one of its best, Pa Pa Ya is one of the very few restaurants(you can literally count the number of restaurants!) in Mumbai which dishes you some authentic Japanese fare. But as an old saying goes, "People are bound to stare...Make it worth their while!", Pa Pa Ya takes some herculean efforts to make Japanese food LOOK so delicious and mouth watering that it would "confuj" you to eat or just sit back and stare at its beauty!!

---

Ambiance: Located on the Level-3 in the uber cool Palladium Mall in the posh locality of Lower Parel, its fancy exteriors are bound to stream all eyeballs towards it as soon as you get off the escalators. Chemistry as a subject never took to appease me, so looking otherwise at those glittery molecular structures would have cringed me. But there was something about Pa Pa Ya's classy ambiance which draws you towards itself, and would not stop short at giving you a casual invitation inside "come hither child!"
Draped in a blood red interiors with glass molecular structures staring at you from every nook and corner, Pa Pa Ya as claimed in the preface to their menu gives full justice to its "High Energy Food" tag. Although an hour into it, you might just feel a tad suffocated with so many glasses looking back at you.
A very common misinterpretation you cannot blame your mind for, Pa Pa Ya here does not stand for an edible fruit with orange shades and miniature black seeds, it rather derives its origin from Japan. As stated by their svelte looking attendants, Pa Pa Ya stands for "Hi-energy food, something which delights all your 5 senses!"  Sticking to their derivation, the music here is pumping and bursting- enough to make you last a marathon (some high energy eh!), but at times can be a little too loud for normal conversations.
The "Bar" is the place to be where the main action happens. Make sure to get a seat there!




Food: True to its Japanese soul, Pa Pa Ya delivers mouth-watering Japanese fare which targets not just your tummy but gets you drooling over the presentation.
On seating you shall first be treated to the French greeting of "Amouse Bouche",which here is a Basil compressed Watermelon in a lemongrass chilly foam. A good start to a long dinner!

Amouse Bouche

Amongst the things that you definitely need to try here:

Sushi Matrix

1. "The Sushi Matrix": Goes without saying, that this is their signature dish! This dish has all the recipes to strengthen their foothold as one of the best Fine Dine Asian restaurant in Mumbai. Spicy, cheesy and delightful, the taste will haunt you all the way till the morning next. ---4.5/5

Sauted Leeks and Water Chestnuts Dumplings

2. "Sauteed Leeks, Water Chestnuts": Dumplings a la Japanese style infused with beetroot. Burst of flavors in your mouth!! -----4/5

Lighthouse

3. "Lighthouse" - One word - EXCELLENCE! You can replace it with any another thesaurus and I wouldn't blame you! Served in a light bulb, you are bound to place an order for another of this! ----5/5

Edmame and Chickpea Slider

4. "Edamame & Chickpea Sliders with Homemade Potato Chips": Burgers when presented atop a fancy retro car with chips is just enough to get all your foodie senses aroused. Crisp with a soft bun and generous mayonnaise and lettuce over the patty, this was a sure shot winner! ----5/5

Edmame and Chickpea Slider

5. Crispy Lotus Stems: One bite into these light wafer chips and you'd be drawn into nostalgia. In my friend's words,an ode to the mixture of Lays' Sweet Chili and Indian Magic Masala, these crispy lotus stems didn't last long on the fancy stone platter as they were immediately gulped down by us. ----4.5/5

Crispy Lotus Stem

6. Penang Curry: Tofu Balls in a Penang Curry. Lip-smacking! ---4/5

Penang Curry with Tofu Balls

7. "Chocolate Ball on Fire": Last but not the least, THIS IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY! You should have no qualms while ordering this feast to the eyes. Dancing blue flames over a sinful chocolate ball which melts away to reveal the treasures of sweet delight, there was no wonder that this was the dish that was ordered on the maximum number of tables. A straight --------5/5

The sinful "Chocolate Ball on Fire"

Service: With attendants wearing chic-looking suits and walkies over their ears, no questions about the "Professional" service. The service goes from delightful to extravagant and manages to draw an awe from you. Well informed about their recipe, they particularly make sure that you are personally attended to and are always open to suggestions and feedback. 4.5/5




Value for Money: Pa Pa Ya comes across as a cross between fine dine and lounge with more of a fine dine and less of the latter. So that explains the slightly inflating cost, but when you look at the quality and more importantly the quantity of food, it easily passes off as successful. Without alcohol, it can come close to a rough 2000-2750 for two while their undeniably not-to-be-missed mock-tails can charge you a slight more.




All in all, THE place to be if your tummy is in for some Japanese food cravings!

 C.H.O.C.O.L.A.T.E.S.  

Just this one word is enough to grab your unperturbed attention. 
Being an Indian kid is not easy, all through those growing years, we've been reprimanded and a thought has been instilled in our mind that 
"Beta chocolate mat khao...daant kharab ho jayenge!" 

But do we really care???
 
Of course not!!! 
Chocolate is love. 
Chocolate is desire. 
It is selfless. It doesn't ask silly questions.Chocolate understands.


So for the undying love for chocolate, presenting a list of 15 places in no particular order that you need to visit in the Mumbai Suburbs if you are a die-hard chocolate fanatic:

1. Chocolateria San Churro:

The 7-Layer Chocolate Cake

It should take no guesses really to understand why this place makes it to the list. With CHOCOLATE prominently a part of its name, Chocolateria San Churro by default makes the cut for the top 15 places in Mumbai Suburbs. You simply cannot miss their heavenly sinful chocolate delicacies. However, they do come at a hefty price.

What to order?   
1. Seven Layered Chocolate Cake (INR 210++)
2. Fondue For 2 (INR 550++)


Where to find it? 
1. Linking Road, Bandra West
2. New Link Road, Andheri West

Cost for 2? (approx)
Rs.900
Click here to view it on Zomato

2. Merwans Cake Shop:

1. Chocolate Squares. (INR 10)
2. Dutch Truffle. (INR 50)
3. Chocolate Crackle. (INR 50)


Where to find it?
1. SV Road, Andheri West.
2. JB Nagar, Andheri East.
3. SV Road, Malad West.
4. Corner of Market Road, Borivali West.


Click here to view it on Zomato

3. Di Bella Coffee:

Click here to view it on Zomato

4. Mad Over Donuts:

1. Double trouble donut (In-house speciality) (INR 65)
2. Chocolte Decadence. (INR 65)
3. Choco Bomb. (INR 65)


Where to find it?
1. Oberoi Mall, Goregaon East.
2. Mahavir Nagar, Kandivali West.
3. Lokhandwala Market, Andheri West.
4. Phoenix Market City Mall, BKC.
5. Juhu Versova Link Road, Versova, Andheri West.
6. Inorbit Mall, Malad West.
7. Carter Road, Bandra West.
8. Infiniti Mall, Malad West.
9. Bandra Talao, Bandra West.
10. Juhu.
11. Hypercity, Malad West.


Click here to view it on Zomato

5. Le 15 Patisserie:

Dark Chocolate Macaroons

MACAROONS. Just one word is simply enough to describe this heavenly place. You simply cannot call yourself a chocolate lover, if you haven't tried their sinful chocolate macaroons. Their choux pastries are yet another specialty. Unfortunately, very few options for egg-less.
1. Dark Chocolate Macaroons. (INR 65)
2. Belgian Chocolate Choux Pastry. (INR 55)
3. Dark Delight (Eggless) (INR 75)


Where to find it?
1. Pali Hill, Bandra West.
2. Oshiwara, Andheri West.


Click here to view it on Zomato

6. 5 Spice:

1. Mission Impossible (INR 250++)
2. Rocky Road (INR 250++)
3. Death By Chocolate (INR 160++)


Where to find it?
1. Oshiwara, Andheri West.
2. Sakinaka, Andheri East.
3. Pali Hill, Bandra West.
4. Chandavarkar Road, Borivali West.
5. Off Link Road, Malad West.


Click here to view it on Zomato

7. Petits Plaisirs Patisserie:

Macaroons At Petits Plaisirs Patisserie

With a 4.5 rating on Zomato as of September 2015, 3P is one of the finest places in the suburbs to try sinful Petits Gateaux and Macaroons. Limited options for egg-less.
1. Nouch Gateaux.
2. Chocolate and Lavender Macaroons. (INR 40)


Where to find it?
Versova.
 
Click here to view it on Zomato

8. The Boston Cupcakery:

Cupcakes at The Boston Cupcakery

The rightly proclaimed #1 place to have sinful chocolate cupcakes, shakes and sundaes in Mumbai. TBC has a cult following of its own. If cupcakes were not enough, their range of cupcake shakes and cupcake sundaes is bound to leave you spell bounded.
Chocolate City Cupcake or for that case any cupcakes. You can convert it into a cupcake shake or sundae by adding Rs.60 or Rs.100 respectively.


Where to find it?
Andheri Lokhandwala, Andheri West.
 
Click here to view it on Zomato

9. Love, Sugar and Dough (LSD):

Array of Cupcakes from LSD

More popularly known as LSD among the collegian crowds, it has caught the eye of the youth with their subtly made and chocolaty delightful cupcakes. With mini-cupcakes starting at a mere Rs.20, it's also cheap on the pockets.
1. Any of their mini cupcakes. (INR 20 - pack of 6 for 100)
2. Rainbow Pastry (INR 150)
3. Red Velvet Buttercream Cupcake. (INR 80)


Where to find it?
1. Union Park, Khar West.
2. Oshiwara, Andheri West.
3.Shraddhand Road,Vile Parle East.


Click here to view it on Zomato

10. Country of Origin:

1. Any of their famed chocolate brownies. (INR 65 onward)
2. Dessert Jars (INR 675 onward) (available in egg-less)


Where to find it?
1. Sun-N-Sand, Juhu.
2. Bandra Reclamation, Bandra West.


Click here to view it on Zomato

11. Theobroma:

Walnut Brownie at Theobroma

When we mention Brownies, it is simply not possible to not mention Theobroma. Another of a legacy dessert cafe, Theobroma is famous for their delicious brownies.
1. Chocolate Chip Brownies.


Where to find it?
1. Off. Linking Road, Bandra West.
2. BKC.
3. Oberoi Mall, Goregaon East.
4. Lokhandwala Market, Andheri West.


Click here to view it on Zomato

12. Guilt Trip:

Death by Chocolate mini cupcake

1. Belgian Chocolate Cupcake.
2. Ferrero Rocher Cupcake.
3. Gooey Chocolate Pastry.


Where to find it?
1. Carter Road, Bandra West.
2. Lokhandwala Road, Andheri West.


Click here to view it on Zomato

13. Tea Villa:

1. Nutella Waffles. (INR 195)
2. Chocolate Loaded Waffles. (INR 185))


Where to find it?
Junction of Hanuman Road, Vile Parle East.


Click here to view it on Zomato

14. Wafflist:

1. Chocoloaded Waffles. (INR 150)
2. Nutty Buddy Waffles. (INR 180)


Where to find it?
Carter Road, Bandra West.


Click here to view it on Zomato

15. Waffle House:

ChocoNuts Waffle.

Popularizing the concept of waffles on a stick, Waffle House is yet another name which definitely makes its mark on this list. With just one outlet in this part of the Western Suburbs, Waffle House still manages to draw a hug crowd for their famed waffle on a stick and waffle sundaes.
1. ChocoNuts Waffle.(INR 130)
2. Nutella Love Waffle. (INR 150)


Where to find it?
Infiniti Mall, Andheri West.

So what are you waiting for????? Go ahead and try all these amazing places and find yourself in chocolate heaven!!

Have I missed out on something? I'd love to hear your feedback  and suggestions in the comments below or you can mail me on shahrushabh1993@gmail.com. Bon Appetit!