Soda Bottle Openerwala, Mumbai

Soda Bottle Openerwala, BKC

 

 

You know when nothing else is going write in your life, there is one small thing that you are fond and that you can control. For me that's food. Through the roughest of times, this is  one thing that gives me instant happiness. At first bite. This is also why I am a little particular about it and want it to go exactly how I had imagined. Alas, it doesn't always work out that way. But some times even that is a good thing, you get to have something better!

 

One of such times and the only thing that I was looking forward to was a good hearty breakfast from Mc Donalds. Imagine my annoyance when I reach the destination, only to be told Mc Donalds will remain closed for today. I wanted to scream at the person, do you know how much this meant for me?? I mean I hadn't asked for something huge, and this was a Saturday to top it. Meaning, rush everywhere and by time I find another place, it would be past breakfast hour.  And there was more than this emotion icon happening. We hopped from one place to another and had almost given up because guess what? It was lunch hour and everything in the area was jam packed. The only reason we got into Sodabottle Openerwala also was because well we were early or rather the first few to step in for lunch. Else, good luck finding a place here as well.

 

Though, this place has always been on my list, the visit always gets canceled as well, it's literally always house full. This place feels right out of the movies from the 60s. The décor is classy yet retro. They also happen to have a juke box which actually works! What else do you want?!! You will also find the family tree on the wall which looks pretty interesting. Over all, a place that is charming and almost like the place itself is romancing you. *sigh*

 

The service is alright and it can some times be a struggle to grab the attention of the attending staff, especially if you happen to be sitting in one of the corners. But otherwise it's smooth sailing.

 

So is the food as amazing as you read it to be? Hell, Yeah!  For appetizers, we went for the Chicken Baida Roti and Spicy Mushroom on Khari. My mouth still waters thinking about it. The Chicken Baida Roti is literally the best version I have had. Each morsel is a bite of heaven. The minced Keema filling is thick and not just for namesake, which is just the case in a lot of places. Truly the kind of food, your Grandma would make. The warmth reaches your soul. If any type of food makes you feel this way, you know there is nothing quite like it. The spicy Mushroom is creamy cheesy mushroom topped on the khari that is available in probably in all local bakeries and is quite the Mumbai thing to have. Also my favorite. Though I have always had it at tea time with a cup of chai. This is a unique way of having it, and has inspired me to try some utpatanga combinations at home too.  The last and the final dish that we had and the show stopper of the day, the Berry Pulav. The Berry Pulav made me forget the Biryani of my home, almost. And that never happens. I always always have to say this "But you know what? I bet mere ghar ki Biryani isse zyada acchi hai". And here, I was not having uttered a word, just lost in the taste and flavors. No stinginess shown in the mutton pieces used in the meal, one of the softest and most succulent pieces of meat that it melts in your mouth, the gravy to rice ratio just perfect, mix dried berries which elevated and compliments the dish in  just another way. I always say this, there is no body who cooks up a storm like Mommy Dearest. But I would want to tell Mommy Dearest, that I think I have found a new favorite Pulav dish. Sorry. In fact reading this, I think I want to order it in or have it again. Soonish, that too.

 

I also gave a try to the Raspberry Soda which is another iconic parsi item to be checked off your bucket list. These guys add real raspberry and not the crushed kind. The perfect balance of sweet and sour, it looks also so pretty! Yes, that matters.

 

Everywhere you go, you will read rave reviews of this place. Can a place really be that good? Well, I was finally here to find out and let's just say this is easily one of the best meals I have had in the recent past and actually probably Top 5, though I haven't really made a list.

 

WHAT WE HAD - Chicken Baida Roti (Heaven)

                           Spicy Mushroom on Khari (Yumness)

                           Chicken Berry Pulao (Drooling', Dreamin')

                           Raspberry Soda (Yumnes Personified)

                           Limbu Soda

 

DAMAGES - Rs 1700/- (Approx)

 

WHERE - Soda Bottle Openerwala Mumbai.Ground Floor, The Capital Building, G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai
 

Kyani & Co, Mumbai

KYANI & CO., Fort

Where was this place when I lived just 15 minutes walking from the restaurant?!! Well, the restaurant was right there, has been right there since time immemorial. No, seriously, it has been there for 100 years or more I believe. So the real question is, where was I??? Sleeping apparently. The foodie in me was very restricted and didn't really know where to go, so my options were limited, access to internet has changed that. So Thank you Internet and Google. So now that I finally made it here, all I can say is why did it take me so many years to find this place? Especially since the place is nothing short of a legend and a legacy. Are the two the same thing? I will have to google. 

The place is located in between CST and Crawford Market, and is easy to find because who hasn't heard of Kyani and Co. Except for me, obviously. The minute you step in, you will be a transported to a different era. you can literally feel the pre-independence vibes in the place. Pre-independence does not mean the patriotism or the "Go-back Simon" phase. It reeks of nostalgia, like visiting your grandparents in the summer and hearing them tell you stories of the their younger days. I am sure my nana-ji must have been here on several occasions himself. He has traveled the world from GCC to Japan to many other places. The place also has a no-nonsense vibe where in you won't find waiters going out of their way to create comfort, this is there on the menu, this is not- you like it, you order, you don't, move on. You will also literally see some of the cooks in their dhotis on a break which was such a LOL to me, where else can you see that??! 

We started off by ordering Chicken Farcha Meal which included Chicken Farcha + Chicken Sausage + French Fries + Baked Beans. Everything on the plate was good except for the Chicken Farcha. I know it is an authentic Parsi dish, but I just couldn't eat it. Infact I didn't, the flavor just didn't sit with me. Neither did it, with my friend. We didn't end up eating it infact. I don't know if it was just here, or I don't have the stomach for the cuisine. I am guessing though, it is just for the chicken Farcha. Next time, I would do a proper research on the cuisine and then give it a try. Besides this we had ordered Kheema Bhurjee and 1 of this needs 8 pieces of Pav to finish it. The Kheema was good, really good and completely worth it for just 60 bucks! Its beyond paisa vasool. Well, this place is known for its bun-maska and chai, and hence, I had to have it. I was actually wondering how Good can bun-maska be? I mean its bun and maska. How very wrong I was. The minute I had the first bite, I knew that no matter how many times I would have had this particular Bun-Maska, there will not come a day when I would be bored of it, I don't know how and what they do with it, but it is worth dying for! Yes, very much so. Have you seen the Five Star - Kho jao Ad? Their Bun- Maska can replace the Five Star in the Ad. Dipped in their Chai, it takes it another level altogether. I also had their Bread Pudding, which again is something I have been craving ever since. I mean it is the not just the cheapest pudding I have had (15 Rs!!!) but also the best. No seriously, it makes me question how do they even afford it. If they had made me may 100 rs for it, I would still have gladly done so, and in this price I can have 6 pieces of it. Its like reverse-rip off, as in we are ripping them off!! :P

Most of you must have already paid a visit to this place and may even be a regular here, even if it is to pick something along the way. This is one of those places that you should bring your friends along on when they are here to sight-see and explore Bombay. In short - SHOULD NOT BE MISSED! 

WHAT WE HAD - Chicken Farcha Meal ( Excellent without the Farcha!)

                           Kheema Bhurjee (Yum!)

                           Bun Maska with Chai (Where have you been all my life?!!)

                           Bread Pudding (Yumminess)

                           Chocolate Milkshake (Yum!)

DAMAGES - Rs 250/- Approx

WHERE - JSS Road, Jer Mahal Estate, Opp. Metro Cinema, Marine Lines, Mumbai