PICCADILLY, MUMBAI

My Lebanese Heaven is what I like to call it. The only place that has come close to make me feel like I am having meals from my homeland and I am missing it a tad bit more as my sister is holidaying there where as I am slogging off over here. *sigh* 

There was a time, when I dropped into this place twice a week at least if not more. My hostel was located in Churchgate and it was hardly a 20 minute walk or 15 Rs of Cab-drive away and I was such a regular that everyone recognized me and my group of friends and if we didn't show-up for 4 days in a row, they would tell us on the next visit, that its been a long time. I have only ever been to such places with my parents where every one would recognize you including the manager. This is mainly because they stick to their regular hang-outs. Hang-outs is such a funny word when using it for your parents, but I couldn't for the moment think of another word. :P But its the little joys of the world when your favorite restaurant knows and remembers you to the extent where they serve your drink in a taller glass then the usual because they know you love it! :D

This place has been here forever. I don't at the moment remember the specific year as such. But I guess 100 years would not be an exaggeration. or somewhere near it. Most of the places located in Colaba generally is. So this place holds an old world charm and is also designed like many local Iranian restaurants that you would find in my hometown with sprinkles of the Indian Victorian Era. This place is not some fancy fine-dine or a lounge or does not have any extra-ordinary interiors. But like I said its designed as a local Iranian meet Victorian Era coffee shops, where you would find a lot of localites. Atleast, in my hometown you would, Over here, its brimming with tourists. One of those rare places after all that serve authentic Lebanese food. Most places have glamorized it. It doesn't mean I do not like those other places, but it is like Mumbai is known for its Vada Pav, No one makes biryani like the Hyderabadi, Idli-Sambhar like the Keralites (Please, the rest of South India, don't take offence :) ). In a similar fashion, the origin of the many variants of Shawarma that you find in other parts of the world is the Gulf Region. No one makes it like them and no one can. But this place, does it. Also, remember that Shawarma served in different parts of the Middle East as such varies as well. 

If you are lucky, you will find yourself to be seated at the only and also my favorite window seat. I think I could spend hours in this spot. Overlooking the colaba market, it is some view. No it does not over look some sea, or bridge or anything of the likes. But it holds some sort of black magic, I would say, that you feel like a web of magic has been spun around you. Don't ask me why. 

Since this particular day was a sunday, and this angrezi looking tourist had already occupied the place, I had to make peace with sitting up stairs and to my disappointment, these two were seated long after I had left and they had come in way before us!-_- But like I said, you won't feel like getting out of that spot so soon. Since my friend had not tried this cuisine before, I had to take every precaution possible including telling her repeatedly that this will not be spicy AT ALL. The thing about this cuisine is that, either you will love it or dis-like it, no in between but the Shawarma? You will L-O-V-E it. If you don't, there must be something really wrong with you on so many different levels. I am sorry but get yourself checked because even my vegetarian friends over the years have loved their Paneer and Falafel Variants. Falafel is another speciality of the middle-east. Okay, back to business, So we ordered 1 Shawarma and two iced tea for starting off. Since, I was in a mood to try out different things as well, we ordered just one because these shawarmas if had just two can be really heavy! We next ordered the Lebanese Barbeque Chicken Kabab which is served with khuboos (Pita Bread) and some pickled cucumbers and beet roots. I love the pickled purlish cucumbers, I could finish it all off. In fact, I always do and me and my friends even order for more. They also serve you a side of Tahina which is a kind of mayonnaise and hummus . You will love the Tahina but only if you have grown up in the middle east will you realize the beauty of the hummus. Another specialty of the Kababs here is that unlike the Indian Kababs, they are not spicy at all and yet are so full of flavor and juices and it tastes really different from the ones you have in India. We also placed and order for Chicken Fajitas which is a gravy which has a sweet side to it. But pair it up with buttered rice and you will not feel disappointed. It is another regular item that I order on every other visit. We also had a refill on the iced tea. Let me tell you, it is this place where my addiction to Iced Teas began. Need I say more??!!

So the guys out there, when you take your girls next for a shopping spree for some street side shopping, rejuvenate with some delicious shawarmas and iced teas in this little space snuck in the lanes of Colaba. 

WHAT WE HAD - Chicken Shawarma ( This is my Favorite Food on the planet, need I say more??!!) 

                            Lebanese Barbeque Chicken Kabab ( I louuvee Kababs)

                            Chicken Fajitas ( Yumminess)

                            Hummus ( You can either love it or hate it, I love it!)

                            Tahina ( You cannot not like it!)

                          Pita Bread/ Khuboos ( Judge it by the melt-in-mouth feel and it totally is)

Iced Teas

Damages - Rs 900/- Approx ( We were 2 on the day)

WHERE - Piccadilly Restaurant, Donald House, Opp. Electric House, Colaba Causeway, Colaba