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
 

D CREPES CAFE, MUMBAI

D Crepes Cafe, Thane

I had discovered this little gem of a place more than 2 years back. It features in one of those places that I can't help but keep coming back to. Food that is truly delightful and the reasonably priced is a rarity in this city. I generally don't mind as Food is my guilty pleasure and is not about to change any time soon, but, it's always nice dropping by places like these that are the very meaning of value for money!

They have a new branch opened up at Hiranandani Estate I believe, though, I always end up at Meadows. Infact I think I could be the unoffical ambassador of this place with the way I have promoted and made sure people from my friends and family pay visit to this place. They always come back with rave reviews! 

The service here is something that has been well maintained over the years, recommending dishes to your liking. They know their menu, something that I actually find in a lot of places that the attending staff may lack knowledge of the items on their menu. It always adds a nice touch when the person serving understands your taste palette and can recommend what would best suit you, making it a good expeience on both sides and strategically avoiding bad reviews!

It is obligatory to order a crepe when you step in here. After  all, the place is names "D'Crepes". So we began with a generous serving of the Barbeque crepe. I should also mention here that the serving size of the crepe has increased or so I felt. Previously the filling inside the crepes wasn't as generous as it was this time. Where most other places you will find it decreasing, here it is the opposite. Kudos.  Chicken and veggies mixed well with BBQ sauce stuffed in the crepe is the stuff of your dreams and it can get down and dirty, so forget your table manners at home to enjoy it the way it should be! Next on the item was some Pasta. The pasta range is under Do It Your Way with giving you selections on how you want it to be prepared. We went for Fusilli Pasta in Portugese sauce as recommended by our attendant. This is supposed to be a very spicy sauce and we had asked him to turn down the spiciness a little and we are glad we did that. Even after the spiciness being reduced, it still ended up being spicy, so eat if your heart, stomach, ears and nose are prepared for. (You know running noses, heart bun, smoke from your ears ) The sauce is a tangy sauce and takes a little after the Arabiatta, though not an arabiatta sauce. I would order it again. However, the one thing that I would want to change about it is the serving bowl. Previously, the pastas were surved in a wooden bowl which has been changed to plates. I always felt it gave a unique touch to the plating with the wooden bowls. We had also ordered some garlic bread on the side and let me just say this is one of the best cheese garlic breads I have ever had the honour to have. Cheesy, soft breads, retaining the garlic flavors. Life couldn't get better. 

I am going to take a paragraph break here. I am a very lazy writer but once I start typing, I think I over write. But it's food!  For drinks I had called for the Iced tea, because nothing like it and truly, over here, I can most definitely say - NOTHING LIKE IT! I order iced teas because it is the safest bet on the menu and I don't spot a lot of creativity in this section in most places. However, the iced ea here is one of the best I have had. Refreshing, tangy, sweet and the perfect balance of flavors. I could order one more. My friend had ordered the Red Velvet Shake and even though I was a little wary of this, because most places screw up the red velvet shake and it feels more of a chocolate shake itself (Arey bhaiyya chocolate shake order kana hota toh chocolate shake order karte na - is something that some people don't get!). Here? You can feel the red velvet taste in every sip you take and I was just in another kind of heaven. A must if you enjoy red velvet as much as I do. The only disappointment - we had ordered for chocolate cheese cake to end our order and this is the first time that I have been let down. The cheese was too heavy, dry and wasn't even exactly sweet. Something I hope they look into. Their dessert range has never disappointed me before so I was a little surprised. 

Go for D Crepes! Go for D' Crepes and in case you still haven't gotten the message - Go for D'Crepes! or well, live to regret. Perfect place for meeting a friend, or for your work from home or rather cafe days and even for a date where you want to impress the said date! 

What We Had - Barbecue Crepe (Yumness Personified)

                         Pasta in Portugaise Sauce (Yumness)

                         Cheese Garlic Bread (More is Less)

                         Iced Tea (Very very refreshing!)

                         Red Velvet Shake (Fantabulous, yumness personified)

                         Chocolate Cheese cake (Let Down)

Damages - Rs 1100/- (Approx)

Where - D'Crêpes Café., Shop 2, Avila Building, Near Godrej Nature's Basket, Hiranandani Estate, Thane West