Urban Tadka, Mumbai

URBAN TADKA, Ghatkopar

You know what is the USP of places like PopTates and Urban Tadka? (They come from the same chain) Their pricing. They are not as cheap as the dhabas and the local restaurants but the ambiance, service and food they offer, it is as reasonable as reasonable can be. Paisa Vasool in short. 

I was initially vary of going here, because family and even though my family is not traditional by its definitions, they are a little guarded and I still remember my mom's reactions, the last time I had taken her to a place where you see young couples and crowd, her reactions were to laugh at. But, I know she didn't approve or enjoy the experience which makes you realize this city has a shortage of real family type fine dines. Since then I have always avoided stepping in such places with family. Urban Tadka though serves Indian Food, it is supposed to be a place which attracts the young crowd and their music, ambiance, serving alcohol, all might make my family wince. However, I took the risk as my mom or dad were not accompanying us and it was a comparatively younger crowd. (The double life of this Bombay girl might make for an interesting read! :P)

Music improves everything and I am desi at heart, and I would always find myself swaying to Bollywood more than the Hollywood Pop. Listening to the music as we stepped in I knew that the rest of them were okay with it too. Hurrah! The place has an urban Dhaba feel. My fascination for lights makes me admire the chandelier made of bangles placed overhead. If only one could do this in our homes. We can, but imagine the electricity bills if we places so much fancy lights. The bar which is inspired and set like the road side Gola stalls was my nephew's favorite and also mine. Bravo to the interior decorator as restaurants around the city are now even pressurized to offer hatke ambiances, which this place does, yet keeping the Indianess alive. 

You know another thing I have learnt today? It matters how you treat and speak to the waiting staff as well. Courtesy My brother In Law. The waiting staff here were attentive but not intrusive or extra friendly. However, my brother in law made conversation with them, speaking to them in their lingo, pulling their leg even, all in friendly banter. The learning I got here was if you pay a little attention and are a little friendly they will give it 10 folds back.

I love it when I don't have to pay and then I don't even look at prices and I was specifically asked to not look at prices. So Yayy!! We ordered 4 starters - Kalimiri Paneer Tikka, because Paneer Tikka's are a mandatory order as my sister loves Paneer, Tandoori Chicken Lollipop - Tandoori Chicken on a lollipop, like is there anything more perfect??!!, Butter Garlic Prawns ( because Prawns is life), and Butter Chicken Kebab, the name itself triggers emotions. How was it all in reality? Stuff of your dreams. except for the Prawns. A long time ago, I had been to this small restaurant in Goa which served butter garlic fish and four years later, I still have not been able to find that taste anywhere and it still lingers on my tongue, so every time I read butter garlic, I give it a shot. But no, this was not it either. The Lollipop required more meat but otherwise was my favorite on the table. The Paneer Tikka was succulent, not spicy just as my sister prefers it to be. Butter Chicken made into Kebab is what real fusion is all about. For the main course we had Delhiwala Butter Chicken, Punjabi Tadka Murgh with assortment of bread - Roomali Rotis, Naans & Tandoor Roti and some super awesome Zeera Rice ( I tell you Zeera Rice makes everything better!!). The Butter Chicken was on the sweeter side and one of the most authentic versions I have had. The Punjabi Chicken was also standard fare. This place does not do some thing different for each dish. It is serving what it says, Butter Chicken is what Butter Chicken is supposed to be. Naans are soft. Paneer Tikka is well how you would want Paneer Tikka to taste like. This is what their USP lies in, they are not serving you Original things, they did't create anything extra ordinary. They serve you authentic stuff.

You want to down a drink or two with punjabi fare, because even though I have not tried it myself, its been said chicken tikka works best as chakhna when downing a peg or two! Well, you have found your place. Your teetotaler friends wouldn't mind either :D

WHAT WE HAD - Kalimiri Paneer Tikka (Yumness)

                           Tandoori Chicken Lollipop (YUM!)

                           Butter Garlic Prawns (Stick to Indian Fare)

                           Butter Chicken Kebab ( Yumnessss)

                           Punjabi Tadka Murgh (Blissfully Yum)

                           Delhi wala Butter Chicken (Yum!)

                           Butter Roti ( Dil Garden garden ho gaya)

                           Zeera Rice (Yum!)

                           Iced teas & other assorted mocktails (Refreshing)

DAMAGES - Rs 3500/- (Approx)

WHERE -  Urban Tadka., 3rd Floor, R City Mall, LBS Marg, Ghatkopar (W), MUMBAI

KINARA DHABA, MUMBAI

I have visited this place after a really long time. It does not have a fancy set-up or even walls for that matter. Open Space all around is what sets it apart. One of my friends who had come in here for the first time, looked spellbound as well and I completely understand because I feel the same way even after being here 2-3 times before.

This is one place that makes me wish I had fancy camera to show the place off in all its glory, because the pictures that I take from my smart phone does no justice to it in any which way. Since, its a dhaba and evening, even though you can see the magic the place holds, the flashes of the camera are no where able to capture it. Some day! I will have a fancy camera and I will show off the beauty of this place.

There are swings and other play ground stuff for the kids, there is a mini bar, where you can also order fancy drinks or it could be brought to your table which ever you prefer.This place is huge and looks like a garden where people from all walks come and enjoy some good time. I have never unfortunately yet been to the set-ups they have made on roof tops, kind of like a tree-housy only it is not actually on a tree but made with bamboo shoots. This place is where you can enjoy hookah. I believe it has now been shut down though, didn't ask. It has place for couples as well as places to seat 20 at a time. You can see how awestruck I am of this particular place?!

The staff here is super excited to serve you and will make it a point that you don't have to list your hands to serve. You know since, I like, blog or have this not-so-fancy page, I tend to take photos of the food which can be super annoying to my friends and also for the staff because I always tend to either tell them that we will serve ourselves or I tell them to come back in 5 mins, in a very nice manner, mind you. I am super sweet :P Well, since the dishes were not so complicated, and easy to serve, I thought we would do it ourselves and told the guy we will help ourselves. Only as soon as I was done taking the photo and was just about to take the spoon and serve, the guy comes forward and is ready to serve. Now, that is a quality that I find to be missing many a times, even in fancy little places. My last review was about one such. In case you haven't read it yet, go read now! :P

I have been here a few times before and order had up til then been pretty standard. Something that i would order blindly as they had become my fast favorite but since this time around I had vegetarian, that too jain one and then another who only has chicken and no other kind of meat, it was quite a task ordering as I always end up ordering seekh kababs and other meats here rather than chicken. So ended up being quite a task even though they do have ample variety. For starters we ordered, paneer tikka and chicken Chicken Kalimiri Kabab. They had ensured that the Paneer Tikka had what-so-ever Non-jain in it, though I don't know what items are traditionally excluded from it, but I have got to say that it tasted da-yum good. The chicken kalimiri is on the spicier side and I actually thought, these hotel walas only say its spicy but it never actually is. But I was proved wrong here, as I had to gulp down quite a lot of water. That's no reason to not order it though, because spicy it might have been, but then I have always said ki jab tak aankh aur naak se pani na nikle tab taka mazaa kahan (Till your eyes and nose don't water from the spice, its not really spice :P ). We went for normal cold-drinks like 2 bottles of Thums-up rather than ordering some fancy mock-tail, must be a first, but then that gives you an actual dhaba feel. For the main course we ordered, Paneer Handi and Chicken Rara Masala. It had a typical punjabi touch to it, even though the paneer was jain and for one I wouldn't mind being jain if only they ate meat. Because I could give up on a few veggies, I can-not give up meat by any means. :D Both the dishes go perfectly with butter naan and naan you should order rather than Tandoori roti. Because their naan can be had all on its own over here as well, I believe.

All, this while all sorts of 90s and some catch current Bollywood favorites playing in the back ground is enough to make an evening rangeen!! They have singers in shifts or something I believe, because I had really liked the singer last time around as compared to the day's. Oh, you can also give requests and they will be sure to dedicate it to anyone you wish.

Oh while, I am still here, you should give a try to their boondi raita and mutton seekh Kabab masala, if you like red meat. That was part of my staple order previously. Also, at the entrance you will find, rabdi-jalebi, give that a shot too. It is one of the best I have had. Also, the meetha pan. And if like me, you want to fore-go the leafy part, just ask for the paan masala, they have that ready to serve as well. They also have several other small shops, so if you are here with the kids, you will find them pointing to lots of stuff in different directions. Come prepared! :D

WHAT WE HAD - Paneer Tikka ( Super wala Yum)

                         Chicken Kalimiri Kabab ( Spicy, have lots of water handy)

                         Paneer Handi - Jain ( Jain or Not, we loved it)

                         Chicken Rara Masala ( Yum)

                         Butter Naan (Soft and it can be had on its own, that good0

                         Cold Drinks

DAMAGES - Rs 1500/- (Approx) (We were 3)

WHERE - Kinara Dhaba, Mumbai Ahemdabad Highway, Ghodbandar Junction, Vasai, Mumbai

PAPA PANCHO DA DHABA, MUMBAI 

This place I had discovered exactly a year ago on the great Zomato. Zomato is truly a blessing for the likes of me and many other like me. This was on my search for good Punjabi food in Bombay after my hangover from all things Punjabi after my Chandigarh visit and the search finally came to this. The place looked every bit like a dhaba and that just doubled my excitement. The shocking thing was my sister readily agreed to checking this place out even though she is not a big fan of Indian Cuisine that is made in India. Funny, huh? But she has a point as most of the local restaurants though good have more content of oil than probably you will find digging up the Gulf. :P 

The place has now become a favorite stop of mine for authentic punjabi food and yes, my sister gives it a thumbs up too. In fact the only place where she doesn't mind splurging on Indian Food and would recommend it to others as well. Well, that could also have been because of the amount of Paneer they serve. Its A LOT. Trust me.

Exactly a year down, I once again arrived here during the on-going Diwali season. I should also tell you that I went to 2 other restaurants before finally heading here. And mind you, these 2 other restaurants were not even in close proximity to this one. But yet, we ended up here because the Punjabi Lassi and Paneer Butter Masala were calling out to us. :P :P

This place is set up like a fancier version of a Dhaba. With all the khaats, and tables and chairs set up to give you the feel of Dhaba. A separate Today's Spl Menu Card written on a slate. Even the Plates they use are of Copper which gives you the complete feel of the Punjab road side dhabas. It takes a place to another level when they go into such fine details. Even the servers here are dressed in similar kurtas where, I almost ended up calling out to one - Oye, khoteya, zara idhar toh aa. I didn't. But that's the point. It transports you to another place.

They take a little while in serving, so be prepared for the wait. But oh, the wait is worth it. Each time I come in here, I think maybe this time I will not be impressed, but as soon as I take the first bite, I can-not think of anything but the food in front of me. This time around, we skipped the starters and headed direct for the main course which was 2 thalis of Chicken Peshawari and Palak Paneer with extra parathas. Their parathas are made of wheat and are swadisht (Tasty). We were 3. Their Thalis include the main dish, 2 parathas, Dal Makhani & Yogurt, made in-house. Their 1 thali is good for Two. Because the quantities are not at all small. We were 3 and even after sharing two, there was quite a lot left and packed up to be taken home. 3 girls. Depending on the appetite. The Dal Makhani is the best I have had, and so is the Palak Paneer, I couldn't even make out if they had indeed used oil. The chicken they make is soft and succulent. Every time I eat from here, I fall in love with this place a little bit more. 

To finish it off we had ordered 2 Lassis, again the portion served was such that me and my sister shared one. 

Take an hr or two to completely enjoy this place and sit back and unwind and let the Dhaba feeling sink in. Because if you don't have time, you will feel too full too soon and will not be able to enjoy the delicacies they offer. 

WHAT WE HAD - Chicken Peshawari Thali

                           Palak Paneer Thali

                           3 extra Parathas

                           Lassi (2)

DAMAGES - Rs 1300/- (Approx) 

WHERE- Papa Pancho Da Dhaba, Gasper Enclave, St. John's Road, Near Rupee Bank, Pali Hill, Bandra (W) (Its in close proximity to Gold's Gym)