145 Kalaghoda, Mumbai

145 Kalaghoda, Mumbai

Visit long overdue. This place is always overbooked and it is a task to even do reservations. I have tried twice and finally got lucky when we booked literally 18 days in advance. Yes, you can step in here anytime, they are not going to shun you but it will be a long long wait, something that I am not a big fan of especially when the wait will extend to an hour or even longer. Impromptu plans might not work here as such.

The ambiance of the place is like most other bars/cafes around the city, dimly lit. Only here, tables have singular lights placed above, in case you don't like things to be too dark. Smart thinking there. It especially helps in taking photos. :P I find this a problem in many other lounges/pubs/bars where you really want to take beautiful photos of the food but you just aren't able to because of the lighting. Well, it's technically not their fault. But still you know what I mean.

My first impression of the service was that it was great. The waiting staff is eager to help you with any food suggestions/ queries but as the night progresses and the crowd begins to increase, it gets to be a little difficult to draw their attention towards you. But once you do, they will make sure to help you out and even be a step ahead. An example of it would be of the dessert we had ordered, which was not available but then was made available or he cross checked and got it done. This particular dessert was also a game changer. You will know what I mean. (I talk like there is some big secret reveal. jaanne ke liye dekhiye...!! :P :P)

We ordered stuffed cheese naan, pavbhaji cones and chhota shawarmas. The stuffed cheese naan ranks the highest. melted butter on top, soft and melt in the mouth naan and stuffed melted cheese. It takes you to another level of heaven. The pav bhaji cones had a mixed reaction. We did like it, but the bhaji to bread ratio was higher, so you end up feeling that you are eating more of bhaji and I and the other girls prefer it the other way round. I scooped out the bhaji with spoon and had it first, so when I had finally the cone, it ain't so bad. Also, something feels missing without the lemon being squeezed on the bhaji. The shawarmas come not in a roll but rather with the chicken pieces in a skewer hanging down and min sized pita bread placed at the bottom. The concept as such seems appetizing but you really don't get the true flavors of a shawarma in there. For the main course we called for the Goan Prawn Curry & Noodles with Honey Tofu. The Goan Prawns Curry in taste was good, the serving size in terms of the prawns was hardly! A little stingy there. Also, I wished it had been accompanied with some condiments like raita/papad/pickle/fryums etc. Not all, maybe just one. I mean it's goan prawn curry, it is meant to be served with that way. The Noodles with Honey Tofu is great on the taste buds. We had requested to not make it sweet as such and they had obliged, which is another brownie point on them. The serving size of this is also good. 

The Dessert - Oreo Milkshake. The mighty Oreo milkshake, which I had been looking forward to from quite some time after going through so many pics of this particular item on social networking sites. Imagine my disappointment when they told me this was not available at the moment. My heart broke and it felt like such a waste coming till here. Yes, I had come here to enjoy this one thing specifically. I had wanted to try out other stuff as well, but this was a non-negotiable. But kudos to the waiting staff, who realized our disappointment and came back 10 minutes later with the news that they will make it. Our hearts leapt with joy! Is it everything I imagined it to be? OH YEAH! I think we went ballistic once it was served. A tall glass filled with Oreo shake and with a biscuit placed on top and the magic of whipped cream topped with marshmallows, kitkats, gems, oreos and also Oreos stuck on 4 sides of the glass (one wonders if they use super glue in this part as we just couldn't scrape it off and eat it up :P). This is something that made all our days and we still keep talking about how very awesome this was! 

Reasons to head here? Their menu is inclusive of VAT charges, which makes you very very happy because you know you are not going to be ripped off. Great Ambiance. Cheap Alcohol. There are very few such places left. That answered my question on why this place is always booked. 

WHAT WE HAD - Stuffed cheese naan (Heaven)

                           Pav Bhaji Cones (Yum)

                           Chhota Shawarmas (Yum)

                           Goan prawn Curry (Increase the serving of Prawns, Yum)

                           Noodles with Honey Tofu (Yumness) 

                           145 Mighty Oreo Shake (H.E.A.V.E.N)

                           Peach Iced Tea (Okay)

DAMAGES - Rs 2700/- (Approx, incl of Alcohol) (We were 4)

WHERE -  145 Kala Ghoda., 145, Kalaghoda, Fort, Mumbai

SPIRIT, MUMBAI

SPIRIT

You know what I absolutely hate? Having to rewrite. Its been a long time since I put up a post, partly because work has been a little demanding. Mostly because I hate having to to rewrite and that is what has happened. I wrote and just when I was on the verge of completion, magically the entire post disappeared from my saved drafts. I hate having to re-do things. So now I had to push myself to re-write. 

I had seen this place on a no. of times while passing through the L.B.S. Road on Ghatkopar as it is located in close proximity to R-City Mall and even though I had always been curious of what the place would be like, it never really made to my to-visit list. Not that the place looked unattractive, on the other hand, it screams for attention. The place even for the exteriors is done up in red walls and high windows, the french kind and will arouse your interest. But it walks on a very thing road between being loud but attractive and shady-dingy types. So, when my friend told me we are headed to this place which is some-where near to R-City, all alarms inside me went off and all I could think of is please, don't be the place I think it is. 

But alas! It was indeed and though I voiced my fear stating that I don't think this is a friendly enough place and looks more likely to be visited by the local-bar crowd, in came the valet/waiter to the rescue saying the place is divided into two parts. One is the lounge and one is the bar and we should head to the lounge. That calmed me down a little but not enough to give me the confidence to walk in. But a little push from my friend and I was like okay, how bad could it be and plus my page here is for the purpose of exploring what is out there. So if nothing, it will be an experience of a kind.

I have to say, that the place actually is not all that bad. Okay, it is in fact interesting and also has a decent crowd. More than just decent actually, which according to most of my guy-friends is at times missing in a lot of high-profile places. So surprised I was and my friend had a smirk on his face which translated to - "See! I told you so and you never trust me. Tsk Tsk." 

The place is complete retro, inspired from the 60s & 70s with a lot of Marilyn Monroe type quotes and Posters hanging from the walls. I actually wished I had worn up a black dress and red-heels, and red lips, I would have gelled in perfectly.The only downer was that there was no music playing, probably because of the IPL which was being screened. I however wished they had put it on mute like most other places and played the music. The music plays a crucial role in a lounge (or a place which tries to be a lounge), it can make or break a place. But I had company and the conversation was free-flowing so I complained a little less I could say. :

The Menu is strictly Indian & Chinese and that made me give the look to my friend which translates to "If I wanted to eat Tandoori Roti and Butter Chicken, I would have gone to one of the many mughlai cuisine restaurants (Read my review of Delhi Zaika") which is located in the Kurla - Ghatkopar belt. There was not even french fries on the menu! What are you supposed to have with your beer? (Note - I am a teetotaller) Yet, it was me who was more concerned with the Chakhna as to how we like to call it. I have become accustomed to a mock tail and some sides to go with it while the rest of my friends down their drinks. Fortunately, upon asking the waiter he told us french- fries is in fact available and I was like whew! You know how they say don't judge a book by its cover?! Sahi kehte hain. Because the fries might not have been presented like you were seated in Five Star Hotel, but they did taste like one of the best I have had. It is actually the kind of fries that are made at home but then they are the best kind I believe, crispy but the right amount of soft as is needed. Served with no fancy dip but Green Pudina Chutney ( Mint Sauce). If you have not had fries with pudina chutney, you are missing out. So, again grudgingly I had to admit I was indeed wrong and that I actually like the place and also the food looks promising. We ordered for this Kabab whose name I do-not remember but it was garnished with melted cheese ( the only one on the menu, so when you get there you would know which one). It was spicy but the chicken was tender and was grilled to perfection I believed and the spices rubbed on it along with the hint of cheese tickles the taste buds and you are more than just satisfied. We were not looking to have a full dinner-meal types, so we did not really order for any main course, but we did order for a chinese style fries - The Chinese Green Stir Fries, though I had wondered how is anyone going to retain the crispiness and the tenderness of the fries if it is stir fried with vegetables, I have to say, it was the best of the three we had had. I would definitely be ordering again, if I visited this place. The flavor was subtle and not spicy, which I had thought it would be as having Chinese in India generally means that there is certain amount of Indian-ness put into it. ( and I for one do not complain, I like to call it fusion!)

My final words??!! This place is must visit if you do not want to spend 25% as taxes on the food and alcohol you consume without having to compromise on the quality and a place where you can down your drinks. 

WHAT WE HAD - French Fries (Yum!)

                           Murg Noorani Kabab (Yum!)

                           Chinese Green Stir Fries ( Yummness!!)

                           Mojito (Flavored!) (Tangy!)

DAMAGES - Rs 1100/- ( Approx & inclusive of 2 beers)

WHERE- Spirit, Ashok Mill, Nr. Damodhar Park, LBS Marg, Ghatkopar West, MUMBAI

JUGHEADS, MUMBAI

I cringe at the thought of saying anything remotely bad about anyone and if by chance I do, I regret it the next minute and think, I might be too quick to judge or maybe there is more to the story and I might have made a mistake somewhere. but some times you just can't do anything about it and you have got to say what you have got to say, which here is, if you are a foodie like me, then this place is not for you especially when you don't exactly booze. 

I have been told time and again that the place is for people who like to drink and just get the evening pass by. I don't belong to that category. I am there solely for the food and the best of pubs, lounges etc do serve good food and to me there is no excuse for well, not-good food. (See, there also I can't say that well, they are bad)

I don't know if they were trying to reinvent the food in their own style or not, but it did indeed fail. Everything just felt a little off. I was so looking forward to the chicken wings bu was disappointed as it felt more like chicken wings masala than the way chicken wings are supposed to be. The same goes for the pan fried steak. Pan fried means Pan fried, not Beef steak Masala and that is what it tasted like. Also, the masala seemed very much similar in the bbq wings and the steak. I still let go and was like no one could go wrong with pizza, there again wrong I was. It felt like the same masala had become the base for the pizza. If that wern't enough, I couldn't understand what flavor where they trying to give to the pasta. All I know was it tasted weird. Even the bread served with the pasta felt stale, dry and devoid of taste. I actually hardly touch the pasta and asked for a take-away thinking I might want to have it later. Big mistake. Withing 2 hours when I reached home, a stale smell started leeking out of the plastic. So it actually gives me doubts if any of the food was remotely fresh.

I would bring this to the management's notice but the management seemed hardly interested in even serving us as he seemed totally engrossed in serving a bunch of college going girls besides us ( Makes me wonder have i grown old or maybe because I had company :P ). Interesting point was that the girl and me both were there to celebrate our b'days ;) . 

The most important part, the management should change the name from JUGHEAD's. Why? Do you Know Jughead? If you are familiar with the comics Archies, you would know the one and only die-hard foodie in it, JUGHEAD. To name a place after him is practically an insult to him because Jughead would never approve of this place. I know it is named after him only, because all the character's from the comics can be found on their menu.

The only lesson learned here was I should always listen to my instinct and when I don't, I regret it. So many good places around and for some reason i chose this. I didn't complain (much atleast. Atleast I think so :P) was because I was there more for the company and it was my b'day.

WHAT WE HAD - Chicken Wings 

                           Pan Fried Steak

                           Chicken Meat lover's Pizza

                           Pasta 

                           Margarita

WHERE - Jughead's, Viviana.2nd Floor, Viviana Mall, Thane (W), Mumbai

DAMAGES - Rs 1700 (inclusive of 2 beers)