Villa Vandra, Mumbai

Villa Vandre, Pali Hill

Instead of trying new places, I have been on a refresher course of sorts, where in I am paying my visit to a lot of old ones. It serves as a refresher of why I first fell in love with these places! Villa Vandre is one of these magnificent places. Food for the soul is what I like to refer to it as. 

The best place for breakfast in my books is this place. This is probably my 4th visit to the place in the past year, and that is quite a lot considering I visit new places only most of the time (I need to be a little rational about the money I spend after all, unfortunately ) This time it was for a dinner with a dear friend after a really long time and I thought to myself, let us introduce him to the beauty that this little hidden gem is) 

A few months back they had renovated the place, expanding the guest seating area and their menu as well. Its Hurrah on both fronts. This is still a tiny little place which could possibly accommodate around 20 people at one time. So on a lot of occasions you will find yourself on the waiting list. Though I believe they don't take reservations, so it might be a long wait at times but it is oh-so-worth-it! This place is beautiful as beautiful can be, tres chic, the colors soothing on the eyes, their wall decor simple but tasteful, almost like how I envision my dining room to be some day. 

They don't really have appetizers/ starters on their menu, so you directly sort of dig into the main course which isn't half bad a thing as you will give your 100% love towards this and no half full stomachs. And no, salads don't count.  Its almost like jumping on the food and as they say the first bite is always the tastiest!  Also, leaves ample place for dessert! We ordered for the Chicken Roulade and Sri Lankan Buffalo Chilli. Let's start with the Chicken Roulade, I happened to quite like it but maybe the Buffalo Chili overshadowed it. Boneless chicken stuffed with spinach and pan fried served with noodles and exotic veggies. The plating itself makes your eyes pop out. One of the specialties of the place. The Srilankan Buffalo Chili however takes the crown home. I remember the taste after all this while. In simple words it feels like what you need on a rainy day, what makes the heart feel warm and gives you fuzzy feelings? Has any food ever given rise to such feelings? This is that kind of a meal. Reminded me why I am Villa Vandre fan. Also, the Pav served with it ? I am really interested to know the secret behind this gem. The softest and the most melt-in-the mouth variety of pav I have ever had. It beat even Brun Muska from Kyani, and this didn't even have maska, at least not any visible butter. Though it did feel buttery. Highly recommended to everyone who steps in here. Another thing that deserves a mention is, in all my previous visits, I had always complained about their concoctions from the drinks menu. The only thing that would heavily disappoint me. It is gratifying to know that they have worked on this and how!! IIt was a complete different picture this time. I was in love with the mocktail we ordered and it complimented our meal well. We had both chosen the Blueberry Lemonade, it has tinge and flavor of Kala Khatta and prepared in the form of slush with blueberries. This is something I enjoyed till the end of my meal. They looked beautiful as well and yes, cocktails and mock tails are meant to be easy on the eyes. Since we didn't have an option for appetizers, we had enough room for Dessert and we called in for the Gulab Jamun Tart & Dark Chocolate Mousse. The Dark Chocolate Mousse is really heavy and is recommended only, if you are a die hard chocolate fan. I am not which is why I preferred the Tart. This is actually a very innovative and commendable fusion of food. The Tart is filled with a rabdi kind of mousse. I don't even know if this was actually mousse because it was so soft and as if floating in the tart and  miniature gulab Jamuns in the middle. If I had room for one more and if we hadn't ordered the chocolate mousse, I would have ordered for another one of these.

Villa Vandre because they add that extra punch to your every day meals as well, making it a soulful affair.

What We Had - Chicken Roulade (Yumness Personified)

                         Srilankan Buffalo Chili (Heaven in a pan)

                         Chocolate Mousse (Yum)

                         Gulab Jamun Tart (Heavenly)

                         Blueberry Lemonade (Perfection!)

DAMAGES - Rs 1500/- (Approx)

WHERE -  Villa Vandre.,Shop 1, May Flower, New Kantwadi Road, Off Perry Cross Road, Pali Hill, Bandra West

Roasted Beans Cafe, Mumbai

Roasted Beans Cafe, CBD - Belapur

Tell me to get up at 6 am to have breakfast at a restaurant, I will happily do so but tell me to get up at even 9 am for some essential work like collecting your certificates from college and it will take me Two and a Half years to get it done. No kidding here.  So after 2 and a half years when I finally got around to collecting my certificates, it also meant an opportunity to hunt out a new place in a new locality and this seemed reasonably priced and presented an over all good picture for a foodie like me.

A small little cafe which would almost be missed if you were not looking for it or maybe so because I have never been to this locality before. The interiors inspiration seems to be a cross over between a summer in Greece and a modern day cafe in a big city, borrowing a little from both. Though to me it felt, if it had stuck to one one mode of design, would have looked classier. But over all it's pretty decent. 

As far as the service is concerned, it's good in the way they will make sure you are attended to. One amusing thing which my friend had brought to notice was the attendant in our case either understood our taste preferences too well or just didn't like the menu altogether. The first few items that we wished to order, he very directly told us that you probably wouldn't like this that much and he gave his reasoning but we were pretty amused by it. Having said that, I guess, it was because of this guy that we really liked what we ordered. Upon requesting to make a take away of one of the half eaten plates, he even asked if there is something we didn't like about it and hence, were making a take away. How many other restaurants do you know who do that? Sit up and take notice. 

We first ordered for the  Spicy Chicken Sausage smorrebrod, which is in simple language a piece of bread topped with diced sausages stir fried with dry spices and topped with mayo. Can be messy to eat but who is complaining?! Only concern, it was mention that the options were of rye bread/french bread or brown bread. However, it was served on your regular white bread and we weren't even asked for our preference for bread. Why mention it in the menu?! Next we ordered for M'Batten Chicken. This is something that in the truest sense made my heart burst with happiness. It was like meeting the love of your life and asking them where had you been all this time??!! Ground chicken mixed with spices and filled in a potato shell and fried to perfection. Also, they give you a heavy portion of this and unless and until you are more in number you will end up taking a few back home, like I did. This is something I liked so much that I wanted to take it home for my mommy dearest, to share the awesomeness with her. She agreed. (On a side note, my mom could probably participate in Master Chef India and win it even, where I get my foodiness from. I have been exposed to such deliciousness since a very young age and hence I want nothing but the best!) The final order for the day was for Dawood Basha Chicken. This was something I had actually looked forward to but was just slightly disappointed. The gravy had excess of salt, or so both me and my friend felt and the meatballs had none. In fact the meatballs lacked any flavor. Even though the serving size again was good, but when the food itself is not satisfactory, you don't really feel like eating all that much! Work on that please? 

We had also ordered for a chocolate strawberry shake and an apple iced tea. My friend seems to be braver than me, because even though I hadn't stopped him, in my head I was like strawberry and chocolate mixed together??!!  However, he once again, turned out to be right and this was actually pretty good. Different but good. You don't feel like you are having just a strawberry milkshake but you can feel the flavors mixing up well together. Add some whipped cream and you in are you are floating on clouds made up of whipped cream in a strawberry colored sky.The apple iced tea felt more apple lemonade and if it was named apple lemonade, it would have been on point.

Give way for the foodie inside you to get out and indulge in new places like these, rater than sticking around to the same old. If not now, then when??!! Roasted beans cafe should definitely make it to your to visit list. 

WHAT WE HAD - Spicy Chicken Sausage Smorrebrod (Yumness!)

                           M' Batten Chicken (Yumness Personified in heaven)

                           Dawood Basha Chicken (Average)

                           Strawberry chocolate milshake (Yumness)

                           Apple Iced Tea (Refreshing)

DAMAGES - Rs 1300/- Approx (incl. of taxes) 

WHERE -  Roasted Bean Cafe., Shop 26/27, Belle Vista, CHS Plot 46,47,48, Sector 15, Next to DY Patil College, CBD-Belapur, Navi Mumbai

Theobroma, Mumbai

An Evening at Theobroma

Well, some places as you know keep calling you back, no matter what. Theobroma has always been that place for me. I have tried almost 70% of their menu, have a couple of favorites and even if I don't dine here, I will always pick stuff up to go. Before every third place had a Breakfast menu, there was Theobroma catering to your breakfast cravings. A huge fan that I am of the English Breakfast. Years back, it was here that the search had ended and I still keep coming back for more. 

I generally don't write a review for this place because how many times should I? Something however prompts me this time to do it. I had the good luck of getting free from work a little earlier than usual, called up a friend and said let's go to Theobroma! Comfort food. 

I ordered the French Toast, which I have never previously especially if it is served with fruits. I know, you are probably thinking, isn't fruit an add-on? Not for me. I dislike things that are healthy for the body and some day I am going to pay for it. (Hopefully not! I do other things to compensate :D) The french toast comes with a heavy serving of cream, maple syrup and generously served with apples and bananas. I should have told them to give me only bananas. The only other time I have had french toast was at the Lalit. I am not going to compare it to the one there because that was Magic and you can't have magic in everything. For Theobroma the magic lies in their brownies. Back to the topic, the french toast is case on point. Not too sweet otherwise I would not have been able to finish it off. My friend ordered the Beef Tenderloin Sandwich which comes with a side of their famous fries. It is a complete meal in itself. Generous filling in the sandwich that you won't be able to hold it together. I have always loved the fries served here and didn't disappoint once again. We also ordered from their Today's Special - Chili Garlic Sausages. I have always loved sausages, so I am just going to be partial here and say da-yum!

WHAT WE HAD - French Toast (Da-Yum!)

                           Beef Tenderloin Sandwich (Yumness)

                           Chili garlic Sausages (Da-Yum!)

DAMAGES - Rs 700/- (incl. of taxes)

WHERE -  Theobroma Powai., G8, City Park Building, Central Avenue, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai, Mumbai

Chaayos, Mumbai

Chaayos, Powai

Are you a tea or a coffee person? I am a chai person. My mornings don't begin without them. I am a cranky person and without chai I will be even more crankier. However, I never have tea from a restaurant unless and until it is an udipi restaurant or it is complimentary. Not worth my bucks.  However, I do visit them for their snacks and that's what I was here for. 

The place is a little cramped where every inch of space has tables and chairs put it to accommodate as many as they possibly can and it's almost always crowded even at 4 pm on a weekday. I guess everyone working in the vicinity drops in here for a quick meeting/break etc. So unless and until you are ready to share space with others, this might not the place you want to drop in at.

It's self-service where you in place your order and collect it, so there is not much to say or write about the service in that area. However, one interesting thing is that when you are in the queue to place your order, they have a small tab (I am guessing) linked to the billing machine. You are asked to put in your details and you are registered as a customer. This might come across as completely irrelevant, but the thing is you get the customer details which is very crucial to these restaurants (I end up noticing these things now because of the line of work I am in ). So that's a pretty smart move on their end. You may not fill it when you are presented with a tab on your table even, but there you just got to. 

The order we placed was for one kulhad chai, one thandi chai with elainchi (cardamom), one butter chicken wrap and loaded chicken cheese max. The kulhad chai is the chai that you get in the mountain type areas, served in an earthen vessel, the vessel itself adds flavor to the chai. Yum! The thandi chai was a risk as I have never really heard of something like this before. It's not an iced tea. It's the cold coffee version of tea and actually turned out to be good. I just wish like cold coffee they had added a little whipped cream to it. It would have definitely elevated the flavors. The butter chicken wrap was average. I didn't really feel that it was butter chicken at all. It also had sev mixed in which didn't really do much for the butter chicken as such, but was rather disturbing, if that makes sense. I had wanted to go for the keema pav but my friend was hungrier and he said he would prefer the wrap. Should have listened to me.  The loaded chicken cheese max was literally how I had imagined and desired it to be and that in itself is rare. An open bread topped with seekh/ meatball type chicken smothered in just the right amount of gravy that you don't feel you are only having gravy, cheese topped and baked to delight. I am a little glad that it didn't have shredded chicken or cubes of chicken, I think it would have brought down the flavours a notch. This was perfection. I could have had more. The only thing a little disappointing is the price (199+ taxes, I am of the opinion that it's priced a little high than it should be)

Would I step in here again? Hell, Yeah! But only on days when I feel a little rich. Also, when I want to catch up with a friend, I think I have started to prefer tea shops to coffee shops and thank you for that! The reign of tea shops has just begun, please take note. Yahoo!

WHAT WE HAD - Kulhad chai (Yum!)

                           Elainchi Thandi Chai (Yum!)

                                  Butter Chicken Wrap (Average!)

                           Loaded Chicken Cheese Max (More is Less)

DAMAGES - Rs 750/- Approx (Incl. Of Taxes)

WHERE -  Chaayos., Ground Floor, 12, Citi Park Building, Central Avenue, Hirandani Business Park, Powai, Mumbai

Poetry by Love & Cheesecake, Mumbai

Poetry by Love & Cheesecake, Bandra

So the Love & Cheesecake family has to offer more than just cheese cake now. How happy that makes me. Being a regular at their outlets across the city, this place by default made it to my list of places to check out and let me just say it straight away, it doesn't disappoint. 

The place is a little small than I had expected to it, but it still doesn't look cramped and that deserves points to who ever designed the outlet. There is seating even behind their bakery on display. Pastel hues everywhere and wooden elements in other areas is very pleasing and soothing to the eyes, calling out to you as soon as you enter - Sit and take in the aura. It almost feels like I knew this is how it would be. Their Love & Cheese cake outlets itself is designed impeccably. 

This could be because it is newly opened and managers/ owners/ attendants seem a little more attentive in the beginning days but here is hoping they remain as warm and welcome as they were on this day. From making sure you get a table as soon as possible, your attended to and don't have to try to catch some attendant's eye, to recommending what may suit your palette preference. Kudos.

We had landed here after a brief shopping spree and what we ordered was for the Everything Bagel, Chicken & Waffles with an Iced Tea. I am quite surprised at myself and at them. I have never been a big fan of raw veggies, or salads. However, I was pleasantly in love with the bagel which my sister had ordered for. It had nothing but ghaas phoos (no offense, but that's how I refer to it ) - zucchini, bell peppers, lettuce etc. I grudgingly admit to this but it overshadowed my Chicken Waffles as well. I had assumed that the Chicken would come as an add on or something with the Waffles. But it was infused in the waffle interestingly and I find this even more interesting that this savory waffle went quite well with maple syrup. Over all, I am more than happy for what we had. The Iced tea, is another case. I wish, I hadn't ordered it. No where did it feel like an iced tea - the tea was less and the sugar as well too. Bland, almost. Avoid, would be my suggestion. Last but not the least, when at love & cheese cake, have CHEESE CAKE! The brownie cheese cake made it's way to our table and as always nothing short of delight!

Aptly named. Poetry. This is your stop for your breakfast and brunch needs. Also, who needs a set time to have breakfast and brunch? Have it for dinner, but just do. 

WHAT WE HAD - Everything Bagel (Delightful)

                           Chicken & Waffles (Delight)

                           Iced Tea (Avoid)

                           Brownie Cheese cake (A little bit of heaven on your plate)

DAMAGES - Rs 700/- Approx

WHERE -  Poetry by Love and Cheesecake., Pali Darshan, Junction of 16th & 33rd road, Linking Road, Bandra (W)

Farzi Cafe, Mumbai

Farzi Cafe, Lower Parel

I have been meaning to pay visit to this place since my trip to Delhi. I had dropped in here "galti se" when in Delhi. In one of expeditions around the city, we were looking for a real cafe where you can have cold coffee and some dessert and not being aware of Farzi back then, we forayed here only to return because turned out it wasn't that cafe. But it had intrigued me even then. It looked pretty happening and when I came back to Mumbai fortunately for me, it opened up here as well. Hip Hip Hurrah. Only the right occasion was the need of the hour and that occasion turned out to be a small Bachelorette and send-away for a dearest friend. Can I also tell you it was one epic girls night??!! 

This is another place where you need to pre-book weeks in advance or it's doubtful if you will get a place. I have learnt my lesson with 145, Kalaghoda and hence I made sure that I atleast inquire 2 weeks prior and even then had to compromise at a table of 7.30 pm. 

The day finally arrived. The ambiance of this place is spectacular, especially where we were seated, almost like you are in the clouds. To clarify, they have a projector playing scenic places on the wall and when we were there, most of the times, there were clouds being projected like you are in the skies which is a nice touch, I wouldn't mind just staying there. 

The service? Par excellence. The only place I have been to where the staff (I don't even want to refer to them as waiting staff which I actually did there. Quite an embarassment :P) are in one word - Charming. I don't even know how to put it in any other words. 

We started off our eating affair with some stuffed cheese kulchas, matar paneer with dosa, Tempura Prawns with nimbu mirch foam and chicken tangdi changezi style. The Kulchas were great but I am forces to compare them to the ones we had at 145. The ones over here are over stuffed with Masala and cheese which makes you after one point feel like you are having just masala cheese. Also, the quantity could have been improved but I have felt that is the case in most of their starters. The tempura prawns were my favorite of the lot and I was if a little besotted with the nimbu mirchi foam (Yes, it makes my instagram look good and I don't understand why so many people now a day have started to take offence to it like that it's just for show. What makes me happy, makes me happy) The chicken changezi tangdi was so good that my recently adopting to non-vegetarain food friend, also was like YUM!! The Matar paneer & dosa? Not much of a match made in heaven. All in all the Veg appetizers didn't live up to our expectations. For the main course, we went for the mutton pepper roast or something like that (really dont remember the name) which comes with malabar parota, Chicken Tikka Masala & Paneer Makhani. In order of preference, even though 2 of my friends are not much mutton savvy, they raved about the gravy, I did too. Class Apart. The Chicken Tikka also gives quite a competition (Also, it is brought to you in a London phone booth and a small presentation, did I say charming??!!) served with naan and the Paneer Makhani though yum pales in comparison to others. One point I would make here again is that the serving of the mains are good enough. However, do increase the serving of the bread along with it. Even though, we were full at this point, we had been again "charmed" into ordering the Bailey's lollipops. I loved these. It's fine molecular gastronomy, if anything.

Also, a small mention to the shot's ordered around the table - Bailey's shots. Never have I ever had alcohol before as my tongue repels it, I could get used to these if they are as good as these bailey's shots! I had also ordered a mock-tail of their Farzi's Special or something and then my friends ordered a second because well it was that GOOD! 

Farzi, nothing but a delight. Eating is an experience in itself. Food in itself is more than satisfying but this place understand the importance of this experience and how it all binds together with the right ambiance, service, presentation and the food itself! 

WHAT WE HAD  - Margarita stuffed Kulchas (Yum)

                            Matar Paneer with Dosa (Alright)

                            Tempura Prawns (Delight)  

                            Chicken Changezi Tangdi (Delighted) 

                            Chicken Tikka Masala (AH-MAZING)

                            Mutton Pepper Roast (Show Stopper!)

                            Paneer Makhani (Yum)

                            Bailey's Lollipop (Yumness Personified)

                            Farzi Special Mocktail (Delight)

DAMAGES - Rs 5500 - 6000 (Approx, for food only, we were 6)

                   Rs 10000/- (incl. of 2 rounds of shots 3-4 beers) 

WHERE -  Farzi Café, Kamala Mills., Kamala Mills, Near Radio Mirchi Office, Lower Parel, MUMBAI

Genuine Broaster Chicken, Mumbai

Genuine Bro-aster Chicken, Andheri

Its been a while since I have written up any review. But trust me when I tell you, I have been eating more than ever. It is only today that I have actually gotten a little breathing space at work as well. Else, I have been carrying work home as well. No complaints though, as long as what you do makes sense to you, which now a days does. Yahoo on that front. 

Yahoo on another front as well. Genuine Broaster Chicken has arrived in India and because my sister had made a short visit to Mumbai, I have been dragging her to explore places. Our love food is what binds us together. Though I feel super jealous of the fact that she manages to maintain the weight, meaning stays thin. She works had at that too. I wish I had that kind of perseverance. 

This place will remind you of a baseball club. There are helmets hanging from the ceiling and little bulbs lighted under them. Innovative there. Also, if you look up, the ceiling has sacks adorned all over. Makes for a pretty sight. The place is a little smaller than what I had expected but it's well done. 

Now a days I have started to find that a lot of restaurants have started to realize the importance of interacting with the customer. Or maybe because this place is new and they need to make that mark. Either ways, the service happens to be great. The staff knows their way around the menu and can give you suggestions depending on what you fancy having and suits your palette as well. 

Beginning with the starters, we had asked for the Genuine Broaster Chicken, because what's the point if you haven't tried what they are known for right?! I had wanted to try the cheese chicken pillows, which was out of stock unfortunately. So instead we had the Lucknowi Seekh and Smoked BBQ Franchos. All on Point. The broaster chicken is smaller in size and works more as an appetizer only. Though I was left wanting for more. Both the seekh kabab and BBQ fries were game on point. Within minutes the table was cleared because we jumped on the food. We had ordered for drinks - Iced Tea, Bulbul soda and chocolate milkshake. Bulbul Soda is your Mirinda infused with Caramel, innovative take. The chocolate shake could do with being a little more chocolatey. For the main course, my sister and friend went for their Burger range - Lamb Rogan Josh Burger & Peter Punjab Burger. Served with a side of fries both are filling and have the Indian infusion in it. I had a bite of both and each burger patty has distinctive taste which is also a little rare as in most places, it is the sauce that creates the distinction. So brownie points for that. I had ordered the Ghotala Khichdi which comprised mutton pieces, chicken pieces and fried egg mixed with rice and served with papad and dahi. Ah-mazing is what I would say it was. Also, the amount of protein used in these is on the higher side which tells you they are not stingy. Stay that way. 

I had also wanted to give a try to their Gulkand Muffin which was out of stock, unfortunately. This is where the points of improvement come in. There were 3-4 things that were out of stock. As a customer being told that is disappointing. It is a good thing that you are careful about stocks and not throwing away food at the end of the day. But we came in the evening, and I am guessing many would drop by after us as well because well Saturday evening are peaks hours. Also, I expected more from their actual broaster chicken menu in terms of variety. There should maybe be like breast pieces and stuff served with buns, greens, coleslaw, fries which makes it a complete meal. I had expected something along those lines as well. 

I will be back to try out a few more things that I missed out on this time. But genuinely speaking, this is a place you should drop by. There are many places that are innovating and reinventing their menu, but this place is one where they hit the right notes.

WHAT WE HAD - Genuine Broaster Chicken (Yummylicious)

                           Lucknowi Seekh (Da-Yum)

                           BBQ Franchoes (Game on Point)

                           Peter Punjab Burger (Yumness)

                           Mutton Rogan Josh Burger (Yumness)

                           Ghotala Khichdi (Game on Point)

                           Iced Tea

                           Chocolate Milkshake (A little more chocolate please)

                           Bulbul Soda (Kuch hatke and damn good)

DAMAGES - Rs 2200/- (Incl of Taxes, We were 3)

WHERE -  Broaster Chicken India., Shop 1 & 2, Tirupati Tower, Opp. Thakkar Sweet, Versova, Andheri (w)