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chirag_09's Lists
Reviews by chirag_09
Jun 09, 2008
19/21, Mahakavi Bhushan Marg, Behind Regal Cinema, Colaba, Mumbai
Excellent
Differential Existence...
I wish I could do the 5 stars (rating) in crystal (rather than gold)...merely to emphasize the brilliance of this place. Underrated by miles for sure - below the place where it should actually be sitting in people's minds. I don't know if I was just having an extra-ordinarily blissful day, but the summation of indulgence at Ling's Pavilion just about left me ecstatic.
An ode to Ling - who's pavilion we chose to dine in - coz he has imbibed the verbatim meaning of pavilion in each of his offerings!
Probably perturbed by the idea of how to make a mark in a city or a country or rather a world full of people craving to eat the most popular cuisine - 'Chinese (as they call it)' food, Lings has surely ransacked a plethora of brains - topsy turvy - and conjured an enormously different gastronomical sojourn!
Highlights of the enormity of difference:
1) Introducing the idea of cherishing subtle flavours (colloquially read 'blandness' in India) against a random medley of fiery spices, in a land known for its spices, is something akin to daylight mugging (going against norms i.e.) - blandness can be read as the 'STEAMED' offerings of chicken, of fish - and not just a measly one or two variety - a comprehensive list - prompting CHOICE of the eater!
2) Cheaper than cheap - imagine a world which serves you at least 20 fresh prawns in a starter, in a main course - for a measly Rs. 200/- is not an idea of magnanimity but definitely someone's idea of a joke or purely someone's philanthropic endeavour towards his customers!!
3) Promptly attended by a Far-East-Indian looking steward, he helps you navigate through the menu with relative ease; gauging the diner's likings and affinities to the meats and veggies, to the sauces, and unmistakably sorts out things in the diner's head and provides you with what you yourself wouldn't know you were looking for!!!
4) They serve half-portions. Is that a delight? Oh yes, considering that you can end up doing the mix-n-match stuff on every count!!!!
5) Sombre lighting, high-backed wrought iron- medieval looking chairs, tables adequately spaced apart from each other, 2 levels of space induce a sense of warmth in its hospitality and a touche of class as well!!!!
Moving onwards, the pickings for the night included:
a) Crabmeat Rainbow Soup (Rs. 100/-): freshly flavoured with a comprehensive offering of crab meat
b) Chicken Manchow Soup (Rs. 100/-): on track as elsewhere
c) Chicken Stew Soup (Rs. 100/-): stood by its name - thick stewy consistency
d) Whole mushroom with chicken filling in a crab meat sauce (Rs. 180/-): scalloped button mushrooms, filled and encrusted with mince chicken that makes it half-chicken and half mushroom - poured over by a rich crabmeat-abundant white sauce
e) Rainbow Prawn (Rs. 200/-): humongous number of medium seized prawns sauted in a light tangy gravy
f) Schezuan Chicken Hakka Noodles (Rs. 165/-): non-greasy and flavourful, intercepted with morsels of tender chicken.
g) Ling's Special Rice with mushroom and chicken, otherwise known as Pot Rice (Rs. 180/-): A healthy aroma of butter in steamed basmati rice, no sauce, topped with large portions of mushrooms and grilled chicken - the non-existence of the brown sauce was somehow refreshing
Is it a shame that we pay at least 1.5 times for any of the above mentioned items in any decent restaurant across town or across its suburbs? Is the pricing just a marketing strategy to lure people out of 5-star restaurants into a by-lane (of bade-miya fame) of Colaba? Is it the sheer alacrity of the owner who wishes for nothing but a pure blissful treat? Is it the propensity driven by sheer compulsiveness of the owner that has prompted the delightful and voluptuous treatment for the digestive senses?
Too many questions, but no need to prompt an answer. You mutely deliver, and we mutely indulge!
My brains already going LING-a-LING-a-LING!!; I hope the warm memories stay filled as I continue to chain a sequence of shots and begin to raid this outfit - 'Mahmud of Ghazni' style - again and again and again - and I hope they replenish with renewed vigour each time.
Jun 02, 2008
06-A, Royal Classic, New Link Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai
Good
mystical venture
The absolute first thing that you notice when you enter this place is the absolute minimal lighting....and the most nonsensical thing follows when you take your seat and peek into the menu - its printed in gray on black paper....what a bummer???? - how the hell is one supposed to read silver lines on a black paper with only a whim of candlelight for help - pheww, thats where you eject the cellphone - switch on the flashlight - and begin - however tacky it may sound or look - what with a battery of 4 nerds trying to cram the menu, it seems!! - but thats the only flipside to this tale.
Upsides are many:
The staff is attentive and mighty prompt. The drinks menu is comprehensive, so is the food menu.
1) We ordered a Godfather which was stiff (considering it was neat and left no room for the bartender's indulgence), a mojito, a martini - all well made and potent.
2) Chicken Starters are full-bodied and well done, succulent and neat portions.
3) MUST TRY: vodka infused prawn pasta!! - light cheesy white sauce, intercepted with prawns and pasta (of choice); further impregnated with a large amount of vodka, so much so that each bit makes the eater aware of the vodka infused flavour.
The place had no definitive clientèle - as in, the night-out-type ambience that it exuberates is undone by a swarm of kids (accompanying their families) playing in the pathway amongst the tables!
Safely muddled in between a lounge and a restaurant, this eatery cum watering hole provides a unique blend of both...well worth an applause i.e.
May 28, 2008
The Ozone Club, Rang Sabade Marg, Siddharth Nagar, Billabong/Vibgyor Lane, Goregaon (W), Mumbai
Excellent
brunch munch - Sunday treat
An invite from the burrp team led my path to brunch on this Sunday afternoon...finally!
Having read a staggering number of fantastic reviews, this one is definitely spiraling itself into the halls of fame...talk about maintaining their standards, talk about a nice 'white' ambience, or even talk about the comfort and warmth of the hospitality to devour the offerings in its entirety.
The oddity of the place struck me that there were surprisingly few tables occupied...much more of a boon to the experience, actually!
The trick's simple - chip in Rs. 450/- per person to the pot and you are done and dealt with.
The first course prompts you to select one mocktail from a list of 4. Nicely done, although served unchilled. For a thirster of the hard drink, chip in an additional Rs. 450/- (inc. taxes) and dive into a seamless flow of alcohol, cocktails, wines (also available on its own tho' - per drink charge).
The neatly laid out spread around the boundaries of the restaurant prompts you out of your seats immediately.
Vegetarian soups (potato and leek chowder and gazpacho), vegetable tarts, aubergine salad, sundried tomato - bell pepper - pesto salad, bruschetta with topping were some of the veggie starters overlooking the open kitchen counter.
Non-vegetarian starters included the yummiest and the tastiest prawn (smallest portions of mango sitting upon each prawn - winner stuff), chicken mince ball (soft, succulent meat), smoked salmon bruschetta (brilliant and fresh), cold chicken pasta, grilled fish bruschetaa (fresh again and taste-worthy).
A side station hosts a - DIY omelette station - choose your picks and they conjure the rest - served with plain croissant, cheese croissant, a selection of cold cuts, cream crackers, veggies on the side - a not to miss surely.
Penultimate choice - the main entree rests in the able hands of the cook - amongst a list of main portions, pastas, pizzas, you take a pick and the chef goes to work - to create each one hot and portion-wise. We had
1) kingfish with sundried tomato sauce and asparagus and mashed potato
2) chicken breast with mashed potato
Although full to the brim by the time these arrived, the aroma and taste was un-deterrent so as not to dig and finish it off!
You know its a job well done when you can feel the tingling of the tastebuds reminiscing the flavours well into the day after the meal and even the next day!
The final course - excellent is an understatement for the mango pudding.
It definitely takes creative thinking to create a niche for yourself in today's mushrooming era of restaurants over the city. White has flagged their position - unmistakably and have a definite patron-standing by now. They have proven that locations do not matter for people who know their act - and most-ably so!
Cheers to burrp and cheers to white for this tantalizing experience
May 20, 2008
11 East street, Camp, Camp Cantonment, Pune
Average
London, Baby!!
Reminiscing nostalgia you enter, and transformative imagery occurs almost immediately - from the dusty streets of Pune to, well, a street of British regalia or at least portrays the vanity it seems to exuberate - when you enter 11, East Street Cafe. Designed to replicate a sidewalk in England (flanked by props of shop windows like Marks n Spencer, Posh Spice etc), a life-size Red Bus greets you. A thorough selection of delicious pastries and breads are ensconced within this air conditioned bus. Walk further past, and a dumb woman - the maitre de refuses to seat you on a table of 6 if you are a group of 3 (irrespective of the how less the number of inhabitants currently occupy the tables!).
A widely elaborate menu consumes most of your time - prompts you to scavenge through the rummage of alphabets to pick your options, in that it houses a medley of English food, Italian food, Lebanese food, and Indian food.
From bangers and mash to the colloquial fish and chips to portions of chicken served up in a wide array of sauces and accompaniments, to the routine shawarma and grilled chicken, to pizzas, pastas, Indian punjabi food and dal, its comprehensively thought about and indulged in.
#1 - the pizza (Rs. 170/- for 10") was decent, but then again, you cannot go wrong with cheese sitting atop bread!
#2 - English chicken in barbeque sauce (Rs. 195/-)
Experience no. 1 - served in 5 mins flat - was raw, had to spit it in a tissue!!! - called the manager - took it back - came back after 5 mins - said that I was right - the chicken was undercooked!! - the acceptance was a first for me outside of a 5 star hotel!! - that bit of honesty definitely earns some stars.
Experience no. 2 - served the same dish - properly cooked - but nothing to write home about - served with the measliest portion of fries and garlic bread - ordered more garlic bread (Rs. 28/- for 6 tiny portions) - was served plain toast instead!!
#3 - cheesey pasta with mushrooms (Rs. 165/-) was severely cheesy and sticky!!
The too many exclamation marks on the negative note referenced above rather sums up a negative food rating.
The irony of my tryst with this destination lies in the fact, that I long to go back for more - coz I am almost sure that my 'pickings' were wrong; maybe because I refuse to believe that such a good place can be undone by such un-alluring food. I rest the benefit of doubt with them.
The marriage between the east and west in a by-lane in Pune seems most enthralling and immediately attracts attention - to devour its offerings.
Puneietes have a thing to brag about on this one. Alas!, its not food on this count.
Interesting Trivia: Check out their huge glasses in which they serve water - must be a kilo in weight, to say the least!
May 09, 2008
198/3 Chandrakant Chambers, Dhole Patil Road, Koregaon Park, Pune
Excellent
bake 'em all
Oodles of carbs and oodles of fat.....be wary of your resistive skills whenever you enter those glass gates to blissdom! A big glass wall divides the patio from the interiors which house their culinary delights.
An eclectic spread of rolls and sandwiches (Rs. 50/-) include the not-to-miss mince lamb roll, half-sin half-healthy (read as half-white half-brown both coalesced to form a single un-joint slice of bread) chicken, paneer, cheese sandwiches, chicken nugget roll, veg kebab roll, colorful burgers and the works (puffs e.t al.).
An assortment of croissants (effectively priced between Rs. 40/- to Rs. 60/-) include chicken croissant, veggie croissant, cheese croissant, butter croissant. Thoroughly infused with butter, extremely soft when heated, yet withholding the well-baked, kinda-burnt' aroma of bread, its this Pièce de résistance that makes me coming back for more and more.
A mind-numbing, palate-satisfying, body-inflating range of pastries (Rs. 70/- onwards) and cakes are housed in a central display. I have fought my restraints to dig into the chocolate cup cake (they showcase it as 70% gooey choc in it), or the chocolate lavasa, each time i visit . The one time I have dared to indulge was the zebra torte (Rs.80/-) infused with oodles of liqueur and perfectly moist which enables the melting-in-the-mouth syndrome. A further variety includes chocolate mocha, chocolate chip muffin (recommended), walnut brownie etc.
Sporting a huge plasma screen, the mezzanine floor caters as the seating area...an alternate way to enjoy a match in contrast to a sports bar.
They do coffees; hot and cold, ice teas and ice-drinks too.
In a city of bakeries, this one has traversed into the high-class zone with ease. A huge glass window showcases the chef and his assistants up to their tasks (which is not exactly a great view considering they use their bare hands...and to think that they have the audacity to portray it to the public is definitely commendable!!). The family that runs the place are hospitable to greet you and bid adieu to known faces.
One minus point though is that they have nothing whatsoever to cater to the 'healthy living' or 'watching their weight' kind of people. 'INDULGE' seems to be their unwritten logo!!
Multiple digs at this place are highly highly recommended.