Wok Hei - Chembur

Visit Day, Date and Time:- Tuesday 20-August-2019, 20.00 p.m.

"Wok Hei" a casual dining place located bang opposite Diamond Garden, Chembur which serves delicious Chinese and Thai options. It is owned and managed by same Management as DP's, Matunga.  

Ambience:-  A neatly designed compact fully air-conditioned outlet with seating capacity of approx. 40-42 people.

Menu:- This place offers a wide variety of options in soups, starters and main course for both the vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

We started our tasting session with Chef Special Crab Meat Thulung Soup, a mildly spiced thick soup with crab meat, egg white, bit of noodles, mushrooms and vegetables. It was served hot and was perfectly flavoured. 

From the starters section we tried out the Roaster Wings Chilly (Roasted wings are tossed in Soy Chilli Sauce) and Chicken Steam Dumplings with Spicy Dip. It would be difficult to pick favourite out of this two starters because both were equally good and had left delicious after taste.

For the main course, we ordered the Prawns Chiang Mai Noodles, Smoked Chicken Fried Rice teamed up with the Chicken in Chilly Beer Sauce. Both noodles and rice were loaded with good amount of prawns and chicken which overall went well with flavourful Chilly Beer Sauce.

Recommendations: Chef Special Crab Meat Thulung Soup, Roaster Wings Chilly, Chicken Steam Dumplings, Chiang Mai Noodles and Chicken in Chilly Beer Sauce.

Service:-  Friendly staff and flawless service.

Point to Note:- Serves alcohol, Avoids use of artificial food colours and Serves small portions too.

Experience:- Overall an amazing experience and surely must visit place in Chembur to try out some freshly made lip-smacking options from the menu.

Taste:- 4.5/5
Ambience:- 4/5
Service:- 4.5/5
Value for Money:- 4.5/5

Note:- Visit to this place was on invitation but the review is based on personal experience.

Biryani Hazir Ho

Invitation Order Day Date and Time:- Wednesday 24-July-2019, 13:30 p.m. 

"Biryani Hazir Ho" a newly opened delivery kitchen by the Celebrity Chef  Rehman Mujeeb who hails from the royal Qureshi Family of Lucknow. He is well known for making authentic and flavourful Biryani's using his traditional and ancestral recipes.

Reach:- This place is currently delivering in the areas of Andheri (West) including areas of Versova, Oshiwara and Lokhandwala.

Recently received an invitation from Biryani Hazir Ho to try out few dishes from the menu and to give feedback on the same.

We started off with the juicy and well cooked Murg Kandhari Tikka. After that we had rich and creamy Chicken Changezi gravy which went well with Indian Bread. From the biryani section we tried out The Bohri Chicken Biryani which was mildly spiced and perfect appetising combination of Rice, Chicken and spices.

We ended our meal with thick and creamy Phirni. It has surely added to my favourite list.

Recommendations:- Murg Kandhari Tikka,Chicken Changezi, Bohri Chicken Biryani and Phirni.

Packing:- Each food items was superbly packed including papad, chutney, roti etc.

Plus Point:- Value for Money Place, Good Quantity and Quality Food.

Experience:- Lip-smacking and flavourful experience. This place will surely tantalise taste buds of  the biryani lovers with its delicious and flavourful food.

Note:- Food was send by this place for tasting but review is based on my personal experience.

Taste:- 5/5
Packing:- 5/5
Value for Money:- 5/5

DP's The Fast Food Centre - Matunga Outlet

Visit Day Date and Time:- Wednesday, 1-May-2019, 1.00 p.m.

"DP's The Fast Food Centre" located bang opposite Ruia College, is one amongst the oldest and popular vegetarian restaurant of Mumbai which started it's journey in the year 1965. This place is quite popular amongst the college and school students and localities of Matunga and Dadar.

Ambience:- It's a spacious non-ac restaurant with simple and basic ambience.

We started our tasting session with their award wining Pav Bhaji. It was so delicious and tempting that it will make you grab a bite without wasting a moment. You can pair a glass of Fruit Beer with it.

Masala Pav, another popular dish amongst the patrons. In this dish pavs are dunked in masala which looks similar to pav bhaji but it taste completely different. It's a surely must try one from the menu.

We tried out the Bamboo Rice with Thai Curry from the main course section. The Thai Curry was very well made with perfectly cooked vegetables. The vegetarian Thai Curry paired with Bamboo Rice was simple delicious.

Last but not the least give a "Shot" to DP's Pani Puri.

Recommendations:- Pav Bhaji, Masala Pav, Fruit Beer, Thai Curry, Bamboo Rice and Pani Puri.

Service:- Quick 

Experience:- Overall a great experience and special thanks to Mr. Hari Kotian for the invitation.

Taste:- 4.5/5
Ambience:- 3/5
Service:- 5/5
Value for Money:- 5/5

Note:- Visit to this place was on invitation but review is based on my personal experience.

"Namak - Sahara Star" (Written by Guest Blogger:- Ms. Suhasini Jha)

Namak; named after Mahatma Gandhi’s famous Dandi or Salt March, is Sahara Star’s quintessential fine dine  known to serve the best North Indian and Hyderabadi cuisine.

Ambience: The interiors are highly inspired by both modern and medieval period in the Indian culture. You can spot a few vintage looking fans, switches and artefacts in here while your food is cooked in the half open kitchen. Dim lights and soft classical music playing in the background, gives the place a royal and classy feel.

Menu: They have a preset menu ready for the invited bloggers that consists of a selected number of starters, main course items and mocktails.

We started with the welcoming drink which was a mixture of pineapple and mint.

Shimbi Paneer ki Seekh: A soft cottage cheese seekh kabab served with some lemon and onion on the side made for a starter with an overwhelming punch of mustard and crunch of beans.

Chenna Palak ki Shami: Unlike the Shami Kebas that usually have lentils, this one had fresh spinach, green chillies and a layer of creamy cheese and onions. This green fish-resembling dish is as soft as cake and will melt easily in your mouth.

Tandoori Malai Paneer Roll: This one was a small block of mildly roasted paneer, stuffed with cream and served with onions on the side. Although it looked appealing, it lacked the tempting smoky texture and taste of tandoor.

Thikri Dal Makhani: This dish is a popular North Indian favourite. It had the right blend of whole spices, tomatoes, onions and ginger/garlic. Whole lentils never tasted so good before.

Tripoliya Subzi: Mixed vegetables in a thick gravy blend with an exorbitant amount of ghee made this dish the holy grail of the entire meal.

Sua Dakhani Saag: Spinach topped with garlic and dill leaves, gives this dish a look reminiscent of another popular North Indian dish; sarson da saag’. It tastes no less than that.

Tarkari Biryani: It lacked the flavor of biryani even though the rice and vegetables were well cooked and garnished with mint and saffron. Served with vegetable raita, papad and a few slices of onion, this dish was a total let down.

Desserts: 

·    Malai kulfi and Gulab Jamun

Malai kulfi -,a popular frozen dairy dessert similar to ice cream, carries the flavor and creaminess of Indian sweets.

Gulab Jamun was served hot and garnished with almonds. This milk based sweet shaped like a mini ball had the right kind of sweetness and softness.

At the end of our meal, Meetha Paan was served as a mouth freshener.

Recommendations: Thikri Dal Makhani and Cranberry Colada (Mocktail).

Service: Prompt.

Experience: Visit for a royal and lavish dinner that can take you back in time. If you’re not a big fan of that, give this place a miss without a second thought.

Fullfills - Gateway to Europe

Visit Day Date and Time:- Sunday 15-July-2018, 16.00 p.m.

"Fullfills - Gateway to Europe" a newly opened place located in the famous khau galli of Ghatkopar (East), serves freshly baked Chimney Cones in sweet and savoury delights. A Chimney Cone is an Hungarian delicacy having cylindrical shape which are soft crunchy from outside and fluffy from inside.

Ambience:- It's compact outlet having bright and pleasing interiors with few inside and outside seating options. 

Menu:- This place offers Chimney Cones in sweet and savoury flavours along with Pizza, Pasta and Milkshakes.

Tried out following:-

Mexican Fusion (savoury), herein freshly baked cone is stuffed with sweet corn fillings with red, yellow, green bell peppers topped with chilly sauce. It is bit spicy and my personal favourite from the menu.

Paneer Chilli (savoury), herein freshly baked cone is filled with soft paneer cubes which are marinated with dark soy sauce, green chillies, bell peppers and black pepper powder. 

Cool Oreo (sweet), herein fresh baked cone is rolled in crushed Oreo and filled with chocolate ice-cream which is topped with Oreo crumbs, Oreo cookie and chocolate syrup. It's must try one for the chocolate lovers.

Recommendations:-  Cool Oreo, Paneer Chilli and Mexican Fusion

Service:- Quick

Experience:- Overall it was an amazing experience and must visit place with family and friends to try out this appetising and innovative chimney cones. Special thanks to Mr. Adnan for the invitation.

Taste:- 4/5

Ambience:- 4/5

Service:- 4/5

Value for Money:- 4/5

Note:- Visit to this place was on invitation but the above review is based on my personal experience.

Juss By Sindhful

Visit Day, Date and Time:- Wednesday, 6-June-2018, 19.30 p.m.

"Juss By Sindhful" a vegetarian Sindhi cuisine restaurant which is owned and managed by Chef Kanchan Ahuja and her son Sannat Ahuja, who also own Mumbai's first Sindhi food delivery kitchen named "Sindhful"

Ambience:- It's a compact outlet with small mezzanine floor and decorated wall with old city painting and brass plates with popular Sindhi words.

Menu:- Overall the menu of this place offers vegetarian Sindhi food options but they also serve non-vegetarian food from the menu of Sindhful which is located on the opposite side of the road.

We started our tasting session with Tikra Chips and Pudina Chutney which is served as complimentary welcome snacks for all the customers.

Pakwaan Chaat, traditional pakwaan in mini sized are garnish with medium spicy chole, curd, coriander chutney, sweet chutney and onions giving it interesting flavour and texture.

Beeyan Ki Tikki, a mashed potato (aloo) tikki with traditional Sindhi green masala. Tikki is topped with tangy and crispy lotus stem chips. 

Crispy Seyal, herein a pav is stuffed with Sindhi green masala and grated cheese which is served with crispy papad. Simple and decent taste.

Dal Pakwan, one of the renowned Sindhi dish of all time. Herein crispy pakwans are served with chana dal cooked in secret in-house masala and accompanied by coriander and tamarind chutney. It's my favourite dish from the menu.

Sindhi Thali, it's India's first Sindhi thali which includes Sanna Pakoda, Aloo Tuk, Sai Bhaji, Bhindi Basar, Aloo Raswale, Bhuga Chawal, Steamed Rice, Sindhi Curry, Boondi Raita, Sindhi Papad, Rose Sharbat and Gulab Jamun. It gives you option to try out most of the traditional dishes from the menu in one thali only. Two important points to note if you are having thali, firstly it's unlimited and secondly sharing of thali is not allowed.

Recommendations:- Sindhi Thali, Dal Pakwaan and Pakwan Chaat.

Service:- Prompt.

Experience:- Overall a good experience and must visit place to try out authentic and traditional Sindhi food in Mumbai with your family or Sindhi friends.

Taste:- 4/5
Service:- 4/5
Ambience:- 3/5
Value for Money:- 4/5

Note:- Visit to this place was on invitation but the review is based on my personal experience.

Mahesh Lunch Home - Sea Food Speciality

Visit Day, Date and Time:- Wednesday, 13-June-2018, 20.00 p.m.

"Mahesh Lunch Home" started it's journey in the late 70's by opening it's prime outlet in the Fort area of Mumbai and has been the first restaurant in the Mumbai to serve authentic Mangalorian sea food. It currently has 6 (six) outlets within the few cities (Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore) of India and 1 (one) outlet in Dubai.

Last week visited it's Juhu outlet for food tasting.

Ambience:- It's interiors are quite simple and soothing with dim lights and comfortable seating options.

We started off our food tasting session with Seafood Combination Soup, which was warm and flavourful with good amount of diced fish and prawns. It gave the perfect start to the tasting session.

After soup we decided to try out few starters from the tasting menu, so opted for Crab Butter Pepper Garlic, Prawns Chilly Green, Surmai Fry.

Crab Butter Pepper Garlic, one of the iconic dish from the menu. Herein huge crab was cooked perfectly keeping juiciness of the meat intact and flavourful. You can't miss it if you love eating crabs.

Prawns Chilly Green, herein medium sized prawns are tossed with chilly, bell peppers and basil. It was tasty and good option for foodies who love to eat prawns.

Surmai Fry, herein big piece of surmai fish is marinated with in-house spices and fried to perfection giving it crispy texture outside.

From the main course section we tried out the Mangalorian Prawns Gassi and Butter Chicken along with Neer Dosa and Appam. The medium spicy and tangy gravy went well with soft Neer Dosa and crispy & soft Appam. Even the Butter Chicken was tasty.

We ended our tasting session on sweeter note with Gulab Jamun, Malai Kulfi and traditional Tender Coconut Payasam. Overall the desserts were decent with perfect sweetness.

Recommendations:- Surmai Fry. Crab Butter Pepper Garlic, Prawns Chilly Green, Prawns Gassi with Neer Dosa or Appum.

Service:- Quick

Experience:- Overall it was an amazing experience and one of the best place to try out traditional and flavourful Managalorian seafood.

Taste:- 4/5

Service:- 4/5

Ambience:- 4/5

Value for Money:- 4/5

Note:- Visit to this place was on invitation but the review is based on my personal experience