Tailored For Travel: MumbaiMusings

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Mumbai spoils you for choices, be it shopping, clubbing or chowpattys but when it comes to food, it leaves you with limited options. I have a very selected list of my favourite restaurants in Bombay and the newest entry to it is the ‘Delhi Zaika’ restaurant in Bandra which is just a few steps away from the Bandra Station.

courtesy: delhizaika.net

This cozy restaurant offers a lot of variety from its starters to main course dishes. You can choose from tikkas, rolls or kebabs for starters or hog directly onto chicken/mutton dishes.

I started my meal with Chicken Malai Tikka and Al-Baik Chicken. The Chicken Malai Tikka was roasted well and was floating in cream and butter. They are pretty generous with the butter and that added to its taste. For all those who do not enjoy spicy food much, this is the right dish for you!

Next up was the Al-Baik Chicken. This was the star dish and I would totally recommend this to all of you. The soft and juicy chicken covered in crispy breadcrumbs was just amazing! KFC lovers, don’t hate me but their chicken would beat the KFC chicken nuggets! (Yes, I said it!) The mayonnaise dip served on the side compliments the Al-Baik chicken perfectly.

For the main course, I had Tandoori Naan, Chilly Chicken and Chilly Chicken Biryani. The tandoori naan was soft and fluffy unlike the usual naans with hard and crunchy base. It was so delicious that I could eat it without having to dip it in a curry. I must say it was the best tandoori naan I’ve ever had. The Chicken Chilly was exactly as I like it, Spicy! The chicken pieces were very soft and the gravy had the right amount of chilli and spice. I liked this dish also because it was very similar to how my dad makes it back at home. The chicken chilly biryani had the right mix of spice and sweet. The biryani worked great as a break from the chilly chicken. Fun fact: the restaurant has 7 types of Biryani for every day of the week!

To end my meal I had the perfect dessert: Rabdi. Served in a cute little Kulhad, the Rabdi was the best way to wrap up my lunch.

The restaurant is a nice place to have dinner or lunch with your friends and family. It is a treat for all the chicken lovers, but vegetarians, you have a very little choice.

The food did remind of Delhi’s Zaika and I am definitely going there again and you should try it once too!

Must haves: Al Baik Chicken, Tandoori Naan
Where: Shop 4, Hasan Building, Station Road, Opposite Bandra Bus Depot, Bandra Talao, Bandra West
Nearest Station: Bandra
Cost: Rs. 850 for 2

Remember the scene in the movie Wazir where Yazaad Quereshi gives the speech at a hall in Srinagar just before shoutout begins? Well, it is not a hall in Srinagar but our very own Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Byculla. The museum is the oldest museum of Mumbai and served as the treasure house of the decorative and industrial arts in 1855.

I went there recently and The museum showcases miniature clay models, miniature monuments like Taj Mahal, Meenakshi Temple and rare books that document the life of the people of Mumbai. The golden chandelier on the ceiling, mint coloured walls, patterned wooden staircase, it is the most beautiful museum I've ever been to. So let's take a look around this and reminisce the history and heritage of ours.
Where: Veer Mata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan (Rani Baug),91/A, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, Byculla, East Mumbai 400027 India

Trying to know the city better I took a stroll in the lanes of South Mumbai and found myself in the midst of one of the most famous local markets of Mumbai. Making my way through the cramped streets of Crawford market, a signboard with Mangaldas market written in English, Hindi and Gujarati welcomed me. From outside, the place seems like just an alley of clothing shops but on the inside, it is a maze, draped in colours and glitter. One lane lead to three others and those three will take you deeper into the market to more alleys. The lanes are small and narrow but explode with colours and textures ranging from silk to chiffon, from print to embroidery, from plain to bling, name it and you’ve got it. The profusion of skirts sarees, and dupattas, made me want to own them all.

courtesy: www.flicker.com

he market, a hub for fabric lovers is always bustling with crowds leaving no space to spare. Be it a wedding season or not, it is always festive here. The shopkeepers here, though busy, are very polite and receive everyone enthusiastically, no matter if someone bought just a dupatta or a dozen sarees.

The crowded lanes filled with shimmering fabric and hues of colour reminded me of Chandni Chowk in Delhi. Though the market in Chandni Chowk is bigger but the atmosphere of the both the markets is the same.

courtesy: www.tripgator.com

courtesy: www.enkivillage.com

courtesy: www.sancia.com

After exploring the lanes of Mangaldas market, I went to Zaveri Bazar on the street opposite to Mangaldas market. A jewellery market, Zaveri Bazar is the place to gold, silver and imitation jewellery. The market has both branded jewellers such as TBZ and the local ones. I got a pretty good deal for silver rings at one of the local shops and it made me beam like a kid.

courtesy: www.indianexress.com

courtesy: www.rediff.com

courtesy:www.sepiaeye.com

Though there is no dearth of branded stores and shopping complexes in Mumbai, markets like Mangaldas market and Zaveri Bazar are the charm of the city. If you want to see another side of the bustling maximum city, do visit these markets once.

It is difficult to adjust to a new city, by the new city I mean the Food. When I came to Mumbai eight months back, all I did was crib about the food here. Well, being Delhiite spoils you for food; you have to agree Delhi serves the best chaat or jalebi or chole bhature or butter chicken...okay let's stop before I start drooling again!! But Mumbai has its own flavour that has made my taste buds cheer. From cheese -loaded sandwiches and crispy sev puri dipped in dahi to the crunchy masala papad, you get them only here. So, here I am with the best of places to eat in south Mumbai that is heavy on taste and light on the pocket.

1. The J: It is one of the most famous food joints among the college students in South Mumbai. Located in front of K.C. College, the place is always swarming with people. Best known for its pizza fries, it also serves mouth-watering rolls, burgers and shakes. My favorite from the menu is the Shredded Chicken Roll, Pizza Fries and Parle-G shake.

Where: 3, Dinshaw Vacha Rd, Churchgate, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400032
Price: 100-150

Courtesy: Zomato

Courtesy: Zomato

Courtesy: mouthshut.com

2. Om Sandwich: A small stall on the corner of Wellington Street, Om Sandwich serves the best sandwiches in south Mumbai and you can tell that by the crowd waiting in line for their cheesy sandwiches. Jumbo Cheese Sandwich, Jumbo Masala Sandwich, Mayonnaise Cheese Sandwich, Paneer Grilled Sandwich, name it and you got it. But Chocolate Toast is what beats them all; hot Nutella inside toasted bread and crushed chocolate on the top- you just cannot resist it!

Where:Wellington Street, Dhobi Talao, Marine Lines, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400002

Price: 40-100

3. Pancham Puriwala: If you’ve ever lived in South Bombay or have been there for a while, you definitely must have been here. This little shop near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus serves amazing Puris. You can pick your favourite among Aloo Puri, Chole Puri, Kadhi Chawal or Masala Puri. The one I find the best is the Thali: Aloo, Puri, Kadhi, Chawal, Mixed Vegetable and a Papad- all in one and everything equally tasty. Have the Masala Chaas to end your meal on a spicy note.
Where: 8/ (Bazar Gate Str), 2-10, Perin Nariman St, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001
Price: 60-150

Courtesy: Zomato

4. Say Cheese: Looking for a good pasta place, I ended up at Say Cheese; Thank God for that! Well say cheese and that’s what you will get..be it in the Cheese Garlic Bread or the Pink Pasta. Though there is no space to sit, but the food will surely make the place in your heart as it did for me. Don’t miss out on the Melting Sandwich.
Where: Shop No. 10, Opera House Building, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Marg, Near Centro Plaza Theatre, Girgaon, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400004
Price: 150-230

Courtesy: Zomato

Courtesy: Zomato

Courtesy: Zomato

5. Crystal Restaurant: Whenever you are missing ‘Ghar ka Khana’ head to the Crystal restaurant because that’s what I do whenever I feel home sick. The hot chapatis with Ghee floating on it remind me of home. The Rajma Chawal and Paneer Bhurji is amazing and you must treat yourself with the Kheer as the dessert on your way out.
Where: Lily Cottage, 19, Chowpatty Seaface, Near Wilson College, Chowpatty, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400007

Price: 200-300

Courtesy: Zomato

Courtesy: Zomato

Hungry Yet? Well, what are you waiting for? Grab that almost empty wallet and savor your belly with flavor of Mumbai!!

Adding to my food trail in Mumbai, I recently tasted the menu of the famous ‘Bade Miyan-The Kebab Restaurant’, thanks to my lovely brother who sponsors my wish list like anything. We went to the Apollo Bandar outlet to have our meal and add ourselves to its long list of customers.Here’s my mini-review of the restaurant.

Photo Credit: tripadvisor

The place is not very spacious as such but I liked the cute mini fans over my seat, keeping me cool. To begin with, we ordered the Chicken Shami Kebab. I’ve always loved shami kebabs and Bade Miyan lived up to my expectations. The combination of minced chicken and egg dipped in the secret recipe of ‘Bade Miyan’ worked for me.

The next dish on our plate was the Mutton Baidi Roti. It was my first time to have baidi roti and was quite excited about it. The baidi roti is a minced mutton patty with a layer of egg on the outside. It’s like mutton in an omelette. The dish tasted good with the right amount of spices to enthuse your taste buds. But a thinner layer of egg would have made the baidi roti even better.

After baidi roti, we went fishing and ordered Tandoori Promfet Fish. Since I am not a fish person, I am going to be biased about it (that’s just how I am :P). I found the fish okayish and not very great. But on the contrary my brother, who by the likes fish, was happy finishing the whole dish by himself.

The ambiance is fine, not much of a fancy scene to look up to. The service was a little slow but the waiters are nice and polite and will ask you if you how you liked the food. All-in-all it was a fine experience with the 69 year old brand. I am looking forward to trying out the adored kebabs at the street stall in Colaba.
I will be ticking off many more things off my bucket list and blabbing about it here. Stay tuned for more.
What: Bade Miyan- The Kebab Restaurant
Where: Tullock Road, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400004
Timings: 11a.m.- 1a.m.
Cost: Rs.600 for two

Must Try Suggestion: Mutton Baidi Roti

My wish and will of going places has landed me into a new city; the city of dreams. Oh Yes! you guessed it right, I am in' Mumbai'.
It's more than a month now since I have moved here and I am loving this city more and more everyday. The ever pleasant weather, the rains, the charm of regal buildings, the beaches and not to forget Marine Drive!!, there is so much to this city. It totally lives up to its title the "Maximum City",.
I am fairly new to the city so like every newcomer, the customary Mumbai Darshan was a must, So let me be your guide and take you through the tour.

Gateway of India

Gateway of India is the first thing that clicks your mind whenever you think of or hear the word 'Mumbai'. It is the favorite destination of everybody visiting Mumbai.This huge Basalt beauty with the colossal Arabian Sea in the background is the perfect view to soothe your eyes and take your heart away.
But this exquisite view is incomplete without the majestic Taj Hotel in the frame. It just adds up to the beauty of the scene. The gateway looks even more beautiful at night with all the lights and bling.

If you wish to enjoy the view even more, get on the ferry ride and have a look at the city the way the sea does . You can take the ferry ride either to the Elephanta Caves or just take a small trip round the sea, whatever suits you mood. If you feel like owning the place, well then get on a Victorian Baggi and ride like a king.

Just a few meters away from the Gateway is the Colaba Market, you can buy yourself some baubles and trinkets from here or take a bite at the very old and famous Leopold Cafe and Cafe Mondegar. The lane is full of restaurants and cafes to feast your tastebuds, so do take a dig at the delicacies here.

Juhu Beach

Juhu Beach is a very loved and very famous beach of Mumbai. I went to the beach in the evening and was glad to catch the sunset on the beach and enjoyed that 'Wake Up Sid' kindda filmsy feel to it. The Juhu Chowpatty is full of flavours. From Bhelpuri to Mumbai's very own Vada pav, Milkshakes to Pav Bhaji, the place is high on flavours. I too took a dip into the spirit and slurped a chuski (ice lollipop) myself. Since it is a must visit location, it is ever crowded.

Marine Drive

This is my go to place in Mumbai. It is that place where you can just sit and relax and forget all your worries of the day. The queens necklace and Girgaon Chowpatty are the highlights of the Marine drive. Doesn't matter at what time you come here, you will always find a company here.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST)/ Victoria Terminus (VT)

Do you remember the pet opening scene for Mumbai in Hindi movies? Well this is it. The first ever railway station of India is worth a visit whenever in Mumbai. The grand station is absolute beauty and will amaze you with its architectural genius.

Some other spotting I did on my way round the city.