By Jaimin Rajani, Devansh Karnani

It has been over three years since our last blog post. So first things first. Let us try to win back your confidence. Neither of us is a vegan and we hate it when a place serves a sweet dish in the name of sambhar. So you can trust us.

We’re not easily pleased, but here’s Fab Five - a list of five of our best culinary experiences across the country (not in order of ranking) that blew us away.

Note that all we care about is food and the consistency. So most of these recommendations are no frills eateries. Don’t expect them to be chic.

Dorabjee & Sons, Pune

A couple of dozens of visits and not once has this 142 year-old iconic restaurant in Poona’s Sharbat Wala Chowk disappointed us. Folks at Dorabjee & Sons seem to have mastered the art of Parsi Cooking. Hence, the Bawa fare here is as incredible as it can possibly get, and paired with its clean homelike atmosphere, pocket-friendliness, world-class hospitality, it is likely to enslave you.

Must try: Salli Boti, Dhansak (available only on Sundays), Rasberry Soda and Lagan nu Custard

Kasturi, Kolkata

Often mistaken as Bengali food, Kasturi in Calcutta is known for its Dhakai offerings (from East Bengal / Bangladesh). Conveniently known to be the spicier counterpart of Bengali cuisine, nearly everything they dish up is phenomenal. But what’s best of the best is their Daab Chingri (Jumbo prawn in mustard infused coconut milk served in a coconut shell paired with steamed rice), which is truly a work of art with its flawless balance of flavours coming from very challenging ingredients. This delicacy is sophistication at its best and just when you think it can’t get any better, squeeze in a generous amount of Gondhoraj lime juice (a local variant of lemon) for an unforgettable experience.

Must try: Kochu pata Chingri, Shorshe Bhetki, Doi Maachh, Begun Bhaja

Giri Manja’s, Mangalore

Despite its iconic status, this seafood joint in Mangalore seems like a hole in the wall kind of place and can be tricky to locate. But once you get there, boy it’s worth it (and a lot more). Their patrons come for the freshest spice-punched seafood prepared in authentic style with rustic flavours and quick service.

Must try: Pomfret Masala Fry, Anjal Tawa Fry, Prawns in Asofetida Curry, Chilli Squid, Prawns in Black Pepper Curry(Sorry for not remembering the local names of the dishes)

Rajinder Da Dhaba, Delhi

While no description can do justice to this legendary establishment, we shall give it a shot anyway. This takeaway-only joint in Safdarjung caters to a long list of veteran sharabi kebabis of Delhi. Rajinder does its own version of the quintessential Mughlai Kebabs and curries which are served in paper plates - take it or leave it. But if you’re too posh for this unique, roadside dhaba experience that makes for an ideal end to a car-o-bar session, they also have an air-conditioned restaurant that serves food from the dhaba at thrice the cost.

Must Try: Galauti Kebab, Chicken Curry, Chicken Malai Kebab, Butter Chicken

Mocambo, Kolkata

A supposedly customary visit to this landmark restaurant in Calcutta’s entertainment quarter is as close to time-travel as it can get.The food at Mocambo makes for a cuisine in itself. Mocambo’s overwhelmingly romantic decor, as if right out of the sets of Mad Men, comprising individual overhead lamps for each table, outdated German silver beer mugs and waiters clad in unfashionable uniforms, make British Raj look desirable.

Must try: Spicy Tuna Dip on Toast, Deviled Crabs, Chicken Paprika, Fish Diana, Angels on Horse’s Back

Cheers & Bon Appétit.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion about food except those who crave bhajiyas 5 seconds through a downpour. *

                                                               By Jaimin Rajani

The not-so ubiquitous cuisine of this beloved community is a gift to the culinary world, I believe. An exquisite concoction of Persian & Gujarati flavours, the Parsi Fare is what comes to my mind the very moment I think of foods which represent Mumbai, rather than Bhel, Pav-Bhaji or the ridiculously overrated Vada-Pav.

Being a patron of several Parsi Restaurants of Mumbai, I have tried nearly all the Bawa Joints in city and my love for the cuisine today has compelled me to jot down five of my most favourite Parsi dishes that will give you a pretty precise idea on how good the cuisine can get. 

So no worries if you weren’t born a Parsi or don’t have Parsi In-Laws and friends, as we have enough Parsi eateries in town to come to rescue us from “Bhonu Hunger Pangs”.

1. Chicken / Mutton Dhansak at Jimmy Boy, Fort

The meat & lentils based dish is the “acid test” of Parsi cuisine, and this restaurant with regal décor, located near the Horniman Circle is one of those very few places that have managed to get the Dhansak spot on. Their Dhansak is very well spiced and is as good as it can get. The dish does wonders when paired with Brown Rice & Mutton Kebabs, and is served seven days a week here; contrary to the traditional practice of consuming it only on Sundays because you know, any day is a good day to have Dhansak.

2. Berry Pulao and Sali Boti (Combo) at Britannia

This legendary eatery, located in the posh business district of Bellard Estate, is run by the immensely charming Mr. Kohinoor. Their famous Berry Pulao, made from imported Iranian berries, is their magnum opus. Pair it with their lip-smacking Sali Boti, and you will have the meal of your life.

3. Chicken / Mutton Cutlets in Gravy at Café Excelsior

Right opposite to Excelsior Cinema Hall, this place serves one of the most glorious things I’ve had. Scrumptious chicken / mutton cutlets in spicy, sour and a tad sweet, quintessential Parsi gravy, when had with their nice & fluffy slices of bread served alongside, is sure to take you for a ride you want to keep on taking.

4. Atheli Marghi at Ideal Corner

Parvez Patel’s Ideal Corner in Fort, on Tuesdays, serves their famous signature dish, the Atheli Chicken. The word “Atheli” in Gujarati literally translates to “marinated in spices”, as the description on their menu suggests. The potatoes served alongside are done in a Gujarati-style and mingle very well with the deliciously tangy gravy. Have it with the famous Mumbai Pav and this dish will win your heart instantly.

5.  Caramel Custard at Café Military

Although, this does not have a Parsi origin, in Mumbai it’s as Parsi as any of the above mentioned dishes. Café Military’s version of the famous Caramel Custard is just impeccable. With the right amount of sweetness, and perfect shape & texture, it’s sure to give that happy ending to a soul-satisfying Parsi meal.

By Devansh Karnani

Delhi probably has the most glamorized food in the country. Who hasn’t heard about the Chaats at Chandni Chowk, the Kebabs at Jama Masjid, the Butter Chicken at Pandara Road or the Parathas at the famous Paranthe Wali Gali. I, for one, have grown up listening about these legendary places and therefore have been looking for their alternatives in my city, Kolkata. Luckily for me, Kolkata is one city where you can find restaurants serving non regional cuisine that still retain their authenticity without tainting it to suit the local palate - be it Italian, Mexican or as in this case, North Indian. Here is a list of 5 dishes which replicate their Delhi counterparts quite perfectly:

1. Butter chicken at Sher-e-Punjab, Theatre Road - Skepticism is justified, with its ubiquitous name. However, their magnum opus, the butter chicken, is as good (if not better) than the one at your favourite Pandara Road restaurant. The chicken pieces are absolutely tender and they’ve managed to find the perfect balance between the richness from the dairy and the acidity from the tomatoes to just cut through it. I can’t imagine this dish getting any better, unless it stops clogging my arteries.

2. Parathas at Russell Dhaba, Russell Street - Fat parathas with a thin crust, deep fried till it’s crisp on the outside but nice and moist on the inside are served here with a dollop of butter and mixed pickle. Pair one of these bad boys with their lassi and you’ll have enough energy to last half a day. You can choose amongst plain, mixed, aloo, paneer, onion and gobhi parathas, although I personally advocate the gobhi and aloo variants. Trust me, these will satiate your cravings for Paranthe Waali Gali.

3. Black Dal at Ivory Kitchen, Camac Street - Although technically the name of this dish is Lal Massa Dal, it is prepared by cooking black lentils with tomatoes and butter/cream over a slow flame for long hours just like other Black Dal preparations such as Dal Makhani, Dal Bukhara, Maa di Daal, etc. The first dish of this kind was the Dal Makhani, which was invented in Moti Mahal at Daryaganj in Delhi. Since then, Black Dal preparations have become ubiquitous throughout restaurants in India and this particular variant, the Lal Massa Dal at Ivory can give any of its counterparts a run for their money.

4. Pasinda Seekh Kebab at Aminia, New Market - The Seekh Kebab is indigenous to Delhi. Go to chawri bazaar near Jama Masjid and you’ll see Seekh Kebabs everywhere - in legendary restaurants like Karim’s to street side stalls run by Kebab Ustaads. At Aminia, they do a variation of the mighty Seekh that’s just as delectable, if not better - the Pasinda Seekh. These are made from the paste of mutton (as opposed to minced mutton) which makes them just melt in your mouth. The spicing, however, is very similar to your regular Seekh. The end result is so scrumptious, even the Master Blaster himself was bowled over by it. Allegedly whenever he’s in town, he calls for a plate of these.

5. Tikki Chaat at Om Shree Hari Delhi Chaat, Loudon Street  - This eatery serves authentic Delhi style Chaat items - from Dahi Bhalla to Aloo Chaat. Their hottest selling item, however, is the Tikki Chaat. Fried right in front of you, served hot and crisp with yogurt, mint chutney, sweet tamarind chutney and a Chaat masala mix, this dish is bound to remind you of Chandni Chowk.

By Devansh Karnani

Kolkata takes the number one spot when it comes to value-for-money. It’s the only city where you can get really amazing Momos, Shawarmas, Rolls, Biryani, etc. for under 100 bucks. But there are a few places in Kolkata that will just knock your socks off. Places that provide the best tasting food at less than half the prices of their upscale alternatives, without compromising on the taste whatsoever. This list tries to highlight a few such places that are least injurious to your wealth.

1. Abdul Khalique and Sons Restaurant - This eatery, located near Jamuna Cinema (off Free School Street) serves the best biryani in town. Yes, you heard it right! The fragrant, flavourful & long grains of rice, the juicy & succulent meat, and the humble potato together form a dish that is so extraordinary that it puts all other biryanis to shame. And a plateful of this beauty costs just Rs. 65!

Picture Courtesy: yummraj.com

2. Solid Gulp (Bapi Dar Momo) - This roadside stall in Karunamoyee, Salt Lake that operates between 5 - 7.30 PM, six days a week (Sundays closed), attracts a crowd so huge that you’d think they’re giving away food for free (which they almost are). The momos here are nothing short of perfect - the outer layer is thin, the stuffing generous and they put lemongrass in the steamer which adds this fresh flavour and aroma to the momos which I’ve never encountered elsewhere. At 20 bucks a plate (4 pieces), it’s a steal. They also serve the best Chicken Pakoras I’ve had till date - four chunky, juicy pieces of chicken fried to crunchy perfection and sprinkled with a blend of Indian spices. Again, brilliant value-for-money at 40 bucks a plate.

3. Cakes - This popular confectionery has its outlets all across the city and they are fairly consistent throughout. They serve the ideal Lemon Tart - crisp and firm tart shell filled beyond the brim with a dense, creamy, non-eggy, perfectly balanced lemon cream, at just 40 bucks a piece. Their Macaroon Tart, Chocolate Boat, Lemon Swiss Roll and Chocolate Ganache Pastry too are incredible (and incredibly cheap as well).

4. Bliss - This Chinese dhaba in Hindustan Park serves the quintessential Calcutta-style Chinese food and costs half as much as the cheapest restaurant in Tangra (China Town). Their Schezwan Chicken, Shredded Chicken with Babycorn & Mushroom, Chilli Chicken, Hong Kong Chicken, Chicken in Hot Garlic Sauce and Chilli Garlic Fried Rice are all delectable and none of them costs more than 120 bucks.

P.S. If you are looking for extreme value-for-money, go for their combo dishes which range from 130 - 170 bucks.

Picture Courtesy: Zomato

5. Go Lebanese - This take-out joint has three outlets - one in Sarat Bose Road, one in Ajoy Nagar (EM Byepass) & one in Sector V, and is best known for its shawarmas. Their kebabs, however, provide even better value-for-money. The Chicken Shish Touk (their best kebab) consists of 5 extremely juicy, tender, mildly flavoured chunks of chicken grilled to absolute perfection, served on a bed of pita bread pockets with hummus, pickled onions & green chilies, and a spicy, tangy green chutney. A plate fills you up perfectly and costs merely 150 bucks. Other kebabs too are worth trying and they serve the best shawarma in the city too.

Picture Courtesy: Zomato

By Jaimin Rajani

Mumbai happens to be amongst my list of top culinary destinations, and I receive a lot inquiries from people asking me about the best places to eat in the Maximum City & what to call for. So I decided to jot them down and prepare a list of the most kick-ass dishes, neither of which can be given a miss.

While it wasn’t easy to narrow it down to only five of them for a humongous city like Mumbai, my criteria was to include only those dishes / items that represent the culinary scene of the city and are optimal by all means - so good that there’s absolutely no room left for improvement. Most of the dishes that I’ve included are indigenous to the city’s food heritage or have been around for such a long time that they have become an integral part of it.

1. Mutton / Chicken Cutlets in Gravy at Cafe Excelsior - Right opposite to the famous Excelsior Cinema Hall, stands this legendary Parsi eatery that serves one of the most glorious things I’ve had till date. Ever since I discovered this place, I make it a point to walk down straight to Excelsior as soon as I get off the train at CST. The slices of bread that are served alongside are nice & fluffy and go perfectly with the cutlets, as if they are made for each other. The bread does its best to soak in as much gravy as possible and with each bite, you get an overwhelming burst of flavours. The gravy is beautifully balanced. A concoction of primarily three flavours it is - spicy, sour and a hint of sweetness; couldn’t get any Parsi-er. Go for the raspberry soda too & you have the ultimate comfort meal and call for their very well done Mawa Cake & Caramel Custard to end with, in order to ensure a well-rounded one.

Look at this. Isn’t it gorgeous?

2. Chocolate Overload Brownie at Theobroma - Having started with their first outlet in Colaba, Theobroma has now spread its tentacles all across the city, much on public demand and now operates as many as seven outlets. Despite not being a resident of Mumbai, I have lost count of the number of times I’ve been there. Words fall short for describing how sinfully delightful their brownies are. Every once in a while, I get this sudden, uncontrollable urge for Theo’s brownies and to satiate it I’ve got to drive down to Mumbai from Pune (once in every ten days on an average). Each bite of it takes you to heaven which pretty much explains their tagline “Food for the Gods”. They’ve got a wide variety of gooey brownies, but the Overload, Millionaire and Cooknie are the outstanding ones. Utterly magical and orgasmic! One of the reasons I might want to settle in Mumbai. You’ve got to try it to believe it and you’ll see that every bit of the description here is true.

​3. Prawn Gassi at Apoorva in Fort - This Udipi-style, family-run Mangalorean joint is a short walk from the Horniman Circle. The Prawn Gassi paired with Neer Dosa they serve here is absolutely delightful, which is why Los Angeles-based food writer and Iron Chef judge, Simon Majumdar too, makes it a point to have it whenever he is in town. The prawns mingle really well with the Mangalorean curry which is a delicious, balanced curry primarily made of various spices and coconut milk. Unlike its more popular competitors, who have commercialized and are highly overpriced, Apoorva remains unadulterated and honest.

Image Courtesy: FinelyChopped.net
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4. Goan Sausage Chilli Fry at New Martin Hotel, Colaba - This Goan lunch home in Colaba is almost a hole in the wall. So, you’re likely to have a tough time locating it on your first visit. It’s run by a Mangalorean who took over from a Goan family back in 1963 but has thankfully preserved the original recipes and charm. At New Martin, they dish up some of the best Goan food I’ve eaten, be it the Vindaloo, Goan Prawn Pulav or the famous Goan Fish Curry. But, their Goan Sausage Chilli Fry deserves a special mention. The sausages are tangy, hot and acidic! Absolutely delightful and loaded with flavours that go extremely well when had with the slices of bread served alongside. Make sure to give your meal a perfect end with their Jelly Custard.

5. Atheli Chicken Masala Potato at Ideal Corner, Fort - Another Parsi restaurant that easily manages to make its way into this list is Parvez Patel’s Ideal Corner. According to the food history of Mumbai, Parsis play the most integral role in formulating Mumbai’s “dine-out” culture. I believe that Mumbaikars have been fortunate to still have these eateries around. However Ideal Corner, I’d say is the finest of them all. They serve some of the most delectable Parsi dishes including those rare ones that would have been extinct had it not been for this place. One such dish is their famous Atheli Chicken (available only on Tuesdays) which is supposed to be had with the ubiquitous “Portuguese influenced” Bombay Pav. The word “Atheli” in Gujarati literally translates to marinated in spices, as the description on the menu suggests. Impressively, the hand pounded spices are all procured from a Parsi family in Nagpur. Atheli Chicken is apparently an old Parsi recipe that seems to have faded due to the fact that its preparation is time consuming and requires a lot of effort & care as it needs to be cooked on a slow flame for a really long time. Unlike most of the other Parsi dishes, this one isn’t sweet, whatsoever. The potatoes are done in a Gujarati-style and mingle very well with the delicious gravy that is a plethora of flavours viz. spicy, sour and acidic that you should preferably wash down with a glass of their very refreshing watermelon juice.

​Note that the above mentioned dishes and eateries are not in any order of ranking. Those were my recommendations. You can mention yours by commenting below. Bon Appétit!