Sunday gossip @ The Bagel Shop

When my chica, L, visited Mumbai, I knew it called for a lunch at a place where we could talk nineteen to the dozen without being asked to leave! :P

After a lot of considerations, we finally zeroed on The Bagel Shop.
This place is a little difficult to find. (Unless youre a regular on the Carter Road or a Bandra-ite). L and I got off two lanes back and the walk in the sun made us feel like we were hunting for an oasis in the desert. Finally after asking around, we reached there! *phew*

Entrance: http://kthadani.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/photo-44.jpg

We reached there on a super-busy and hot Sunday afternoon. So we didnt want to sit out and there are very few tables inside. So, we finally perched ourselves here.

Our table:

http://local.images.burrp.net/images/e/z/g/photo_the-bagel-shop_bandra-west_mumbai@zgbntzse_26_2_300.jpg

Its difficult to get on but I must say its the best table if you need a place for two.

So, upon reaching the place, dont expect Udipi-restaurant type service. Its self-service hence you may or may not be asked for water. Dont feel neglected. Go to the counter and ask for it!

{BTW, this place is a hot-spot. Be ready to see a parade of firangs hanging around the counter, placing orders/asking for take-away coz I guess this is one place where they get food that ensures no heartburn!
And we while we were there, Nimrat Kaur (of The Lunchbox fame) sat on the opposite table. :D }

We thought well have a bagel and then share a salad and a pasta, if we were still hungry. Boy, did we underestimate their bagels or what?!

We ordered Toasted Bagel with Baked Beans and Scrambled Eggs with Bagel and shared a diet coke. Though we were totally engrossed in the gossip, our stomachs grumbled; the bagels arrived after 30 minutes of ordering! :\

But they were totally worth the wait! The moment they were ready, our chatting had to stop. My Toasted Bagel with Baked Beans was an absolute treat! And L said that her bagel wasn't half as bad either. So, 5/5 for the bagels! 

We were super hungry, but they were filled us up pretty well! So, didn't get a chance to try their pasta or salad. But I'm glad we left the bagel shop with a new-found love for bagel! ^_^

In addition to that, the no-disturbance made our Sunday lunch even better; nothing better on a Sunday afternoon than a sumptuous meal and a great chat with a wonderful friend.

We stayed for about quite some time and the bill was just about Rs. 500! I am really looking forward to try other items as well. Hope to go there soon again…

The LSD love! ♥

I couldn't wait for Love, Sugar, and Dough to open since I first saw the board. It looked so bright and cheery! :)

Then one fine day, when God was smiling, I decided to enter this place. ;)

Ah, the colors were so catchy. The Red Velvet (RV) fever was catching up then and hence I asked for those. Their mini cupcakes are a great choice when you feel like having a cupcake but are worried about piling on calories!!! (I told you God was happy with me :D )

They've two variants for icing their RV - Butter Cream and Cream Cheese. I'm a fan of their Cream Cheese topping 'coz it's a perfect complement to the sweetness of their RV cupcakes.

Their Chocolate Truffles are another to-die-for! Its chocolatey to the core and it looks tempting. *slurrp*

The mini cupcakes for Rs. 20 and if you take a pack of 6, it'll cost you Rs. 100! The regular sized cupcakes are priced from Rs. 70 to 100.
They've a lot other things right from cupcakes, mousses (looks enticing), to pastries, tiramisu... and a special rainbow pastry!

But when I enter, I just cannot think of anything beyond these two devils.

My friend H became a fan of LSD and on her b'day, A suggested that we should gift her a cake from here. It was a cake in the shape of a cupcake and they call it a giant cupcake. Its icing is befitted for a princess! It can make anyone's day to receive a gift like that! Since it's their novelty, the price is almost double than that of a half kg cake but when you know that a person will appreciate it, you do feel like spending! :)

Personalized giant cupcake from LSD

Next time, when you're done with a nice dinner at Sammy Sosa, Lucknowi Legacy, or The Bar Stock Exchange, you can go here (it's less than a hundred metres away from Sammy Sosa)! :)

My b'day @ JamJar

So, my birthday dinner was delayed since we awaited Mr. I to fly in from his pompous trip to Bangkok. And after many adjustments to fit everyone in, we still missed out Load (yes, we call one of our girlfriends with that name even though we love her :* ). So, finally we reach the venue an hour past the time I'd originally planned since they said they do not reserve tables beyond 8:30 PM.

On arriving at JamJar, you're welcomed by this relaxed Goan-styled bunglow. The place looks deceptively small but upon entering, it magnifies about 3 times; similar to the tents shown in Harry Potter series. :D

 They have a ground floor and loft area seating and a veranda on the top. We were given a table near the TV on the ground floor. Seats were tad bit uncomfortable at first, but then we settled in.

 I had read the reviews on Zomato to avoid ordering things we might not like, so I went with French fries and Classic Nachos for munching. When you reach the venue sooper hungry, you pounce on the food and do not take the pictures. And when we fed the growling tummies, we were too lazy. :P

Anyhoo, both of the dishes were great! The Fries were made perfectly and Nachos were pretty good too; they made a bed of cheese sauce and spread tortilla chips over it and topped with tomato, beans and sour cream.

And the cheese left from Nachos made a nice accompaniment for the Fries.

We also ordered Ice Teas which were served in jam jars :D

The tea was a bit tangy and required additional sweetener to make it palatable.

Then we called for Veg. Quesadillas with tomato, onion and jalapeno and Soft shell Tacos with grilled veggies.

The quesadillas were cheesy and nice; although too small in size! I expected it to fill our tummies a little but frankly the Nachos did a better job than the Quesadillas. Coming to Tacos, even though tortillas were soft shell, it would have been tastier if they grilled it.

Then to make sure we'd eaten well, my carnivorous amigos decided to order a BBQ Chicken Burger on their expense. They said it was little dry, though it did have the potential to be better.

 When I was lost in my phone, chatting with friends, my friends also ordered vegetarian Lasagna. Frankly, it was a big letdown. They should take immediate measure to improve on the lasagna since it is supposed to have minced vegetables between the pasta sheets, and they had served us with diced veggies.

 Apart from the food, I had two complaints with the management:

1. Despite of people sitting in the couches near the door, when the place emptied, we were denied the place saying that they are reserved or they are for people who are awaiting a table. I think they should make people wait by the bar since the couch seems like a nice place to lounge in.
2. The food is slightly overpriced for its quantity when I compare it to Pop Tate's since they serve a similar menu.

The damages to my humble pockets were Rs. 4100.

They had the tuned to the football match and frankly it was a hoot since the game was fun. Also, we made a noise, and it didn't bother them a bit. And I wish they'd provide board games even on the weekends just to live up to the ambiance they wish to create.

All in all, I'd say a nice place to hang around once in a while.

Pop Tate's - Our Adda

This is our adda! Our go-to place for casual evenings to fancy dinners. And now that we're regulars here, we share a very siblingy relationship with this place... Everything from pulling waiters leg, to having a laugh, and shouting at them when they do not get the food on time...! :)

Yet we cannot get enough of this place. Ambiance is kinda dark and they play loud music, but this place is weirdly comfortable.

The best part about this place is that the food is delicious and the taste is consistent. Until now, I've tried:

• Pizza (4/5)
  Yummy but could be better like at Pizzaroma.

• Nachos with Cheese and Salsa Sauce (5/5)
  Until recently, they made the Nachos but they weren't that good... used to be chewy sometimes used to soften by the time they reached our table. But now, they've started serving fresh, ready made Nachos. I'm not complaning as long as they're fresh and crisp. And their Cheese sauce will make your reach for a spoon or you may find yourself licking it off the bowl when the Nachos get over! *yum*

• Veg. Penne Pasta in Mix Sauce (5/5)
  The combination of red and white sauce is delicious... The consistency of the sauce is perfect and three portions of garlic bread that accompanies this dish, is enough to make you burp at the end of the meal.

• Lasagna (4.5/5)
  Again... Delicious! Its flavour is similar to the pasta but it's a welcoming change when I do not feel like eating a pasta! :P

• Veg. Sizzler (5/5)
  One of the best in town! With yummy steamed veggies, to delectible rice with sauces and fries on the side, it's a good option when you do not know what to eat and you're super hungry. If not, then it's a good dish to share with friends!

• Peach Ice Tea (5/5)
  Frothy ice tea, this one is comparatively thicker than the lemon ice tea. Good option when you're toasting with friends who're having alcohol! :D

I know I've mentioned only these many dishes when I visit this place so often but kya karein! We never try anything new in vegetarian. And these dishes are that good! :)

Note:

• This place is a must-visit.
• Sit inside if none of your friends smoke.
• Mind you, go on a weekday, else you might end up waiting for about 30 minutes trying to get a seat!
• And you may not find a good parking spot by yourself but they've valet so chill and have a good meal! :)

Light Lunch at Ci Gusta

Finally I got the chance to visit this place again. My friend A is going away to US... So L and I decided to meet up for his farewell.

As usual, A threw tantrums that he wouldn't eat at Subway... :\
But good for me 'coz then I wouldn't get have got a chance to write this blog! :)

On entering, Ci Gusta @ Bandra gives out a positive vibe - the colors white and light blue of the interiors are very calming. They've chairs and tables for fours laid out...

And in a corner (where we sat), they've a high table with couch for three and few bar stools. When I sat down, the highlights of the Ashes was on... I wasn't in mood to see that at all. And the presence of the TV remote in front of me tempted me to change channels, I asked the manager and put on a music channel! :D
Though, after I changed, he quietly took the remote control away (like elders take away from toddlers)... just in case if I'd change the channels! -_-

After browsing through the menu, A called for Quattro Formagio pizza and Bruschetta.

 While A tried the sweater we gifted, the order came in and I couldn't wait to eat the pizza. It looked delicious.

Two slices had the toppings of mushrooms, other two had Black Olives (A ate it!), then Bell Peppers and the last two had Artichokes. The pizza was an authentic Italian fare unlike the Americanized ones we order from Dominos and Pizza Hut. It tasted quite good but it's filling for a single person only!

The Brushetta was decent - it had the Basil chutney on the base and I'm not a big fan of it except with Paninis.

While A hogged on his food, L and I craved something in chocolate. With the help of the manager, we ordered a shake called Chocolate Sinful.

 With the toppings of choco chips on whipped cream, the drink was d-e-l-i-cious!!! And good that we ordered only one, coz that was really filling!
 

There were many other mouth-watering items on the menu - crepes, pasta, sandwiches and salads... and they've a stall of gelato, too!

On my last visit, I'd a chance to try Penne Alla Alfredo and the Gelato. And both of them were divine!

In the hurry to head for shopping this time, we didn't sit long - left in an hour or so. The bill arrived for about Rs. 650 for the three dishes, which was quite decent.

Now, I really want to go back to try other few things on their menu, which I'm sure is going to be as delightful. :)

Punjabi Fare @ Northern Tadka

Taking a non-Indian colleague or lunching with friends, the Andheri franchise of Northern Tadka is a great choice. I know I'm giving the verdict right in the beginning but this place is really that good!

The interiors are dimly lit with ceiling lamps and have huge paintings of Punjab's sarso ke khet with ladies clad in salwaar kameez and all! I must mention that the manager was welcoming on both the occasions. And both the times I went with buffet... At less than 500 rupees, it's total value for money!

So... the first time, I took my colleague MO for he was really interested in eating Indian food. We took seats by the windows (pretty good seats!). As a part of buffet, we were asked to choose from Soft drink, Lime Soda, Breezer or Beer. We gave our choices... MO was happy with the ambiance and courteousness. We were first asked to try some Bombay Chaat. It was pretty exciting with a stall setup in the restaurant. After we went, a lady came there with her daughter but seeing MO so excited, she stepped aside and let him savour the treat! It was true to the Indian's attitude towards guests - Atithi Devo Bhava. Boy, did this Atithi really enjoy his chaat or what!

We didn't eat much of the Chaat for we'd to leave space for starters, soup, salads, main course, and desserts... Phew! (made me hungry again).

So, then we told them to send a plate of all the starters they've. I'd Paneer, and Choley dishes for starters. Yummy, it was! I was almost full at the end of it. *wide grin* :D

Next, he took our order for rotis. This is a nice thing to do so that the rotis do not get cold on the buffet table. As for sabzis, I did not bother to ask what it was as long as it was vegetarian...

For buffet, there's a table laid out, where we have to go for fetching sabzis, dal and rice. So we put all that fancied us on our plate and headed back. The main course is humble. About two sabzis for veg and two for non veg; rice which is usually plain steamed; and dal... Ate till my stomach rang the alarm that if I ate further I wouldn't be able to relish my desserts.

Being a true Gujju, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the desserts. They have a choice of ice cream. Apart from that, they make two desserts for the buffet. Not a big fan of Moong daal Sheera, but that day I'd a chance to gorge on Jalebi with Rabri, which made up for missing second dessert! :D

That first time @ Northern Tadka sure made way for a next trip! :)

~~~

The second time came when Uncle N from the building had promised the ID-2-PL match committee a treat for organizing a charity cricket match for the residents.

So, after a traffic-infested trip to Barbeque Nation, which said no reservations and getting a table might take hours, we starving souls decided on Northern Tadka. And again, we were welcomed with the same hospitality. They got our Chaat on the table this time (Dahi Puri and Sev Puri - both delicious!) for we were large and noisy party of nine and took our order for welcome drinks.

Amidst fervour and gossips, we welcomed the starters - Tandoori Paneer (or something like that... it was green and I didn't ask the name. :\ ), Aloo di Tikkiyan, and Wah Wah Choley. Ah! Tummy that was growling an hour back for food was now all set and happy. Too much I ate!

Again, the main course was as above... And I forgot to mention, on the buffet table, they've soup and salads too for the diet conscious! :P

This time, I decided to skip the main course and pounce on the desserts. We ordered a round of Chocolate ice cream and Malai Kulfi.

And when I reached the buffet table for desserts, mouth-watering Rasmalai awaited me. It was as if my stomach had sensed its presence when I decided to give up the main course... I dumped 4-5 of those in a small bowl (obviously meant to hold not more than two at a time :D ). When I reached the table, my friend V commented that it was weird the way I looked at Rasmalai - with so much of lust! :D :D
It was delicious - ekdum 10/10 item. *pun intended*

~~~

With the bill, they present us with mukhwaas (mouth freshner) - Dried Meetha Paan. For those who love normal meetha paan, this is a must-have! I lapped the half of it... :)

Since both the times I went with their buffet, I do not know the individual cost and hence the total bill, but I'm sure it'd be much more as compared to the money we paid each time for buffet.
When combining the satisfaction of small bill with good food and great time, I'm surely going to go again when I crave Indian khaana!

Early Lunch by the Beach

My colleague H had returned from US office trip with her fiance H. On a lazy Sunday afternoon, she pinged us whether we were interested in meeting her for lunch the next day before she headed to Gujarat. Her selection of display picture for the chat compelled A and me to say yes! ;)

After many rounds of arguments for the choice of the restaurant by convenience, we zeroed on Hometown Cafe, Juhu. My colleague A and I arrived early; in fact, we were the first ones to enter at 12.20 pm. The staff welcomed us warmly as they tried to brush aside the Monday blues. Entering the restaurant in hot afternoon was like discovering oasis in the desert! The ambiance totally put us in a lazy mode. What a great start for the week!

Lovely interior pieces adorned the walls of this franchise of Hometown Cafe

Ah, the view... Saw the gramophone in the extreme right?

We eased down but didn't have much time to relax as H had to leave by 2ish. So, immediately after entering (and clicking a few photos of the restro - couldn't resist), we asked for the menus.
For welcome drinks, we ordered Peach Ice Teas (the usual and a great drink on a sunny afternoon). It was the good ol' ice tea; nondescript but palatable. Then H and H arrived and they too went with our choice of appetizer.

For main course, while H went with Fusili in Creamy Pesto, I zeroed on Veg. Caeser Salad and Penne in mixed sauce.

Sorry, the photo's kinda messy... I was super hungry! *sheepish grin*

The other H ordered a fish dish and A ordered Stir fried Vermicelli with Sea food.

My food arrived with 10 minutes. It was kinds awkward that I was the one hogging while the others chatted... But they didn't mind. :)
As for the salad, it was pretty good, though I would have appreciated if there were more dressing and  croutons. Then the Penne in mixed sauce was good, too - I didn't have to add more herbs and flakes and it wasn't to tomato-ey!

As for H's pasta that arrived next, it was delightful! Very subtle taste of the greens added and amazingly creamy. She felt guilty eating something so full of calories but I guess it was too  delicious for her to stop. And she compensated for it with no desserts O:)

A and H were satisfied with their non-vegetarian dishes so I'm not going to elaborate on that. (As if I could! Bwahahahaa...)

Apart from the delicious food, upon request, the manager graciously lowered the volume to a comfortable level so that we could chat.
And, mid-meal, I discovered something very tiny and lifeless in my drink. Without any protests or arguments, the waiter took it away and promptly returned with a new drink! Well done, Mr. Manager for the etiquette training.

Though the affair was li'l heavier on our pockets, we were happy to choose this place. It's great for all occasions!