About 4 years back I had visited the mall in its infancy. The mall had very few shops open at that time and I was asked by a broker to pick up a huge shop at a throw away price then which I thought was a bad idea .
I rue my decision now . Things have changed completely now .
On my recent visit to the mall with my son, which is spacious and built just ahead of Big bazaar I was surprised to see the new transformed Dattani Mall . We started off by buying a couple of canvas shoes for my son on the ground floor, followed it up by picking some warm jackets and Tees again for my son at the multi floor Pantaloons .
I also wanted to pick up some undergarments for myself but I was advised to visit Big bazaar for the same . Next my son was feeling hungry and we found ourselves inside subway which wasn’t too big, just big enough to accommodate 10-12 guys or so and shared a 15 inch veg shammi with multi-grain bread and salad stuffing priced at 145 INR all inclusive .
As we were exploring the ground floor we went past cafe coffee day, Kwality walls ice cream parlour, thai massage / machine massage parlour and a "tattoo shop" as well . There are numerous other garment shops other than Pantaloons .I also noticed a kid riding a remote control car near the entrance and a few bench seats to cool off the heels as soon as one enters the mall after a brisk frisking for security .
They have also placed a candy floss and a popcorn vending machine at the very entrance . I noticed that still most of the shops on the second and third floor were not occupied . The second floor consists of the eating area and the gaming zone for kids . Both of which have been priced very reasonably and well maintained . If you love ice cream apart from kwality walls on the ground floor, you may visit Baskin Robbins on the 2nd floor too .The fact that we also have A BIg Bowling Alley came as a pleasant surprise.
The top floor is where we have the multiplex and I find it decent . Planet 50-50 restaurant which has many branches at vasai is also located on the top-most floor . Just in case you miss your movie show you can always visit the KT moviestar Multiplex which comes few minutes before dattani square mall enroute from vasai west station .
The movie tickets for both the theatres can be booked online as well .Just in case you wish to know I find K Moviestar a much better multiplex . A lot more spacious with lesser crowd that allows more privacy and peace of mind . The last thing I want is an unruly jumping jack/ shouting/ whistling rowdy on my adjacent seat while watching a movie .
Actually the whole area is abuzz with malls and shops which make it kinda interesting . 5 minutes walking distance from Dattani mall is Dmart store and adjacent to it as I have already mentioned is the BIg bazaar . Opposite D’Mart we have Bharat Cycle Sons where I picked up an awesome MTB for my son which was made in germany and very next to it we have a bean bag store called - Rest’n’ Sleep® Bean Bags, with some very useful stuff run by a guy called Rajeev . I had picked up an xxl sized tomato shaped bean bag which is still in top condition(bought 2 years back) after a bean refill .
As mentioned earlier The K Moviestar multiplex is also in the vicinity in the Kaul heritage area . This whole belt can be used like a picnic/ shopping spot if one wishes .
Load yourself with time and your wallet with cash and make it your day when you visit Dattani mall next .
One may visit the mall by taking an auto rickshaw/ ST bus from vasai west railway station and it may take just 10 minutes approx. to reach here . If you are using a private vehicle there is ample paid parking space available for 2 wheelers and 4 wheelers as well .
I am rating it 3 stars as its still not as big and mega or as popular as Inorbit and Hypercity of Malad, Mumbai I would rate it close to Maxus Mall of Bhayander though.
It should be noted that Vasai once a very green and cool place especially Vasai Gaon, is now suffering at the hands of urbanization now . Sometimes I wonder if CCDs or MCDs / KFCs mushrooming were really needed . Personally I would love to see love for Indian food like Paranthas and dosas . I would not like to ape the west when it comes to food at least . The "bread- culture" is slowly killing us .Throw in a bit of oats or multi grains but it’s still a refined flour mess . Somehow it’s seen as cool and trendy .
Lets go easy on Burgers and Pizzas, cupcakes and muffins, doughnuts and buns- Wheatlessness according to Dr william Davis is a A 21st Century Health Strategy to -
"Lose Your Man breast, Your Bagel Butt and Your Wheat Belly"
I really wish places like Rajdhani Restaurant / Dosa Plaza were promoted in every Mall.