I am new to Mumbai...and have been eating out often in bandra...that translates to loads of interesting culinary experiences...some memorable, some unforgettable...and not in a good way...
China Joe, tucked away snugly in a bylane of the quaint Bandra bustle, seems almost like a clearing in a maze of little roads...parking is usually not a problem in the evenings, which is a considerable plus.
As soon as you enter, you are greeted by the sight of the open kitchen, which they proclaim to be fashioned after the street kitchens in China...but to my observation, the actual cooking is done in the kitchen beyond the counter, rendering the latter to being a cosmetic perk..
The seating is slightly uncomfortable, but I generally manage to get a place with a back rest of sorts, so its not so much a bother...
People are very very warm, and the name tags they sport, help to remember who your favorites are...but a word for the entire staff...they take great pains to see that the experience is pleasureable, and keep a cheerful smile all the time...
The menu is not very extensive, or imaginative...standard fare for a chinese restaurant, however, some of their preparations are very well seasoned and leave a pleasant taste, wthout stinging your pants off...the thai curry is an eternal favorite of mine..
The DIY woks are real good, and the chef outdid himself on the last one I had...though I like to think it was partly due to my discerning choice of ingredients...the desserts are pretty good...the honey fried noodles hauntingly remind you of sugar syrup, but they are a nice switch after a spicy meal...
Then comes my favorite part of the meal...the fortune cookies...these little platitudes make each trip very special, and the staff is kind enough to let me have two...so I love them more... The entire meal doesn’t burn a stinger in your pocket, and is the perfect weekday meal...
I recommend a weekly visit, because the better they know you, the better they seem to get at making your meals better...
See you there sometime soon