Hungry .. ?
On a shoe string budget ?
In Bandra ?
Am I kidding ?
No, check out this road side eatery that’s serving good wholesome food for peanuts. Thats Mandeep da Dhaba in a bylane just opposite Bandra’s Shopper’s Stop or Revival Nursing Home(the Heart-Attack emergency care hospital)
Tucked away and prominent only by the crowd of auto rickshaws around the place, it is a very basic eatery that serves piping hot, fresh and just like a roadside dhaba style food. Run by a non-descript Sardarji (here we go again) this place has quite got the crowds swarming in as a very reasonable place to grab a sumptous bite at a very reasonable price.
This fella operates from his own building compound and serves your order in a just a few minutes. You can see your order being prepared in this makeshift open - air kitchen with a corrugated roof. In a very short span, he has gained popularity and has now started catering to marriage parties too. Remember its a roadside eatery so dont expect anything fancy. You may have to just manage by sitting on your bike or his kadapa stone seats on the wall.
Breakfast times are ’Chhole Bhatura’ times and again quite crowded. No tandoori Rotis here, just the plain simple ’tawa’ rotis that are made from only wheat flour and no ’maida’ so soft and fresh.
Try his Alu or Methi parathas - for only 7 bucks they are a steal ! And they go down very well with his ’dal-tadka’ thats just the right combo.
Gobhi-Alu or Mutter Paneer or Palak Paneer are the basic main course besides Alu Bhendi fry or Chana Masala. His Rajma-chaval is lip smacking - just be careful you have the stomach for it. Can be quite heavy and greasy.
Biryani is again like a quick stop meal by it self and is quite relishing. A full chicken Biryani is for 45/- whereas the half portion is for 25/- His non-veg portions are good but like I said they can be spicy and heavy on oil/ghee. But on the whole delicious.
Fried Fish ala Koliwada and Paya Masala are a few more specialities. Wash it all down with cool ’chhaas’ and you can burp your way back to work.
Regards Raja (C) all rights reserved