Review: Haochi at Sun N Sand

We recently visited the much talked about Chinese restaurant at Sun N Sand, Mumbai - Haochi. Run by celebrity chef Gautam Mehrishi, this one exceeded our expectations! Everything we had here was amazing, no wonder the restaurant was pack at lunch hour on a weekday.

Here's a glimpse of our meal!

Bombay Fizz

Great Wall Martini

 

The drinks were impressive. Bombay Fizz was extremely stiff and one drink could be good enough to get you in high spirits. The Great Wall Martini is a fusion of gin, pineapple and passion fruit, tangy and delicious. They don't disappoint the teetotalers either. Look at the fancy presentation of a non-alcoholic beverage!

Char Siu Bao

Crispy Peking Duck served with Hoi Sin sauce and Julienned Greens

Soba Noodles

The appetizers at Haochi are absolutely delicious. The Char Siu Bao or the pork buns melted in the mouth. The Crispy Peking Duck went well with the Hoi Sin sauce. Also, one of the must try dishes at Haochi is the Lotus Root, vegetarians, you will love this! The Soba noodles and Buttery rice pairs up excellently with most of the mains.

Chocolate Lava Cake

Mandarin Orange Infused Creme Brulee

Almond Yogurt

The exciting range of desserts were something that we left enough space for. The Chocolate Lava Cake, emmm, sinful, an overdose of chocolate. The crackling Creme Brulee with Mandarin orange infused was fruity and refreshing. The Almond Yogurt on the other hand was light and a perfect way to end the meal!

Overall, Haochi lives up to the meaning of its name - Simply Delicious! We totally recommend this one!

Venue: Haochi

Overall Rating

Sun n Sand Hotel, Juhu

Landmark: Next to Novotel Hotel

Phone: 26201811

Follow:
Haochi at @HaochiMumbai
Mumbai Candid at @ChandniT @MumbaiCandid

Review: Smoke House Deli

The oh-so-popular Smoke House Deli has opened a new outlet at BKC. We attended the preview dinner and here's what we tried!

The lovely looking signature cocktails- Fruit, Herb and Floral Infusions.

Californian Plum, Star Anise, Lily and Vodka

Kiwi, Melon, Jasmin and Vodka 

We started our meal with the Paprika Puffs. Crispy and delicious, with a strong kick of Wasabi. If your taste buds can't handle too much spice, make sure you mention it to the chef while placing your order.

Paprika Puffs with Wasabi

The mains were delicious! The Pan Charred Vegetables and Cheddar Sandwich with Chipotle Mayo is a great option for the veggies. Crunchy vegetables with a flavourful hint of Chipotle. They say, cooking risotto rice perfectly well is the toughest. Smoke House Deli does a fairly good job with their Smoked Mushroom Risotto! Carnivores can add Chicken or Prawns to the same. Last but not the least, the Peri Peri Rubbed Smoked Chicken with Smoked Pimento Reduce was quite a winner. The Chicken was Tender and delectable, definitely our favourite.

 

Smoke House Deli is usually popular for their desserts, but guess, they were having a bad day. The Philly Cheesecake was grainy and not smooth although the flavour was perfect. The Flourless Fudge Cake on the other hand was warm but not warm enough. 

Philly Cheesecake

Flourless Chocolate Fudge with Ice Cream

Smoke House Deli has been a favourite since it opened at Lower Parel. We hope it maintains the standard and quality through all its outlet and we will definitely keep visiting!

Venue: Smoke House Deli 

FIFC Building, Bandra Kurla Complex

Landmark: Behind Starbucks  

Phone: 02226530762 

Follow:

Smoke House Deli  at @SmokeHouseDeli

Mumbai Candid at @ChandniT @MumbaiCandid

Review: Amritsari Tadka

When we heard of Amritsari Tadka's launch in the neighbourhood, we expected a hard core North Indian Dhaba like experience. Did the place meet our expectations? Read on to know...

When we entered Amritsari Tadka, which has been started by the same group as Only Parathas, we were a little upset about the ambience. An average looking restaurant with little or no sign of Amritsar. 

Tikka Platter

The service was impressive though: Servers were prompt and well trained, the restaurant was clean and pretty crowded on a Friday afternoon.

We ordered what the server recommended, a platter of tikkas, a 'Chinese' prawn starter (yes, they serve Chinese as well) and a Lemongrass mocktail to begin with. Amongst the starters, our favourite was the Ajwaini Fish Tikka - perfectly cooked and full of flavour.

Amritsari Naan and Prawns with Raita

In the mains, we had the Prawn gravy alongwith the signature Amritsari Naan. The mains didn't impress us much. A little more spices could have helped!

Sizzling Brownie

For the desserts, we had the jalebi with rabdi and the sizzling brownie. The jalebi was not hot enough although it was juicy and crispy! The sizzling brownie was... umm... we have definitely had better.

Overall, Amritsari Tadka is a great option for the kitty party ladies or for a family dinner! Skip it if you're planning a date or looking to have a traditional Punjabi meal!

Venue: Amritsari Tadka
Linking Road, Khar West

Landmark: Level below Only Parathas

Phone: 022 66694199

Follow: 
Mumbai Candid at @ChandniT @MumbaiCandid

Restaurant Review: The Jail Restaurant & Lounge

When I got to know that I was going to visit The Jail Restaurant and Lounge for a shoot, I was more than excited. This theme restaurant opened a few months back, towards the start of 2010 and is a huge place, around 3800 sq feet. The interiors appear to be an outcome of a lot of efforts. The restaurant is divided into three segments, the fine dining which is called 'The Courtyard', the lounge area and five different cells named and themed after the baddies of Bollywood. There's Mogambo, Don, Bandit Queen, Gabbar Singh and Shakaal, one cell dedicated to each of these baddies who have never been behind bars in their respective movies!

And the interesting part is that next to each of their photo, you'll find a souvenir, like Don's glares, Gabbar's belt and Mogambo's entire costume! Check it out.

If that's not all, you can actually sit inside a police van and dine! Wow. Kids would love this place but unfortunately they allow adults only, as they claim that the Jail theme wouldn't go well with children. So with due respects, this place is really fascinating and worth a experience.

Coming to the food, they serve Continental and Indian. Taste and quality wise the food was average and priced on the higher end. Go here for the ambience and keep your expectations low when it comes to the food, so that you don't step out disappointed.

Venue: The Jail Restaurant & Lounge, 3rd Floor, Sindhudurga Bhawan, Above Grande Imperial Banquets, RTO Road, 4 Bungalows, 

Landmark: Near Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital

• Phone:   26316100, 26316101
  
• Meal For Two: Rs 1000

Review: Top 'N Town

An ice-cream parlour with a dedicated section of Sundaes, that's what was impressive about Top 'N Town. This place is located close to Mega Mall and is hard to miss as it's quite big. As you enter, the pleasant ambience and enthusiastic service will delight you.

As we moved to the counter, the staff convinced us to try some of the interesting ice-cream flavours like the Fruit Cocktail and the Black Currant. However, we were won over by the gorgeous looking Sundaes and opted for the American Chocolate Sundae. Hot chocolate, Vanilla ice-cream, whipped cream and walnuts, that’s how this irresistible dessert was prepared. It was sinful, delicious and we completely digged into it. 

With exciting flavours and balloons all over the place, this one is a treat for children. They also have a lot of other options on the menu like shakes, shooters, sodas, frappes, softies and cold coffees. Ice creams and sundaes range from Rs 30 - Rs 100. 

Venue: Top 'N Town, Shop No 11, Mira Tower, Off New Link Road, Oshiwara, Andheri (W)

Phone: 26332298

American Chocolate Sundae: Rs 75

Restaurant Review: Pronto

I'm not a very big fan of Italian food, but yeah, once in a while, I really don't mind it. Scouting around the city is a part of my job, and on one such aimless roaming day, I came across this little cozy eatery at Hill Road called Pronto. I kept my expectations low when I first stepped in cause the place was empty, unless I count the waiters.

Yeah, so I called for the Pasta Arrabiata with Penne. Honestly, I'm a cheese person and not quite fond of the red sauce pasta, but for some absurd reason, I decided to try this one. And trust me, I've gone there three times till date, and only ordered for the Arrabiata! It's just perfect! Spicy, tangy and well-cooked. You already have a fan, Pronto!

Venue: Pronto, Hill Road, Next to Falafels
Pasta Arrabiata: Rs 140