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Thai Food Festival – Red Olives, Powai

September 7, 2017September 7, 2017 Lancelot Quadras Leave a comment

The Thai food festival is on at the Red Olives multi restaurant in Powai from the 1^st to 15^th September 2017.

There’s a menu curated just for these 15 days and the food is worth it.

Location and proximity from Station:

This is located at Hiranandani in Powai. It’s quite at the center if I must say. Although it’s almost a 15-20 minute rickshaw ride away from either Ghatkopar station or from Saki naka metro station.

Ambiance and seating:

The place has good vibes and I liked the ambiance. There’s ample of seating available for almost 70 people. Also I was amazed to see more crowd on a Saturday afternoon than usual weekdays when this place is packed with teams coming for corporate lunch.

Food and Drinks (Appetizers):

We began with few mock-tails in the menu. We tried the mandarin mojito, kiwi and kokam and also the Red Olives special. While I liked all the three due to their flavors, the best one had to be the Mandarin mojito. It’s a recommend.

Soups :

Tom tum (Chicken) – Spicy chicken soup with lemongrass. I must say, this is a delight for those who are a bit unwell and also for those who like their soups with more spice.

Tom Yom Talay – A coconut and tamarind flavored fish soup. The thickness in the coconut soup was amazing. For the first time, I preferred the fish rather than the chicken soup.

Pho Pia Kung – I am not a person who likes prawns. But I did try these spicy thai prawn rolls. They look tiny but taste good.

Ki Satae – Chicken satay with peanut sauce. Yes, I never thought this combination would go so well but it did. It’s amazing.

Khek pla – These fish cakes have a decent taste and you can try it with the dip provided. There’s nothing too good nor bad about this.

Main Course:

Chicken Thai curry with steam/jasmine rice – I ought to try the green curry always. So when I’m at the Thai festival, there’s no way I’m missing it. Here, the Thai curry is indeed amazing and I can recommend you to try this. Easily the best dish of the day.

Phat Thai Sho Wong : This one’s a combination of fried rice and noodles with prawns and vegetables. Well I’m not a prawns fan but the dish was decent. A bit of tangy feeling but I’m sure that can be dealt with.

Desserts:

Orange and kafir panacotta – The panacotta in general was good but took a bit of effort to have. Yes, there was a lot of taste but maybe an off day for them. Could get way better.

Tapioca start-fruit pudding : This one had tapioca pearls and starfruit puree which made this a dessert to try for sure. There’s a lot of sweetness here.

Mango and toasted coconut cheesecake : The best dessert of the day. This mango and coconut flavored cheesecake is worth fighting for. There’s flavor, there’s a lot of sweet and yes, please do try it.

Conclusion:

Overall, this food festival is worth trying and must not be missed. There’s still another week to go for this and I urge you to try this. It’s new and different from what we try usually.

Off The Grid Andheri – Food Review

September 3, 2017May 8, 2020 Lancelot Quadras 14 Comments

Off The Grid Andheri is one of the top-rated restaurants in the city.

After reading the restaurant reviews I was convinced this is a place that you must not miss. Hence when I got a chance for a food review here, I sure as hell wasn’t going to lose out on this opportunity.

Location and proximity from Station:

“Off The Grid” is located opposite Infinity Mall, Andheri West. This is just 5 minutes away from the DN Nagar Metro station and also 15 minutes away from Andheri Station depending on the traffic. So you can choose either way were to travel from.

Ambiance and seating:

“Off The Grid” has it all. There’s outdoor seating for sheesha, a space for the dance floor with loud music, and also a fine-dining space for those who want to enjoy their meal. They can also house any day between 75-90 people easily.

Food and Drinks in Off the Grid Andheri (Appetizers):

Firstly, we had a set menu for us with a lot of variety in appetizers right from chicken to pork to fish. Also a lot of variety in the drinks menu. Here’s the list mentioned below;

Black Scotsman: This drink just made my day. Served as whiskey + caffeine, this was served in a stainless steel flask. Yes, that’s how you have your whiskey. Taste-wise it’s good.

Barbados Sunset: Served in a coconut colored and shaped glass, this drink has a fruity feel to it. This is a rum-based drink and is sure on the sweeter side.

Blasting Injectors: It’s kind of a thing now to customize right? And to do it to the point that we get our drinks infused in a huge syringe. These injectors make this drink look really good. Taste-wise decent.

khichiya best nachos off the grid andheri

Khichiya Nachos: Probably the best vegetarian appetizer. I liked this a lot. It’s perfect for a sharing plate and you’re bound to fight for it.

Tawa Fish: Too crispy and tasty. Probably there was less fish and more of crispness here. Not an issue with me as taste-wise it felt too good.

Spicy Jamaican Lamb Burger:

Yes, they got it right. A Lamb burger usually does justice when the patty is made well and is juicy in the end. Also, there should be no issues with eating it and chewing it too. It’s good.

OTG Tandoori Non Veg Platter: A platter like this ought to be ordered whenever there is a crowd of 3 and above. With a spread of chicken and seekh kebabs with green chutney and onions spiced, this can never go wrong. There’s a tasty, mildly spicy mix of kebabs here.

Murgh Kali Mirch Kukkad: One of the best dishes of the night. It had all the masala and the flavor for you to crave for more of it. More on the spicy side so order likewise.

Also, here are few more pictures for appetizers from “Off The Grid”.

Main Course:

Beer Bacon Risotto: The risotto here was amazing. The quantity of bacon too was very generous. Although the beer quotient overpowered the taste of the bacon, I still couldn’t get enough of it.

Steamed fish with soy-ginger broth: Clearly the winner in this category. The steamed fish was made well and had a distinct taste. This went well with the rice and veggies served.

Chicken Chettinad: This chicken gravy did a bit of justice as Chettinad usually refers to more spice in the entire gravy. I could digest this one easily and maybe this can be made better next time.

King prawns ginger lemongrass: Firstly, I’m not a fan of prawns in general but the people around me enjoyed it a lot and I thought why not try it at least. Not a bad choice. It’s good.

Desserts at Off the Grid Andheri:

3 Way baked yogurt: There are 3 layers to this baked yogurt. Commendable effort by the chef to get these 3 layers to be intact and with taste.

OTG Sunday Extravaganza: Really this one has a lot of taste, flavor and must remind you of a gadbad or a falooda with ice cream. But this Sunday extravaganza is more than that. Do try it out.

Conclusion:

Finally, “Off The Grid Andheri” does leave its mark on the audience. I only wish them to work on their cocktails right from the alcohol content to the ingredients also. Sometimes it’s an off day and it’s understandable but if the drinks are not good, then it kind of ruins the day.

Also, with the variety they’ve offered, there will be a crowd here always and they’re here to stay for a long time.

You can also read – Boss Baby on Netflix

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Snackboxwala.Com (Healthy Food) – Review

August 26, 2017August 26, 2017 Lancelot Quadras Leave a comment

Snackboxwala.com – A Healthy Snack Option

Concept:

Snackboxwala.com is a subscription based snack delivery service. This service is the brainchild of Sahil Shah, a Chartered Accountant by profession.

Firstly, you are promised a new snack everyday. Yes, you heard that right! They believe to end your boredom with office canteen food/snacks with their Fresh, healthy and heartily prepped snacks. Also in today’s times, healthy food is being taken seriously and Snackboxwala is doing their part to make sure to keep us fit. The food here not only is healthy but also doesn’t lose its taste. Also, for those who like their samosas, you can try their baked samosas! There’s no point of getting bored here as you’ll always be getting a new snack everyday.As per your subscription, you can always get the meals in the tune of 3-5 times a week.

Food:

They have a lot of options in food. Here’s what I got to try.

Oats Uttapam: Packed with healthy oats and onions, their version of the traditional utappam is made without oil. Surprisingly, I did like the uttapam. Yes, you can argue about the taste we get at our usual outlets and thelas but as a healthy option, this one’s too good.

Ghugra: This Gujarati Delicacy has a sweet and spicy green peas filling in a baked puff pastry type covering. It does have a good taste to it. The looks of the puff reminded me of a sweet “neureo” which we have during Christmas.

Celery Dip: Their celery dip is served with fresh carrots, cucumbers and a few potato crisps. Personally, I believe there is a lot of demand for dips nowadays. I make it a point to try something new always. Change is necessary indeed.

Mexican Dip: This one’s a 5 layer dip. Yes, you’ve heard that right. It has a layer of beans, topped with salsa, sour cream and also a little cheese and lettuce. You can use chips/nachos/tortillas as per your choice. The result will be the same. The creaminess and the taste is really good.

Paneer Roll: Here, a green spinach tortilla has paneer with mint chutney and onions. The overall result is amazing and I found this as the best dish of the evening.

Subscribe:

Finally, here’s their subscription plans in form of an image. For more questions do contact them on their web-page (Link mentioned below)

Link to webpage – Snackboxwala.com

Food Review – Where’s My Food, Juhu

August 25, 2017August 25, 2017 Lancelot Quadras Leave a comment

Where’s My Food, Juhu:

Location and proximity from Station:

It’s hard to miss this one. It’s near the JVPD bus station and around PVR Juhu or ISKCON. Although from station it’s a good 10-15 minutes away courtesy the never ending traffic.

Ambiance and seating:

Where’s my food is a tiny place with seating for only 12-15 people at max. They’ve kept it simple with a TV on both sides for people sitting to enjoy their time there. No need to turn your head to watch a match/video etc.

Food and Drinks (Appetizers):

Firstly, they have a good variety in their menu. I must say for a place like this, they’ve outdone themselves. These are few of the categories they serve:

Chinese

Pizza/Pastas

Sandwiches/Burgers/Burritos

Tandoor

Continental

It’s not surprising to see more surge in home delivery orders here.

Here’s what we tried on our visit:

Country Limeade: Lime and mint go hand in hand. So does this drink. My dad wasn’t that well so we decided to skip the cold version of it. And surprisingly the taste was still amazing. I wonder how would the cold one be. Must be better!

Kit Kat Shake: A thick shake with everything sweet and tasty. I liked it. I only wish they added 1 or 2 pieces of kit kat just for the feel. Who wouldn’t like the chocolate anyway on the side?

Bang Bang Shrimp with Fries: French fries with tiny bit of shrimp pieces spread well on a platter with 2 in house dips i.e. mayonnaise and sweet chilly. This was well made and I did not feel bad at all. Do try this out. If not the shrimp then at least the fries!

Peri Peri Chicken: These chicken skewers are decent and good for those who like skewers in general. There are 5 sticks in a plate.

Main Course:

Also, for the main course we tried options:

Grilled chicken with Black pepper: I have a thing for black pepper with chicken. It’s my go-to dish always wherever I visit. Here was no exception either. This dish comes with options of noodles/rice/mashed potatoes and an in house dip. I opted for the mashed potatoes option. It’s an amazing choice. The chicken is grilled well and the mashed potatoes go well with the veggies. The veggies are a very good addition with this dish. The quantity is enough for one person to be stuffed.

Lemon Herb Basa: Like black pepper chicken, Basa is my go-to dish in the fishy department. I always make it a point to try it out.This dish comes with options of noodles/rice/mashed potatoes and an in house dip. The fish is well made, there’s a bit of lemon based gravy, mashed potatoes and veggies to go along with. Do try this if you like fish.

Desserts:

Finally, after all these options, we took the bold step and ordered a desert much to the annoyance of our tummies.

Banana Split: This one’s a classic. Banana slices with ice cream, gems and kit kat chocolate pieces. Yes, this is the best they can offer and recommended totally by me.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, this place is too small but they have a lot of options. The food is good and the staff is courteous. The place can bank on their menu variety to get more home delivery options. I do hope that in the near future they do plan on shifting someplace nearby in Juhu but with more space. People would definitely love it.

Royal China Fort, Mumbai – Best Chinese Restaurant

August 20, 2017May 18, 2020 Lancelot Quadras Leave a comment

The concept of Fine dining in Bombay is ever-growing. This is because we have been demanding for good food a lot and we don’t mind shelling money for it. Royal China Fort is one such place that serves authentic Cantonese cuisine and promises you to have an amazing time as they’ve been doing it for the past 14 years!

Yes, they’ve been here for a very long time and hence you can trust them. You can find them all over India. Here are some of their outlets:

Royal China Pune

Royal China Delhi

Royal China Mumbai

Royal China Nehru Palace

Location and proximity of Royal China Fort from Station:

Royal China Fort is located behind Sterling Cinema. It’s a 10-minute taxi ride away from Churchgate station and just a 5 minute walk away from CST station.

Lighting and seating at Royal China Restaurant Mumbai

Ambiance and seating in Royal China Restaurant

When I entered this place on a Monday evening at 9 pm, it was almost packed. They have a place which can easily seat around 70 people. They have a private dining space too which has 2 tables that can seat 12 on each table. The lighting is a bit dim and also there is no space congestion as such.

Food and Drinks (Appetizers) in Royal China restaurant:

We got to try 3 types of dim sums and 3 appetizers along with 2 cocktails per person.

Godfather: A classic whiskey-based cocktail that never ever disappoints me. I always try the whiskey-based cocktails wherever I go and this was amazing as it should be. A must-have!

Mai-Tai: Mai Tai is usually a white rum-based cocktail with more fruit in it. Unfortunately here the rum was overpowered and hence it felt more like a fruity mocktail. Maybe an off day but they can certainly improve on this.

Daiquiris: I had the kiwi version of this. Tastes really good.

Old Fashioned: Another whiskey-based cocktail. Similar to the Godfather and yes, similar is my review for it too. It’s too good and strong in taste. Not for the faint-hearted.

Prawn Crab-meat and Black Pepper Dumpling: I’m really surprised by what they have achieved here. This dumpling had the right amount of meat and pepper which balanced well. It is not spicy and has a good taste.

Chicken and Chive dumpling: My verdict for this is OK-ok. Unfortunately, I’m to blame for this. We’ve tried so many chicken dumplings with masala that our taste buds are used to it. I continuously kept comparing it to the ones I’ve had elsewhere and this couldn’t live up to it. But overall it’s still good.

Dumpling at best chinese restaurant in Fort Mumbai

Wild Mushroom Crystal Dumpling: I’m surprised to say this but this was the best dumpling of the night. Yes, the staff recommended this and we are glad we listened to them. It’s soft, tender, non-spicy, and has a good taste.

Smoked shredded chicken: The Cantonese cuisine is drier than gravy options and hence the shredded chicken here felt like the dry chicken pieces which we have as appetizers. It’s decent no doubt but without any sauce/dips to accompany it, it will definitely feel drier.

Tenderloin in Truffle Oil: Yes, this was a revelation. The tenderloin was well cooked and the meat was tender. It did not take much effort for me to keep chewing it for a long time. Tastes good.

Steamed prawns with Garlic: A must-have for those who like prawns. The prawns here are accompanied by soy sauce and garlic. The overall result is an awesome prawn dish.

Main Course at Royal China Fort:

Egg Fried Rice – Chicken Fried Soya Noodles: We were provided with vegetable gravy and a sauteed whole garoupa fish. To accompany those were egg fried rice which is nothing but wok-tossed rice with egg. Trust me, this is the best egg fried rice I’ve ever tried this year for sure. Soya noodles were decent but can be avoided.

Shaolin Monks Vegetable Pot: This pot has a lot of exotic veggies mixed with sauces that are perfect for you to end the night here. This is more on the sweeter side and if you prefer a nonspicy dish, this is what you can try!

Garoupa fish – I loved their style of serving an entire fish on a huge platter. This was served topped with ginger, red chilies, and spring onion on a base of soy sauce. Amazing and a must-have for those who like their fish.

Desserts at Royal China Restaurant:

Mud Cake with Ice cream: They can never go wrong in food and drinks. Hence expecting them to make a mistake in desserts is a crime. The chocolate mud cake was well made. It was thick and very tasty. To accompany this was vanilla ice cream. It complimented the mud cake well.

Steamed Buns with Creamy custard: This is an unusual dessert and I must recommend you try this. The bun is steamed and there is a creamy custard filling inside. Yes, it’s a bit warm but that does not take the taste away.

Conclusion for Royal China Restaurant Menu:

Overall, I have visited a few fine dining places this year and Royal China Fort definitely deserves one of the top spots. They’re really good with the food menu, drinks, desserts and also with their hospitality. The staff here needs a special mention.

For the time I was there, I noticed all the time the staff were on their toes and looked around if the diners needed something. This is commendable.

Indeed they are on the costlier side as every dish will cost you over 450. But that should not stop you from visiting this place once a while as the food is worth it.