B.Tambe, Kolhapuri Chivda, Prakash, Aswad and others

Marathi Bhojan ani Snacks in Mumbai. Always remember that there is more than Vada-Pav and Misal in Marathi Cuisine

Mumbai is in Maharashtra, but is Maharashtra in Mumbai? That’s the question haunts most of the Marathi manus. Good restaurants serving good maharashtian snacks and specifically meals are rare in the capital of Maharshtra. I would like applause two restaurants in Girgaum, who have refurbished recently. They have taken completely 360 degree turn.

Those two are Sarpotdarbandu’s B.Tambe Uphar Gruha and Velanlarbhandu’s Kolhapuri Chivda. Both equally good, one minute, no, on second thought I would say B.Tambe is far better in my perspective. After all my loyalty is towards B.Tambe and my appetite has been always dragging me along with my wife and son towards them. When B. Tambe was closed nearly 9/10 months for repairing and renovation, we were literally starving. During those period we do, switched to Kolhapuri Chivada but we rarely enjoyed the food, it was just a passing period. Nothing personnel. Both of the restaurants have opened A/C sections. It’s to be highly appreciated when other restaurants are closing down the shutter.

Virkar Aahar Bhavan, Purohit ( I still remember Masala Milk), Kelkar, Modern (famous for Olya Kajuchi usal and Kharwas), Tembe, Kulkarni (world famous Batata Bhaji and Bhaji. Even after 25-30 years I still remember the taste and the waiting period in queue and the price. 25 paise per dish) has even disappeared from the memory. Kona Hotel is still surviving in the race. Anandashram in Khotachi Vadi which is highly appreciated all over for the fish preparation is still batting but I do know how long it will continue?

To come back to B.Tambe Uphar Gruha and Kolhapuri Chivda, even though you will find South Indian and Punjabi Dishes on the menu ( may be they are trying to follow Udipi restaurants), if you arrive at Lunch / Dinner time its better to stick to Bhojan Thali or Chouras Aahar ( Meals) or at the most to Masale Bhat. You should ask to Dalimbi / Pithale, Bhakar to be included in meals as you can chooses choices offered in Vegetables (2vegs in a thali at B.Tambe and 1 at Kolhapuri Chivda).

If you are in no mood for meals or arrives at some other time you can just choose any tipical Marathi snacks ranging from Pohe, Sheera, Upma, Batata Vada, Kothimbir Vadi, Thalipit, Alu vadi, Usal / Misal Vatana, Pattice. Once we tried Batata vada with sambhar and Pav at B.Tambe and liked it so much to we keept on repeating the same dish. Even if a person is fasting for a day, he will never go hungry. He can order anything between Sabudana Vada, Sabudana khicadi, Batata Puri, Farali Misal, Farali Thalipit, Sweet Kachori, Rajgira PuriBhaji, etc. For sweet dish one can try Kharwas. On Sankasti, you can have feast with UKADICHE MODAK. They also serves seasonal dishes like Ole Kajugar Usal, Aamras Puri, Amba Dal, Undhiyo etc.

I have already covered Vinay Health Home separately, who is very famous for Usal /Misal / Patal Bhaji and Pav, so will not include again in this blog.

Kshudha Shanti Home at Thakurdar also serves good thali at reasonable rate. Chaphekar at D.B.Road have also revamped recently. My parents do sometimes order snacks from Chaphekar. Madhavashram behind Girgaum Court have started serving Thali ( RS.45 unlimited) during night and the major attraction is unlimited Ukadiche Modak in thali (Rs.75) on Sanskasti. We are planning to try out some other time.

Panshikar near Girgaum Church and Prakash are the oldest players in this field who are still going strong. Piyush at Prakash, opp. Phadke Wadi Ganesh Mandir can be compared to nectar. Same praise can be applied to the palatable snacks available. Unfortunately Prakash does not have much space to sit and choice and it’s still struck to its original menu of Sabudana Vada, Batata Puri, Misal, Dahi Misal, Vangi Pohe, and Samosa. So many times I wish they could have added few more dishes and move to spacious place.

As we moves towards Dadar, one can stop at Ladu Samrat, Lalbaug, for quick bite for Batata Vada, Misal, Alu vadi before proceeding to Prakash and Aswad near Sena Bhavan, both of them serves only snacks. I like Sabudana Vada and Bharli Vangi, Puri at Prakash.

Aswad is also very good restaurant I must say and whenever we are returning home from suburbs we make it a point to take a break at Dadar and visit Aswad, where I always stick to Kurma Puri and Masale bhat or Misal. Once we had visited Dattyatraya at Gokhale Road, but I am not recollecting the experiance right now. I will try to cover hotels in Dadar region in much dept some other time to give them proper justice.

Few years back we were used to visit a restaurant named " Naivedhyam" at S.V.Road, Goregaon, where excellent thali and few snaks were served. I do not know why all of a sudden the Naivedhyam has disappeared suddenly.

I would not talk only about Viva Pashim, costly affair and beyond my reach now, twice visited earlier but I found nothing extra ordinary, nothing great and we returned with empty wallet and empty stomach. It was not a memorable experiance. Of cource this is my personal point of view.

To conclude I would rate as far as Thali and Snakcs as well are concerned B.Tambe is on top. For snacks only the award goes to Vinay Health Home followed by Prakash ( Both opp.Phadke wadi and Ddar) and Aswad near Shivaji Park.