Adarsh

One of the oldest quarter joints in Chembur. Walk into the ground floor restaurant. Don't be lured by the glibness of the valets outside; you'll end up on the first floor, Oceanic Restaurant, and spend a bomb. Unlike other dark and dingy holes that you may be used to, Adarsh is brightly lit - so wear dark glasses, lest your eyes hurt.

Normally pretty crowded between 7.30 and 10pm, but the helpful staff makes sure you get a place to sit. Most tables sit 4, but be prepared to share your table - if you are just two or three. No problems taking women there unless of course they are the ooh-la-di-da types in which case you wouldn't be reading this. The booze is priced on par with other quarter joints.

As for food, avoid the Mangy-Chinese, and Punju-Mangy. By all means try the house fare - Manglorean. I suggest the kori-roti with either fish/chicken gravy. Their chicken/fish neer dosa is also great. The fish in the gravy is of your choice. The chicken isn't. Also great is the dal-khichadi. Served with the house pickle. Order tawa fried prawns to crush in.

They also have an open terrace on the third floor - no lift, so if you plan to get sloshed stay on the ground floor - same price and same menu. This is real great in the monsoons. Open till 1am.

(BTW, in '88 or '89, the owner, Vijay Shetty was shot right at the counter. A couple of friends and I were sitting out in the garden and watched the whole thing happen - over before we knew what had happened.)