Powai

Pakhtoon is a new place started by the chef of Sheesha in Bandra. The place serves good starters, kababs, tandoori stuff and the like. They also have Koliwada style prawns and fish but it is just so-so - definitely nothing compared to the real Koliwada stuff at Sion. The special Kababs are chicken breast filled with chiken keema - sounds weird but tastes good. The main course dishes are the usual Mughlai dishes with decent chicken, mutton, and veggie items.

The seating is limited, though they have a garden place for evenings. No alcohol served. The place however is quite dirty with unclean floors - hard for them given the dusty area they are in. Otherwise it is air-conditioned but not cool enough. In summary - definitely order for home delivery but avoid going there - maybe evenings in the open will be good.

Malvani Touch is a surprisingly decent Malvani food joint in Galleria. The other joints there are the usual chinese, paratha, udipi, juice joints, but this one is quite good for the place. You get the usual Chicken/Mutton/Fish thalis, fish fry, bhakris, solkadhi. The thalis are about 70 each. The good thing is that the gravies with all the fish are actually different. Don't expect anything in terms of ambience and cleanliness - the food court in general is slightly off colour in this aspect.

It is quite hard to understand Indian cuisine speciality restaurants in the country. They claim to serve authentic Indian food - wouldn't I just wander into my friend's house? I never understood this but it has been pointed out that these places are mainly for treats, business meetings, and entertaining foreigners. They also give you a taste of far-off places within India while retaining the correctness of the items prepared. Saffron Spice successfully does all of this and more.

Saffron Spice is located at the start of Hiranandani Gardens in Powai above Pizza Hut on IIT main road. There is an adjoining good lounge bar with good cocktails though all this is expensive. Saffron Spice is also expensive at well over 200 for each dish. The food hoever, is excellent. Over a few visits, we have tried and liked the Mutton Bhuna, the Gosht, Chettinad chicken, Kerala roast chicken, many coastal fish dishes, and a large variety of the usual chicken dishes. They have good Indian deserts too but they are ridiculously priced.

In summary, Saffron Spice tries to fill the void of hi-fi eating places in Powai. It is expensive, but serves excellent food. That said, the service is sloppy and lost - once the host of waiters were confused and hassled with just four tables occupied. Things definitely worsen on a full night with their large seating capacity.

Mother's Kitchen is a beautiful eating joint serving very simple great home-cooked Punjabi food at affordable rates. It is tucked away in shop 103, in Galleria, ground floor. It is extremely small and has only three tables, but people who know it are ready to wait for more than half an hour if required. It is just below the sprawling Galleria food court on the first floor, but it more than holds it's own.

The food available is a variety of Parathas, Makki-ki-roti sarson-ka-saag, and the usual selection of Punjabi veg and non-veg dishes. However, the preparation is like what you have had at your Punjabi friend's place, not the greasy, coloured, over-spiced stuff usually available at the Punjabi-South-Indian-Chinese restaurants everywhere. Have the simple Paratha thali or the 4chapati-1veg-daal-rice combo the first time around to get a feel of the place. They have a chinese menu too but no one I know has had anything from it. There is a lovely chaat counter on the outside with the usual dahi-puri, pani-puri etc.

A very good and pleasant surprise hidden in the Galleria food court in Hiranandani. Very good sandwiches, cakes, pasta, non-veg meals.

Hardly has a student from IIT got her degree without eating at Maddu Mess.

It is opposite the market gate, but through a butcher's shop, over a nalla, and ducking under walls. Don't try and find it without a local IITian's help. You can't.

It thrives on the fact that students put in night-outs and are invariably hungry by sunrise. It starts belting out idlis, vadas, dosas at 4:45 am. Recently the call-center junta crowd what was exclusively an IIT student joint.

Don't miss the egg-dosa, daal vada, and coffee. The thali and non-veg and lunch and dinner time are good too.

Rodas is actually 3 eating establishments in one. A fashionable restobar, oriental restaurant, and all night coffee shop.

Parabola - the coffee shop has decent, cheap midnight buffets (199 on weekdays). It usually has lunch and dinner buffets at 275-375 depending on the day. The buffet is quite ok. There is no Midnight buffet on Monday nights. Some Indian and Continental main courses, and coffee is available all night.

Far East - this is a very good oriental restaurant on the first floor. They offer Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese starters and main courses. Most are quite good. Price is steep as expected, but food is usually very good. A standing pomfret curry of theirs is a favourite.

Aura - this is the fashionable resto-bar. It usually holds Swiss/Italian/other International food festivals. Haven't particularly like any. The price/satisfaction ratio is skewed. Otherwise, Aura is a very good bar with live music, fashion shows, and occasional pole dancing.

Sujata Palace, fondly called SP, is a favourite joint across the street. Which street? The one that matters in Powai.

With their cheap booze, a/c section and very good food, SP is loved by everyone in the student community and locals. The a/c section admittedly is for drinkers who don't mind smoke. They have very good food including home/room delivery. Don't miss the Biryanis.