Bollywood Masala

The restaurant underlines its theme at every corner: there is a collection of movie books in one corner,there is movie trivia on the wall and televisions are tuned to music channels. The ambiance is welcoming,especially if you want to come in a large bunch and have some fun and tipple over snacks. You are never too far from Bollywood at any corner and to double-check the fact,even the menu is filled with movie anecdotes and illustrations.

We started with Baked Onion Soup (Rs 115),served in a deep bowl,with a thick crust of toasted bread coated with cheese floating on top of the brown soup. A small tap and the crusty,cheesy top crumbled into the sweet,hot soup. It was an instant pick-me-up. We smacked our lips and took more spoonfuls till the browned onion rings at the bottom were gobbled up. The Mutton Paya Shorba (Rs 115),a light soup made of boiled lamb trotters,tasted just like a homemade soup. It was light on the taste buds and the portion was large. After this great start,we couldn’t wait to order some more.

The menu has starters that hint of the Bambaiya pidgin — Ragda Pattis Sandwich,Bun Aamlate and Pao Bhaji. The Ragda Pattis Sandwich (Rs 115) held the promise of standing next to a bhelpuri stall at Juhu beach and tucking into a hot chickpea patty,served with chaat masala and a gooey chutney of chana,mint and tamarind topped with a generous mix of coriander and sev. The Bombay dream was cut short by the dry patti and the bread that turned into a tough swallow. We thought the Prawn Koliwada,(Rs 175 for a half plate),a zesty fried prawn dish,should get us back to the coastal city,but the masala covering the prawns didn’t cut it. The Murg Nu Farcha (Rs 99 for a half plate) was tasty with deep-fried,breadcrumbs-covered chicken nuggets,but had nothing new to say.

The storyline so far was disappointing,after the stellar opening credits that the soups had spelled out. We were still hoping the second half was good. For the main course,we ordered Mutton Kala Masala (Rs 275),a non-vegetarian Khichda (Rs 275) and,in the hope of still tasting a bit of Mumbai,a Bombay Frankie (Rs 115). The Mutton Kala Masala served with laccha parantha had a thick cinnamon-flavoured gravy though the meat did fight back a bit. The Khichda was yummy,the lentils soft and the mutton tender. However it was Bombay Frankie that seemed to bring in the tragic heartbreak in our movie meal. It was dry and the filling was bland,there was nothing to salvage it and Bombay was still distant. We returned the dish to the kitchen. A sad film song could have been the perfect background score for the death of Frankie.

The dessert selection thankfully made this a happy ending. Fried Ice Cream with Chocolate Sauce (Rs 115) was delicious,the outer crunchy layer had a hint of coconut and came with toffee,mango and chocolate sauces on the side. Parsi Dairy Kulfi (Rs 115) was a yummy,mango-flavoured frozen dessert,generously sprinkled with pistachios. The end was right,just like the beginning. But this is no box-office hit.

Meal for two: Rs 1,000
Open hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m
Address: M 38,First Floor,M Block Market,Greater Kailash II
Contact: 9999855519,011 40801111.