Yacht (Bandra West)

Luxury? Take a hike!

Forget what the name evokes...If you do manage to get a seat in the unnecessarily overcrowded pub next to St. Andrew's Church on Hill Road, it will probably be in the not so luxurious special permit room where both the seating arrangements and the crowd remind you more of a bordello than a watering hole. And the less said about the service, the better. Your order takes over half an hour to reach you, and when it finally does, it is too cold or soggy to be enjoyed. The kebabs are strictly ordinary, and often border on the tasteless. The only thing that saves the day somewhat is value for money, and this could be a good hangout for struggling yuppies to enjoy their beer and watch '90s movies on the television set. If that's your cup of tea (or mug of beer), welcome aboard the Yacht!

Ambience                ★
Service                    ★★
Presentation            ★★
Taste                      ★★
 

http://mumbai.burrp.com/listing/yacht-restaurant-_hill-road_mumbai_bars-pubs-restaurants/1115373198

Trincas (Kolkata)

Of mice and men

If the live musical performance at the flagship Trincas Bar and Restaurant is a little too much for some private conversation on a Saturday evening, attention automatically turns to a notice which mentions that there is a little family restaurant on the first floor as well, which has a different entrance at the back of the building. Get there, and what meets you is a shut door, which you push to enter and seeing nowhere else to go, ascend the flight of steps to the next nondescript door. Once you are inside, you are treated to food which is much too predictable in taste and does not live up to the Trincas reputation. The place serves both Indian and Chinese food, and it is Chinese that ought to be preferred here simply because it is the lesser of the two culinary evils carried out here (i.e. the mushroom starters are not too bad). What takes the cake (often literally so) though is the presence of mice on the floor, and a shriek from your companion who feels something soft nibbling on her toes might just make you lose interest in nibbling on your own fare!

Ambience                ★
Service                    ★★★
Presentation            ★★★
Taste                      ★★★

http://kolkata.burrp.com/establishment/search.html?q=Trincas&n=Park+Street&doProximity=true&s=OR 

Tandoor Park (Kolkata)

Don't go by the name

Sprawled over two floors in the heart of South Kolkata, Tandoor Park is a fun place - ideal for a pick-me-up after work, as well as a reminiscing session with friends. While the hustle and bustle inside makes it quite inappropriate for a family dinner, the atmosphere inside is quite appealing per se. The Chinese masks and paintings are a bit out of place at a restaurant with this name, but once inside, they make for decent conversation starters. A segregated smoking room finds favour with those willing to raise their high, while at the same time, protecting those who despise passive smoke. The kebabs are soft, succulent, and worth every bit of the money. Every meaty variety is represented well on the assorted platter, while the pahari kebab is juicy on the inside and bejeweled with mozzarella cheese on the outside. The fish fingers and tandoori mushroom are also appetizing. The mutton seekh kebab, however, is grainy and slightly insipid. However, it is encouraging to note that the butter naans are not chewy and the kali daal has a smooth texture. Alcohol prices are on the higher side though, and service is slow, perhaps only to allow the guests more time to catch up. Overall, a brilliant place to travel to for a friendly rendezvous, but not worth a long drive through the city merely for the fare.

Ambience                ★★★★
Service                    ★★
Presentation            ★★★
Taste                      ★★★

(Reviewed by Anubhab Dasgupta)

http://kolkata.burrp.com/listing/tandoor-park_dhakuria_kolkata_restaurants/169338940

The Lord's (Kolkata)

Rather, The Common Man’s

At the very outset, it must be said that one must not expect the gastronomically astronomical from this 36-seater restaurant. However, it would be an excellent place to take the family, or just catch up with an old friend. The fuzzy lighting and tranquil atmosphere makes it a great place to have a conversation while you wait for your food to appear. The menu is humble, comprising standard Indian-Chinese and Tandoori cuisine. The stewards, albeit quite unimpressive to look at, are quite efficient, and service is quick. The food is just as good as the grade of Chinese food you get almost anywhere in the city. While the vegetable Manchurian is harsh on the tongue and the fried rice is quite bland, the noodles are adequately cooked and the smoked chicken, which is crisp on the outside, fleshy and soft on the inside, and garnished with fresh bell-peppers and lime leaves, is a treat to the taste buds. Overall, while the place does look a bit rundown and the food is a tad unsavoury, Lord’s makes up for its shortcomings with great value for money, as it provides the acceptable at prices below par. It may not be a joint worth traveling to just for the sake of the food, but it is worth checking out if you are in the vicinity with a light wallet and a relatively empty stomach.

Ambience                ★★★
Service                    ★★★
Presentation            ★★★
Taste                      ★★★

(Reviewed by Anubhab Dasgupta)

Shiro (Worli)

Truly majestic

The first thing that strikes one on entering Shiro is the feeling of entering a different civilization, what with the majestic South-East Asian sculptures one encounters throughout the floor. A look at the right side of the menu reinforces the fact that one is in the presence of greatness, and money ought to be the least of one's concerns. Once that bit is settled in the mind, the food here tastes a lot better. The Thai curry here is about the best one can get anywhere in the city, and the Japanese steam rice is the real thing as well. Add to that the stewards who are as cheerful as they make them anywhere, and do not hesitate to throw in a pair of chopsticks as souvenirs when you are about to leave. Unfortunately, it is in sheer detail of food preparation that Shiro would lose out to the other premium South-East Asian restaurant in this part of town, Asia 7. The chicken could surely have been softer, and the noodles a little more endowed with the right spices than the usual fare one gets at Chinese restaurants. Some authentic sauces served at the table might also have made the experience more enjoyable. Overall, however, Shiro can surely be visited for lunch alone, even if the huge bar and the lounge seats do not attract one to an exorbitant night out.

Ambience                ★★★★★
Service                    ★★★★★
Presentation            ★★★★
Taste                      ★★★★

http://mumbai.burrp.com/listing/shiro_worli_mumbai_bars-pubs-restaurants-lounges/115162594