Stop 2 Eat (Worli)

Cheesy Name, Easy Food

If the name 'Stop 2 Eat' is not too strong a deterrent, visiting the restaurant might be worth a shot. Since it is a place not frequented by too many people, service levels are quite good, and turnover time a minimum. The Hakka noodles and vegetable Manchurian are predictably decent. However, the garlic bread here is one fare certainly worth trying, not just for the garnishing but also for the care taken to bake it into a somewhat crusty, somewhat soft texture. Clearly, there are a lot of things that Stop 2 Eat does right, and its fancier neighbours at the Wadia International Centre may stand up and take notice.

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

Paradise (Hyderabad)

Many mansions

As in the Lord's House, there are many rooms, and many more tables at Paradise. In fact, the ground floor is only for takeaways. And yet, the popularity of this Secunderabad behemoth is such that you are still kept waiting on a late Sunday afternoon. This, however, is not very difficult to explain when you are told by the locals that this is where you get the best biryani in town. Well, truth be told, this may not be the best but is certainly the largest biryani around. With half a boiled egg, significant pieces of chicken and an enormous helping of rice, the biryani at Paradise is the thing to complete if you love your meat and rice. In terms of taste, this is right up there with the best, but to call it the single best thing you'll get in the city would probably be presumptuous. Of course, in the hype of the biryani, one must not forget the soft and succulent chicken kebabs and the sweet and smooth pineapple raita. And if, at the end of the feast, you still have room for more, dig into the apricot dessert - just the sweet spot between taste and health. In all, Paradise is surely worth a visit just for the magnitude - of the restaurant, as well as what it has to offer.

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


http://hyderabad.burrp.com/listing/paradise-food-court_s-d-road_secunderabad_take-away-shops-restaurants/132416277

Bhojanam (Hyderabad)

Posh Spice!

If you enter the classy-looking Bhojanam in the middle of the equally classy locale of Banjara Hills, you are sure to have a bad feeling about the numbers on the right side of the menu. The ideal thing to do, therefore, is to make a beeline for the INR 399 buffet, and get a taste of the best at good value to your wallet. You could start with clear soup of chicken, accompanied by Aloo Bonda and chicken cutlets - as delicious as they are spicy, true to the Chettinad taste. Follow it up with mutton biryani (a Hyderabad specialty), along with prawn and fish curry. The biryani here is not out of the ordinary, but the meat is very well-cooked and the rice is of the finest quality. It is, however, the fish and the prawn that test your mettle - the size of the prawns definitely tempts you, but you have to negotiate the Chettinad spice to appreciate them. Once the battle is over (and of course the size has won over the spice), dig in to some payasam (rice and kheer pudding) and wrap it up with an ice-cream. One must also compliment the stewards on being extremely supportive whenever you are confused at the buffet, and taking care to ask patrons how they like the food. Overall, Bhojanam leaves one with a flavour of traditional Hyderabadi cuisine, but surely leaves you asking for more.

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

http://hyderabad.burrp.com/listing/bhojanam-restaurant_banjara-hills_hyderabad_restaurants/1423126267

Diva Maharashtracha (Matunga West)

The best local flavour

Deepa and Suhas Awchat, the first couple of gastronomics in Maharashtra, deliver pure magic yet again with Diva Maharashtracha - a mirror to the Epicurean delights of the state. As one enters the restaurant, the sound of bagpipes from the 17th century (associated with the greatest son of this soil, Chhatrapati Shivaji) greets you, as does portraits of famous Maharashtrians from the Bals (Tilak and Thackeray) to Madhuri Dixit and Sachin Tendulkar. An ideal start to your meal here is the Kaju Kothambir Vadi, a dumpling of cashew nut and gram powder marinated with coriander leaves - a little bland when tried by itself, but just perfect with the green chutney served alongside. For the main course, the staple recommendation is the Bhakri - unleavened bajra bread that is a little hard but goes fine with any dish. The Vegetable Kolhapuri served here is nothing less than the real thing in its spice mix, a far cry from a bastardised name that sells in too many cheap restaurants around the city. An excellent accompaniment to your food here would be the Mathaa - a rather unique combnation of buttermilk flavoured with green chillies and coriander that leaves you with a tingling aftertaste at the back of your throat. And of course, what better way to end a meal here than a classic Maharashtrian dessert like the curd-based Shrikhand or the Puran Poli pancake? It only takes a visit to Diva Maharashtracha to appreciate how a culture has held its own despite embracing cosmopolitanism to such an extent.

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

http://mumbai.burrp.com/listing/diva-maharashtracha_matunga-w_mumbai_restaurants/165599544

Oye Punjabi (Kalyan West)

Punjab for all your senses

Situated in Kalyan, Oye Punjabi does not get too many visitors apart from those who traverse the highways regularly. The advantage it has, though, is plenty of space – not just for customers to eat but also for actual agriculture, something one associates inveterately with Punjab. And so, as you enter the portico, you get to see real jowar and bajra crops growing to your left, and a scarecrow on duty. Get in, and if you are lucky to come on a special evening, what greets you is the geets and ghazals being performed live. And then there is the authentic Punjabi food – soft and spicy shredded chicken and yellow dal with mouth-watering paranthas dipped in butter. But a must-have here is the Punjabi staple makki di roti and sarson da saag – maize bread with a green paste of mustard leaves that is just the right mixture of sweet and pungent. Overall, Oye Punjabi is a microcosm of Punjab which just leaves you with a craving for more such food in the heart of the city as well.

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


http://mumbai.burrp.com/listing/oye-punjabi_kalyan-w_thane_restaurants/1745478435

Nimantran (Nasik)

Reject the invitation!

A classic example of all show and no substance – that is Nimantran for you. As inviting as the name suggests if you look at the grand decorations invoking figures from the Ramayana (appropriate thanks to its vicinity to the mythical Pancavati), it is only once you order that the real picture shows itself. The worst mistake one can possibly make is to go for the superficially presentable thali – rice and bread, accompanied by 4 portions of different vegetables. Unfortunately, not a single vegetable dish in the actual serving you get resembles what they show you in any way, with the worst con of the lot being the replacement of paneer by capsicum (capsicum slices, in fact, abound in all the dishes, giving the impression of the bowls being full). Service is just as bad, with most orders having to be conveyed at least twice for the right thing to arrive. To top it all, payment cards are not accepted here, which might find the customer in a rather embarrassing position at the end of the meal (in fact, there is no ATM in the vicinity either, so you might as well walk out without paying for food which in any case does not deserve to be paid for). Overall, the expectation you walk in far outweighs the satisfaction with which you walk out, but no one seems to care – after all, its location close to the National Highway means that it does not get too many repeat customers in any case!


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

Sai Sagar (Shirdi)

Las-sea!

Sai Sagar could not have named itself anything else, given the sea of people that descends on it every day after a satisfying darshan of the Shri Samadhi Mandir, the final resting place of Shirdi Sai Baba. The least one expects after negotiating myriad fellow devotees at the temple is some good nourishment, and Sai Sagar meets the mark comfortably. The masala dosa is as good as it gets, with the right amount of potato filling and fresh sambhar, and the puri bhaji also packs a punch with 2 enormous air-filled bits of dough, and a rather heady concoction of the Marathi and the Tamil in the dry potato accompaniment. What takes the cake at Sai Sagar, however, is the lassi – the thickest and the sweetest of its kind. Have one full glass of this, and you are set to continue your pilgrimage to the other shrines nearby without ever feeling hungry. 

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

Tara Punjab (Chembur)

Don't go by the name!

Yes, this is just about the best multi-cuisine outlet you will find this side of town. It is indeed difficult to single out any particular cuisine for special praise. If it is Chinese that suits your mood, tuck into the delectable chicken or mutton fried rice, which can be enjoyed without any accompaniment – save for the Szechwan sauce that you must ask specially for. And if it is good old Indian, Tara Punjab just spoils you for choice. Delightfully crisp rotis, golden daal tadka and mixed vegetables would constitute the perfect vegetarian meal, while non-vegetarians can partake of any of the generously spiced up items on the menu. Of course, it may be argued that excessive spice takes out the essential flavour of the main ingredient, and the egg curry (where it is difficult to go wrong otherwise) and fish (bangda, for one) seem to have fallen into that trap. In any case, the refreshing lime soda is always around to beat the spice! And finally, there is the staff – extremely friendly, and willing to cooperate even if a customer is fasting by providing him / her with the traditional Indian’s definition of ‘fast food’ (finger chips, for instance). Of course, two air-conditioned halls (one on the ground floor and one on the first) in addition to two other enclosures ensure that customers never have to wait too long (that is, if they have to wait at all), something that always makes a steward’s job easier!

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

http://mumbai.burrp.com/listing/tara-punjab_chembur_mumbai_restaurants/1838611326

Berco's (Delhi)

The best Chinese and Thai up north

The Berco's outlet at Kamla Nagar, adjacent to the Delhi University North Campus, is probably the least crowded restaurant in the bustling commercial centre of the university. Not because of the quality of food, but simply because it is often too expensive for the middle-class college-goer to afford. Berco's, therefore, remains an aspirational name, and it is only when you go back to the beloved place as an alumnus of the university and exercise some choice on the menu that you feel you have arrived in life. And, of course, indulge yourself on the fabulous Oriental offering, for it is there to be indulged in. The Chicken Manchow Soup is clear and extremely palatable, and the Chilli Garlic Noodles tangy and succulent. The must-tries, however, are the Thai Three-Flavour Fish and the Roasted Chicken in Black Pepper Sauce, both cooked to a crisp but uncannily soft once you bite into them. While the gravy itself is good enough to be spooned into your mouth, Berco's ensures you get more value for more money by its extremely generous portions. The only thing that could do with a little bit of improvement is service - the stewards often get you something entirely different from what you have ordered, which is rather unpardonable given the number of tables occupied at any given time! Overall, however, you emerge from the place a satisfied person, knowing fully well you deserve what you just got to eat - finally!

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


http://delhi.burrp.com/~/q_Berco's/n_Kamla+Nagar