Cream Centre (High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel)

The Cream of the North

The name 'Cream Centre' for an Indian and Mexican joint (which in itself is a somewhat unusual combination) in the literal sense sounds fairly discrepant. But, perhaps in a metaphorical sense, it is taste that unites them all. Cream Centre, given its blink-and-you-miss-it location on the first floor of a mall, does a good job on that front and ensures that it still continues to be full. In addition, with some marvellous display work on its menu cards (something a lot of other vegetarian restaurants like Veg Always continue to exploit), the restaurant ensures that even a non-vegetarian is kept interested from the very beginning. You end up wanting to have a go at everything, and what better way to do it than to have Mexican starters followed by an Indian main course? The cheese balls with corn are a delight, as are the nachos in some thick, creamy cheese that you just crave to get a mouthful of. Once those are done away with, it is time for the traditional North Indian chhola bhatura, which comprises a giant bread of flour served with a gram brown curry. While the dish looks easily consumable in the beginning (often inveigling people to ask for another helping of bread), it is a bit of a task to finish the entire thing, especially if your chhola also contains minced paneer. However, the ordeal turns out to be rather pleasurable as the huge bhatura and the perfectly cooked chhola remind you of North Delhi and its epicurean delights. A sweet fresh lime soda is a good companion to your entire meal. The only weak link in an otherwise splendid restaurant is the rather intense persistence of the stewards, sometimes 2 or 3 of them taking turns, to offer you papads, desserts and everything else that you do not want after a fulfilling chhola bhatura. A dash of the ostentatious hospitality of the North, perhaps?

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


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