[Jaipur] Mohan Thali / Mohan Restaurant

This is a simple place, too simple to be true, not saying that the owners don't want to serve upmarket food, or have an upmarket restaurant, they started with a small restaurant called Mohan Thali opposite Ganpati Plaza in jaipur, with the run away success of their Thali, and the number of pack orders they recieve for lunch, it was no wonder, that they now have 3 Restaurants, one opposite Ganpati Plaza, one Behind it, and one at Polo Victory Cinemas, in Jaipur. All within 10 minutes of walking distance to each other.

The menu is full of variety, and this is Rajasthani Khana with a Punjabi Twist, but brilliantly done. The food is not spicy at all for an India, maybe for a Gora, but is very appetising. The Thali is served in 3 variants, and comes with the options of Roti, to Nan / Parantha, and are modestly priced (At the cheaper end, Rs. 45, to a higher end of Rs. 100). The Chaaj was brilliant, with Jeera and Pudhina in it, (haven't been able to replicate this one at home though).

The staff very sweet, service fast, and tummy filling.

Next Time in Jaipur, must visit Mohan Restaurant / Mohan Thali

[NEW DELHI] Standard's Rajma Chawal

I have been eating from this guy for the past so many years (let me count, I think since 1997), and he has till now shifted 3 places in Nehru Place, and still manages to get a line to queue up for his food, not that his prices are low, (they are but there are competitors even at this price), or he delivers, or has a large fare, the simple, good tasting food, as if it was made at your house is brilliant.

I love his Paneer Chawal, Matter Paneer Chawal, Rajma Chawal, and Palak Paneer Chawal, I don't think he does justice to the Kadi though.

The Guy is sweet, he, his younger brother and his father all three are there, and please be paitient when you go to get your food from here, and if you are worried why there are so many people, and why there is not a lot of cleanliness, remember, I havent fallen sick in so many years eating his food, you will not too. Must try if you are at Nehru Place

G

Rajdhani - A Khandani Parampara

You must be wondering, Why I did not bother to put the city in the square brackets as in the other writings that I have done, well two reasons, I have tried this restaurant in atleast 3 locations, and they seem to be growing and adding cities and countries at a high speed, so only cities in the Labels below. Though I have eaten at Delhi, Jaipur and Noida, but I believe Food Quality should be similar across.

Rajdhani serves Gujrati + Rajasthani Mixed Thali, with unlimited servings, a smile and a very courteous staff, and when they say, faster than fast food, you can be out of here in 30 minutes, as they have made you all stuffed and full with the brilliant food.

The thali comes with Vegetables, Kadi, Daal, Some types of Roti, Pakoras (or as they are called Bhajiya), Chaaj (*oh man I love Chaaj*), a sweet dish (multiple variety) and a lot of requests have this, have that, have this have that, I forgot it also has khichdi, and rice for those of you who want to stay away from rotis.

The food is very tasty and cooked well and not spicy at all. To know more about Rajdhani, click here to get to Rajdhani's website.

[Noida] Crazy Noodles

I don't know how many times have I crossed this place whenever I have been to the Great India Mall at Noida, but finally I trusted my instincts and my hunger for a large bowl of soupy noodles, to step in. The place is all about fun, notice how the placemat talks about playing in between, to two (green and pink) colored chopsticks to play and eat your food with, even the glasses don't have a straight bottom. The place is designed well but can seat a limited number of people, and I have NEVER ever seen it empty.




We got down to ordering a Sumo Bowl of Noodle soup for me, and a bowl of noodle soup for my wife, I chose the sumo version as I was litterally very hungry and wanted to eat one with shrimps in it, Harpreet being a Vegitarian wanted a vegiee soup bowl, so that was it, we also ordered a serving of vegetable dumplings. (PS The rice is from our second visit to the place, see the size of the rice bowl, as big as the sumo soup bowl)

The Sumo bowl was sumo enough, I was so hungry that I did not get time to click the picture and managed to eat it and then say, hey I forgot to click the pictures, but trust my instincts and head on to this place, the food is awsome.



We followed our soupy bowls with a plate of what was a Deep fried Chocolate balls with Icecream desert, I am sorry, The Desert is called Chocolate Money Bags, but it came with the recommendation of the manager, and it was brilliant.

The staff is courteous, but goes crazy with all the people in there, but the food makes up for it. Price wise it was brilliant.

so next time you are visiting the Great India Place at Noida, or maybe even in a mood to try out some chinese, give your old joint a skip and head on to Crazy Noodles, on the Top floor of the mall, Promise you wont' be let down.

G

[Jaipur] Shri Ram Chat Bhandar

I don't know the address and we were walking when we went to this shop, I took some time out to draw a map out for any one visiting jaipur.

Please do go say my hello to uncle ji.

On the Johri Bazaar Road (this is where the Hawa Mahal is, try to locate the Citi Bank ATM, and ask around, or use the following Map as your guide)



Must try if you like Indian Street Food, and a must stop for your next Jaipur visit, please don't get shocked when you see the shop.

[NEW DELHI] Amritsari Meat Wala

Well in no manner is this a restaurant review, as this is not really a restaurant, but a take away, and a small dhaba. The place may not be worth a visit to have a family sit down, but in case you are in some serious heart wrenching mood to have Red Meat (mutton Keema) with Kalegi (Liver) or Mutton Keema with Mutton Pieces, you need to make sure you have eaten from Narender Kumar's Amritsar Meat Wala.

The guy makes an awsome keema, both for lunch and dinner, and the menu is simple, Keema Meat Rs. 100 a plate, Keema Kalegi, Rs. 100 a Plate, Keema Egg Curry Rs. 60 a Plate. He has some rotis, and on some days Chicken Korma. Pleasantly surprised a Menu exists, without Dal Makhani, and the hype (Butter Chicken).

The guy starts serving at 7:30 PM in the evening, in case you reach their earlier, he will not budge till 7:30 (I had to take Keema packed to a friends house on friday, and he made me wait a cool 45 minutes, worth it, for his food).

He has this big handi (Promise, will soon update it with a picture) he cooks the keema in. The Meat Pieces, Kalegi and Eggs are all in there. He has a tandoor that serves nice rotis. He has been talked about / Written across the Media, and if you are a carnivore like me, head on, and try his Keema.

It’s well worth a visit, so let me give you the directions to the Amritsari Meat Wala. It is on the right of the Defence Colony Nirula’s. Go towards Lajpat Nagar 1, parallel to the railway track. Amritsari Meat Wala is in a corner there. You can call up 9818995844 or 9810552974 for directions.



He Does not deliver, and don't even ask him if he does, he will tell you "SIR, ITNA TIME NAHIN HAI"

PS: Even my Mum and Dad, who are not too big a fan of non-home-cooked meat, loved his fare.

[NEW DELHI] The Legends of India

I am always very wary of food and restaurant reviews in the magazines and News papers, when I say this, people look down at me, and say, hey you are one of those guys who run reviews, so why not trust another one, it's just that I think food is very personal. A long time back I had come across a blog Eating Out in Delhi, I loved the concept, and wanted to be a part of it, I don't know where they are, and what they are upto, but a few places I ate at from the Blog, were well, nothing to write home about.

A few weeks back I read a review of a New Place called "The Legends of India", and I wanted to check it out, after all it had the man Jiggs Kalra, the man, or should I say, the Sardar behind the reason I started to cook myself, I remember his Telly shows when I was just a child, and his love for Saffron, and the spice, that he could add to your food.. Anyway, so, i thought hey, it's a Jigg's venture, it can't be bad.

I went to The legends of India, on Saturday with missus in tow, after a lovely play at the IHC, and was a little taken aback, we had made reservations for 2, on a Saturday Night, 9:30, and the restaurant, was empty... I was a little taken aback, a trip to the washroom, and the non working flush, put me into thinking, am I at the right place, but by the time I was out of the Washroom the place was starting to fill up, but we still thought, let's give it a shot, after all, it's Jiggs.

The place has a lovely decor, and a shiny staff, all smiling and courteouslly waiting to drop in on you, even if you wave a hand (which by the way is a problem for me, cos I move my hands a lot when I talk), or you look at them, but the service was brilliant. We ordered a Raan, a Mirchi ka Salan, a Bakharkhani Roti, and a Gobi ka Kulcha. The food was preceded by a man bringing us a bowl filled with rose petals, and warm (not hot, not cold) warm water to rinse our hands, a very pleasant feeling. The apetisers (on the house, no they did not know who I am, it's just their way of starting the dinner), were papdi, made in the most awsome manner. The food was brilliant, the Bakharkhani a bit dry, but well the food was wonderful (just a small suggestion, stay away from non bottled water).

The food down, and an hour spent, we ordered deserts, chose to have the Labbab e Mashooq (A Falooda kulfi, not that nice, but brilliantly done). I finally figured out the reason they were not choc-a-bloc on a saturday night, well they dont' have the liquor licence, they should get it in 2 weeks (sad), but the place is wonderful

So if you think, the Indian food is limited to either the walled city, or the likes of Bhukhara and Dumpukht, you need to try out the Legends of India

Where: Connaught Place, New Delhi
Location: Outer Circle, just before the Jeevan Bharti Building
Decor: Brillinatly Done
Staff: Lovely, and appreciative
Price: Dinner for 2, Roughly 2000
Experience: Brilliant
Food: Indian



a few words before I part, the story in the start of the menu, is that about a Khumchewala, a word, you can't really find on the Internet, but try asking your grandparents about it, and you will know, why, food here makes sense.

To know more, Legends of India Website

G

PS: I am a foodie, and not a food critic, I love my food, and I love the rush that great food can create. I have eaten at the best of Places in Delhi, and the worst of run down shacks across, so I thought, why not give it a shot to write a review.