It has been one year since I moved to the City of Dreams—Mumbai, and I have fallen in love with the city. I love this city because it has a beautiful culture and a fair atmosphere that provides opportunities for everyone. Another big reason to fall more in love with the city is – the food. Being a Lucknowi, I naturally have a good taste in food. I grew up eating a variety of cuisines, including Mughlai food such as Biryani, Tunday Kawab Parathe, Chole Bhature, and my favorite, Haleem. Already drooling! Due to my particular tastes in food, moving to Mumbai made me a little apprehensive about my food choices. A good and scrumptious meal is something I absolutely must have every single day. I hope most of the readers can relate. Initially, I had low expectations from restaurants in Mumbai. After a while, I found myself writing this blog, letting you know how amazing Mumbai restaurants are. I would like to share my experience with you, so brace yourselves and continue reading, the most original and unbiased list of top three restaurants you should visit when you’re in Mumbai. Let the information unfold and decide which one you like the best!
1. OPA Greek Restaurant
OPA Greek is a fine dining restaurant in Mumbai that offers a soothing and authentic Greek cuisine that transcends beyond food. Can you guess what does “OPA” mean? OPA is a Greek expression when a person drops the plate intentionally or unintentionally, exclaims, “OPA!” to wave off bad luck. I was tempted to drop the plate and say “OPA!” in OPA, so I did. Yes! When you finish with your food, you have the liberty to break the plate as a part of Greek culture and exclaim” OPA!” Usually, people in Greece smash plates on events like weddings and birthdays and exclaim, “OPA!” Interesting, isn’t it? With so much Greece going on, you are bound to directly get teleported to Santorini. This restaurant is an outpost of OPA Kipos, Dubai, and it incorporates everything that Dubai OPA does—the cutlery, seating, and even the staff uniform.
By now, you would have understood what cuisine does this restaurant serve, right? Here’s what I tried! If you are a health freak, try the classic Greek Salad, Green Spinach Pie and Fig and Walnut Salad. If you love chicken like I do, try Homemade Chicken Pie and my favourite, Chicken Gyro. I tried the OPA Moussaka (braised lamb, spiced aubergine, potato terrine, kasseri cheese in burnt onions), the Vegetable Moussaka (grilled courgettes, spiced aubergines, potato terrine, kasseri cheese in lemon and dill sauce), and the lip-smacking grilled baby chicken. Sometimes, I still think about the scrumptious desert I had at the place called the Baklava Sundae. Have this dessert once and fall in love with it forever.
OPA Kipos has an extravagant cocktail menu along with an extravagant cuisine, a wine, and spirits list. We tried the ‘OPA Signature,’ because I wanted to explore what the most authentic Greek restaurant has to offer me. Since I am a lover of Piña colada, I tried the ‘Zeus,’. Extremely refreshing and lip-smacking! Another aspect of this restaurant is the DJ playing Greek music with full enthusiasm and celebration, which got me dancing on my seat.
Price Range: 3,500 for 2 people (approx.) Address: Wadia International Centre, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli, Mumbai - 400018, Kamagar Nagar Number 1
Phone: 07028881161
2. Peshawri - ITC Maratha
Peshawri – ITC Maratha is one of the most popular tandoori cuisine restaurants in Mumbai. It was established in the March 2002 in ITC Maratha hotel in Andheri East. Its consistency in providing quality meals and efficient services has helped it to become a major player in the restaurant industry since 2002. If you are a big Indian cuisine fan, you will fall in love with this restaurant. This restaurant does shy away at making sure that they retain their customers. So be prepared to stay loyal to this extravagant restaurant in Mumbai.
What I loved the most here was the infamous Dal Bukhara! The Dal Bukhara is so flavourful and rich that I might have started crying the first bite I took of it. The Dal Bukhara is prepared in desi ghee. It is a proper Indian meal that you did not know you craved. I am in love with this restaurant in Mumbai. This dish, one of the reasons why I would never want to leave this city.
Another dish that I absolutely loved in Peshawri was infamous signature dish called—Sikandari Rann! If you do not know what Rann is, it’s a desi lamb chop. It was marinated is so well and deeply that I couldn’t stop licking my fingers after I was done. The taste was authentic Indian tandoori taste with mild Indian spices and deep flavour. The rann was extremely tender and juicy. The Sikander Rann hype is worth it! I just can’t have enough of it. Another dish that I would like to write about is Peshwari Kebab which I paired with Tandoori butter naan. I can’t put in words how amazing the combination was. The kebabs are moist and flavourful with the best aroma. The spices were so beautifully blended with one another. It was perfectly cooked that it melted in my mouth and I loved that feeling. Ended my meal with my favourite kulfi and rabdi. As expected, it wasn’t a disappointment as well. Neither too sweet nor too bland, it was perfect. I can happily say, try this restaurant in Mumbai. It is worth it!
Peshwari the best desi food!
One thing that I personally liked about this restaurant the most was that it doesn’t provide its customers with cutlery like forks, spoons, and knives. Like a true Indian, we have to eat by our hands and this is how we get to show some love for Indian cuisine. I think this is a great way to promote our true culture with utmost simplicity and authenticity. Too many foreigners from all over the world visit this restaurant and all of them enjoy using their hands to eat, just like us. It was a great experience, I cannot wait to visit Peshawri- ITC Maratha again.
Price Range: 5000 for 2 people (approx.)
Address: ITC Maratha Chakala
Phone: + 9122 2830 3030
3. Bayroute
This Middle – Eastern cuisine restaurant in Mumbai is one of the most loved restaurants among celebrities. I mean its popularity is unmatched! This Egyptian cuisine restaurant offers a great variety of Middle – Eastern cuisine. Along with Egyptian cuisine this restaurant also has Arabian, Greek, Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine. This place should be your go to place if you have a knack for delicious Middle Eastern foods! Celebrities like Varun Dhawan and Akshay Kumar show up here for amazing food. This restaurant has a beautiful interior with intricate work and authentic cutlery. It is no doubt that Bayroute is one of the most glamorous dining destinations in the city of dreams—Mumbai. The mind behind this masterpiece in Mumbai is Chef Ajay Thakur. His sophisticated and creative approch to Middle Eastern creative and modern mix to Middle Eastern and North African cuisine has succeeded in creating magic in your plate and Instagram. *wink wink*
When you are here, consider it your pleasurable duty to try the signature Bayroute hummus served with fresh and crispy yet soft textured – pita breads and vegetables. If you are a hummus lover like this dish will make you fall in love with Bayroute. Hummus is one dip that if a little bland or a little salty can actually make a huge difference to you. But this hummus won’t disappoint you. Once you start eating, you will take some amount of willpower to stop or even switch to any other food. Another star dish is the Turkish prawns which are always perfectly cooked, juicy and crispy. If you are a lamb fanatic like me, try another dish called, the Yemen Mandi—a dish of roast lamb which is perfectly cooked and tender over best quality and fragrant rice—would be hara-kiri. Another best thing about Bayroute is its vegan food menu. So if you are health freak like Akshay Kumar, try their vegan food menu and you will have no complaints.
The interior is extravagant with its decoration, and lit up hot air balloon-shaped lanterns fill the roof of the restaurant with its abundant charm and warmth. The interior will teleport you to Egypt, Lebanon, or Greece. So be ready to find your perfect get away. The drinks' menu is highly impressive with wide variety of cocktails, spirits, tea, coffee, juices, milk and equally varied with spirits, cocktails, tea, coffee, juices, flavoured milk and more. Visit this restaurant and experience other part of the world with utmost enthusiasm and authenticity.
Price Range: 3000 for 2 people (approx.) Address: Minoo Manor Building, 7, Captain Prakash Pethe Marg, Badhwar Park, Apollo Bandar, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai Phone: +918291156403
So which restaurant will you like to visit on your trip to Mumbai?
OPA kipos
Peshwari - ITC Maratha
Bayroute