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Nestled in one of the most popular places in Powai, Spice Hut is a cozy restaurant that offers authentic Indian cuisine at affordable prices.

Establishing a name for itself despite arduous competition, Spice Hut has retained its flavor and standing by delivering lip-smacking food at each order. The restaurant offers a wide spread of dishes to choose from, each prepared delicately with the freshest produce, under the able guidance Chef Atiq.

What we ate:

On being recommended, we ordered the Sizzling Chicken Tikka for starters. As the names suggests, the chicken pieces were delivered on a ‘sizzler plate’ with hoards of vegetables accompanied alongside. The pieces were fresh, one could tell and succulent enough to disappear without working on them. We also feasted on the Murg Malai Tikka – roasted chicken in white sauce, which came with lightly spiced onions and capsicum.

For the main course, we ordered what the restaurant was best known for – The Biryani. The Hyderabadi Biryani and the Dum Biryani were both finely prepared with judicious use of spices and oil. The flavors were delicate enough to leave a lingering after taste and strong enough to tempt you into ordering another serving.

Portions & Prices:

The food prepared at the restaurant is worth the price you pay for it. Also, with generous servings with each portion of the meal, you can be assured that what you pay for is what you get.

Branches:

The restaurant has its parent kitchen in Chembur near Diamond Gardens. The owners also have plans to expand their chain in the near future.

Discounts & Specialties:

The management has worked on a scheme that lets the consumer avail of a 25% discount on the total bill. After the meal, the restaurant offers you a small delicacy that makes its way from Jaipur. For further details you can contact the owner, Mr. Anand on 9821310229

The review was done for us by Poonam Advani she can be reached at www.poonamadvani.com

Kosho is a hidden gem of a restaurant. Once you discover it, you’ll want to tell all your friends and family about it, and return again and again. Opened in early 2010, the family owned and operated Kosho serves outstanding Chinese, Indian, and Italian cuisine. It’s the creation of a dedicated brother and sister team who have put their heart and soul into it, as well as financed it themselves.

As you enter the mock Tudor premises and are led upstairs to be seated, you’ll realize that you’re about to have an intimate dining experience that is rare to come across. Kosho is small. But it’s small in a welcoming and appealing way.

The dining area, tastefully and contemporarily decorated in warm tones, has just six tables. This ensures that you won’t have to contend with a large room full of noisy customers. Those who’d like more privacy will appreciate the inviting cushioned alcove, separated from the main room by a beaded curtain.

For such a small restaurant, the menu is surprisingly vast. It contains all the popular Indian and Chinese dishes, an authentic selection of pastas, plus some unique items that you’re unlikely to have come across before.

One of these items is the Lakhnawi Aloo – hollowed out potato stuffed with vegetables and coated in sesame seeds. I sampled it with a mixture of other starters, including the Talumain Clear Soup, Cheese Spinach Tikki, an assortment of chicken items (plain Chicken Tikka, Chicken Kali Mirch Tikka, and Chicken Malai Kebab), and the Prawns Koliwada.

All were superb, but two things really stood out. The fried Cheese Spinach Tikki, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, pleasingly wasn’t the slightest bit oily. The Chicken Kali Mirch Tikka was also a taste sensation, with its peppery flavour exploding in my mouth.

Next came the pasta. A penne pasta in basil pesto and cream, which is an all time favourite dish of mine. I have eaten many. Again, I was very impressed. The pasta wasn’t drowning in cream. Instead, the sauce was light but tasty, and very nicely balanced.

Somehow, I found room in my stomach for the main course. Prawns Masala, Veg Lajawab, and an item not on the menu – Paneer Hariyali (paneer in a spinach gravy with a dose of mint). Normally, I avoid paneer due to its unappealing, spongy consistency. However, this paneer was an exception and the gravy was also very refreshing.

According to the owner, other popular dishes are:

• Starters — Fish Fingers, Fish Rawa, Paneer Yakitori, Paneer Papdi Tikka.
• Main course — Nargis Kofta, Veg Ujala, Dal Makhani, Chicken Lababdar, Chicken Musallam, Chicken Joshila, Mutton Rogan Josh, Fish Curry.

It’s not surprising that the food at Kosho has the high quality of a renowned restaurant, as the head chef and his team come from a large establishment. However, what is surprising is that it certainly doesn’t have the price tag to match. The average cost of a non-veg main dish is 150-160 rupees. Simple dishes, such as Aloo Muttar, cost only 75 rupees. The most expensive item on the menu is the non-veg Tandoori Dawat, at a little over 500 rupees. However, for that price you’ll get an assortment of 32 different starter items — enough to feed a whole family!

The only drawback? Kosho is not licensed to serve alcohol. However, that problem can easily be solved by making use of their handy home delivery service. They also cater for birthdays, kitty parties, and other special occasions.

You’ll find Kosho at D-1 Nahar Shopping Plaza, Nahar Amrit Shakti, Chandivali, Powai. Phone: 2857 8391/92.

Spaghetti Kitchen Reviewed by candyfloss

I love Italian food, it’s my absolute favorite. And I just have to try out every place that has Italian cuisine. Until now, the only places close to work that qualified as “Italian” were the usual pizza chains: Dominoes, Pizza Hut, Papa Johns, Smokin’ Joes, and Garcias. But recently, to my absolute delight, Spaghetti Kitchen opened in Powai! And I had no choice but to make a reservation as soon as I heard, even though that meant taking a two-hour lunch break It’s right above Aroma (good shakes, sandwiches, and pastas, will write about this after I try out their breakfast) and Bistro Grill (which happens to be my next foodie target, so hopefully I’ll write about it soon).

New restaurants have been popping up all over Powai in recent years. As a result, there’s now a wide range of cuisine to choose from. No longer do you have to restrict yourself to standard Indian or Chinese fare. You can be adventurous and tempt your taste buds with all kinds of food from around the world.

Here are five restaurants in Powai serving tasty international cuisine.

1. Bistro Grill (Arabian)

Bistro Grill, High Street, Powai.

Bistro Grill, located just around the corner from Aromas, is one of the newer additions to the restaurant scene in Powai. A smaller version of it, called Bistro Grill Xpress, used to be open in the Galleria. The name doesn’t give away much, but Bistro Grill specialises in authentic Arabic cuisine. The marinated kebab skewers are particularly succulent. There are also sizzlers and rice dishes, with vegetarian options as well. And the food is reasonably priced. However, Bistro Grill isn’t just an appealing place to come and eat. Thanks to the added live entertainment, it’s also great for an evening out. Three nights a week (Wed-Fri) you can enjoy original live music such as acoustic guitar, vocals, and DJ with percussion. Conveniently, there’s a bar separate to the dining area. Phone +91 22 4015 7888. It’s open for lunch and dinner, and until late in the night on weekends.

2. Spaghetti Kitchen (Italian)

Spaghetti Kitchen, High Street, Powai.

The Spaghetti Kitchen can be found above Bistro Grill, on High Street, Hiranandani Gardens. The restaurant aims to provide authentic Italian flavour in a contemporary and stylish atmosphere. Its spacious and bright interior is attractive, and is very reminiscent of Italy, with stained glass lamps, painted plates, mosaic table tops, and a wine bar. The food, while delicious, is on the costly side. However, what’s excellent value for money is their Midday Italian Rendezvous — a three course lunch, with veg and non-veg options, for 450 rupees. It’s served from midday until 4.30 p.m. The amount of food is substantial, and will satisfy the hungriest of tummies! Since most main courses are priced at around 350 rupees each, you really can’t go wrong with this lunchtime offer. Phone +91 22 6671 8800 or visit the Spaghetti Kitchen Facebook page for more information.

Read a review of Spaghetti Kitchen.

3. Far East (Asian)

Far East, Rodas Ecotel Hotel, Powai.

Far East is part of the Rodas Ecotel hotel, situated next to Haiko and the Galleria in Hiranandani Gardens. It’s gained a reputation for serving up a mixture of authentic food from all over Asia, including China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The sit down, set menu banquet is particularly popular. For only 250 rupees (veg) or 275 rupees (non veg) plus tax, you can feast on soup, four starters, four main course items, and dessert. The restaurant has a captivating outlook, and show kitchen so you can watch your food being prepared. Phone +91 22 6693 6969 or visit their website for more information.

4. Mainland China (Chinese)

Mainland China, Central Avenue, Powai.

Yes, it’s Chinese food, which is nothing new. But the Chinese food at Mainland China is the best in Powai. This fine dining restaurant, which has branches all over India, serves authentic cuisine from the major provinces of China. The rich ambiance inside is distinctly Chinese, with red being the main theme. And service is outstanding. As is to be expected, food is pricey. But it’s definitely no deterrent! You can expect to pay around 500 rupees for a main dish, and 250 for noodles. Don’t miss trying the renowned Dim Sum. Mainland China is open daily for both lunch and dinner. It’s located on Central Avenue, above Subway. Phone +91 22 2570 8800/8820/8821, or visit the Mainland China website and Mainland China Facebook page for more information. Also, read this review of Mainland China and check out the Mainland China menu.

5. Lake View Cafe (Continental)

Lake View Cafe, Renaissance Hotel, Powai.

The Lake View Cafe at the luxury Renaissance Hotel in Powai is the perfect place for a leisurely Sunday brunch. Its view across Powai Lake is tranquil and soothing. And you can treat yourself to unlimited buffet food and drinks for 1,500 rupees (or 1,650 rupees if you want unlimited sparkling wine). In fact, the buffet is popular for breakfast, lunch and dinner all through the week as well. You’ll be able to choose from an array of cheese, cold cuts, Italian breads, salads, salmon, roast lamb, and grilled seafood. There’s also a menu available for those who want something else. It’s expensive though. Even a simple burger or sandwich costs 495 rupees! But the benefit is that the Lake View Cafe is open 24 hours a day. Phone +91 22 6692 7550 for more information and reservations, or download the menu.

And Then There’s….

Chili’s (Mexican and American South West)
Chili’s is a popular chain restaurant in America, that’s now in India. Good Mexican food is hard to come by in India, and it’s uncertain whether you’ll find it here. Feedback, such as this review of Chili’s, is mixed. However, try it for yourself! What is certain is that the generous portions will keep you munching for a while! Chili’s is located on Central Avenue, next to the State Bank of India.

Yoko (American Sizzlers)
The specialty at Yoko is American Sizzlers. Unfortunately though, the sizzlers at the Powai branch don’t seem to have much….sizzle. Reports of excess sauce, bland and over cooked food, soggy french fries, and poor service are common. However, if you’re still game enough to dine there, you’ll find Yoko in the Galleria.

Article Credits: Review submitted by Abhinav Chadha.

To start with, I had been watching all those King Kong posters and flyers around Powai for quite a lot of time. Eventually, it struck me that I must go and give the place a try. So there I was, fully prepared to enter the Beast House. It’s not far from my place so i went walking through the horrid sun expecting a nice lunch with my friend.

As soon as we reached, an Oriental girl welcomed us through the main gateway which was pleasant enough, given after all that hot sun. The entrance was good and carefully designed to give you the feeling of entering a cave of Beast. However, the hosts weren’t receptive and that made the first tick on our “Not-So-Good” list.

The place was gloomy, dark and failed to appeal. It was as if we were in some dark lounge, where two LCD panels keep displaying Kiin Kon Roccs (that’s their billing computer for you  ).The Menu had three parts: Bar, Continental and Indian.

For us booze was not on the list but, the entities weren’t bad enough as they did sport good variety of liquor. The mocktails were good and are presented under the name of “Virgin Cocktails”. We ordered a Mint Mojito and some Guava Lemon drink that was served in so called “Martini” glass with salt and chilly line. So Mocktails had a tick in “That’s Good” list.

The food was the same things you will get at any other Continental and American joint. Indian food was over-rated and did not urge us to give it a try. So, it was Continental.

Farmer Salad, comes with boiled eggs and was alright given the state of mind we had went with to the place. BBQ chicken was from a different BBQ planet that does not incorporate a smoky and rusty flavor. It was concluded that the Chicken was chopped and cooked just in BBQ sauce to call it BBQ chicken.
Chicken Shaslik sizzler was thought to bring some respite, despite the odds. But eventually to our utter dismay even that could not pull us out of the disparity that we have had enough.

The stewards should be knocked off as they do not know what is being cooked in the kitchen, also they cannot suggest you stuff so that becomes patchy when you want to try something on an experimental basis. The best part is they can’t even tell you their signature dishes. I think they must take drastic steps towards improving this section.

So that called it day and end of the meal. The bill was not bad, as we had carefully examined things were priced moderately but they don’t live up to the price tag. The ambiance is good for youngsters and I don’t feel many families would be comfortable at such gloomy places. The food was alright but the Mocktails saved the day for us, the only thing we wish do not change with time.

Ambiance: 7/10
Food: 4/10
Drinks(Mocktails): 8/10
Hospitality: 5/10
Overall: 5/10

P.S. : Try new things before asking as you are sure to get surprised.

I don’t usually dine at Galleria, owing to the fact of it very infamous hygiene and fleas. But somehow Spice Hut appealed to me for a try, and there I was ready to gulp some Galleria Food.If you are looking for licking Biryani and have an appetite that carves for the yummy Mughlai Dishes, this is the place.

The setup is just as other Galleria stores, but they welcome you with a Big Heart and you leave smiling happily. I usually go to the place before I order from home, same was the case here. I personally went over and saw the joint, the staff. The establishment is small but they offer a huge variety of stuff.

One good thing that they offer is the Biryani in portions. This makes it easier for you to decide how many portions you would require, unlike other restaurants where they give you strictly one full plate. The Kebabs were good and the chicken was tender (yes finally i am feasting on chicks!) and juicy. The accompliment Kachombar was fine, not that exciting that had a little too much of dilution.

The most amazing part of it all was the Biryani. It had such a nice nutty and spicy feel to it that I couldn’t resist it after my first bite. The gravy was fine, but a little on the spicy end, though that can be made milder on request.

Their main attraction would be the excellent packaging. A cloth bag with every take away, a take away menu, food packed in food grade plastic boxes and tissues. You cannot ask for a better service in these times. Average serving time can be anywhere between 10-20 minutes depending on the order and the crowd.

When I asked him ‘Doesn’t this packaging costs you a little?’, the guy generously replied, ”Sir customer banane hai”. Now, this is what is called knowing your ultimate goal.
Overall a nice Mughlai Experience, Cheers 

PHIRNEE

P.S: They offer Firni and Shahi Tukda (Shahi Toast as called in Delhi) at cheap rates, though it was not available when I’d went, but I doubt if any place else serves these sweets?

Ambiance: Slain Galleria feel
Main Course: 8/10
Starters: 8/10
Sweets: Weren’t available to try, but they have got the uniqueness.
Service: 7/10
Overall: 8/10

This review was submitted by Abhinav Chadha

The rich and warm looking entrance to Mantra, in Powai Plaza, is inviting but a little deceptive. Expensive and exclusive, one might think. In reality, Mantra is neither. What it does provide is tasty food at reasonable prices, in an attractive setting.

Inside, Mantra is divided into two separate areas — a larger dining room, and a bar area with tables. The bar area, with its flashing coloured light panels, is definitely the most atmospheric of the two. And judging from the crowd there, Mantra is very popular with a diverse range of people including college students, couples, and work colleagues. It was a Monday night, but there wasn’t a spare table in the room.

Mantra serves Indian, Mughlai, and Chinese cuisine. Therefore, I was quite surprised to see Phad Ka Pow on the menu. It’s a traditional Thai dish, stir-fried with basil, and one of my favourites. As a result, my curiosity got the better of me and I ordered it. I wish I hadn’t though. While it was very edible, it just didn’t taste like Thai food. What’s more, it closely resembled the chicken Sapo (a garlic, onion, dry red chilli combination with red pepper sauce), which was the other dish ordered.

We had the Mushroom Baby Corn Chilli for starters. It was a generous size, crispy and well cooked with plenty of flavour. Caprioska was the drink of the night. This cocktail is made with vodka, lime, brown sugar, and crushed mint leaves. It’s supposed to be quite tangy, but this one distinctly lacked tang. Not enough sugar, I think. And I wasn’t too keen on the shredded mint getting stuck in my teeth.

But still, the prices were decent enough. 250 rupees for a Caprioska. 175 rupees for the starter, and 185 rupees for each of the mains. And a really appealing thing about the menu at Mantra — taxes are included, even for drinks. So you don’t get any nasty surprises on your bill at the end of the night!

I’ll definitely be going back.

Inside the bar dining area.

Caprioska.

Mushroom Baby Corn Chilli starter.

Chicken Phad ka Pow is on the right. Chicken Sapo is on the left. It’s hard to pick the difference!

Photos copyright Sharell Cook.

“Sankalp at Powai –The Taste of South” has some mixed reviews on burrp.com. So, I leave it up to you to decide, how do you rate Sankalp? There’s an almost inexhaustible waiting list for seating at this place, so think before you rate.

Review 1

Nice Place, Real South Indian, OK Food

We visited this restaurant for a Sunday lunch, after a friend living in Powai suggested it. The interiors are quite well done and seating is quite comfortable. The best part about this restaurant is that they serve authentic south Indian food which you get only in restaurants like Culture Curry (Mahim). Their specialized dosas and idlis were quite nice and you don’t get these menu items elsewhere. The only food we didn’t like was the Malabari curry. Their prices are quite ok. I would definitely suggest this to anyone like to try original south Indian

Review 2

Great Price, Great Food, Good Quality

We ordered a dosa and uttapam, the quantity was awesome, the taste was great, price is reasonable for the quantity and quality you get. I don’t know about the other items but dosa and uttapa were very good.

Review 3

The Worst Ever South Indian Food!!! – Keep Away

I had looked at Sankalp as a value for money restaurant with pretty good chefs who make authentic South Indian Food. I regret to mention that Powai franchise will ruin the image that Sankalp stands for. The food is extremely bad and in no way near south Indian. A south Indian myself, I’ve had better and good food in Mumbai and at other hotels. This is the most pathetic food I’ve had. I went first on the opening day and then recently, there is absolutely no way that I am going near that place ever in future. The Hydrebadi Biriyani should be changed to a name as Palak Biriyani and the Dosa atta sure didn’t have any salt nor any taste. Whatever tastebuds you have will go way once you try this. This is the most disgusting food i have ever had. Please don’t make these foods under the brand of the so called “South Indian”, we don’t make such bad food!!!

Review 4

Great Variety

When I think of south Indian food its the typical udipi restaurant that comes to my mind. Sankalp changes that stereo type. Though I didn’t eat non-veg but was happy to come across the same (Menu card). Something one doesn’t see at south Indian joints. Whats most refreshing is to get Indian food at Powai, place that is typically surrounded by shops and restaurants meant for NRIs! For once somebody thought to offer something very Indian. I found the dosas very filling. (I ordered the cheese-veg) forget the menu name. Though my friends n myself had to wait a little longer for waiting, but its worth it.
And yes with the ambiance and variety of food offered, I would rather go to Sankalp than Mac or KFC:)

Review 5

Ignoble

Let me begin with the conclusion. My first ignoble prize goes to Sankalp for sheer thoroughness in messing up. You need to be a genius to mess up every step of something, and at Sankalp, they excelled at it. Here’s how:

We were offered seats thirty minutes after committed time and the reason for the delay was : “The seats we have reserved for you are not getting vacant as the people there are taking longer than we thought”. This is like you entering a bakery and they telling you the bread they had reserved for you is not baked yet. Bad analogy but goes with their logic. For the same ingenious… read more

Review 6

Good Food

I’ts an authentic south Indian restaurant…the flavours are awesome and it isn’t very expensive. For the two of us, the bill came to 500 rupees. I think that’s reasonable. Try the spinach cheese garlic dosa and vakhar idli. I think this place is worth the moolah….service is not up to the mark though…my waiter didn’t know that there are so may flavours in Smirnoff vodka. So, when I asked him to get green apple Smirnoff he started looking at the menu. Over all, worth a try.

Source : Burp.com

By: Antoine Lewis. Date: 17 March 2010. Verdict: If you like dining in ominously dark places, you’ll really enjoy a meal at Kinkon Roccs Powai.

In all fairness, with a name like Kinkon Roccs you’re prepared for something strange. What you find at this numerologically-influenced restaurant borders somewhere between the bizarre and surreal.

The entire restaurant is designed to resemble a dark cavern, with King Kong’s life-size, 3D face and open palm stretching out on one wall.

On the ceiling, knobbly rays of a lava-like sun radiate threateningly into a starry night.

In one elevated corner, the head of the ferocious carnivorous velociraptor pops up as though surveying diners for a potential meal. The simian theme continues with swinging monkeys on the wall next to the multi-hued bar.

There didn’t seem much point asking the cowboy hat-toting waiters in black shirts and trousers for an explanation. Instead, we leafed through the Indian and Continental menu and chose a mix of the two.

We began with the Chicken Shikari Kabab (Rs 141), Jalapeno Pepper Chicken (Rs 116) and American Loaded Potatoes (Rs 105).

Peppery and sour, with slices of jalapeno peppers and cubes of mixed red and yellow peppers, the Jalapeno Chicken was odd and unappetising.

The Shikari Kabab, a less spiced version of a Hariyali, was juicy, and the American Loaded Potatoes made with scooped out potatoes, baked with a filling of corn niblets and diced potato mixed with a flavoured mayonnaise, was fantastic.

Opting to play safe, we chose Indian for main course and that turned out to be a good decision. It was pleasing to find that you could taste the ginger in the creamy Adraki Chicken (Rs 189), which was marked as a Chef’s Special.

The Kheema Mattar (Rs 139) though not great, wasn’t too greasy and adequately flavoured. Their Mutton Biryani (Rs 159) had an overdose of Kewra, and since it was savoury but smelt sweet, we added this to the odd-tasting list.

What came as a big surprise were the desserts, though they offered just four options: Gulab Jamuns, Jalebis with Rabri, Caramel Custard and Ice Cream.

The thick, smooth and only moderately custard (Rs 81) was excellent. Even better was the large serving of freshly made, piping hot Jalebis with creamy rabri that was sufficient to be shared.

Unfortunately, the service was a bit sloppy and the waiters not very perceptive.

Located next to a number of commercial buildings and call centres, Kiin Kon Roccs is fine when you’re tired after a long day and want to unwind.

It’s going to have to try much harder if it wants to attract customers from neighbouring suburbs.

AT: 101, Delta building, next to Olympia, Powai garden, Hiranandani, Powai.
Call: 40717157/58. Kiin Kon Roccs didn’t know we were there. The GUIDE reviews anonymously and pays for meals.

Article Source : http://www.mid-day.com/whatson/2010/mar/170310-meal-Kiin-Kon-Roccs-food-King-Kong.htm

Had been to Rude lounge yesterday with talkative friends; its not a place you want to go to have a talk with someone. But for the rest of it, its amazing! We called for 10 starters for the 5 of us, most of it was good; unaware of the main course. Here’s a quick review…

Serves: Continental, Indian, Drinks, Hookah, Live music/DJ
Where: Drive toward Powai on JVLR, Keep watching to your right after the L&T fly-over
Costs (per head): Rs. 700 (lots of starters, 1 cocktail, 1 dessert)
Ambience: Small place located in a corner, but big enough of 50 (Ground+1). Great view of Powai lake and the neck-lace road (Adi Shankaracharya Marg) from Level 1.
What’s Hot: Paneer & Broccoli in Black Sauce, Chicken Alfredo Paste, Veg Sheek Kebab, Chocolate Mousse
What else: Prawns Oyster Sauce, Decent cocktails & mocktails, Hariyali Stuffed Mushrooms
What’s Not: Waiters can’t suggest, Oven broken – so no Garlic bread, Alfredo Fussili was so-so

Reviewed by prasadgupte.com at http://mumbai.burrp.com