Restaurants in India
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A
Basilico
A très sleek, Euro-style bistro, Basilico whips up creative fresh pastas, salads and couscous that will make you melt. Vegies will flat out die – from either the wholesome green salad (mixed lettuce, corn, asparagus and sprouts with feta, lime and olive-oil dressing; Rs225) or the homemade mushroom and goat-cheese canelloni (Rs340). The coup de grâce? It’s also a bakery. The Bandra branch ([tel] 67039999, open noon to midnight) is on St John Rd, next to HDFC, Pali Naka.
reviewed
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B
Sam’s Café
On Vivek Hotel’s ground floor and (more atmospheric) rooftop, Sam’s does cracking breakfasts and is a tranquil place to hang; usually packed with travellers. The pizzas are a good bet.
reviewed
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C
Surjit
Famous tandoori chicken emporium serving hearty Punjabi curries.
reviewed
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Dal Roti
You’ll hear the buzz about this place before you even arrive in town – it’s the best food in Fort Cochin. Friendly and knowledgable owner Ramesh will hold your hand through his expansive North Indian menu, which even sports its own glossary, and help you dive in to his delicious range of vegetarian, eggetarian and nonvegetarian options. The setting is chic minimalist, with whitewashed walls and bench seating, helping you focus on the yummy dishes here.
reviewed
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E
Sher-E-Punjab
A cut above the usual lunch joint, Sher-E-Punjab caters to well-dressed locals with its generous, carefully spiced Indian dishes. There’s a pleasant garden terrace out the back, and an icy AC room if you’re feeling sticky. Try the delicious paneer tikka (Rs90) but note, if you’re hungering for snacks, that the fish fingers and chicken fingers are ‘seasonal only’.
reviewed
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F
Peacock Rooftop Restaurant
Overlooking Hathroi Fort – and most of Jaipur – this multilevel rooftop restaurant with an extraordinary peacock canopy has excellent views and food to match. Sit in the quirky iron furniture or upstairs in the romantic nook to enjoy superb Indian and Chinese dishes, or even a pizza. There are great value thalis (veg and nonveg starting at Rs50) and Western breakfasts.
reviewed
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G
Swati Snacks
This bustling old-timer has been revamped as a modern cafeteria for discerning grown-ups (all stainless steel and smooth wood). Try the delicious bhelpuri, panki chatni (savoury pancake steamed in a banana leaf) and homemade ice cream in delectable flavour combinations like rose-coconut-pineapple. Don't leave Mumbai without snacking here.
reviewed
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H
Whistling Teal
This restaurant with superlative curries and exemplary service is entered through the foyer of the Raj Palace Hotel. Set well back from the street in a putting-green-perfect garden, here you can drink cocktails or smoke a hookah in saddles at the bar. The espresso coffee is the real thing – there is also a small coffee bar fronting Bhattiyani Chohtta.
reviewed
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I
Shankara Vegis Restaurant
Another Taj Ganj old-timer, this rooftop vegetarian restaurant does a shockingly good thali (Rs90) and comes with a laid-back atmosphere, a view of the Taj (just about) and games like chess and carrom (a table-top game in which fingers are used to flick playing pieces across a powered board and into corner pockets).
reviewed
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J
Goa Portuguesa
A visit to this restaurant, which specialises in fiery Portuguese-inspired dishes, is almost as good as making the trip to Goa. Next door, its partner business, Culture Curry, offers all kinds of curries from around India. Guitar-strumming musicians and singers wander between the two connected spaces.
reviewed
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Lassiwala
This milky institution is a simple little place that whips up fabulous, creamy lassis (yoghurt and filtered iced-water drink) served in clay cups. Will the real Lassiwala please stand up? It’s the one that says ‘Shop 312’, directly next to the alleyway; imitators spread to the right as you face it.
reviewed
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L
Haldiram’s
With a clean, bright cafe-restaurant upstairs, this is a handy spot for a top-notch thali (Rs98) or some tasty South Indian cuisine. Downstairs is great for namkin (savouries) and mithai (sweets) on the dash. Try the soan papadi (flaky sweet with almond and pistachio).
reviewed
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Peter Cat
Opposite KFC, this phenomenally popular Kolkata institution offers fizzing sizzlers, great chelo -kebabs (barbequed fingers of spiced, ground-lamb) and beers quaffed from pewter tankards. Waiters wear Rajasthani costumes in an atmosphere redolent of a mood-lit 1970s steakhouse.
reviewed
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Pizzeria Vaatika Cafe
Sit in the shady garden terrace overlooking Assi Ghat while you munch your way through top-notch pizza baked in a wood-fired oven. None of that thick-crust nonsense here – it’s all thin and crispy, as every pizza should be. Don’t forget to leave some room for the delicious apple pie.
reviewed
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O
On the Rocks
This leafy garden restaurant (candle-lit in the evening) is frequented by families and tour groups. It has tasty Indian cuisine, including lots of barbecue options, a small playground and a cave-like bar, Rocktails (open 7.30pm to 11pm), with a dance floor (couples only).
reviewed
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P
Paradise
Well known for its authentic Assamese cuisine, its thali is the best way to get a lot of small tasters. Assamese food is not a lip tingler like typical Indian food and for some this cuisine can seem rather bland, but it’s the subtleties you’re after rather than the heat.
reviewed
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Q
Cafe Edelweiss
The Savage Garden folks run this itsy piece of Europe that appeals to homesick and discerning travellers. The cake tray, including cinnamon rolls, apple pies and chocolate cake, disappears quickly, and it’s tough to get a seat. The coffee (Rs30 to Rs40) is pretty good.
reviewed
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R
Kalinga Restaurant
This restaurant near the train station is smart and popular, with a bright, classy ambience and AC. It has a well-stocked bar, and tasty veg and nonveg North Indian dishes – tandoori and curries. Try the lal maans, a mouthwatering Rajasthani mutton curry.
reviewed
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Café Coffee Day
A pleasant enough place to escape the heat, this wannabe sleek joint offers a half-decent cappuccino (Rs44) along with a range of cakes, including the suitably ’70s Black Forest Gateau (Rs44), reminiscent of the era when Colva was still cool.
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Paradise Restaurant
Nothing flash about this place with plastic chairs, but the food’s good – the mulai kofta (mashed potato balls with onion, spices and curry sauce) particularly so – and it serves booze (beer Rs. 130, cocktails from Rs. 95).
reviewed
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Hotel Venite Restaurant
With colourful graffiti covered walls and half a dozen tiny balconies hanging over the street this Latin flavoured restaurant is the perfect spot to pause for one of their delicious milkshakes and a light snack.
reviewed
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Shamyana Restaurant
Set back from the Blvd, Shamyana serves up top-notch Mughlai and Chinese food in a bright, comfortable dining room. The house rogon josh (lamb and tomato curry) is a veritable feast.
reviewed
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Gulati
Gulati maintains a largely North Indian focus. Stand-outs to try include the tangri kebab (charcoal-grilled chicken drumsticks) and dum aloo (stuffed potatoes).
reviewed
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Cafe Orange Boom
Just past Cafe Diogo, on the opposite side of the road, this nice little place has good food and friendly service, with a useful noticeboard for catching up on Anjunan goings-on.
reviewed
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Café Coffee Day
A fine place to loll and natter over endless cups of hot brew and brownies. The icy granitas will quench even the most savage summer thirst. There are citywide branches galore.
reviewed