Rated: Good
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Nov 08, 2007
Sereeeeeene!
Yesterday was my second visit (the first one was almost 3 years ago!) to this literally exotic restaurant atop Yeoor Hills in Thane. Of all the places in Mumbai to eat, drink and make merry, this one stands tall... only for its cool, calm and imposing solitude... open-air dining... a small pond with fishes (not catch-worthy I pray!).. wooden furnishing... live classical music... and a good selection of food.
Directions: Eastern Express Highway - Toll Naka - First flyover - Left turn for Cadbury's - Straight road up - Blink-and-you-miss left for the hill
It's always a pleasant ride up the Yeoor hill... a curious leopard may just be there to greet you... the mammoth-sized mosquitoes and other unassuming crawlies invariably buzz around each corner you take... the ever-so-sweet croaking of wild, desi kermits amplified in the jungles at 2200 hrs... Moral of the story - No two wheelers and car windows up.. ALWAYS!
Now for the restaurant.. after the aura sunk in, I decided to sink myself in some chilled beer... so while the lady had a Hawaiian punch (concoction of all juices- seasonal or other) I for some strange reasons was vapouring about how lovely the evening seemed to be and how my in-laws were the most perfect set of individuals on the planet... She got it. The second 'Kingfisher Strong' was cancelled!
For starters, we (read she) ordered the boring Spring roll which turned out amazingly well-cooked... and also quite a bit on the plate too. Frankly, I don't remember much of the spring rolls but my charred tongue surely does! (am ashamed of what a beer did to me). Later, some parathas and a recommended Tava Paneer with a lavish spread of black pepper... don't remember the gravy!
But I do recollect that I read the menu (although the lights were real bad) and I think you get your regular Indian food. They have some Chinese ones too with a choice of 4-5 sauces and my sincere apologies for this handicap of not being able to name any.
Great experience... the best ambience I've seen in a modest restaurant for quite a while... the duo playing the sitar & tabla were above-average (don't know if they do any vocals or farmaish)... the food was average... but it's the whole package that makes me give it a 4 star rating... Some 800 bucks for the stuff we had...
P.S. Flouting some traffic norms, I still decided to drive the way back home... with little regards to the hills, I may have scared the sh** out of those guys on their way up... but what the heck!
