| Locality | Churchgate |
|---|---|
| Place Type | Restaurant |
| Food Type | Snacks, Indian, European |
| Timings | 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. |
| Price |
|
Oct 31, 2007
Tea Centre at Resham Bhavan is nestled inside this old edifice for quite a while... so old that people have forgotten its existence. This is one place that I wish I had frequented more (Sydenham is just a lane away)... but as luck and 'money-making-pursuits' would have it, yesterday was only my third visit.
Now, I'm not a tea-drinker (3 cups including the one yesterday in this lifetime!)... but something made me try the stuff on one hot October afternoon. I have always had the ' Crunchy Cottage cheese kebabs' and this was on my wish list (and later on my plate) again... A classy open sandwich with cheese and gherkin (means 'pickled cucumber' if I've spelt it right) was indeed a treat.. The portions (kebab and sandwich) are large and beautifully served along with some great chutney.
As for the tea, I didn't mind that at all.. Going by the waiter's reccomendation, we ordered the CTC version of the Broken Orange Pekoe (au lait, of course) since I didn't fancy any exotic one... It was strong with a distinct aroma of freshness... (reminded me of the Tea Estate in Ooty.. although this was not a Nilgiri tea)... If you order for the pot tea for 2 cups you end up getting 4... (generous as I think the management is)
Other stuff - Darjeeling tea (exotic), Assam tea (strong) and Nilgiri tea (aromatic)... also available are your regular teas and a bigger selection of stuff to eat!
4 cups of quality tea, two large-portion tasty snacks and two hours of relaxed time - Rs. 250!
Aug 26, 2007
I strongly believe that tea is to India, what wines are to France, and its about time we start promoting a tea drinking culture. There are certainly enough varieties of tea available in the world for connoisseurs to keep themselves occupied for long hours with their aromas and flavours! We need more places like the Tea Centre to stand tall amidst the proliferation of the Barista's and Cafe Coffee Days of the world.
The Tea Centre is run by the Tea Board of India, and the British Raj influence is rather evident in the overall ambiance of the place. The walls are adorned with interesting facts about tea, and the tea drinking culture of India. The waiters wear the traditional livery that one associates with an era bygone (including the turban). Each table has a silver bell which can be used to beckon the waiters.
Tea:
The Tea Centre boasts of an authentic and wide variety of teas from various parts of India. If you have trouble understanding your orange pekoes from nilgiris, the helpful waiters are ever on their toes to help you out with your choice. We had a pot of 'broken orange pekoe' with a bit of milk.
Food:
The food includes Indian and Continental fare. The continental stuff is not all that authentic, but sure tastes good. Do try out the roast chicken, which is served with bread, boiled vegetables and mashed potatoes. The prawns on toast is an excellent starter to get those taste buds in form.
Ambience:
The Tea Centre has an excellent ambiance suited for those who like a quiet, luxurious evening in the company of friends or even a book. I think it would make good destination for a business meeting too.
Bonus tip: There is a tea shop which is attached to the Tea Centre, where you can buy some authentic stuff (Nilgiri tea anyone?)
Overall score:
Food: 4/5
Tea: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Ambiance: 5/5
Price: reasonable