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  • Burrping since Oct 16, 2007
  • Burrping fromSanpada, Navi Mumbai

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Entrepreneur
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Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman!, by Richard P. Feynman iWoz, by Steve Wozniak The Professor and the Madman, by Simon Winchester James Herriott's Books iChing Calvin and Hobbes Comics Lust for Life, by Irving Stone The Agony and the Ecstasy, by Irving Stone Asterix Comics Getting Even, by Woody Allen Papillon, by Henri Charriere Family - The Ties that Bind... and Gag!, by Erma Bombeck The Grass is Always Greener over the Septic Tank, by Erma Bombeck Gerald Durrell's Books The Moon's a Balloon, by David Niven P. G. Wodehouse's Books
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Against The Wind - Bob Segar Angel - Lionel Richie Anything But Mine - Kenny Chesney Babylon - David Gray Cant Stay Away From You - Gloria Estafan Coming Around Again- Simon Webbe Dela - Johnny Clegg & Savuka Didi - Milk & Honey Dreams - Cranberries Faithfully - Journey How Do I Live - Leann Rimes I Drove All Night - Celine Dion I Love You Always Forever - Donna Lewis Kung Fu fighting (Dance Remix) - Techno Fatboy Slim Lost In Your Eyes - Debbie Gibson Missing You - John Waite Never Let You Go - Parent Trap - Jakaranda.m4a Out of Reach - Gabrielle Over The Mountains - Robertson Brothers Right Here Waiting - Marx, Richard Running On Empty - Jackson Browne Save The Last Dance For Me - Michael Bublé Send Me On My Way (Ice Age Soundtrack) - Rusted Root Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel Something Stupid - Robbie Williams Tarzan Boy - Baltimore Tender Heart - Lionel Richie The Edge of Forever - Richard Marx Tubthumping - Chumba Wamba White Flag - Dido Who Let The Dogs Out - Techno Remix Whole Again - Atomic Kitten You sang to me - Marc Anthony You're beautiful - James Blunt
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Favourite Foods
Chinese Italian Afghani Mediterranean
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Reviews by johncougar

Sep 01, 2008

Level 2, Forum Mall, Hosur Road, Koramangala, Bangalore

Poor

Poor compared to its Hyderabad branch

Having been to SSS in Hyderabad, I had high expectations of this one; I was let down with a resounding thump.

The quality of the food was poor to middling. Nothing to write home about. The paneer tikkas which were mouth-watering in Hyd's SSS, were hard, tasteless and cold here.

The lamb entree was good, and that was the highlight of the evening. The rotis were cold and rubbery, and the vegetarian entree (seemed to pass off as cauliflower) was, to put it kindly, rubbish.

The restaurant was plunged in darkness for several minutes - power cut? short circuit? Either way, the incident just worsened my experience.

The lighting was terrible. We had to squint and strain to read the menus. I finally had to pull out a pocket torch to read the menu.

The service was nothing great. The waiters were ignorant or ill-informed of the menu's contents, and the captains/head waiters were uncaring. At least they didn't spit in our food - let's be thankful for that.

Overall, a disappointing experience.

Aug 05, 2008

The Park, Sector 10, CBD Belapur, CBD-Belapur (W), Navi Mumbai

Excellent

Nearly perfect!!

Everything about this place is amazing!
Very good service.
Wide selection of alcohol.
Very good, imaginative cocktails.
Very good decor and ambiance.
Quiet, piped-in music, excellent choice/collection of songs.
Very good, extremely suitable, though small food menu to go with the drinks.

Why I hadn't heard about this place until now, beats me.

Jul 06, 2008

Lokmat Building, Sector 30, Sanpada, Navi Mumbai

Good

Good Indo-chinese food

My wife and I visited this place after reading innosense's and aarti's reviews, and boy, were they right!
After hunting for the place, being thoroughly drenched in one of Mumbai's regular downpours, soaked to the skin, yet hot, we were in no mood to be trifled with. We walked in 10 minutes before opening time, but they were very nice to us and let us in.
Golden Wok provided just the right food, excellent ambiance and acceptable service to put our moods back on track. The only dark cloud on this rainy day (pun intended) was that they didn't serve alcohol. Still, their Chinese Jasmine tea was not bad at all.
I've been to and lived in China, so I can tell you that the food isn't quite authentic Chinese. It is definitely Indo-chinese, with its abundance of garlic (that overpowers the taste of ginger) and Kashmiri chillis. Still, the taste is nothing to be sneezed at. After all, as Indians, we tend to prefer anything that has a hint of our own spices.
We ordered the Jade and Manchow soups, which were not bad. I've had slightly better Manchow soup elsewhere, and better Jade soup, but Golden Wok's soups are amongst the top 30%.
We ordered the prawn starters which were delicious, followed by the burnt garlic noodles and a chicken dish recommended by the waiter, and who's name I forget (the dish's, not the waiter's).
At this point I should mention that the service was merely acceptable. The waiters forgot our Chinese tea and had to be reminded several times, they brought us burnt garlic rice instead of noodles, and didn't bother serving us after the first time. They definitely need to improve that. Strangely, I've seen service this poor and much worse in better restaurants all over Mumbai. I wonder why that is.
Anyway, we went ahead with the burnt garlic rice ("in for a penny, in for a pound..."), and the fare turned out to be quite good!
The ambiance is quite good with bamboo plants all over and elegant mahogany furniture distributed amongst two levels/floors.
Overall, a pleasant experience. I'd definitely go there again.

Jun 18, 2008

Shop No 11 Mansarovar Bldg Grd Flr, Sector 17, Vashi, Navi Mumbai

Awful

Insult to China/Chinese/Indians

I wish I'd read the reviews of other Yo! China franchisees before going to this one. I was driving around Vashi having moved there recently, looking for a place to eat and decided to pass up the traditional McDonalds fare for something more spicy.

Huh! McDonalds on its worst day would've outstripped Yo! China by a mile and more.

Food:
Being aDimSum fan, I ordered ther 3 NV Dim Sums on the menu - and regretted it. They were stale (though hot), were because of the heat - I don't think they have any food preservation techniques like fridges and tasted weird (one was stuffed with chicked tikka!!! Sheesh!!)
Next the soup. Manchow and Sweet Corn Chicken. The less said the better. The soups were missing all the right taste ingredients, and seemed to be loaded with insipid vinegar and stale sweat.
Finally the main course. Veg Chowmein and a spicy chicken. The chowmein had gone bad. The green peppers in the chicken had gone bad. We had them replaced by fried rice that tasted like insipid veg pulao.

Ambiance:
AWFUL! No AC, just one rotating fan and smelly. The cleaning service person kept cleaning around the fan, following it to keep himself cool, thereby preventing the air from reaching me.
In Mumbai's humidity and sultry climate, it was murder in the restaurant.

Service:
Not so bad service. My waiter could even crack a smile or be courteous, though his replacement was better.
The original waiter brought the entree, left it there, then returned in 5 minutes and with no explanation, took it away. I assume to let it spoil. He then brought back another one.
There were too many waiters and cooks for an establishment that could seat maybe 20 on a good day.

Avoid the place like the plague.

Jun 17, 2008

2-A, Wellington Park, Wellington Road, Residency Road, Bangalore

Awful

The Casa is crumbling

I began going to this restaurant as a little tyke in shorts. Then, 2 decades ago, this place was quaint and clean, with good service and good food.

Over the years they've messed with their menu, changed waiters, changed the ambiance and changed the quality.
Like the Sensex lately, pretty much all are shot to hell.

The prices have gone up disproportionately when compared to the reduction in quantity and dismal quality. Cold soggy fries, stale salads and soups with microscopic proportions of veggies or meat are all that's left of this memory.

The service used to be good, but now is in the league of "dump-the-plate-down-with-a-slam-and-stalk-away". I guess the owner is more focused on his other restaurant (read *that* review!), and other businesses to give more than an rats-ass about this place.