Kwality - Mixed feelings

Continuing with my eats down memory lane was at Kwality in Worli the other day. Coincidentally it was with a bunch of really old friends. The first thing that struck me was that the average age of the staff was plus 50. I mean I know its a old restaurant but never seen so many old waiters. Anyway onto the food. The kebabs were so so. The Seekh could have been spectacular but the meat was a bit dry. The main course was very good. The Alu Ghosht was good, the dal makhani so so and I have been informed that the Paneer Bhurji was amongst the best Paneer Bhurji ever. Post Delhi I am not a Paneer fan so I really have no opinion there. The Chicken drumstick was succulent while the fish was a tad over fried. All in all a good trip down memory lane as opposed to the really bad trip that was Flora

Jai Hind ki Sena

Observant mumbaikars would have noticed that Jai Hind Lunch Homes are proliferating all over. As of last count there were 5 of them. 3 of them are in sequential order on Tulsi Pipe Road. Coming from Worli - The first and IMHO the lousiest is the one opposite Kamala Mills. Crowded as heck and fish with no zing. The second and the original one is at Prabhadevi just before Shaitan Chowki (Not strictly on Tulsi Pipe but in the generic area). This is closer to the roots and crowded with Bhau's ani Vahinis on weekends and weeknights. My new new favourite is opposite Kohinoor Institute just a wee bit down from Mhatre Pen Building. Uniquely its the only Jai Hind with a bar attached. The place used to be a quarter bar before and much of the crowd is a hangover from them days. Definitely not suitable for families unless you have a non discerning one. The food there is definitely way better than most other joints.

On a lazy Saturday afternoon the place was packed with quarters of McDowell No 1 the most popular main course. The AC section had halfs of McDowell No 1 but that was the only difference. The food though was incredible. Super fresh Surmai done just right both fried as well as in the ambot tik. Brilliant bombils, perfect pomfret (As you can see practice does not make perfect in my case) and a surprising bangda. All of this washed down with KF. Incidentally the alcohol comes with nothing extra ( a good thing in my opinion as I share the Indian weakness for anything free and ruin my appetite).

The best part was at the end - Outside of the bill which was about 1k for 6 fish dishes and 2 beers with chappatis and rice, I asked the friendly waiter for dessert options. The look on his face was like "Desserts? We don't do no steenkin desserts".