Although most vegetarian restaurants would be stop-gap, temporary places for me to tide over this veg phase, there are a few joints which serve up some awesome vegetarian delicacies.
Aaswad is one such joint. Located at Gadkari Chowk in Dadar, it’s the place to go for authentic Maharashtrian fare. Don’t confuse Konkan/Gomantak cuisine with Maharashtrian cuisine. They are distinctly different in several aspects like place of origin and base ingredients amongst others.
For the purpose of this review I had taken a couple of friends, AD & G, along. I reckoned that this way I’d be able to taste a wider range of dishes. As we entered the restaurant, AD who is a Maharashtrian, immediately exclaimed that the place had undergone a marked change. Apparently it used to look like any run-of-the-mill eatery a few years back. That was hard for me to believe as the current interiors absolutely do not betray its dilapidated past. Air-conditioning, fairly comfortable chairs and a potpourri of décor bric-a-brac make the ambiance quite inviting. And what’s amazing is that no premium is charged for this.
The food is the high-point of Aaswad. We went straight for the main course and ordered Matki Usal and Dalimbi Usal (dishes using 2 different varieties of lentils), Bharli Wangi (an eggplant dish with gravy) and Batate chi Bhaji (a dry, potato preparation). These were accompanied with chapattis and steamed rice. We also placed an order for Masala Rice, a delicious concoction of rice, spices and a sprinkling of coriander, served with Raita (a condiment based on yoghurt). The extraordinary thing was that this food was extremely light on the stomach. We didn’t get that ‘heavy’ feeling that usually follows a full blown Punjabi meal. All the dishes got my hearty approval. However the best was yet to come.
The desserts. There aren’t enough words in my limited vocabulary which I could use in praise of the sweet treats that followed. Kharwas – an extremely light textured sweet dish, with a modicum of sugar and a dash of saffron. Gajar Halva – a sweet dish made from finely chopped carrots and milk and Dudhi Halva - a sweet dish made from finely chopped bottle gourd and milk. What a treat! Piyush (a curd based drink) is another item on the desert menu that is recommended.
Aaswad is one such joint. Located at Gadkari Chowk in Dadar, it’s the place to go for authentic Maharashtrian fare. Don’t confuse Konkan/Gomantak cuisine with Maharashtrian cuisine. They are distinctly different in several aspects like place of origin and base ingredients amongst others.
For the purpose of this review I had taken a couple of friends, AD & G, along. I reckoned that this way I’d be able to taste a wider range of dishes. As we entered the restaurant, AD who is a Maharashtrian, immediately exclaimed that the place had undergone a marked change. Apparently it used to look like any run-of-the-mill eatery a few years back. That was hard for me to believe as the current interiors absolutely do not betray its dilapidated past. Air-conditioning, fairly comfortable chairs and a potpourri of décor bric-a-brac make the ambiance quite inviting. And what’s amazing is that no premium is charged for this.
The food is the high-point of Aaswad. We went straight for the main course and ordered Matki Usal and Dalimbi Usal (dishes using 2 different varieties of lentils), Bharli Wangi (an eggplant dish with gravy) and Batate chi Bhaji (a dry, potato preparation). These were accompanied with chapattis and steamed rice. We also placed an order for Masala Rice, a delicious concoction of rice, spices and a sprinkling of coriander, served with Raita (a condiment based on yoghurt). The extraordinary thing was that this food was extremely light on the stomach. We didn’t get that ‘heavy’ feeling that usually follows a full blown Punjabi meal. All the dishes got my hearty approval. However the best was yet to come.
The desserts. There aren’t enough words in my limited vocabulary which I could use in praise of the sweet treats that followed. Kharwas – an extremely light textured sweet dish, with a modicum of sugar and a dash of saffron. Gajar Halva – a sweet dish made from finely chopped carrots and milk and Dudhi Halva - a sweet dish made from finely chopped bottle gourd and milk. What a treat! Piyush (a curd based drink) is another item on the desert menu that is recommended.
When the bill arrived we were taken aback – pleasantly. Barely Rs. 200 for all of the above items which served 3. What a steal!
The verdict’s out. Fantastic place for authentic Maharashtrian fare – tasty food, comfortable interiors and a very slim bill – you can’t ask for more!
Restaurant Class: Economy
Address: 252/D, Wavda Building, Gadkari Chowk,
L.J. Road, Dadar,
Mumbai – 400028
Tel No: 24451871
Free Home Delivery.
The verdict’s out. Fantastic place for authentic Maharashtrian fare – tasty food, comfortable interiors and a very slim bill – you can’t ask for more!
Restaurant Class: Economy
Address: 252/D, Wavda Building, Gadkari Chowk,
L.J. Road, Dadar,
Mumbai – 400028
Tel No: 24451871
Free Home Delivery.
4 comments:
Ok, firstly - THEY MADE AASWAD AC???
That being said, the next time you're there, have the Thaalipeeth with white butter. Yummmmmmmy stuff.
V
Oh yes, they have !!
Will def take your advice on the Thalipeeth !!
hmmm.. i completely agree too.. amazin food.. super lighttttt.....and yummy... and da dessers especially kharwas.. can eat 4-5 at a go i guess.....
The next time you get cravings for Maharashtrian food, do go try Trupti, opposite Plaza theatre in Dadar west. The menu is more extensive than Aswad and the prices are more or less the same. Go for it!
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