The Hungry Cancerian

Flavors Resto Bar- Hotel Yogi Metropolitan, Navi Mumbai

By tesrygkhl' - 3/06/2017

Flavors, being a part of Yogi Group of Hotels defines what great fine dines are made of!

The restaurant is located off Sion-Trombay highway, across Sanpada railway station. This elegant property must be over a decade old, and our memory as a kid reminds us of how spacious this restaurant was earlier.

The recent revamp bought in a partition which divides the property in a spacious banquet and a plush, modern-aged restaurant. Nevertheless, the service and food remain as good as they were before!

The ambience post revamp looks amazing and dynamic, consisting of bright lights & Italian Marble clad pillars.

They have a bar menu suited for everyone's drink preferences, dealing with excellent variety of imported as well as domestic liquors & cocktails.

Moving on to their food, we've always been flattered by the dishes that are been served here.

Here's a quick list of our favorites at Flavors-

Flavors Special Kebab

Flavors Special Kebab- Tender, succulent pieces of boneless Chicken marinated in finest quality of spices and grilled on Tandoor.

Flavors Special Kebab

This dish looks appealing just by it's textures and presentation! Absolutely recommended by Team The Hungry Cancerian.

Flora Tandoori

Flora Tandoori- Large Broccoli strands, grilled on Tandoor and plated in an artistic manner along with 3 varieties of dips. Simple, yet tasted outstanding!

Bikaneri Seekh Kebab

Bikaneri Seekh Kebab- A unique concept of Seekh which consists ingredients like- minced vegetables, mashed with cottage cheese & kalimiri and rolled on skewers. The crispy coating on the Seekh was superb which added a crunch to the kebabs.

Paneer Hilltop

Paneer Hilltop- Cottage cheese stuffed spinach, coriander, other Indian spices and coated with thick marinate of yogurt and various masalas. The spices reached in-depth of the Paneer, in spite them being cut in such big cubes. This is probably a no-brainer for us when it comes to calling for vegetarian starters.

Veg Lotus, Fruity Sangria (L) & Mint Mojito (R)

Veg Lotus- If you're a vegetarian food enthusiast and would love to explore the menu a little further, simply go ahead with Veg Lotus.

Small cubes of cottage cheese cooked in Chinese style sauce and stuffed in a lotus shaped crispy basket. Oh boy, this was so good yet filling! The paneer stuffing was simply mouth-watering with tons of flavors to entice our palates.

Team The Hungry Cancerian recommended!

We also tried a few mocktails, as shown below:

Fruity Sangria- If you're a lover of fruits, this is the perfect Mocktail to opt for. An ideal drink to sip on a hot, sunny day or on a calm evening date. This drink tastes beyond perfection and definitely ringed the bell for us! (Refer previous picture)

Mint Mojito

Mint Mojito- Your regular mojito infused with refreshing minty flavors and a dash of lime. Served chilled in a classic Mason Jar.

Red & Green

Red & Green- A unique combination of Watermelon juice and Kiwi syrup. What makes this drink awesome is its colourful appearance as the thick Kiwi syrup forms the base, and watermelon juice that floats on top of it. The only drawback was that the Kiwi syrup was extremely thick, which made it difficult to mix the two liquids. Thus, causing inconvenience while drinking.

Well, this isn't it; as we now proceed to share our experience with mains:

Indian Main Course dishes

Featured in this picture are all their signature Indian dishes. Roti Basket, Subz Diwani Handi, Murgh Musallam, Paneer Lababdar & Dal Tadka (Clock-wise)

Be it from there Veg or Non Veg dishes, this place has an amazing variety for all. We really loved the quantity and taste of these Indian main course dishes.

Apart from Indian cuisine, we sampled a few International cuisines too..

Penne Barbaresca Pasta

Penne Barbaresca Pasta- Pasta boiled to perfection, and sauted in a creamy sauce. It tasted absolutely fine!

Prawns in Green sauce with Veg Singapore Rice

Prawns in Green Sauce with Veg Singapore Rice- The aromatic Prawns gravy was enough to make us fall in love with it. Neatly presented in a clay pot with lid on, so it remains warm. The Singapore rice was literally like a medley of authentic Singaporean spices. Both together, made a kickass combo and tasted delectable!

Sizzling Chocolate Brownie

Sizzling Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Ice cream was served to wind up our meal. Rare are those places, which know how to bake their brownies right! One such among them is Flavors- which serves the most gooey and fudgy brownies. Don't miss out on it!

The servers and staff members were extremely polite and friendly. Our hostess, Ms. Mary was an extremely sweet person who helped us make this dining experience pleasurable! Also, Mr. Ravi- the restaurant Manager is one such friendly and coordinating person, who explained us about every new dish and pointed out the signature ones. The service was quick and the entire 3 course meal went on smooth and quick.

Ms. Mary posing for a picture

We liked pretty much everything about this place, and have hardly anything to complain about! So if you're a resident of Navi Mumbai or on a visit to our city, you just have to stop by this restaurant to experience the best of food in Navi Mumbai!

How to get there:

The restaurant's location is very much noticeable as it is clearly visible from Sion-Trombay highway, and just half a kilometre away from Sanpada Railway station..

Address:

Hotel Yogi Metropolitan, Sector 24, Opposite Sanpada Railway station, Sanpada, Navi Mumbai.

Cost:

INR 2,000 for two people (including drinks)

Our overall verdict for 'Flavors Resto Bar' is 5/5.

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bay view restaurant

Enjoy a lavish Buffet at this restaurant with a breathtaking view of Mumbai's iconic Marine Drive!

By tesrygkhl' - 2/23/2017

'Tis not everyday that you get a chance to relish a cuisine you've never tried before. Reviewing different cuisines across different places has made us accustomed to the idea of discovering a new dish each time. And this time it was about discovering a new cuisine altogether!

Regional Corner

Recently we were privileged to sample the buffet dinner hosted at The Bayview Restaurant at Hotel Marine Plaza. What's new about this buffet is that they've recently introduced a 'Regional Corner' section. This section of the buffet is hosted every Monday with a new Indian-origin Cuisine ranging from Maharashtrian to Bengali, Awadhi, Hyderabadi and so on..

On our visit to the lavish property last Monday, we were treated to some authentic Oriyan Cuisine.

To be honest, we had never tried Oriyan food before. Hence we're certainly not the right ones to judge it. But as far as we'd heard and read about it, it definitely matched that level of expectation!

Vegetable Raita

The Buffet consisted of Cold cuts, Salads, Sushi, Asian Gravys and Rice, Chaat counter, an entire counter for Oriyan food, and a decent variety of Desserts.

Samosa Chaat

Watermelon Shots

While the entire buffet was a treat for our eyes & palates, we enjoyed our Oriyan meal the most.

Following were the dishes that we tried-

Oriyan Thaali

Aloo Porwal Rassa
Machatakari
Chicheda
Dalma
Ghee Bhaat
Kheer
Rasogolla
Meetha Paan

The combination of Dalma & Ghee Bhaat was fantastic beyond words. So delicious and flavor-packed, that we considered over eating it.

Apart from these, we also loved Aloo Porwal Rassa the most, because it seemed exactly what homemade food tastes like.

The Machatakari is a fish curry based Oriyan delicacy which was finger licking good.

Regional Cuisine Desserts

And lastly the desserts- both Kheer & Rasogolla left us speechless. Extremely delicious, that it felt like we've migrated to the lands of East India.

International Desserts

So we're saying..

Grab this delicious Buffet everyday at the restaurant that flaunts a breathtaking view of the Queen's Necklace, that too at modest prices!

Mon-Sat (Lunch): Rs. 1750

Mon-Sun (Dinner): Rs. 1750

And if you're a food enthusiast like us who loves trying different cuisines, visit this place every Monday to pamper your taste-buds.

Regional Cuisine schedule-

27th February, 2017: Bengali Cuisine

6th March, 2017: Hyderabadi Cuisine.

P.S. The Oriyan Cuisine will be scheduled again in March.

For reservations, contact- 022 22851212

Address: Hotel Marine Plaza, 29, Marine Drive, Churchgate, Mumbai.

The Hungry Cancerian verdict for 'The Bayview Restaurant' is 4/5.

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Asian food

This newly-opened restaurant serves the BEST Sushi in Navi Mumbai. Check it out below!

By tesrygkhl' - 2/22/2017

With raging food trends across Navi Mumbai, we now have a brand new Family Restaurant & Bar at Satra Plaza.

'Young Chilli' is located on the ground floor of the very spacious Satra Plaza. The restaurant being a month old, is the newest baby on the block and a brain-child of ex-restaurateurs of The Oriental Hub.

Just like how one expects a family restaurant to be, Young Chilli is a notch above that. Brightly lit ambience, spacious seating arrangement and a beautiful bar section that lights up the premise.

They also have large projectors for live match screenings. So walk in with your family or friends, this place is sure to entertain all sorts of age groups!

Coming to the food menu, it is as vast as 27 pages that is multi-cuisine and caters to all taste preferences. Cuisines ranging from Continental to Asian, Italian & North Indian are served here..

Young Chilli Kiwi Margarita

We began with Mocktails viz. Young Chilli Kiwi Margarita & Green Apple respectively.

Both being fruit-based mocktails were exceptionally refreshing, chilled and sweet. Full marks for the former drink's presentation!

Green Apple

For starters, we were spoilt for choice- as the variety was never ending. We were recommended by their management to try the Japanese cuisine, so we ended up calling for Sushi.

Asparagus Tempura Rolls

Asparagus Tempura Rolls- Sushi rolled up with cucumber, Asparagus & Cream cheese which indeed was a tasty affair.

Prawns Tempura Rolls (L) & Salmon Avocado Rolls (R)

Prawns Tempura Rolls & Salmon Avocado Rolls - These lovely platters of Sushi that we had were so good, that each bite was like a party in our mouth! Crunchy, salty yet sour, and the rice stuck perfectly on to Nori sheets.

We'd certainly recommend everyone to try the Sushis here!

Non Veg Dim Sum Basket

To further satiate our Asian food cravings, we moved on to sample Dimsums. To get a taste of most varieties of Dimsums, we ordered for Non Veg Dimsum Basket which consisted of 12 peices and 4 varieties of Dimsums, namely- Peking Pouched Chicken Dumplings, Chicken & Basil dumpling, Spicy chicken & celery dumplings and Prawns Sui Mai.

This platter tasted as great as it looked. The steamed dumplings were served warm & fresh with a magical aroma.

Aromatic Garlic Chicken

The next thing that we loved was Aromatic Garlic Chicken which is crisp, marinated chicken wok tossed in garlic and dried chilli.

Barbecue Chicken Wings

Barbecue Chicken Wings- Classic Chicken Wings marinated and cooked in an in-house BBQ sauce. The sauce was excellent with smokey flavors.

Paneer Chilly Dry

Paneer Chilli Dry- This is probably the best option for Vegetarians for its delicious and melt-in-mouth Paneer textures.

Veg Burmese Khow Suey

For Main Course, we tried Veg Burmese Khow Suey.

Traditional Khow Suey cooked in Coconut milk, delicately spiced and served along with an array of various contrasting condiments.

The taste & texture of the broth was superb and tastes best with Chilli Oil.

Young Chilli Special Pizza

And to wrap up with mains, we opted for Young Chilli Special Pizza. This Pizza is somewhat similar to half and half concept with mixed toppings of BBQ chicken and Chicken Chilly. The crust was crisp and perfect, but the variations in toppings sadly didn't match our palates.

We concluded our meal with an array of desserts that we've eaten like never before..

Chocolate Rolls

Chocolate Rolls- Chocolate Brownie crumbs wrapped in spring rolls sheets, shallow fried and topped with Hershey's chocolate syrup. We loved the idea behind this dessert, but these rolls could've been a little more moist and gooey.

Tub Tim Grob

Tub Tim Grob- The most famous Thai dessert, which is made of cubes of water chestnuts coated in a red colored syrup. This coconut milk based dessert at Young Chilli was so refreshing and delicious. This one's absolutely recommended by Team The Hungry Cancerian!

Our overall experience at Young Chilli was outstanding! The prices are comparatively reasonable and the ambience is nicely done. Young Chilli seems a promising place, and suitable for family/friends' get-togethers, large groups & kids friendly.

The Hungry Cancerian verdict for Young Chilli is 4.5/5.

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cake

PDT- Please Don't Tell, Lower Parel

By tesrygkhl' - 2/04/2017

Nestled in the Kamala Mills compound, PDT is one of the most happening places in South Bombay.

What makes this place awesome is it's beautiful vibe, rustic yet eye-pleasing decor, and an attractive entrance. Speaking of which, there's a bright, red in color telephone booth placed at the entrance. One has to step inside the booth as the phone rings, you answer and someone from across speaks. That's how they let you in. We found this concept legit awesome!

We began with a round of cocktails which were labelled as below-

Esoterica

Esoterica: Vodka based cocktail infused in Sambuca with a punch of Orange & Cranberry juice. It's somewhat similar to 'Sex On The Beach', but more stronger and tastes bitter-sweet.

P.D.T. Old Fashioned

P.D.T Old Fashioned: This one's typically a concoction of Whiskey and Orange juice. It is very strong, flavorful and certainly not for the faint hearted.

As we digged in the food menu, which is undoubtedly a vast one.. We noticed a large variety of cuisines ranging from Italian, European, and even North Indian.

Prawn Star

Prawn Star: For those who love Bacon, this appetizer would most definitely leave your mind blown! Prawns wrapped in bacon and served on sticks. We loved the smokey flavor and tender textures. Highly recommended by Team The Hungry Cancerian!

Street Secret

Street Secret: Mini Vada Pavs arranged in a large tray with pudina Chutney, gunpowder and green chillies. One simply cannot miss these on their visit to PDT, firstly for it's fabulous presentation and the mild, garlicky taste of vadapav.

Shroom with a View

Shroom with a View: This appetizer was definitely the highlight of our meal. Sponge-like soft of open sandwiches stacked one above the other, made with rosemary & rocksalt focaccia topped with cheese & mushroom and drizzled with Balsamic reduction. The creamy toppings and crispy yet flavorful bread was indeed a treat to our tastebuds. Recommended!

Party Girl

Party Girl: Macaroni tossed in Carbonara sauce with Prawns. This Pasta looks just like your regular Mac and Cheese, but differs in terms of taste. Satisfactory, yet nothing very special about it..

French 75

French 75: An amazing concoction of Gin, Sparkling Wine & Lime juice.

This drink is a treat for all wine aficionados out there for it's potent and excellent flavours!

Puzzle Guzzle

Puzzle Guzzle: Vodka with homemade ginger syrup, mint springs with a dash of lime & grape fruit. This cocktail was pretty refreshing and chilled.

Tipsy Fish & Chips

Tipsy Fish and Chips: Beer battered fish served with fries and tartar dip. The fries were perfectly crisp and light, somehow the fish preparation let us down due to its extremely oily coating.

Dark Chocolate Cake

For desserts, we weren't left with much option. So we picked on to the old classic- Dark Chocolate Cake. We loved it for it's Gooey & layery texture, and would certainly recommend everyone to try!

Our overall experience at PDT was enchanting! We're surely coming back for more.