If any one would have told me that one day you will go out to have veg thali, I would have just burst out laughing.
I am strictly non vegetarian when it comes to dinner outing.
But it changed. The last month of 2015 made it possible.
We had a team outing and somehow 1 more non veg lover like me, Robert, had a thought to taste veg thali. After discussing many options we finalised Maharaja Bhog at inorbit mall, Malad.
Just outside the restaurant are some fine paintings which will attract you.
Don't know how but those paintings gave me a positive feeling that this dinner would be memorable. It happened too.
Once you enter the restaurant you have a feeling that you have come to Royal place. The interior majorly in shades of yellow, will make you feel that you are in the vintage era.
Once you take the seat a waiter will come with big brass vessels. Those were to wash your hands. He will pour water from the brass jug and you just have the feeling of "wow.." I am treated great.
The next thing come to you is the welcome drink in a brass glass.
The server told us that this is special sharbat made of Chandan (sandal wood)and keshar (saffron). Heavenly.. no other word suits it. It was not less than nectar.
Then comes the dishes. The dishes, the bowls, all are made of brass. It was really looking superb even with those empty dishes.
And here comes the food. We were first served with Khaman Dhokla, khandavi and a chirimiri with 3 different chatanees. Chirimiri - a small patice like thing which had stuffing inside and outer covering of flour. Baked finely and tasted delicious. I was not too keen to have it first but when I tasted it, I had atleast 4 more.
The dhokla was good too. Then they started with a list of food items. The list is tempting and enough to activate your taste buds. Misal, Papad, Dal, Kadhee, 3 vegetables. Roti, Puri, 2 sweets, butter milk, rice, khichadi and I am sure I have still missed 2-3 items. The thali when full was looking so rich and heavy that I felt I shall have to parcel half of this. But the food was amazingly great and I couldn't stop myself from overeating. If I write about each one I shall have to practically divide this blog in 3 parts.
I did not find any of the stuff mentioned above which was below the expectations barring the pickle. That was the only weak link in the whole menu.
The Dal was thick and it tasted great with both Roti and Rice. Potato subjee had a different masala and it was nice too. But the highlight of the menu was the bitter guard. I had never found bitter guard so much in demand in so many years. To reduce its bitterness the chef had smartly used shredded coconut and little of garlic.
The bengali sweet was mouth watering and it made all of us forget the calorie count for the day. The khichadi with homemade ghee was one more superb combination that was great in taste.
One more thing needs a mention was the server and the waiters. They were very warm and insisting us to have food compliantly. They made us believe that "Atithi devo bhav" written on their aprons was not just for show and they mean it.
After the dinner again one of the waiter came with that brass vessel to wash hands. We were really feeling as if we are from the Royal Family. Then came the meethaa paan. It had clove in it to digest the food and and to aid as mouth freshener.
The share per person was around INR 400. For such amazing food and service it is definitely more than worth.
After having such rich, delicious and heavy dinner it was impossible to move out immediately. So we decided to sit there and had a chat with colleagues. We were there for minimum 15-20 mins even after the bill was paid and no one came to disturb us or there was no such sign to make us feel that you are done and its time for you to go.
Finally we had to move but with the plan of coming with family or with friends again..
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