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Review: Dr Bubbles Chai Specialist

Bubble tea is relatively unknown in Mumbai. We checked out a bubble tea cafe in Bandra but were left slightly disappointed.
by Ritika Bhandari Parekh

Rating: 3 out of 5

There is a new doctor in town and he goes by the name ‘Dr Bubbles Chai Specialist’. Serving bubble tea in the queen of suburbs, the nondescript joint is located right opposite the Marks and Spencer showroom at Bandra’s Hill Road.

The concept of bubble tea caught the Mumbai crowd’s attention courtesy the new wok take-away restaurants mushrooming at every nook and corner.

Bubble tea is basically a drink that has the base of a tea mixed with milk and fruit jellies (or tapioca balls) to chew on. Introduced in Taiwan, bubble tea is a fairly new concept in Mumbai.

Bubble teaOn entering Dr Bubbles Chai Specialist, we were greeted by smiling, white lab coat-wearing doctors (they are not real doctors, don’t worry). One rattled off the rehearsed menu of Milk-based Bubble tea (priced at Rs150) and Fruit-based Bubble tea at (Rs 130). Dark chocolate, white chocolate, tapioca bubbles, mango bubbles, kiwi jelly, pineapple jelly were some of the available topping options. The jellies are vegetarian-friendly and are made from aloe vera.

Green melon, raspberry, passion fruit, strawberry are the other options for the fruit-based flavours. The milk tea choices are vanilla, rose, Irish, masala chai, jasmine, chocolate and hazelnut.

The owner readily helped us with suggestions. On asking why he chose to specialise in bubble tea, he said that it was a different idea than the regular cafes. Heeding his advice, we ordered the Hazelnut milk tea with tapioca and the Litchi fruit tea topped with Kiwi jelly.

The place suddenly started whirring with activity as our chais were being concocted. They put on a show of adding syrups from huge bottles and blending the crushed ice rigorously. A few shakes here and there, and the drinks were sent to be sealed off in a curious machine. They asked our preferred straw colour and we went to sit in their outside seating area.

The the first sip of the Litchi fruit tea topped with kiwi jelly was refreshing. It was sweet but not too much. The bursts of kiwi jelly went quite well with the litchi flavour.

But we were disappointed with the Hazelnut tea as it was heavy and the taste was lacklustre. The tapioca balls were very chewy and we had second thoughts about the topping. The milk tea was also a bit bland in taste. Maybe in our bid to settle for a less sweet version, we made the wrong choice.

Call it pearl milk tea or boba milk tea, the variants are many. But Dr Bubbles Chai Specialist will need to be spot-on in its suggestion mantra. The chais and toppings need to better pairing for customers to revisit.

The Metrognome reviews restaurants and cafes anonymously and pays for its meals.

(Pictures courtesy Ritika Bhandari Parekh)

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5 must-visit burger joints in Mumbai

Mumbai is spoilt for choice when it comes to burger options. We pick 5 little-known places for your eating pleasure.
by Ravi Shet

Burgers are awesome. Vegetarian or not, they are sumptuous and addictive. We went burger-hopping recently and came across 5  places in the city where you can munch scrumptious burgers.

Here is our list, in no particular order.

  1. Café Free India, Lower Parel

Veg Parmaggiano Burger_Cafe Free IndiaThis place has yellow and white walls with wooden chairs and tables, and is situated opposite Deepak Cinema. It was founded by Sachin Roche in May 2012. All their burgers have hand-made patties and are accompanied by fries. Their Veg Parmaggiano Burger (Rs 260) consisting of vegetarian fried patty topped with a tomato concasse and parmesan crust, Juicy Lucy Chicken (Rs 275) consisting of crumb fried patty filled with Swiss and cheddar cheese and Crunchy Cajun Chicken Burger (Rs 275) consisting of cornflakes-crusted chicken breast with a Cajun rub are worth trying out. Sachin says that all patties are hand-made and nothing is kept frozen so that customers can enjoy fresh patties. He also adds that he keeps on experimenting with the patties so that he can offer customers different options.

  1. Meltz Treatz, Kandivali (West)

Serving 100% vegetarian burgers from January 2015, this place is located at Mahavir Nagar, next to Sukh Sagar Restaurant and near D-Mart. Co-owned by Indian Spiced Oats & Moong Dal Burger_Meltz Treatzfranchise owners Nirmala Valavan, Jaya Bhalchandran, Parvati Vishwanthan and Mukund Sadrani, this place is open on all days from 12 pm to 11 pm serving customers vegetarian burgers in four different buns – Foccacia, Seeded Burger Buns, Multi-grain and Italian Herbs and cheese.

Their Curried Vegetable Burger (Rs 59) consists of veggies having flavours from northern part of India, Chick Peas and Spinach Burger (Rs 59) and Indian Spiced Oats and Moong Dal Burger (Rs 79) are my best picks for their taste and flavours. Nirmala says that the outlet was started to serve healthy burgers which are not easily available at most places.

  1. The Big Burger, Powai

The Big Burger_The Big BurgerThis outlet is situated at Hakone Children’s Park, Hiranandani Garden and is founded by Nick Bagga in 2010. They serve grilled meat burgers in chicken or mutton, as well as paneer and crispy vegetarian burgers. Italian Chicken Burger (Rs 160) consisting of chicken, pesto mayo and mozzarella and The Big Burger (Rs 250) consists of two portions of mutton meat and a cheese slice, and are really worth trying out.

Also, the Punjabi Burger (Rs 90) consisting of corn and palak with spicy mint sauce is a good treat for vegetarians. Nick says that the recipes for patties and sauces are his.

  1. The Good Food Co., Vile Parle (East)

Founded in December 2011 by Anuj Jodhani, this place is located at Nehru Road, opposite Brijwasi Sweets. It serves 100% vegetarian burgers. Simply Vego Burger (Rs 50), Corn Cheese Surprise Burger (Rs 100) and Mexicano Burger (Rs 100) are great eats here. Anuj says that the menu comprises only 5 vegetarian burgers, but all are hits among the customers. The outlet plans to add more burger options soon.

  1. Urban Burger 11, Goregaon (West)

At a walkable distance from Goregaon railway station, this outlet at Aarey Road has been serving vegetarian and non-vegetarian burgers from March 2015. Burger_Urban Burger 11Minty Veg Burger (Rs 45), Chicken Burger (Rs 45) and Chicken Schezwan Burger (Rs 55) are my best picks from here. The patties are hand-made. Hitesh Patel, owner of the outlet says that he wants to introduce more options and is currently experimenting on various combinations.

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5 restaurants for awesome pizza in Mumbai

If you love pizza – and there is hardly anyone who doesn’t – you should check out these lesser-known eateries.
by Ravi Shet

Originally from Italy, pizzas – loaded with cheese and toppings – have always been a hit among Indians. Be it a birthday party or a farewell event, people are quick to order pizza – the more cheese, the tastier it becomes!

Since we love pizzas so much, here’s a list of 5 lesser-known pizza joints in Mumbai. Go ahead, satisfy that craving!

  1. Chilli Flakes, Dadar (East)

Pizza_Chilli FlakesSituated near Five Gardens, this place is founded by Areez Patel in April 2011. They have been serving gourmet style 8”, 10” and 12”pizzas to their customers on all days from 11 am to 11 pm. Their Santa Fe Veg Pizza (Rs 190 for 8”) topped with tortilla chips, onion, roasted pepper, tomato, roasted garlic and coriander and Pesto Shrimp and Chicken Pizza (Rs 260 for 8”) with alfredo pesto sauce on the base and topped with bell pepper, mushroom, chicken, chilli garlic shrimp are really worth the price.

  1. Laziz Pizza, Lower Parel

This outlet founded in March 2014 is at a walkable distance from Lower Parel railway station and opposite Peninsula Laziz-E-Super Veg_Laziz PizzaCorporate Park. They serve fresh pan based pizzas in 6”, 8” and 10” sizes along with the option of thin crust pizzas from 10 am to 10 pm, except for Saturdays. Laziz-E-Super Veg Pizza (Rs 160 for 6”) – loaded with cheese, baby corn, black olive, sweet corn, onion and capsicum and Laziz-E-Hurricane Pizza (Rs 220 for 6”) consisting of cheese, chicken tikka, spicy chicken keema and onion are really worth trying. Also they have a Make-Your-Own-Pizza option, called the Laziz-E-Special Farmaish priced at Rs 200 for 6”. Sagar Shah, franchise owner says that evenings are busy affairs on Fridays and Sundays, along with regular delivery orders by people working in the corporate park.

  1. Pizza Box, Vile Parle (East)

Pizza Cone_Pizza BoxFounded by four women – Uma Joshi, Vaishali Samant (playback singer of Aika Dajiba fame), Kirti Joshi and Sarita Dande – in November 2014, this place has been an instant hit among the people residing in the area. Located at Hanuman Road near ICICI Bank, this place is open on all days from 11 am to 11.30 pm and serves 7”, 9”and 12” pizzas. Their Pahadi Chicken Pizza (Rs 275 for 7”) consisting of chicken in green chutney, onion and capsicum and Balsamic Mushroom Pizza (Rs 250 for 7”) loaded with mushrooms in balsamic reduction are seriously yummy. The Paneer Peri-Peri Cone (Rs 50) is a pizza made into cone shape and stuffed with paneer, onion and capsicum. Uma says, “Our Millet Sprout Pizza and Millet Chicken Pizza with the bajra base is a new addition to the menu, especially for health conscious people.”

  1. Pizza Cafe, Khar (West)

This place was founded by father-daughter duo Ali Charania and Shabana Charania in May 2015, and it is located off Pav Bhaji Pizza_Pizza CafeLinking Road next to Den. It is open on all days from 11 am to 11 pm serving 7”, 9’ and 11” pizzas. The Pav Bhaji Pizza (Rs 390 for 9”) is a double decker pizza soaked in butter, vegetables, masala and onion and Lucknow Chicken Keema (Rs 275 for 7”) loaded with chicken keema, onion, tomato, capsicum, cheese and coriander are gastronomical delights. Shabana says, “The evenings and late nights are busy, especially on weekends.”

  1. 1 Tablespoon, Matunga

This place situated behind Aurora theatre has been serving its customers 100% vegetarian pizzas from August 2012. They serve only 11” pizzas in Artisanal and Italian crusts. Blowing Fire (Rs 350 for Italian crust) having tomato sauce at the base and topped with green capsicum, onions, mushrooms, jalapenos, cheese and tandoori paneer and Fiamma Pizza (Rs 310 for Artisanal crust) having tomato sauce at the base and topped with crispy onions, cheese, chilli flakes and green chillies are my best picks here. Varun Sheth, owner of the eatery, says, “This restaurant started out with passion and love for pizzas. Rather than keeping more options, we have stuck to a simple menu so that we can deliver consistently in terms of taste and experience to our customers.”

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5 must-visit cupcake joints in Mumbai

If you love cupcakes and want to explore some new options, we’ve compiled a list of little-known places for you. Enjoy!
by Ravi Shet

They are small, happy and cute – no wonder Mumbai loves cupcakes. Be it birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries or any other occasions, cupcakes are ubiquitous. They are even being customised to suit customers’ preferences.

Check out these five places for a cupcake fix in the city.

  1. Cake ‘O’ Licious, Borivali West

Cupcake_Cake'O'Licious, BorivaliThis place is situated at Chikuwadi and was founded by Aniket Shinde in January 2014. This outlet is open on all days from 10 am to 10 pm. Their Red Velvet Cheese Cupcake (Rs 25) with cream cheese frosting and Gooey Chocolate Cupcake (Rs 20) with butter and chocolate frosting are really worth trying. Aniket says, “We keep mini cupcakes, since they are pocket friendly. I also want to introduce new flavours.”

  1. Crumbilicious, Colaba

This place near to Colaba Post Office has been serving cupcakes from November 2013 and is open on all days from 11 am to 10 pm. Oreo Cupcake (Rs 100) with white chocolate frosting topped with Oreo biscuits and the Almond Caramel Cupcake (Rs 100) will definitely make your day. For people who are conscious about calories, there is a good collection of mini cupcakes (see image above). Sanah Ahuja Mohan, owner of the place says, “The Oreo Cupcake, Red Velvet Cupcake and Almond Caramel Cupcake are hot sellers, and the mini cupcakes are a hit since it gives people the chance to taste other flavours. Our focus is on quality right from sourcing the ingredients to the baking process and selling the product to customers.”

  1. Cup Cake Factory, Bandra (West)

Situated opposite Gold’s Gym, this outlet was founded in October 2014 by mother-son duo Rita and Aditya Sujan. It is open from 11.30 am to 11.30 pm on all Peanut Butter Cupcake_Cup Cake Factorydays, except for Tuesdays. Their Boston Cream Cupcake (Rs 70) – its center filled with vanilla custard and frosting of dark chocolate – and Peanut Butter Cupcake (Rs 70) – vanilla cake with peanut butter – are simply yummy. In each bite, you can sense a perfect balance of sweetness in the frosting and the freshness of ingredients. Aditya says, “We experiment with different flavours so that people get more options to explore. If, at the end of the day, something is left unsold, we distribute it to needy people and nearby NGOs, rather than throwing it away and leaving someone hungry.”

  1. Love Sugar & Dough (LSD), Vile Parle (East)

Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes, LSDAt a walkable distance from Vile Parle railway station, this outlet has been in existence from August 2013. All products served at this outlet are eggless. The Chocolate Blast Cupcake (Rs 20) and Red Velvet Cupcake (Rs 20) are very good. Sunita Shroff, Franchise Owner of the outlet says that mornings and evenings are usually crowded with students who come to the nearby classes and families come over on weekends.

  1. Sugar The Patisserie, Santacruz (West)

Situated opposite Santacruz Police Station, this place is founded by Ketaki Likhite in August 2013. It is open on all Rainbow Cupcake_Sugar The Patisseriedays from 11.30 am to 11 pm. Vanilla Ginger Cupcake (Rs 30) with butter cream frosting and ginger candies is the cupcake of the month. Rose Cupcake (Rs 30) with rose cream cheese frosting and Chocolate Cupcake (Rs 30) with dark chocolate frosting are heavenly. Ketaki says, “We don’t compromise on quality at any cost. I am happy when parents order from us or bring their children to us to pacify them.”

(Pictures courtesy Ravi Shet)

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5 must-visit chai places in Mumbai

The rains have arrived in Mumbai, and it’s time to have hot, piping chai. We give you 5 excellent options.
by Ravi Shet

Today, you probably woke up to sheets of rain and gloomy grey skies – the perfect setting for a hot cup of chai! There’s nothing more soothing to the palate than a lovingly made cup of tea flavoured with ginger and elaichi or just lightly brewed.

If you’re looking for a good chai place this season, let us help you out – in no particular order, we bring you a mix of five old and new places serving authentic Indian and international teas.

  1. Cafe Colony Stores and Restaurant, Dadar East

Irani Chai n Bun Maska, Cafe ColonyWooden furniture, glass jars filled with mawa cakes, khari and loaves of fresh brun pao…this Irani cafe is located near the corner of Hindu Colony and close to Tilak Bridge. Agha Nazariyan, owner of the place had bought this cafe in the 1960s; however the cafe has been in existence from 1933. Agha is very well supported by his children, the trio of brother and sisters – elder sister Bibi Sadhat, followed by Mirza and younger sister Bibi Fotehmeh. Mirza says, “We are open all days from 6 am to 10.30 pm to serve authentic and quality Irani food. My sisters man the counter and running the show makes me proud.”

Bibi Fotehmeh says that the milk comes from Parsi Diary Farm and Amul butter is used for bun maska. “Our food is not so expensive, which helps us cater to all sections of people,” she adds. Their Bun Maska (Rs 20) generously loaded with butter and dipped in Irani Tea (Rs 15) is an awesome combination. Also try their Kheema Pao (Rs 70).

  1. Madina Hotel, Mahim West

Founded in 1975, this eatery with yellow benches and tables opens at 5.30 am and downs its shutters by 11:30 pm. It is located opposite Paradise Cinema. Their Appam (Rs 8) clubbed with well spiced and flavoured Vegetable Stew (Rs 25) is great, along with Special Tea (Rs 20) made from tea powder, sugar and milk without any added water. You will not leave the place without having two of their Special Teas. Krishnan, who has been running the eatery for the past 33 years, says, “Regular customers or new ones, everyone loves our Special Tea. Plus, I am serving good quality food at a reasonable price.”

  1. Tapri Tea Lounge, Sion

This place situated at TV Chidambaram Marg is a short walk from Sion Railway station. Co-founded by Priyanka Bhutra-Milak and Mayur Milak in September Truck Driver's Chai_Tapri Tea Lounge2013, this place has been serving different varieties of tea to its customers from 10 am to 11 pm on all days. Mayur says, “Despite being known as a tea nation, we hardly find dedicated tea cafes in the city. Hence we came up with this place to serve tea lovers a wide range of authentic tea.” He adds that all their preparations are made from mineral water and Tetra Pak milk to enhance quality. I loved their Kulhad Masala Chai (Rs 64), served in authentic kulhads, as also their Truck Driver’s Chai (Rs 64), a strong ginger-clove tea. Also try their Kashmiri Kahwa (Rs 85) are really worth trying, as also their air fried French fries (Rs 76). The place has a good collection of imported teas such as Ceylon Tea and Blooming Tea. In addition to this, they have a free Wi-Fi service along with Archie’s comics, Uno cards and other indoor games at each table which help you dawdle at your table while sipping your chai.

  1. Tea & Tea, Juhu

This little place in Juhu near the ISKCON Temple is the brainchild of the husband-wife duo –Gaurang Vora and Viya Vora. Viya says, “We both were in the Masala Tea, Tea & Teahospitality industry and saw that over the years, only dedicated coffee outlets were mushrooming. There were very few tea cafes, so we started Tea & Tea in May 2014.” The place is open on all days from 10.30 am to 10 pm. “People in this city should have access to Indian and international teas, and they must also know the benefits of consuming tea,” Viya adds.

Do try their hot selling items Mom’s Special Tea (Rs 70) which has home-made tea masala prepared by Gaurang’s mother, and Cleopatra’s Champagne – Cammomile (Rs 150), sourced from Egypt, which relaxes you with every sip. If you are health conscious, try their Detox Tea (Rs 110) which comprises green tea, ginger, lemon grass and burdock. If you prefer your tea cold, try their Passion Fruit Iced Tea (Rs 120). Parle-G biscuits are served with Indian teas while butter cookies are served with other teas. Play Uno or read books available here in between sips.

  1. Tea Villa, Vile Parle East

Micky Panjwani and Roopanshi Bhatt, both event management professionals, founded this place in August 2014. It opens at 10 am every day and is a short walk from Vile Parle railway station. Micky says, “When we used to work, we never found good tea places where you could relax while you have your chai. So we started this place, where you could come with family and friends.” Roopanshi adds, “We started out serving Indian teas as well as premium ones such as Berry Blush Tea, Moon White Tea and side dishes; however customers demanded milkshakes, pastas, waffles and so on.” Their Mint Tea (Rs 120, in main picture above) and Kashmiri Saffron Kahwa (Rs 220) are really worth trying owing to their fresh ingredients. Also savour Bun Maska (Rs 70), Punjabi Samosa (Rs 75) and Peri Peri French Fries (Rs 120) if you’re hungry as well. They offer free Wi-Fi too.

(Pictures courtesy Ravi Shet)

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Review: Paratha Mantra

Love parathas? Want to taste some really succulent ones, with some strange combinations of ingredients? This paratha outlet’s for you.
by Ravi Shet

If you are one of those people trawling the length and breadth of Mumbai for some really awesome parathas, then Paratha Mantra is the right place to satiate your cravings. This vegetarian outlet situated near Kala Ghoda has unusual parathas on offer, such as Pizza Paratha, Pav Bhaji Paratha, Vada Pav Paratha, etc., along with some DIY options like Make Your Own Parathas and Diet Parathas. They’re trying to cater to various palates and needs, and that’s great.

Paratha_Paratha MantraAfter mulling over the menu for a while, I decided to order the Bhavnagari Paratha (Rs 191) which is served with raita and pickle. It was yummy, to say the least; the fusion of bhavnagari chivda with paratha was balanced flawlessly. All the parathas made in this outlet use wheat – no maida is used. Their Dal Makhani (Rs 262) was perfectly spiced, rich in taste and flavour, really worth trying out.

On the desserts front, their Chocolate Paratha (Rs 262) is a show-stealer, perfectly filled with chocolate stuffing and topped with chocolate sauce in circular rings. I thought it was worth every rupee spent. I highly recommend this dessert if you’re visiting this outlet.

The place has a good vibe and décor, with vivid lighting to catch the eye and friendly service to match the food. I’ve already decided what my next meal at this place will be: their famous Pizza Paratha (Rs 191). With Chocolate Paratha for dessert, of course.

Head to Navbharat House, 6/8 Burjorji Bharuch Marg, Military Square Lane, Fort. The Metrognome reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for its meals.

(Pictures courtesy Ravi Shet and Paratha Mantra)

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