Lower Patel has got an amazing hideout with best Hookahs and Rooftop Experience : TRE Lounge, Mumbai

Lower Parel is known as the food hub of Mumbai with great places that have excellent ratings and often seen as a weekend option by those residing in the suburbs. Raghuvanshi mills which houses many other popular eateries and restaurants has an all-new Vegetarian - lounge with breezy rooftop section for sheesha for best of experience.

                   

The dingy and congested entrance beside Fumes and Panaya Restaurant may betray your perception about this place. But once you climb up the stairs, this place will bound you with its playful vibe and chic interiors.

The place has 2 sections, The 1st floor is mainly for dining & casual meetings, welcomes you with a beautiful bar counter, warm-lit interior with bricked wall, cozy yet uneasy sofas and contemporary interiors altogether. It was full of energy on Saturdays night & weekends.

The 2nd floor being an open terrace/rooftop area is mainly for sheeshas with separate bar area to enjoy beautiful skyline of Mumbai. With the grey tiled floor, while decor and marble seatings all around the corner - the rooftop area will appease you with alluring experience.

At TRE, you can catch up with your friends while experimenting the amazing dining experience. This place is going to catch up with its rooftop section & Hookahs but food & service are something that needs attention.

They have elaborate options in appetizers whereas Main Couse was limited to a few varieties of Pizza, Pasta, Risotto & Rice. The same have jain options as well. From starters, we had Alio Olio Corns, Garlic Pulla Pie,  Tre Tandoori Tikka, Laffas, Pin wheel tortilla & mushrooms alio olio - liked the apetizers/starters but quite ordinary nothing special.

The Wild Mushroom Risotto and Pasta Alfredo which we have tried can be missed. TRE special Rice seemed like a hybrid version of Biryani in Makhani sauce was good.

The plethora of innovative and unique option that TRE have in Drinks, is amazing. I loved the 'Mango Saffron' - a heady mixture of 'Mango pulp & Dark Rum’. Honestly saying, I love dark rum & gin. Pan angoori was amazing so was The house special LIIT's. In moctails, don't forget to try the Green Apple Lemonade.

Overall, it's an amazing place but need to buckle up the service and some improvement in the food is required. With mesmerizing sheesh & ambiance, I truly wish a more welcoming and attentive attitude from staff.

PS - Music surely sets the mood, playlist gets loud after 11pm. They also have valet parking

Pa Pa Ya, Lower Parel : Whether it is introducing your taste buds to Japanese cuisine or getting to know it better, Pa Pa Ya is among Top city food critics suggestions for Japanese Fare.

While Indian & Italian cuisine may have been Mumbai diner's favorite for years,  Japanese and oriental cuisine is proving to be a hit amongst culinary enthusiasts in Mumbai, especially the young and the health conscious. Although, many of the ingredients have to be imported, making it an expensive proposition.

          

Pa Pa Ya is one such restaurant where you can not only introduce your tastebuds to Japanese & Asian cuisine but also get to know it better ensuring its tastiness.

Pa Pa Ya is a classy affair. Stood at palladium mall, Lower Parel.The restaurant is always full and there is a long waiting generally. The whole service scape is well layered out with good hexagon dim lights(That keep changing because of projection mapping) and vibrant coloured seating which go well with the music and whole concept of the resto-bar.

Coming to food, the menu is well curated and one will have good options in all parts of the meal - (even a specially curated menu for Jains). You can choose from a wide spread of flavors from Thailand, Myanmar, Korea, Japan, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore.

You may know less about sushi and its variations and that is where the service comes handy. The waiters and managers help in suggesting exotic sushi dishes according to your tastebuds. With sushi burger, sushi pizza, this is a place where you can introduce your taste buds or even get to know sushi better.

Even the drinks will leave you wanting more. Molecular Gastronomy adds on flavors, feel, textures and visuals that enhances the drink and make the drinker’s experience more intresting.

In all the experience at Pa Pa Ya was great, something pleasantly different and I would recommend everyone to go there with friends or family and enjoy the twist and turns of sushi.

Ps- Before the meal, the server will provide you a small glass filled with watermelon and basil juice which apparently helps in cleansing ones tastebuds and prepare you for experiencing the different taste of sushi dishes.

A bigger and better outlet of Belstone is another new addition in

Raghuvanshi Mill compound that also houses multiple other eateries.

           

From being a small outlet, they have recently transformed in a lavishly spaced restaurant serving a variety of scrumptious cuisines coupled with an elegant ambience and multiple seating spaces. They have mindfully designed the place which can accommodate different group sizes from a table for 2 to a gathering for 100 people. This new outlet has three dining areas, private dining areas to a banquet for a big gathering.

Banta Masala Soa

We were invited to try this new outlet. Being a vegetarian restaurant, the menu is pocket-friendly and incorporates dishes with a twist that has a distinct and a modern touch which suits the present day lifestyle. Food  & drinks are perfectly complemented with interesting presentations. 

Recommended for all age and all types of get together, this place has a bright & vibrant settings with some great music in backdrop, that makes this place more lively.

Belstone has mocktails and shakes with some interesting and engaging presentation – like 'Khulja Sim Sim' which is a set of 4 mocktail that comes to you in a mysterious red box, 'Saza Ya Maza' which is served in shot glasses around a miniaturised roulette. Overall drinks were at par, nothing great than the presentations.

Must try : Mango Pulse – it is like sipping down the Mango Bite Candy.

Mango Pulse

Speaking about the food, there are a lot of options to choose from and so we ordered as per Servers recommendations. We have tried 'Andar kuch Bahar kuch',  ‘Belstone Sandwich’, Tawa Pav Bhaji & Paneer shashlik sizzler.

Belstone Sandwich

The food to the most part is great. But they have added few dishes in their new menu, which needs a little overhaul. We loved everything that was served and quite surprised after looking at the amazing presentation of 'tawa pav Bhaji'( a must try).

Paneer Shashlik Sizzler

Vanilla with chunks of brownie

PS – Definitely a hot-spot for all vegetarians and Jains, and place to be experienced once !!

The Bombay Canteen, Lower Parel.

This place has a classy and quirky look with a formal ambience. This review has been due for a longer time  and now I am happy to finally round it off. As I am writing this review, my mouth is watering just thinking about the food.

The yellow rickshaw at the entrance with high Ceilings and bricked wall give it an old Bombay look. As it is tucked in kamla mill compound you can except some corporate crowd at day time and on weekends this restaurant runs full and you might have to wait a little to get a table (They dont take  reservations).
   

Honestly speaking, I got confused with the menu as it contained things which I generally avoid eating at home -arbi, baingans, the legendary ALU Vadi which I am avoiding since I was born. and some which I eat very often being a punjabi - Gobi, parathas, sarson ka saag etc etc..
As I was with one of my hard core Vegetarian friend - the non-veg was out of bound for me..


It took me a little while as I was going through the menu again and again in search of something that is different and I can order.

We started off with the Egg Kejriwal as it seemed simple yet it was an  amazing affair. The thepala Tacos and kutchi Dabeli were good and something innovative.
For drinks I have called for a Passion Fruit Ice tea and it was refreshing and brilliant.

Every dish is unique and has a whole different taste - just like the varied culture of our Country. The staff was courteous and patient enough and guided us through the menu and recommend some of the good dishes. The service is very efficient and well organised as they knew the servers has to spend a good amount of time recommend and guiding guest through the simple yet complicated menu.
Speaking about the main course
The crispy Alu Vadi's dunked in a subtle and lightly spiced Dahi Curry and served with a side portion of Kandha poha

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I missed their Kothu Roti with the pumpin Gravy but sadly they have removed it from their menu and  was Disappointed that i couldn't try their "Sea food bhel" as i sworn upon my best friend that i will try this as i visit this place.

The Gulab nut and chai popsicles were the perfect end to this gastronomical fare.


PS - Old world  charm gets complimented very well by the contemporary rich indian Cuisine - Might not be everyone's cup of tea but this is the place if you are looking for desi food with a twist.