There are restaurants that provide good food, then there are restaurants that provide good experience. I am happy to find one that balances both aspects of dining with ease and finesse. Welcome to Rasovara – the high quality thali by Rajdhani. Priced at Rs 630 per head, it is surely not for the faint hearted.
I am not an ardent thali hunter, but I have had quite a few across India – from the formal restaurants in Mumbai to the dusty bylanes of Tumkur. Rajdhani stands tall amongst the above average Thali restaurants, but lacks consistency across various locations. So when I heard about the Rasovara, and the high quality food it is said to dish out, I had to give it a try. Rasovara is is a flagship restaurant from the Rajdhani Team, conceptualized to provide a luxury thali experience to its guests. The restaurant is beautifully designed with artistic interiors decorated with modern lighting. I usually find most thali restaurants (including most Rajdhani restaurants) dull and ordinary, so was quite happy to see them offer something bright and fresh with Rasovara.
The tables were laid out well, with ample room and some amount of privacy. Conversations were flowing easily across other tables without me overhearing any saucy gossip. At the table, a large banana leaf adorned brass plate, numerous saucers and a neatly rolled napkin invited me to begin the feast. The ‘captain’ of my table welcomed me to Rasovara, and with a signal to his troops, initiated the proceedings. A digital tablet was presented showcasing the menu of the day, which is a cost effective and environmentally friendly practice, as I am told, Rasovara serves about 70 menu sets across the year, ensuring that one does not get to taste the same menu twice.
A simple fresh lime welcome drink done with, I moved to sample the Farsan. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised at the onset. The food was fresh, tasty and served with care – not dumped in my plate like most Thali restaurants would do. The sandwich tikki was delicious, so was the Dahi Wada. Next came the daal baati churma, which was prepared on my plate by two staff members, and definitely the best I have ever had. The texture was crunchy, taste balanced and the dish overall mildly spicy to suit my taste buds. I wanted to ask for seconds, but the task ahead was daunting to say the least – and I needed my organs to save themselves for the onslaught.
The Main Course was diverse as expected, with signature dishes from Rajasthan and Gujarat being served with aplomb. The one thing that brought about the royalty in the experience was the approach to service. The staff was engaging, personal but never in my face. At one point a staff member expressed utter disbelief upon my refusal to our ghee over my phulkas, his gesture truely honest and not out of a tele soap opera. My winning dishes were the Paneer Pasanda, Gatta Jaipuri, Fried Dal, and the Muthiya Vatana. While the phulkas were great, I was blown away by the taste and texture of the Puran Poli. It was neither too sweet nor did it go cheap with too much wheat. It was warm, soft and blissful.
Going through my fourth chaas, I realized the speed at which my plate was being refilled. The staff is efficient, and not even once did I have to call out for anyone. This has never happened to me at even the Rajdhani.
The desserts were average from my standards, but far higher in quality than other restaurants. I guess my bar had been raised far enough for me to be critical of their desserts. The anjeer barfi was quite hard and difficult to cut. The Jalebi was hot, thin and crispy – just perfect closure to the meal. The fruit srikhand was perfect in flavour and thickness.
I have to say this was by far my best thali experience yet, and truly memorable.
Ratings (Out of 5)
Food: 4.0 | Ambience: 4.0 | Service: 4.5 | Overall: 4.0
Meal for two: Rs. 1260 | Alcohol: No | Credit Card: Yes | Timings: 12 Noon to 3:30 PM, 7 PM to 11 PM
Address: Rasovara, 3rd Floor, Palladium Mall, Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, Mumbai | Phone: 022 40802118
