Mumbai is a city where lunch is more than a habit, it is almost a culture. From Dabbawallahs to take-away restaurants, each one has created a niche for themselves catering to the demands of their eager diners. However, in the rush to provide timely meals, many compromise on the authenticity of the cuisine they provide.
Most of the afternoons, this is the constant fight in our office, while I like my Indian food, the heavy spices used in most of the places is quite a put off and can’t be had every day. Unfortunately the Thai, Chinese and Italian food that I find in most of the take-away joints, are so Indianized that after a while one tends to give up on them as well.
Recently I tried this new place called Meal Bbox Café which boasts of Asian, Italian and some Indian cuisine. The order was placed well ahead of time and it was delivered within the time frame that was promised to us.
The Café talks of being passionate about its food and the menu has some very novel items on its list such as Cottage Steak Ratatouille and Chicken Stroganoff which one seldom sees in the take away menus anywhere. We had ordered accordingly, choosing some of very interesting dishes from the menu. Here is a rundown of our experiences.
Though the food delivered was quite warm, the packing was run of the mill. Each box was correctly marked but the writing was a bit challenging to decipher. This is one department where major improvements can be made.
We ordered – Coronation Lamb (a lamb and chicken salami in mushroom gravy preparation), Veg Ala Indiana (paneer and veg in creamy gravy with some curry leaves tempering),Veg Burnt Garlic Rice with Veg Red Thai Curry, Chicken Stroganoff, and Chicken Cordon Bleu.
I found the Coronation Lamb a bit under seasoned and a heavy handed on the oregano. The slices of lamb were chewier than what I would have preferred. The Veg a la Indiana was a great dish; the Indian twist to this sauce was subtle, I just wished that the paneer was slightly fried before being dunked into the sauce. The Red Thai Curry was surprisingly sweet but the Burnt Garlic Rice accompanying it was wholesome and delicious.
The two dishes that stood out magnificently through our meal were the Chicken Stroganoff and Chicken Cordon Bleu. The stroganoff was extremely delicious, creamy and flavorsome with hint of red chilies that gave it a subtle kick. The chicken in the cordon bleu was cooked well all the way, retaining its juiciness and flavors. The sauce seemed to have a Chinese twist to it with an overdose of garlic. Somehow I thoroughly enjoyed this twist, the only downside in this dish was the grilled veggies where the potatoes were a bit raw.
The portion size is sufficient for two; the flavors are quite subtle without the spices being overpowering. A couple of hits and misses here and there, but overall a good takeaway option in the otherwise bleak segment of take-away joints; surely a good value for money place.
Ratings (Out of 5)
Food: 3 | Ambience: N/A| Service: 3.5| Overall: 3
Meal for Two without Alcohol: Rs.800 plus taxes| Alcohol: No | Credit Card: Yes|
Address: 11, Near Trade Centre, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai
Telephone: 022 30151880
Disclaimer: This review was done on an invitation from the restaurant. Due judgment and care has been applied by the author to remain objective and unbiased in the review; however readers may exercise their own discretion.11, Near Trade Centre, Bandra Kurla Complex, and Mumbai
Pawan Shahri Ameya Mahajani