CANDIES - BANDRA - BOMBAY Review

Have you ever tried to describe the real Bandra ?

One can talk of the quaint old cottages, swaying palm trees all down Carter Road, Bandstand, the old Bandra Village, Pali

Village, Chuim Village, Shirley Rajan, the D’monte Park, the St.Andrew’s, the St. Stanislaus, the St. Peter’s, the St.Theresa’s, the Mount Mary’s churches and then you can’t but reminisce the ageless Mac Ronell Hall where I have fond memories of lovely Ball dances that took place on it’s roof top terrace with music that was truly foottapping and immemorial like ’the house with the bamboo door’ and ’these shoes are meant for dancing’ and some great Frank Sinatra classics.

Now we can walk down to the same Mac Ronnell’s and saunter into the most hip and happening Meeting place of the Sandras of Bandra.

Laid back - with split level terrace seating area under a natural canopy of greenery and chirping birds, cool pleasant and very very rejuvenating. A secret hideout in Paradise that beckons and envelops you with its quaint charm and surreal locale in the very heart of Bandra.

True blue Goan fare coupled with some fantastic continental food and an ambience thats to die for. Cool, languid, pleasant and teeming with youngsters and old alike, this is the place to really hangout with friends and savour some real delicacies.

I highly recommend the chicken strogannof-a creamy cheesy boneless preperation that’s a melt in your mouth steamy affair d’amour.

Lasagne Verdi for the Vegans, and the ample variety in rolls, rotis, wraps and puffs will keep my vegeterain friends satiated and hungry for more.

The chicken biryani is a novelty, because it blends the typical biryani culture with a tangy Goan flavour that’s unique to this place.

Goa Fish Curry served with par boiled rice is excellent coconut gravy based pomfret thats a lip smacking treat. And at prices that are truly value for money. Today I returned home pot bellied after polishing off this item with a burp and a smile.

Try the Dragon Chicken for succulent soft boneless chicken in red and sweet chinese sauce (tad oily) but delicious served with small bread buns. (INR 90/-)

An average mini meal like the one above would cost about 90/- and includes a healthy portion of rice and sufficient gravy and fish for a complete meal with salad of sliced onion rings and cucumber carrots juliened.

The rolls and croissants for about 40/- to 60/- also deserve a mention for their taste, quality, freshness and stuffed fillings.

Water them down with some iced tea in peach, lemon and original flavour or with some fresh lime soda.

They have ample choice for desserts that’ll make you go weak in your knees for the sheer variety in mousse, puddings, eclairs and so much more. For the chocolicious, I highly recommend the Chocolate lava and the sticky chocolate brownie or the chocolate lemon tart (only 30/- measly bucks) ... oooh Yummy !

Ample seating inside, decent parking in the narrow bylanes. Good choice of trance and lounge music with pleasant air conditioning and mood lighting.

They do give home delivery but be prepared for about 45 mins delivery time on saturdays and sundays.

They have their original outlet near Petit School and another one at Reclamation near Lilavati Hospital. But the one place that you wanna see and be seen at is at the foot hills of Pali near D’monte Park (next to Learner’s academy)

Bon Apetit !

Raja