On the occasion of Onam, the Malayali new year, Anjana Vaswani scoured Mumbai's Southie eateries to figure what they are serving up
On the occasion of Onam, the Malayali new year, Anjana Vaswani scoured Mumbai's Southie eateries to figure what they are serving up
26 traditional treats at hotel deluxe:
Though the menu at this unobtrusive little eatery tucked away in a bylane at Fort, usually has an interesting variety of non-vegetarian food, on September 2, between 11.30 am and 3.30 pm, the specialty here will be the Onasadya Thaali, priced at Rs 160. The fixed menu will include 26 traditional, pure-vegetarian treats.u00a0
At: 28, SBS Road, near Hitkari House, Fort.
Call: 22042351 / 66559914
22 dishes at Udaya Family Restaurant:At Rs 200 per head, this authentic Kerala eatery is hosting an elaborate, great-value-for-money feast that include 22 traditional specialties from the Land of the Gods. The feast will only be available between 11 am and 4 pm today.
At: Shrama Safalya Building, near Railway Station, Chembur (E). Call: 25218792Payasam and pachidi khichdi at Just Kerala:
Today between 11 am and 3 pm, this eatery will host what they call Onamsadya, offering several varieties of Payasam (type of kheer served with grated coconut), Avial (mix of various veggies in a yoghurt gravy), Pachidi Khichdi at Rs 300 per head. The pure vegetarian menu includes 23 authentic Kerala dishes.
At: Hotel Samraj, next to NH 1 restaurant, Chakala, Andheri (E). Call: 9819158349 / 28363919 21 items on banana leaf at Mani's Lunch Home:For Onam, this South Indian Brahmin eatery is hosting a lunch special priced at Rs 100. The Onasadya meal (21 items served on a banana leaf) includes traditional treats that range from Banana Chips and Kheer, Sambar to Avial. Between 10.30 am and 2.30 pm today.
At: 153 C, Mhaiskar Bldg, near Ruia College, Hindu Colony, Matunga. Call: 24127188Coconut rules at Culture Curry:
Although the menu wasn't finalised when we spoke to them, George, theu00a0 manager said
the meal would be at Rs 199 per head.
Banana, coconut and root vegetables dominate the recipes.
At: Near Hinduja Hospital, TH Kataria Road, Mahim. Call: 24440202
The biggest festival in the state of Kerala, Onam is celebrated over ten days, with elaborate feasts, folk songs, games and boat races. The occasion is a celebration of the return of King Mahabali, Kerala's most revered Asura ruler, who, legend has it, visits his people each year at this time. The celebration concludes on the tenth day with a grand feast that comprises a nine-course meal served on a banana leaf.
40 dishes and long queue at Kettu Vallam (rice boat):
Kettu Vallam's (Rice Boat in English) annual Onasadya feast is so popular, you can expect a long queue outside. They don't reserve tables since "a 10-minute delay in arrival could translate into discomfort for 10 waiting families". They usually open at noon, but on Onam, they'll start at 11.30 am. The restaurant staff takes a break between 4.30 pm and 7 pm and then resumes service "till the food lasts". While the traditional saddhyal or banana-leaf thaali is available here all year through, the special Onasadya saddhyal (Rs 575 per head) includes 30 to 40 dishes. "There will be over four varieties of just Payasam," said Sunita, an employee.
At: 45, Samadhan, Gandhi Nagar, diagonally opposite Bandra court, next to MHADA office, Bandra (E).
Call: 26403030
Feast in temple decor at Dakshin:
Dakshin, the South Indian restaurant at the ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton, sports ornate temple-like du00e9cor. The pure-veg meal priced at Rs 1,550 per head (inclusive of taxes) offers an extensive variety of the traditional dishes for lunch and dinner.
At: ITC Grand Maratha, Sahar Airport Road, Andheri (E).
Call: 28303030
