Mumbai food: Binge on fries at this new Bandra eatery

Churchgate's fries and milkshake haunt gets a branch in Bandra

The J
Food: Good
Service: Quick
Ambiance: Fun

Sausage Fries

Each time we pass Carter Road, we realise that certain places that ranked high on our list have shut down while newbies have sprung up in their place. Beside frozen yoghurt joints and donut cafés dotting the popular stretch, we spotted a large bunch of people crowding outside The J, a popular Churchgate eatery that has now made its way to the ’burbs. Be forewarned, there is no seating arrangement at the tiny outlet. As we waited our turn at the counter, we spotted paper cones filled with fries that featured a combo of sauces and cheese, and smelt delicious, being doled out from the open kitchen at the back.

(From left) Red Velvet Cakeshake and Peanut Butter Shake

Aware that this culinary rendezvous was going to take us on a calorie guilt trip in any case, we went all out. We ordered the Sausage Fries (R150), The J in the Jungle (R150), the Fish N Chips (R150), Bollywood Fries (R100) followed by the Red Velvet Cakeshake (R120) and Peanut Butter Shake (R100). For the prices, we were surprised when generous portions (that will feed at least two) heaped with cheese were served to us. There was a lot of variety in the combination of sauces and cheeses.

Bollywood Fries

The J in the Jungle was a calorie bomb that included shredded chicken served along with jalapeno, cheese and chilli garlic sauce. The shredded chicken was soft while the sauce base was neither sweet nor too spicy. The Fish N Chips that
featured square fish fillets with crisp fries and tartar sauce-like dip was similar to what you find in most restaurants. But it was hot and fresh, and that kept our spirits high.

The J’s Carter Road outfit. Pics/ Atul Kamble

The Bollywood Fries (a new menu entrant) was interesting. Like a desi masala potboiler, it was a heady combination of fries and bhelpuri. We could taste puffed rice, sev, onions, lemon juice, papdi, mint and sweet tamarind, laced with green pudina chutney that gave it tangy kick. Our pick however, were the Sausage Fries. A large portion of melt-in-mouth chunks of chicken sausage and fries in a barbecue sauce made for an ideal combination.

A little glass counter stocked chocolate and red velvet cupcakes. The Red Velvet Cakeshake, a combination of red velvet cake along with vanilla ice-cream was average. We could barely taste the cream cheese in this dessert. The peanut butter shake was a hit too. It got the snickers element just right. If you need to perk up your mood or treat yourself after you followed a strict diet for weeks, go ahead and sin.

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