ITP Indian Travel Places: Food, Travel, Tourism Business Events and Trade Shows
Address: Shop No 3/4/5, Ground Floor, Manmohan Bhavan, Takandas Kataria Marg, Mahim West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400016
Time: 12 Noon to 4 PM, 7 PM to 12 Midnight
Meals for two: Rs. 800
Cuisines: South Indian
Facilities: Home Delivery, Table booking not available, Valet Parking Available, Kid Friendly, Serves Jain Food
Sorry! Bad news! Okay, so we love the name ‘Thangabali’ (villain of Chennai Express?) but why did they make the food from South India so villainous too?
However, despite the disappointing food and service, we had a superfun afternoon. Our Keralite foodie CK Sabeesh gave his view on food from his state. His wife, architect turned-artist Akanksha Agarwal is as much of a Kerala food lover. Her proud husband informed us that an influential national magazine listed her amongst one of India’s top ten upcoming artists. Our other great fun, passionate, vocal foodie, skilled cook and brilliant anaesthetist Nasreen Tibrewala had us in splits as did soft-spoken genius cosmetic surgeon Anil Tibrewala. Will we ever come back to Thangabali? No…
Thangabali, Mahim, Mumbai: DECOR
Mixed metaphors and cliches – from a cartoonish mural of a Kerala boat, to a map of the world marking Indian coastal communities and many more. Pleasant but uncomfy warm room.
Thangabali, Mahim, Mumbai: FOOD
Only three dishes passed muster.Golden fried bombil, soothing and mellow Ghee Rice, Rawa-coated Kane fried to perfection. Oh yes, the creamy, wobbly caramel custard, though not remotely South Indian, was yum.MINUS POINT Why did the Sol Kadi taste of soap? Why such an overload of garlic and shaved coconut in a lot of the dishes? Why was the Kerala Stew so sweet? Overcooked Chicken Ghee Roast, tasteless Hyderabad Mutton. Soggy Beans Foogath, Avial, which was not Avial. Ditto for the Moilee. In spite of requesting many times, Thattukada Mutton Curry was not served. And that acid test of a good Kerala restaurant, my favorite Karimeen was not available. Soggy tangle of Idiyappam. And how did they manage to destroy the South Indian ‘kaapi’ with burnt milk?
Servers were loitering around in droves. Completely unbothered.
Thangabali, Mahim, Mumbai: MY POINT
We were excited that a new restaurant serving the much needed food from South India had opened. We need more regional cuisine restaurants, especially stand-alone, non-vegetarian ones from South India. Till now, there are only two of any consequence the Awchats’ Dakshin Culture Curry and the no frills Sneha. It was savvy of Thangabali to see that much-needed gap. But then instead of filling it, Thangabali fell right into that gap.And landed on its head. Ouch!
