ITP Indian Travel Places: Food, Travel, Tourism Business Events and Trade Shows
Phone: +91 9967933300, +91 7304348423
Address: Shop 5, Satra Plaza, Palm Beach Road, Sector 19D, Near To HDFC Bank, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Time: 11:30 AM – 12:00 Midnight
Meals for two: Rs. 1,600
Cuisines: Modern Indian, Mexican, Italian
Facilities: Home Delivery, Full Bar Available, Dance Floor, Live Sports Screening, Valet Parking Available, Indoor Seating, Kid Friendly, Wifi, Live Entertainment, Nightlife, LGBTQIA Friendly
I’ve done it again and again. Used the invaluable help of locally based #foodieblinddates to explore Mumbai, Chennai, Paris, LA, Berlin and more. They not only guide me to the right restaurants but also know what to order. Connecting to my readers has been my passion. Over 30 years ago, pre-social media days, my newspaper column had a phone and answering machine to reach out to my readers and go on #foodieblinddates. Now, social media has made it superbly simple. This time, in response to my exploring Navi Mumbai, I struck gold once again. Double gold. Charming Nerul-based foodies, Dr. Sharmila Mohapatra, dean general management, and her successful lawyer daughter Shreya Mohapatra not only guided me but also mailed me their views. Our great fun lunch review follows.
Vilayati, Vashi, Navi Mumbai: Decor
In Vashi’s Satra Plaza, push through the inconspicuous entrance to find yourself in a highceilinged, sprawling space cluttered with mementos, antiques, trinkets, photo-framed ceilings, mismatched chairs and more. A fun bar space and sit-down dinner areas to a secluded library on the mezzanine, a dance floor and pub on the lower level.
Vilayati, Vashi, Navi Mumbai: Food
‘Made in Foreign’ is Vilayati’s tagline. And the starters live up to it,deliciously. Achari aioli is sprinkled on the golden fried, cheese stuffed onion ring, sevpuri tops the pizza, thechacrowns the hummus, tomato rasam and rice vermicelli consort together and make for a flavorsome soup with the mini samosa adding texture.
Flavorsome union of Africa and Mumbai pav bhaji served in a bowl of bready bunny chow style. Must ask for this gimmicky but delicious dish which arrived onto the table under a smoke-filled glass dome, the succulent, nongreasy chicken lolly-pops. End with The Rasmalai Tres Leches, which were light and had just the right amount of sweetness.
Minus Points:
Long and confusing menu. Stodgy Kur Kuri Cheese Cigars, cheese-filled wonton sheets coated in vermicelli. Overcooked prawns in the otherwise flavorsome Alleppey Prawn Curry. Madras mutton curry cooked with Madras onions was light and the mutton tender, but it did not have the taste and flavors of the authentic dish. Mishmash salad of avocado, tender coconut and baby spinach.
My Point:
“Culinary cross-pollination” in Vashi! ‘Made in foreign’ is the tagline, and Vilayati manages to pull it off. Firstly, they don’t take this pledged fusing too seriously or execute it too meticulously and stick to the traditional (kababs and mains). The lively ambiance and the friendly service (helmed by Simon Ghatani) papers over the long confusing menu’s weak spots. But when chef Krishna hits his mark, the cooking appealingly complements the lively atmosphere. Don’t go for fine dining. It’s fun dining all the way!
