Khandani Rajdhani, Vashi, Navi Mumbai

Restaurant Name: Khandani Rajdhani, Vashi, Navi Mumbai
Phone: +912227843333, +919930318555
Address: Shop 7, Ground Floor, Satra Plaza, Palm Beach Road, Sector 19D, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Time: 12:00 Noon – 3:30 PM, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Meals for two: Rs. 1,000
Cuisines: Gujarati, Rajasthani, North Indian
Facilities: Home Delivery, Vegetarian Only, Indoor Seating, Table booking recommended

This column is dedicated to you. Yes, to you who is reading this. Wishing you health, safety and a positive mindset. I write this while in productively happy and complete self-quarantine. I’m back to a regular routine of yoga, walking, reading, painting, sculpting, cooking, meditating, listening to music, praying and writing. Today, I review this Vashi restaurant, which was open at the time of going to press. I lunched there with my well-travelled #foodieblinddate couple — businessman Hari Ramnath and lifestyle writer Gita Hari, who curates Sattvik Tambrahm recipes for food promotions at five star hotels. Committed vegetarians, their ‘favorites’ list has Gujarati-Rajasthani thali right at the top.Our review follows.

Khandani Rajdhani, Vashi, Navi Mumbai: Decor

Simply done up, spacious room. A few dolls depicting folklore. Dhoti and turban-wearing waiters bustle around.

Khandani Rajdhani, Vashi, Navi Mumbai: Food

In our thalimeal,it was the traditional Gujarati winter specialty, Surti undhiyu, bursting with plump purple yam, raw banana and steamed chickpea muthia that was authentic and came up tops. The Gujarati daal and kadhi passed the acid test of the perfect kiss of sweetness. Mellow with ghee Kathiyawadi khichdi, delicious with sweet churma, the Rajasthani dal baati delighted. As did the mildly spiced rajma udad masala.

Minus Points:

Inattentive service! We had to keep requesting for repeats. Also, (Gita Hari took meticulous notes) we were not served all the farsans in the menu. Salad of papaya marcha dahi papdi chaat was left out. It was the same with the desserts. Insipid Mewari paneer and greasy aloo chips. Cold phulka,puris,rotla and chilla.

My Point:

We had great expectations. Over the years, Rajdhani has built up a reputation for excellent food and service (see the box to know how my #foodieblinddate Jyoti Kasliwal guided me to the most superlative thali meal in Rajdhani Lohar Chawl area in the early 90s). Though some of the dishes on the winter thali menu delighted, many were lackluster, some not served at all and others served cold. Service left a lot to be desired. We are all fans of the thali and, in Gita Hari’s words, request Rajdhani to “buckle up and reboot!”