Monday November 15, 2010 at 2:53PM from Sabine K.
Where to eat?, Sion

Suitable for:
a business dinner: Yes
a dinner with the boss: Yes
a dinner with colleagues: Yes

When it comes to food, Mumbai is a city with gastronomic passion. Eating out is a good way to explore the culture of the city and the country. By Western standards, restaurants tend to have very reasonable prices.

In Mumbai fast food generally means Bhelpuri, Pav Bhaji, Panipuri or Vada Pav. Bhelpuri is a sweet-and-spicy combination of puffed rice, onions, boiled potatoes, coriander, mint, chilies and chutney. Pav Bhaji is a mélange of spicy cooked vegetables accompanied by a bread bun. Panipuri are light, puffed semolina cakes, eaten with a filling of boiled lentils, spices, tamarind chutney and scented water. Vada Pav, Mumbai’s version of a veggie burger, is hot Batata Vada (spicy potato balls in batter) served in a bun with green chutney and sweet tamarind.

Head for Guru Kripa restaurant in Sion, famed for its Bhelpuri and Panipuri. Don’t leave without sampling their delightful Gulab Jamun - fried balls of dough encrusted with pistachio, soaked in sweet sugar syrup and served piping hot. A quick visit to Khau-Galli (Food Street) near Apna Bazaar is also worth a visit for a few cheap snacks.

Mumbai’s coastal location is perfect for seafood lovers. Check out Gajalee in Lower Parel (Phoenix Mills Compound). Specialties include Tandoori Crab, Clam Koshimbir and stuffed Pomfret. The average cost for a meal for two is about 600 Rs.

Those not accustomed to India’s delights should exercise a few rules of caution to avoid a bout of “Delhi Belly.” Don’t drink tap water or take ice cubes in your drinks; skip raw vegetables and fruits that may have been rinsed in tap water; and opt for street food cooked or heated in front of you.

Tags: dining, lunch, food