Sushi and salads, burgers and bao buns at South Bombay's newest take-out eatery.
It may have an unimaginative name, but Cool Chef, South Mumbai’s newest take-out eatery, sure features an interesting menu. Devised by Les Roches-educated, ex Leela Hotel chef Kaviraj Thadani and executed in a tiny space off Warden Road, it contains a bewildering mix of sushi and salads, burgers and bao buns.
Bao Wow!
When we visited on opening night Sunday, also available were complimentary spring rolls and chicken samosas, served with two kinds of dips. These were seriously delish, and no one seemed to mind that we had worked through almost a dozen while waiting for our order. This was packed in small oblong cartons and piled neatly into reusable cloth bags, and was still warm when we got home twenty minutes later.
We started with the above-mentioned bao buns, which the chef had instructed us to microwave before eating. Both the chicken and vegetarian versions were yum; thick, yeasty-skinned dumplings with strongly flavored centers. We also liked the chicken burgers, two adorable mini-buns that came with succulent patties, creamy condiment, onions and tomatoes. Microwave these too – they fare much better warm than cold.
Bitter End
The sushi, which had been whipped up right in front of us, was pleasant and at Rs 200, a good deal. We really liked the spicy, creamy, maki rolls, but wished the cucumber in them had been fresher and devoid of the slightly bitter aftertaste.
Panini sandwiches, advertised on the menu as Panini Pizzaiolas or Panini pizzas, were the most disappointing. Their fillings of chicken, veggies, sauce and cheese were completely overwhelmed by thick slices of toasted multigrain bread that had gone unpleasantly chewy.
Cool Running?
Despite the sad sandwiches, lack of dessert on the menu and the fact that they don’t deliver (they plan to start in a couple of weeks), Cool Chef is an interesting new entry to the South Bombay food scene, and makes for an inexpensive, different and mostly yum dinner on a lazy Sunday evening.
Getting there: 2/A Meherabad, Warden Road, opposite Muchhad Paanwala, call 23696173 or visit www.coolchef.in.
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