The name ‘Rajdhani’ has become synonymous with Gujarati and Rajasthani thalis. They’ve been in the thali business since 5 decades, serving authentic and homely food. They’ve come a long way since then, having now established at 37 locations across India and the Middle East. Rasovara by the same group, aims at giving us a gourmet, vegetarian thali experience fit for the royals. The restaurant right from the welcome, the service and the food is fit for the kings!
The restaurant is situated on the topmost floor at Palladium, Lower Parel. We were there for lunch, and I recommend that whenever you go visit make sure it’s in the afternoon. The food is so rich and delicious that your bound to overeat and may require a siesta later. We stepped into the restaurant to be greeted by a ‘Chandan teeka’ on the forehead, which is considered to be auspicious. We were then led to our seats and seated in front of these beautiful handmade Kansa thalis. Kansa is a traditional, Gujarati, mix of metals and is believed to have health benefits.
Ambiance: Simple and minimalist. The food is the star here and rightfully so. I loved the pretty lattice work on the walls.
Service: Exceptional service. Right from someone escorting you to the table, getting your hands washed in an extravagant dish, unfolding your napkin, they make sure you’re well taken care of. Once the food is served there’s no stopping. There’s never a dull moment with the staff constantly refilling the dishes, scrambling to get what you’ve asked for, and labeling every dish you taste. They have a special sign language with their hands to communicate what the diner wants and to make sure it reaches soon. It always feels good to be fed by happy, smiling faces.
Food: Make sure you come on an absolutely empty stomach to do justice to the 40-odd dishes they serve you. We start from chaas and thandai as welcome drinks. The buttermilk was smooth and so refreshing that you’re definitely asking for refills.
Farsan or ‘appetizers’ as the Gujarati’s call it is an irreplaceable part of the meal. We sampled Paneer tikkis, Capsicum chaat, Strawberry dhokla and something called Surti Plaza which tasted absolutely fab. Yes, strawberry and dhokla, an unusual combination but tasty nevertheless.
The main course was brought in next. An assortment of sabzis ranging from Gatte ki sabzi to a very delicious and homely, Cauliflower Guncha. No Rajastani food is complete without Daal-Baati-Churma topped with loads of ghee. Three varieties of dals and kadhi were also poured into our thali. I loved the meetha Gujarati dal. They then brought in an assortment of Phulkas, Bajra Roti, Bhakri and Gobi Paneer Paratha.
The rest of your thali is filled in with a number of pickles, chutneys, chunda, thecha, papad, bhareli mirch and salad. Phew!
For those who would have any stomach space left, there’s also rice, pulao and khichdi. We skipped them to dive straight into the desserts. For sweets there was, Fruit Shrikhand, Boondi Gulab Jamun and Malpua with Rabdi. The Boondi Gulab Jamun was my favourite which is a deconstructed take on the regular Gulab Jamun. My favorite Meetha Paan is the perfect end to a perfect meal.
For Rs. 630/- per thali its an absolute steal. The service, richness and taste of the food makes it absolutely worth it. I would definitely visit again to taste the other dishes, since, they claim no dishes are repeated in a month! Go try Rasovara for a royal, gourmet thali experience.
My Ratings:
Ambiance: 3/5
Food: 4/5
Value for Money: 3.5/5
Contact:
Address: Level 3, Palladium, Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, Mumbai
Phone: 022-40802118/20
http://rajdhani.co.in/rasovara_contact.html
