The other day a friend and I spent the day in South Mumbai as she wanted to eat some authentic non vegeterian food. Being a vegeterian I don't really know many of these haunts. So I took her to this place called Delhi Darbar near Colaba Causeway where I had gone long ago with another friend who sweared by the food there. 

She was dying to eat some Tandoori Chicken and ordered it. I had my usual nan-sabji, which was not anything great but eatable. But my friend who had ordered tandoori chicken was quite unhappy with the food there as the dish brought to her looked more like fried chicken. Then she ordered some prawns -which looked more like some soup with a few mushroom like things in it. By now she had lost her patience and we left the place. I apologized. I think I seriously need to do some scouting around, knowing places to go out, eat, merry et all.

Guess its a must have social skill. To know good places, what to order there and different budget places. Have picked a copy of Time Out, Mumbai.

Anyways after that we went to Kyani- the Irani Cafe near Metro to have pudina chai and bun maska, khari. [have loads of memories attached to that place:)] 

The interiors of the place remain as I had seen years ago when I used to frequent that area pretty often. The snacks, bakery products you get there are really chucka-chak. My mouth waters when I think of it and it is a must stop whenever I am in that area.

Interiorwise there is nothing grand about the place but the stuff is value for money and you NEVER feel cheated about the food there. One would either find people who want to spend less or the exploring kinds who like to try different things there or the collegians.

Oh and the waiter was a real cool dude. he may not have gone to any of the etiquette classes but his charm and approach was warm and friendly-something that people like Shahrukh [I am a Shahrukh fan btw but hate it when he acts pseudo or tries too hard] can only mimick on their shows. 

I chat up with Kyani's owner -an 80 year old gentleman whenever I am there. And when he is not around in afternoons, I really miss watching him ducked behind the table and the warm smile he gives when you pay the fare. He never tires talking about how his friend-actor Shashi Kapoor came to Kyani after Bobby released and kept coming after that.