My TripAdvisor Review No.667: Spice Bowl, Lakkidi, Wayanad, Kerala.

Vegetarian Restaurant, Great Ambience, Tasty Food.

We drove past this restaurant on the NH-766 Wayanad to Kozhikode Highway in December 2018, but then we turned back to the nice looking veg restaurant called ‘Spice Bowl’. It had a good parking area and a great ambience which was quite noticeable as we were driving along. It was not air-con but it was tastefully decorated with plenty of large spice jars lining the showcases.

Wife had a ‘Hawaiian Pasta Salad’, which was very tasty with pineapple chunks, carrots, capsicum, tomato and pasta with mayonnaise topped with black peppercorns. I had a South Indian Thali with Kerala boiled rice. I found the thali to be quite heavy as the gravies were quite thick in consistency. The masala chaas was very spicy but the payasam was good. There were 3 vegetables, papad, pickle, dal, sambar and rasam.

Prices were on the higher side, but the service was good.

Date of visit: December 2019

• • Value
  • Service
  • Food

Ask EkMusafir about Spice Bowl

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g2288637-d15817097-r757852264-Spice_Bowl-Lakkidi_Wayanad_District_Kerala.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.666: IKEA Restaurant, Hyderabad.

Swedish Food With An Indian Twist.

After a bout of shopping for furniture and furnishings at the IKEA showroom we decided to have dinner at their restaurant. There were quite a few healthy and tasty items on the menu which included vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, both Indian and Swedish style of food, as well as fusion.

Their signature dishes are the Meatballs in gravy, Veggie balls in Indian masalas, and a Salmon fish fillet combo meal. We also enjoyed their Dal Makhani with rice, Potato Wedges, Boiled Shelled Corn Niblets, Boiled Broccoli, a Salad, Spring Rolls and a Chocolate Cake. There are many other items on the menu including Chicken Tikka masala, Cheesecakes, fruit salads, soups, and hot and cold beverages.

It is a self service restaurant where you take your food in a wheeled trolley and pay as you take it to your table. Prices are on the higher side but the quantity and quality of the food is very good.

Ask EkMusafir about IKEA Restaurant

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g297586-d15064445-r755333081-IKEA_Restaurant-Hyderabad_Hyderabad_District_Telangana.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.663: Sunset Lounge, The Tea Bar, Darjeeling.

More Than Just Teas.

Sunset Lounge of Nathmull’s is located at Chowrasta at the end of the Mall. One can also call it The Tea Bar as you get to sample a variety of Darjeeling teas before deciding which one to buy. They have a bewildering array of Black, Green and White Darjeeling teas varying in price from ₹400 per kg to ₹30000 per kg. One can also sample the aroma, texture and colour of the tea at the display counter.

We relaxed in the Sunset Lounge, which had glass top round tables and cane chairs, adjacent to the Tea Bar, and sampled a cup of their Green Tea which they served up in a transparent tea cup, at a nominal price. One can also order snacks like muffins or pastries to go with the tea. On a clear day one can get an excellent view of the Kanchenjunga mountain and the sunset from the window.

One can also buy some memorabilia and tea accessories like decorative and useful tea pots and cups in ceramic as well as metal. In addition there are fancy strainers and Tea Cosies. We purchased some packets of Green and Black teas, and souvenirs like fridge magnets and keychains with the tea motif, as small gifts for our friends back home.

Ask EkMusafir about Sunset Lounge , the tea bar

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g304557-d3188715-r753365146-Sunset_Lounge_the_tea_bar-Darjeeling_Darjeeling_District_West_Bengal.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.661: Nathmulls Tea, Darjeeling.

Merchants Of Darjeeling Teas.

We were looking for a place to try out the Darjeeling Teas before buying some to take back home with us. Nathmull Tea had a store located at Chowrasta Mall and we walked in. They also have another outlet on Ladenla Road opposite SBI Bank building. We heard that they are one of the oldest and most famous of the Tea merchants of Darjeeling.

They had a great variety of Darjeeling teas which they source directly from the tea estates around Darjeeling. There were some containers of loose tea which we could smell and feel the texture of the leaves. There were black, green and white teas. The partner of the store explained to us at length the differences in the varieties and the method of preparations of the different types. He advised us that these teas taste better if we sip them without milk and sugar, because Darjeeling teas ate like the Champagne amongst the teas of the world.

We ended up buying not only some packets of teas but also some more souvenirs like magnet stickers and key-chains from the store. We also sampled a cup of their green tea in transparent cups.

Ask EkMusafir about Nathmull Tea

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g304557-d5960249-r753175838-Nathmull_Tea-Darjeeling_Darjeeling_District_West_Bengal.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.660: Subway, Darjeeling.

Design Your Own Subway Sandwich.

We were very happy to see a Subway outlet in Darjeeling on Gandhi Road very close to the Clock Tower and Chowk market. By now we have grown quite used to choosing our own breads, meats, veggies, sauces, and the other ingredients to help craft our own healthy meal. Besides Subs and Wraps they also had Lays, Cold drinks and Cookies available.

We ordered a Chicken Seekh Sub and two Veggie Patty Subs. We could choose the sauces, mayo and other ingredients like cheese, onions, tomatoes, olives, jalapenos, and customised the Sub to our liking. We also ordered a Signature Corn and Peas Wrap. They got it nicely packed in their branded paper bags and we brought it back to eat it in the comfort of our hotel room. The service at the Subway outlet was quick and courteous.

Ask EkMusafir about Subway

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g304557-d13902992-r753155568-Subway-Darjeeling_Darjeeling_District_West_Bengal.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.659: Glenary's Bakery & Cafe, Darjeeling.

Excellent Bakery & Restaurant, But Indifferent Service.

Glenary’s Bakery and Restaurant is one of the prominent eateries of Darjeeling and has been in existence since pre Independence days. It is located in a large white painted two storied heritage building on Nehru Road very close to the Chowrasta Mall. The bakery is on the ground floor, the restaurant is on the first floor and there is a pub in the basement.

We first visited the restaurant for lunch. The dining hall was quite large and decorated very well with antique furnishings and had a nice old world charm about it. There was a huge fireplace at one end of the room. There was an outdoor seating area with a grand view overlooking the hill town and the mountains. We ordered Paneer Pakodas as starters, Chicken Kofta Curry with rice and American Chop Suey. The food was very tasty and hygienic. Prices were reasonable but the service was a bit lethargic.

Later we went down to the bakery and had their Blueberry cake which was excellent. There was a nice seating area and an open air sit-out with a good view here as well. There were nice picture frames and artifacts decorating the walls and the ambience was very uplifting.

Later we decided to pick up some take-away items at the bakery. We placed an order for Patties, Buns, Muffins, Scones and a Quiche with the counter staff who were busy gossiping among themselves. Billing was done by one of them and packing by some other girl. When we opened the package at our hotel we found that one item was missing, and it was a bit late to go back to recover it.

The indifferent service marred our good experience at Glenary’s. I guess we will have to be more attentive and wary if we visit again.

Show less

Date of visit: March 2020

• • Value
  • Service
  • Food

See all 8 reviews by EkMusafir for Darjeeling

Ask EkMusafir about Glenary's

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.658: Lazeez Affaire Restaurant, Darjeeling.

Great Ambience, Attentive Service.

We stepped in to Lazeez Affaire restaurant for some non-alcoholic refreshments and found the ambience quite above our expectations. We walked up a narrow flight of stairs to the dining hall on the first floor. The furnishings and décor were quite nice and we had a lovely view of the mall market and surroundings from the restaurant windows.

It is a multi-cuisine pure veg restaurant. There was a separate beverage menu which was quite elaborate. Besides Darjeeling Tea there were many different varieties of tea and coffee. We selected Kahawa Tea, Mint Tea and a glass of hot milk. The teas were served in nice transparent cups with extra sachets of sugar if required. The service was attentive and the prices were reasonable.

In our short visit to Darjeeling we found Lazeez Affaire to be one of the better restaurants and would love to visit again for a meal.

Ask EkMusafir about Lazeez Affaire

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g304557-d12496607-r753068280-Lazeez_Affaire-Darjeeling_Darjeeling_District_West_Bengal.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.654: China Hut Restaurant, Gandhi Road, Darjeeling.

Good Tibetan And Chinese Food.

China Hut is a very good Tibetan and Chinese food restaurant located on Gandhi Road, very near to the Darjeeling Clock Tower, just before the Mall market. The ambience of the restaurant is also very nice both inside and outside, and the predominantly red colours of the décor and furnishings looks very attractive. They have outdoor seating as well but we chose to dine inside as the climate was quite cold. It was quite cosy inside, with about 6 tables with sufficient distance between them.

We ordered the Tibetan delicacy of Thukpa. Both the Chicken Thukpa and the Veg Thukpa was very tasty with not too much spices, but with lot of shredded chicken and vegetables. We also ordered Fried Veg Wonton as starter and we liked it so much that we ordered one more of it.

Prices were reasonable and the service was good.

Ask EkMusafir about China Hut Restaurant

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g304557-d14082550-r752936172-China_Hut_Restaurant-Darjeeling_Darjeeling_District_West_Bengal.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.651: Sandakphu Restaurant, Darjeeling.

Multi Cuisine Restaurant In Darjeeling.

This review is about the ‘Sandakphu’ restaurant in Darjeeling which belongs to the Summit Hermon Hotel and Spa. It is not about the popular Himalayan hiking destination after which it has been named.

Since we were staying at Summit Hermon Hotel we happened to dine at this multicuisine restaurant a couple of times. Though the food is cooked mostly in mustard oil, we liked the taste and preparation. We tried their Fish (Basa) Curry with rice and Veg Hakka Noodles. The roasted Masala Papad was a good starter. On another occasion we had Veg Jalfrezi with Parathas and a Veg Biryani.

The food was tasty and the service was good. Prices were moderate but not overpriced as the restaurant was well furnished and decorated with some nice paintings. We enjoyed the ambience.

Show less

Date of visit: March 2020

• • Value
  • Service
  • Food

Ask EkMusafir about Sandakphu

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.648: Rahi Shivsagar Restaurant, Mahabaleshwar.

Vegetarian Multi Cuisine Restaurant.

Rahi Shivsagar is actually a 2-in-1 restaurant, Rahi and Shivsagar, located close to the Ambedkar statue in Mahabaleshwar market. Shivsagar section is a vegetarian restaurant serving all types of thali meals from different regions of India including Gujarati, Maharashtrian, South Indian, Punjabi and Special (with a sweet dish). They also serve a variety of snacks and breakfast dishes like dosa, idli and wadas. Rahi section serves the strawberry milkshakes and ice-creams.

I ordered a Gujarati Thali and it was quite tasty and filling. It had 3 chapatis, a dry sabji, a gravy potato dish, a lentil gravy, sweet dal, rasam, rice, papad and a sweet kheer dish. My wife had a special pav bhaji.

Later we ordered a strawberry milkshake from Rahi section of the restaurant. We had to pay separately for both the sections. Prices were on the higher side. Service was OK.

Ask EkMusafir about Rahi Shivsagar

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g635749-d6205989-r752396970-Rahi_Shivsagar-Mahabaleshwar_Satara_District_Maharashtra.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.646: Mapro Garden & Chocolate Plant, Mahabaleshwar.

Superb Three In One Attraction. Picnic Spot, Shopping Place and Restaurant.

Over the years Mapro Garden on the Panchgani Mahabaleshwar Road has become a major tourist attraction and a must visit place for most of the visitors to either of the twin hill stations. It is a stopover for refreshments or a meal, a shopping spot to pick up jams, squashes, juices, chocolates and memorabilia. Now, with a new mini Khakhra (crisp roasted wheat crackers) factory set up next to the Chocolate factory you can even sample and buy different flavoured Masala Khakhras, fresh and hot from the assembly line. One can even stop here for a picnic in the vicinity as there are some good parks and look-out points.

There is a small garden with a rockery and fountain, and a playground with colourful three wheelers, where small children can play around. The garden overlooks the Krishna Valley, and if it’s not cloudy you can clearly see the Elephant’s Head near Kate’s Point in the distance. It is a good place for photography enthusiasts too.

After spending some time strolling in the gardens and enjoying the natural beauty of their strawberry plantation, we decided to have our picnic lunch. No, not from a picnic basket, but from their large alfresco restaurant which serves excellent wood fired oven pizzas, grilled sandwiches, soups, juices, milkshakes and ice-creams. You can, however, bring an empty hamper to fill up with your shopping of jams, crushes, chocolates, khakhras and squashes to carry home with you!

They have good, clean washrooms too, so travellers coming from faraway places generally take a break at Mapro Garden for a quick bite, and get refreshed for the last leg of their journey to Mahabaleshwar or Panchgani. They have also developed a huge free parking lot, off the main road, where the tourists can park their vehicles. Do keep in mind that this place is so popular that it is always overcrowded on weekends.

Date of experience: December 2019

Ask EkMusafir about Mapro Garden & Chocolate Plant

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.645: Swarooplaxmi Bhojanalaya, Kolhapur.

Excellent Maharashtrian Thali.

This traditional Maharashtrian restaurant is located in one of the narrow lanes near the Mahalaxmi Temple of Kolhapur. If you are visiting for the first time you may have some difficulty locating it. We had to enquire from the local shops to find the exact location.

This ‘Bhojanalaya’ or ‘kitchen where you can buy yourself a meal’ serves one of the best Maharashtrian thali meals in Kolhapur. We asked for a ‘Jowar Bhakri Thali’ wherein we were served a platter with two millet breads, eggplant (baingan) masala and mashed eggplant (baingan bhartha), a dry cabbage bhaji, rasam (spicy vegetable soup), pithala (a thick gravy made from chickpea flour), chutney, koshimbir (finely chopped salad), rice and papad. The taste of each item was unique and wonderful.

They also serve some snacks like ‘Misal’ and some sweet dishes like Gulab Jamun, Basundi, Puran Poli and Shrikhand.

Show less

Date of visit: December 2019

• • Value
  • Service
  • Food

See all 11 reviews by EkMusafir for Kolhapur

Ask EkMusafir about Swarooplaxmi Bhojnalay

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.642: Sanskriti Restaurant, Kolhapur.

Good Vegetarian Restaurant.

Sanskriti was recommended to us by the hotel staff where we were staying. It is located in Laxmipuri which is one of the crowded and congested parts of Kolhapur, and it would be difficult to find parking space if you are coming in a 4-wheeler.

It is a nicely serviced vegetarian restaurant with brightly lit interiors and exteriors. The seating is a bit cramped but comfortable enough. They serve Thali meals but we ordered ala-carte; Veg Tawa with Indian breads, Naan and Roti. The Veg Tawa was quite heavy since it was cooked in ghee, though the breads were nice and crisp. We also enjoyed some buttermilk which was quite quenching.

The service was satisfactory and the prices were reasonable. I could pay with a credit card.

Show less

Date of visit: December 2019

• • Value
  • Service
  • Food

See all 8 reviews by EkMusafir for Kolhapur

Ask EkMusafir about Sanskriti

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.641: Hotel Sukha Shanti (Restaurant), Belgaum, Karnataka.

Good Vegetarian Restaurant En-route Goa.

Hotel Sukha Shanti is a vegetarian restaurant which seems quite popular with the highway yatris on the Goa to Kolhapur route, judging by the number of cars parked outside. There was sufficient parking on the main road adjoining the restaurant.

We ordered a Veg Thali and a Veg Hakka Noodles. The thali was adequate with two chapatis, a bowl of rice, two vegetables, rasam and dal, curd and sweet dish. The noodles were quite tasty too. Prices were very reasonable and the service was quick.

They serve good South Indian fast food like Idli, Dosa, Uthappa and Wadas as well. It is no wonder that so many travellers stop here for a quick meal, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Show less

Date of visit: December 2019

• • Value
  • Service
  • Food

Ask EkMusafir about Hotel Sukha Shanti

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.637: Ton-Cia Restaurant, Varca, Goa.

Homely Goan Restaurant.

This restaurant is not a beach shack but a regular restaurant, tucked away in a by-lane, about half a kilometre from Varca Beach. It is in a very relaxed setting in the large open veranda of owner Periera’s cottage and surrounded by a nice garden with some coconut trees. There is a small chapel in the compound. The red tablecloths were matching the red painted walls.

There were about ten tables and they had an elaborate food and beverages menu. Cashew Feni was also available in addition to the regular drinks. We had a plate of Roasted Papad as starters, and Batter Fried Fish with Chips. We also enjoyed their typical Goan Fish Curry with Rice. They also serve Chinese and Continental food for the many British and Russian guests who stay in the nearby guest houses down the lane. We quite enjoyed the food and homely service at this restaurant. Prices were reasonable.

Show less

Date of visit: December 2019

• • Value
  • Service
  • Food

See all 7 reviews by EkMusafir for Varca

Ask EkMusafir about Ton-Cia Restaurant