Arsalan Restaurant & Caterer

Critic´s Review

• Food: 3.5 / 5
• Service: 2.5 / 5
• Decor: 3 / 5

-By Rashmi Uday Singh

It is here, in the most unlikely of places that I get a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat.It is here, in the noisy, cluttered Moghlai eatery that both admiration and inspiration flood my being.nnThe reason? My young guest Divya Palat. The two lovely Palat sisters (from the Royal family of Cochin) with their great fun husbands bowl me over.nnARSALANnnNo! You can't book a table here. It's one of those open through the day eateries that is cocksure about getting packed and so won't clog up tables by booking them. It's one of those robust Moghlai eateries (think Delhi Darbar) but has come to Bandra via Kolkata where it rules the roost. No! You can't get alcohol either and surely you are not looking for delicate and subtle flavours? But if you are looking for moderate pricing and a hearty (if somewhat greasy meal), then walk right in.nnWe did that and were pleasantly surprised by the large outdoor seating, the floor-toceiling glass wall and functional decor. The menu meanders into pages of tandoori, chicken gravy, fish gravy, vegetarian, biryani and rice and rolls.nnLet's begin with the Arsalan rolls…"(Kolkata's famous kathis and Mumbai's frankies). Our favourite? The moist filling, wrapped in a roti "egg roll" (Rs 30). Choice of fillings (chicken, mutton, Rs 30 to 125).nnAnd in the midst of all this carnivorous choice it's the luscious cubes of well marinated paneer tikkas that score the best. Followed by the unusual and tasty, smothered with cheese, Arsalan Kabab. A tough Kakori Kabab, Dry Fish Bekti Tikka are let downs. In the mains, opt for the chicken Arsalan (swimming in tasty masala) though the paneer chilly masala is not as good. The chicken biryani, kali dal, peas pulao pass muster, it's the oversweet white Chicken Rezala, which is off the mark and completely avoidable There is gurda kaleji. Bheja fry too. Surprisingly the desserts are good, the Arsalan chocolate bomb oozes chocolate, wobbly silken caramel custard, not the best shahi firni though. The service is slow, but the eatery is packed with families, noisy kids chomping chef Sarafat Ali's fare. At Rs 800 for two this is as Divya declares, a popular, "Non veg Shiv Sagar.""