Panshikar — Local services in Mumbai

Christopher Columbus had set sails from Spain for India but ended up discovering America, which isn't a bad discovery by any measure.

In the same context, I set out in the morning for a very famous 100 year old institution but finding it closed, ended up discovering another gem in the vicinity.

Location: Exit Dadar station towards the Bandra end of platform no. 1 on the Western railway. Go below the bridge, on your right hand side is Suvidha, a famous readymade garment store. Turn left and a past a couple of shops away is this gem of a restaurant.

Ambience:

It’s a sweet shop and a restaurant. The entrance is occupied by a huge counter for displaying the sweets then the dining area. Interiors are nothing to rave about but its clean.

Food:

This restaurant serves only Maharashtrian dishes, regular & the ones that can be consumed on fasting days. I ordered for the following –

Puneri Misal – Enticing is the word which came to my mind after I finished polishing off the Misal. In Puneri misal, the base of the missal is replaced by poha instead of boiled & spiced potato.

The method of serving this dish was also unique.

A small plate with a base of poha, a layer of boiled lentils, topped with chopped onions then green coriander and then sev. This plate is kept in a bigger plate with a deep base and then a spicy curry is poured over it. Scoop a spoonful of the mixture of the small plate, dip it in the curry and have it.

The taste was awesome. The misal tastes normal initially but as you start eating it the flavours unravel & the spice hits you when you are done with the ¾ th dish.

Batata Wada – The wada was not oily, neither inside nor outside. Though by the look of its colour it was fried properly, the outer coating was soft and crispy. The masala used for the spicing the wada had an over-bearing flavor of garlic and luckily no curry leaves & whole coriander.

The surprise element was in the Chutney. The general norm is that green chutney made of coconut, green coriander & green chillies is served or dry garlic chutney is served with the Batata Wada.

But here the chutney served was made of curd, mint and some green coriander; there was one more familiar ingredient which I wasn’t able to identify. It was awesome and I loved it so much ordered for another helping.

Buttermilk – I ordered for an Aam Panna but it wasn’t ready at 9:30 am hence came the buttermilk, a natural and one of the best coolant in this summer heat. It looked nice and frothy but it was slightly sour to taste, maybe stored overnight or freshly made from sour curd. It didn’t contain any additives in it not even salt,

All of the above cost me Rs.125, which is VFM

Highly recommended!

Food Quality – 3.5/5 [0.5 points deducted for the sour buttermilk] Food Quantity – 4/5 Ambience – 3.5/5 Service –...

Panshikar had been on my list for its reputation for Maharashtrian snacks, and I finally visited yesterday evening. Conveniently located just outside Dadar railway station, I was eager to try their specialties. I started with the Misal Pav, which wasn't quite my style due to the farsan, poha, and batatyachi bhaji making it a bit soggy. However, the taste was decent, though slightly on the sweeter side. Next, I tried the Bhajani Thalipeet it was deep-fried and tasted good, paired with their lasun chutney, which was absolutely delicious. The star of the evening, however, was the Kothimbir Vadi. It was perfectly cooked—crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, making it an absolute treat. I ended the meal with Piyush which is a must-try and a great way to conclude the meal. Overall, the experience was good. The service was fast and efficient, and I appreciated the quick turnaround. A heads-up: Panshikar is closed on Sundays. If you're in the mood for some classic Maharashtrian snacks, this is definitely...

Hidden Gem.. Place might look congested but is nice for group of 4 and also if you are a solo eater. It has seatings in a very narrow passage. Puneri Misal is lovely and a must have. (If you think misal should means it should always be spicy then stay away and you can stop reading review ). Usal poured in to make misal is of Watana (peas) and combination of Pohe, Batata bhaji and Shev is just perfect. Faraali Misal is also a lovely dish with Sabudana in it. Place accepts digital payments too including Google Pay and Paytms. There are no restrooms and washrooms. Place is hidden because of street vendors covering whole footpath and you have to look for their sign board. Place is right outside Dadar railways station west. Not even 50m from...