Mahesh masoli — Restaurant in Maharashtra

This as you can see is just shack of the highway. It has a corrugated galvanized iron roof and since I visited on a Sunday afternoon just before the monsoon ...I sweated a few litres just waiting for my food.

Be warned ...this is NOT the place you want to visit on a summer afternoon.

Coming to the ambience .... I wish I had the guts to take pics indoors but the tables are so close ...there was no way I could take a pic without bringing multiple other folks into it. And publishing those without permissions would be a nightmare.

To give you an idea of how close the tables are my friend was sitting with a normal sized old lady ... Back to back and they both had to sit with their chairs placed obliquely to the table t be able to sit comfortably. And everytime someone at our tables wanted to leave we had to get up.

And of course when the waiter got food for a diner further in ...we had to pass the dish on to him.

By really packing in the tables I'd say they could seat about 35 in a space that is about 25 x 25 feet. The tables are iron frames with iron tops with plastic chairs. Definitely not fine dine.

Coming to the service ...on a Sunday afternoon they had a waitstaff of …. ONE. Yes you got it right. The poor guy was so harried that nobody got their orders without calling for him more than twice. What appeared to be the owners pitched in occasionally...but occasional does not work when you have a full restaurant. Amazingly they also appeared to have just three menu cards … so even deciding what to eat took time.

If you're by now wondering why I insisted on torturing myself further rather than just walk away ...well we had driven up from Mumbai. And battled through the Sunday traffic in Lonavala searching for a fish restaurant till we were out of the town on the other side. Since some reviews said the food was good ...and I was craving fish ...I took the risk.

Next the prices ...a prawn thali is available for RS 400 ... Steep but acceptable I thought. Pomfret thali is RS 500 ... And Bangda thali is Rs 350 too ...Chicken thali is a reasonable RS 240.

And then the final straw. The food ...

The prawns sukka had so much batter that was fried a dark brown almost burnt ... And oversalted. The curry was acceptable but the sukat was strangely sweetish. And to top it all the rice bhakris were warm but so dry that they were obviously reheated. And the sol kadhi had no coriander ..no zing whatsoever. I cancelled my order for the extra so kadhi which anyways would have come ...God knows when.

The chicken was acceptable ...but the place advertises fish as it's speciality ... so I think they need to focus.

Therefore ... Final thoughts ...on anything but a very cool day ...do not venture here in the afternoon. Further with the committed but very deficient service ... Be prepared for long waits. And finally the food is not only indifferent ...but terribly overpriced. Avoid ...unless like me you're very hungry .... And have an unbearable craving for fish. But be prepared to NOT...

My review is based on my first hand experience with hard core sea food lovers. The sea food here is super fresh and awesome in taste. Unlike other places, the batter (if and when used) for coating is quite thin and you get great tasting seafood. For a place which is far away from the sea, you get the freshest food here.

Do not visit if you like AC and fancy. Do visit if you like great food. Its a simple place with lights, fans, tables and chairs. ZERO alcohol serving or allowed inside - Please note.

Great for families who are okay and like the above.

Great for even veg lovers with their limited offerings of veg food.

Summary :-

Cons / Negatives : Zero Airconditioning (No AC) Zero Fancy (simple shack layout with lights and fans) Zero SoBo (just down to earth so no frills like toilets cleaned after every visit etc.) Jain food not possible

Pros / Positives : Amazing sea food Fresh food Tasty food Veg food also amazing Authentic food Many options for non veggies, eggies and few but awesome ones for veggies! Parking available depending on the rush Close to the end of Lonavala entry from Pune /...

We was looking place for lunch in lonawala but confused what to eat....

Want to eat something special spicy nonveg and seafood we almost give up that can't get test malvan food in lonawala but we got place on Google for fish lover and here we found small place with Big dhamaka home made testy Food made by granii if you visiting lonawala you have to try this place ones opp mapro hotel old pune mumbai highway you will found this place for best test always we try Pomfrat thali where we get tandalchi bhakar and tarri rasaa touch off malvan very poliet hospitality there is one kaku she made chapati and bhakar yammi test for everything if you love fish curry and rice you will get your heaven here pocket friendly Hotel atmosphere it's OK as price range and you will get test which you not imagine you can get this type of good test inn lonawala solkadi and pandhare rasssaaa make feel hevan

You can explore new dish you you want staff...