Golden Star Thali — Restaurant in Mumbai

Nestled in the heart of the city, Golden Star Thali stands as a shining gem in the culinary landscape. From the moment you step foot into this quaint eatery, you're transported into a world where flavors, aromas, and textures dance harmoniously on your palate. My recent dining experience at Golden Star Thali left an indelible mark, and I'm thrilled to share my food review.

Ambiance: The restaurant's warm and inviting ambiance immediately puts you at ease. The rustic decor, adorned with golden accents, creates a comforting atmosphere that resonates with the traditional charm of Indian cuisine. The soothing background music and attentive staff further elevate the dining experience, making it perfect for both intimate gatherings and family outings.

Service: The service at Golden Star Thali is impeccable. The staff's genuine warmth and knowledge about the dishes on offer make you feel like a cherished guest. They are more than willing to guide you through the extensive menu and cater to dietary preferences, ensuring a truly personalized dining experience.

Thali Selection: The heart of Golden Star Thali lies in its namesake offering – the thali. I opted for the deluxe thali, and I was mesmerized by the array of vibrant dishes that adorned the generously-sized platter. From fragrant basmati rice and flaky naan to an assortment of delectable curries, dals, and sides, each component was a masterpiece in its own right.

Highlights:

Paneer Tikka Masala: The paneer was exquisitely tender and infused with the rich flavors of the masala. The gravy struck a perfect balance between creaminess and a hint of spice, creating a memorable dish.

Bhindi Masala: The okra was cooked to perfection – crunchy on the outside and succulent on the inside. The spices complemented the natural flavors of the vegetable, resulting in a delightful side dish.

Dal Makhani: The creamy, velvety texture of the dal was a testament to slow-cooked perfection. It was a comforting companion to the rice and naan, making every bite a heartwarming experience.

Dessert Delight: The thali was crowned with a dessert that captured the essence of Indian sweets. The gulab jamun was soft, syrup-soaked, and indulgent – a sweet ending that left me craving for more.

Conclusion: Golden Star Thali is more than just a restaurant; it's a culinary journey that encapsulates the soul of Indian cuisine. With its authentic flavors, warm ambiance, and exceptional service, this establishment has rightfully earned its place among the top dining destinations in the city. Whether you're a connoisseur of Indian cuisine or someone looking to embark on a flavorful adventure, Golden Star Thali promises a gastronomic experience that you won't soon forget. My visit here was nothing short of stellar, and I can't wait to return for another round of thali delight.

Highly...

Seriously NOT worth the price !! (₹570+ gst) I had been reading and hearing about this place for long. Honestly speaking when it comes to a full meal platter/thali craving, apart from 1 or 2 places for Gujarati style thali and the same for South Indian Kannada style oota or Tamil saapad, there aren’t many choices in the city compared to neighbouring Pune. So just when we were in the neighbourhood by chance, instead of our usual all time family favourite Samrat I suggested we visit here and since then there hasn’t been a moment when I haven’t regretted for putting my family through the harrowing thali experience we had here. The very moment we stepped in through the door a gust of strange odour came right at our face, the servers half of them who weren’t even wearing their uniforms properly, looked at us with a bewildered look as if we had turned up at the wrong time. The place wasn’t even brightly lit and the upholstery seemed to be an old one. When I asked for a washroom, was guided on to the mezzanine floor above which seemed to be a dark dingy storage space of some sorts with the same kind of odour. When the place doesn’t meet up to your expectations in terms of ambience, one expects at least the food taste may cover for such shortcomings. But guess what ? There wasn’t a single item apart from the khichadi served at the end that tasted good. The vegetable preparations ? horribly bland and tasteless, the potatoes in the preparation weren’t even steamed properly and paneer ?! does it really have to be in a Rajasthani thali ? Good lord knows. The farsan item and the sweets were just average. Rajasthani thali’s like this one are known to be slightly more sweeter in taste compared to the food on this side of the Vindhyas but they aren’t at least devoid of flavours. I have tasted Gujrati thalis of similar kind which were just so flavourful and scrumptious. Reading the reviews of people who have recently visited this place I have only one thing to say- mitron ! If you fancy the thali experience here, then you guys really haven’t tasted GOOD thalis. I had gone here after reading a lot on sm and of course the other google reviews but now this shall serve as a lesson for a lifetime that one mustn’t take such reviews at face value. And for thali lovers, well for now Samrat and Thakkar Bhojnalay is the only best option we have (for Kannada style oota- Udupi Rama Nayak); have heard about the thali at Chetna but haven’t tasted it yet. By writing this review, I don’t intend to demoralise those running this place (the reason for giving 2 stars above) but finally customer is the king and his opinion certainly matters. Hope to see them improve some day. Ambience- 2/5 Hygiene- 1/5 Staff service- 3/5 Food- 1/5 Covid appropriate measures- 1/5 Value for money ? well, by now readers must...

Golden Star situated outside Charni Road station was a revelation for me in spite of me passing by the area multiple times in the past year. I went for lunch one fine afternoon, mainly for their AamRas Thali- a speciality in the Indian summer. And given how much I love Indian food, especially a good thali- I sure wasn’t disappointed 🤩

Food-

🌿 Pure Veg is the name of the game. Given the variety of food served on the platter, I sure didn’t have to look beyond the unlimited thali. An empty steel thali manifests in front as soon as one takes their seat, which is soon decked up with all sorts of foods one would expect from a Rajasthani/Gujrati Thali.

Basic salads, chutneys, Dhokla, mini Samosa, Papad, Achar, 4 curries (1 being Panner based), Dal, Kheer and of course that yummy Aam Ras all are filled into their respective ‘vattis’ by a platoon in quick succession.

You then are presented with a choice of breads in the form of Chapatis, Puri & Theplas. One also has plain white rice 🍚, Pulav and Khichdi infused with ghee to choose from. Not to forget the Malpua, Dahi Wada & Chass that completes much of the thali.

All items were fresh and I enjoyed having each one of them. Though not a keen sweet lover, I was in love with Malpua. But the star of the show was the Aam Ras, which was magical indeed! 🥭🙌

And like every unlimited Rajasthani thali venue I had been to, I had to fold my hands and accept defeat as I was filled to the brim, both in terms of tummy & soul 😊

Location & Vibe-

The hustling vibe outside the restaurant continues inside and lunch is a quick affair. The aircon was god sent in the summer heat. The layout is packed and close by still feels homely and spacious. Though on their heels, the servers are courteous and hospitality is on point. I could barely spot an unsatisfied face in the crowd. Though I had entered just around their mid-day break time before 3 pm, I got to have my lunch at leisure 🙏

The rates are decent given the quality of food served and the location. Rates differ on weekdays & weekends.

🅿️ Parking will be an issue and one will have to check out various spots in the by lanes for paid parking. Being located in one of the happening streets in town, footfall is rather the same on weekdays & weekends with lunch perhaps being the preferred choice of customers.

Verdict-

An absolute must visit, especially if you like veg Indian food, particularly Rajasthani/Gujrati Thalis like me! A ‘Must Visit & Highly Recommended’ from me 💯

Food Taste - 5/5

Food Quantity - 5/5 Service - 5/5 Hygiene - 4/5 Ambience - 5/5 Value for Money - 4/5

TG’s Zing-The AamRas Thali and the AamRas in general is just amazing. Definitely...