As I started on my way to Aamchee, a strangely familiar feeling gripped me. Standing patiently at the bus stop, I felt a sense of Deja Vu. Even aboard the bus, the landmarks and the roads were familiar. I say Deja Vu, but the dream-like sense of familiarity that washed over me was induced because I had taken this exact journey before. As a matter of fact, I had undertaken this exact journey almost every day of my life for three years. As a former student of Wilson College in Mumbai, located across Aamchee, I found the trip to be rather nostalgic. That sense of nostalgia set the tone for my entire experience at Aamchee, a restaurant that serves Bombay reminiscence on a platter.
Aamchee: An Ode To The Culinary Heritage Of Bombay
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My eyes were drawn to the simple yet prominent facade of Aamchee. For trips down memory lane, it’s best to do it with a dear friend, and one who is also a fellow alumna of Wilson College accompanied me on this culinary journey.
As I entered, Aamchee looked like a pleasantly deceptive space. Stroll around the place and you’re led to an open layout of expansive rooms. What seemed like a cosy haunt at first turned out to be a sprawling dining space. Managing this lively restaurant was Mr. D’souza who provided us with some helpful recommendations. Our servers, Ajay and Prabhu, were equally helpful and we managed to share a couple of laughs for our nearly two-hour visit there.
The interiors were elegant and the first thing that caught my attention was their cute little bakery counter laden with picture-perfect desserts. We were shown to our seats and were thrilled for all that was to come.
The Odyssey Begins…
We decided to get the following: –
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Parsi Chutney Bombs
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Paneer Cafreal Pan Roll
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Four Cheese Hirva Thecha Pav
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Spicy Desi Potato Fries
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Currimbhoy Potato Salad
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Vada Pav Sliders
We were eager to try the main course as well but regretfully aware of our limited appetites, and to avoid wasting food, we thought it would be wise to limit ourselves to these small plates. Our beverage choices came with Chilli Nimbu Pani and Cranberry Ice Tea.
The food arrived shortly after we placed the order and we were ready to dig in. The Parsi Chutney Bombs took me back to my school days when my mother would lovingly pack Chutney Sandwiches in my lunchbox. Except this time, the chutney sandwiches had gone on a personal transformation journey and had reinvented themselves as poppers. Though foreign in appearance, it had a true-blue desi chutney core.
The Paneer Cafreal Pan Rolls tasted like the cooler, more sophisticated elder sibling of the Parsi Chutney Poppers and I, for one, could have munched on those treats every day. For my friend whose spice tolerance was as dicey as the water at Girgaum Chowpatty, the Four Cheese Hirva Thecha Pav came as a pleasant surprise. It was a perfectly spiced milky bread which made for an excellent snack while we did some long overdue catching up.
The Spicy Desi Potato Fries were crispy, golden and everything you’d expect good fries to be. The Currimbhoy Potato salad made for a perfect light snack amid the fiesta of deep-fried dishes, although it could have done with a bit more mustard and a bit less mayonnaise. But the refreshing Chilli Nimbu Pani and Cranberry Iced Tea certainly complimented the meal with their salty-sweet and tangy flavours.
The Star Of The Show
What we were most excited about was the Vada Pav Slider. It was specially recommended by Mr D’souza and is one of the best-sellers of the restaurant. We were blown away by the concept and presentation alone! Four tiny Vada Pavs with a corresponding tiny spoon. What’s on the spoon, you ask? It was a delightful combination of white butter and various chutneys. The white butter was common on all four spoons and the other chutneys were Peri Peri, two types of Mirchi Thecha and Garlic Chutney.
The idea is to smear the white butter and chutney on each slider before devouring them. If you didn’t realise how much fun it is to play with your food before relishing it, you certainly will know it after trying this. We honestly don’t know what we enjoyed more, the vada pav themselves or this fun and interactive interlude that punctuated our meal.
Time For Some Dessert!
We did briefly contemplate getting the main course. Mr D’souza’s version of Khar Sindhi Sai Bhaji Bowl sounded tempting, but our happy tummies couldn’t take any more. So, we regretfully skipped it but if you ever find yourself at Aamchee, do give this one a try!
So like any true foodie, we moved on to the next category because there’s always room for dessert! We got the delicious OG Trifle Pudding and it was just the light and fruity treat that our hearty feast demanded. What a delight.
We sat and chatted some more over a Filter Kaapi and Masala Chai which marked the end of our journey of Bambaiya flavours with a continental twist.
With our hearts and stomachs full, we made our way to the golden sands of Girgaum Chowpatty to refresh some old memories over a setting sun.
About Aamchee
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This is Pinky Chandan Dixit’s newly opened vegetarian haunt. His other venture, Soam, is also located a mere stone’s throw away from Aamchee. It has long been known for serving Gujarati flavours. Aamchee, too, is undoubtedly set to witness a similar legacy.
Also Read: CTExclusive: Colaba Gets 1st Araku Restaurant And India’s 1st Ever Regen Dining Space; Preview
When are you heading there?
Where: Girgaum Chowpatty
When: 12 PM to 11 PM
Cost: ₹1,000 for two approx.
Cover Image Credits: Supplied & Tooba Shaikh
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First Published: January 29, 2024 6:00 PM