The Cheesecake Factory is: The No Brainer

Seriously, who hasn’t been to the cheesecake factory….at least 10 times in their lifetime.  Ok maybe I’m exaggerating, but not among the people I know who live in the area.  I feel like this next one is the default place for people to go to when they want a nice restaurant with good food, that requires no research at all..you just go.  Especially because it is great for seating a lot of people and for celebrating birthdays. Not to mention, when people are craving different cuisines, this is the place to go because they have over 200 menu items to choose from!  There’s something for everyone.  Best of all, their portions are known for being generous and ideal for sharing or taking it to-go.

Of course, they are famous for their cheesecakes, which is how the cheesecake factory started many years back.  Its a quite charming American success story of how it all got started. Evelyn Overton started making cheesecakes in Detroit that grew in popularity in their community. She started a business which she eventually had to close down to raise her children.  Then when her children were all grown, her and her husband Oscar Overton moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams which turned out to be a great decision. In 1978, their son David started the Cheesecake factory restaurant in Beverly Hills, and has grown close to 150 locations. How amazing is that?  My pictures are just 5 entrees out of hundreds, but you get the idea.

But now for the real low-down. I’ve been going here…ummm…since 1997, I have NEVER ONCE experienced a hitch in my dining experience. Not with the food, the service, anything.  Plus they’ve got something for everyone. So in that regard…its GOOD.

HOWEVER, I’m so over it!  For like the past 8 years!  Every time someone suggests we go here i’m like whyyyy!?!?  Why not try something new and different?? Most of my friends are too chicken to drive a little further out to experience new restaurants, so they just stick to what they know.  I’ve seriously tried like almost everything on their menu. So be adventurous peopleeee!!! If  you’ve never been, then go! But don’t be chicken to venture out and try something different!!

Crispy Chicken Costoletta (my personal favorite)

Monterey Hamburger

Chicken Lettuce Wrap Tacos (Asian version)

Da Vinci Pasta

Seared Tuna Tataki Salad

Did you like this? Share it:

Chandragupta, Mumbai

For a nice and elegant meal, Chandragupta is the place to go.  With its chic décor, well-conceived menu and courteous staff, you’ll be happy you went.  And while I usually recommend a particular dish or two, everything is so great you can’t go wrong.  What you can do is order one dish from the fish, chicken and lamb category like I did. Either way, you won’t be disappointed!

Fried Fish

Lamb Masala

Garlic Nan

Palak Paneer

Chicken Masala

Did you like this? Share it:

Tavaa, Mumbai

Another restaurant very local to me was this place called Tavaa.  The food was tasty, yes, but the overall quality was not exactly up to par. I order garlic prawns, noodles and a kabob plate that included lamb, chicken and chicken liver.  The garlic prawns were smothered in a delicious sauce, but the noodles were a little overcooked and lacked texture.  The chicken liver tasted good for chicken liver, but if you’re not used to it, it can be a little hard to swallow.  They also rushed us out of there because they had to close down at like 3 pm until their dinner hours began.  I was peeved.

Did you like this? Share it:

Wild Wild West, Mumbai

Hands down, one of my favorite restaurants that I’ve experienced in Mumbai so far has been Wild Wild West. Not just because the owner is a friend of mine, but because the food is actually REALLY GOOD!  It’s extremely clean and somewhat modern looking but with a western twist.  Check out all the amazing food we ordered, of course from multiple visits.

Chicken Wings

The Wild Wild West Sizzler!!!

Rosemary Lamb with Risotto

Veggie Sandwich

Prawns

Shepherd’s Pie

Nachos

Oreo Cheesecake

Did you like this? Share it:

Thali!

For truly authentic Indian food, I was introduced to a restaurant (located inside the Highway Gomantak hotel) that serves cheap and delicious food.  We ordered Thali, which is several dishes served in small bowls on a round tray.  It usually consists of rice, dhal, vegetables, chutney and roti.  I also ordered a shrimp curry dish.  The purple liquid that you see in one of the bowls is actually a salty yogurt flavored drink that aides in digestion.  Everything was so good that I literally wiped my plate clean.  To top off lunch, I ordered malai, a sweet milk-like jello flavored with saffron. See for yourself

Did you like this? Share it:

Bombay Blue, Mumbai

Bombay Blue is the perfect restaurant to go to when you’re with people who are each craving different types of food.  This place offers so many different kinds of food and cuisines including pizza, burgers, pastas, kabobs, sandwiches, sizzlers, you name it.

I ordered a chicken sandwich with mango and apricot chutney, but I got a little overzealous and ate it before I could snap a picture…lol…oops.  For a starter we ordered breaded cheese balls, which were delishhh.  But the showstopper of the evening was definitely the sizzler.

This sizzler came with a multitude of ingredients like cabbage, peas, carrots, potato, tomato, spinach, green beans, caramelized onions, all smothered in this AMAZING garlic sauce and topped with a beef pattie and an egg for good measure.

And just when I thought nothing could top the sizzler, I was surprised once again with this colossal dessert…a chocolate brownie on a bed of chocolate syrup, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and sprinkled with nuts. I think the end result picture speaks enough for itself of how good it was.  With its great food and clean atmosphere, Bombay Blue is a MUST!!

Did you like this? Share it:

The Good Earth, Mumbai

If you want a great fine dining experience, and perhaps are looking to get some STEAK in India, then Good Earth is the place to go.  Not only is the food great, but the ambiance and decor is to die for!  I couldn’t get over how pretty it was.  The pictures do not do it justice.  But of course, we were there for the steak. I couldn’t bear the deprivation any longer.  We started with a prawns appetizer, tried some Indian red wine, then ordered, not one, not two, but 3 steaks between 2 people.  Followed by coffee and tiramisu. Everything was delishhh and I’m so happy I found a spot to get my steak fix

Did you like this? Share it:

Jai Jawan, Mumbai

Alright, this is the MOTHER of all places to go if you’re looking for some great chicken.  If you are ever in Mumbai, you MUSTTT try Jai Jawan. One taste and now we’re hooked.  This was another food stop that we went to based on recommendation and OH MY!  It was freakin amazing!!!!  We were going there up to 3 times a week but decided to cut back to once a week so that we don’t go broke from eating chicken.  Since it was my first time, we tried almost everything on the menu: tandoori chicken, fried fish, fried prawns, and seekh kabob.  Each plate comes with a side of onions and some cilantro chutney that tastes like salsa.  Everything was delicious, but the chicken is on a whole other level.  The marinade along with the fact that they cook it on the grill makes everything about the chicken so perfect and delicious.  Just to give you an example of the cost, one whole chicken costs 220 Rupees, which comes out to about $5 U.S. dollars.  Not bad for just about the most amazing meal everrrr!  Apparently, we’re not the only ones who think so.  Jai Jawan opens up at 6:30 p.m. and there is always a line of people just waiting for it to open and they usually sell out within a few hours.  I’m telling you, this is one gem from Mumbai that I’m so happy I found.

Did you like this? Share it: