Aug 21, 2001 12:28 AM
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Location :
On the colaba circle, bank opposite Regal Cinema, also opposite Museum.
Ambience :
Nostalgia takes over the moment you enter Café Royal.---- Larger-Than-Life portraits of Laurel & Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Freddie Mercury (Queen), Richard Nixon, David Niven, Sean Connery and many other Celebrities painted ~~~~”PAINTED” mind you, not HUNG ~~~~ on two walls of the restaurant. What I mean is, the entire wall is cover by actually painting portraits of the celebrities or lets say ex-celebrities in black and white. A different, novel way of “décor” (if I may call it a decor). But that’s about the extent the nostalgia lasts. The biggest and probably the only drawback here is, the informal, but CRAMPED up seating arrangement. Tables are too close, either to each other, or to pillars present in the midst of dining area. But the service and food, kind of, makes you overlook this drawback.
Food :
Many Continental (mostly British) dishes ARE available, but you want to go to Café Royal for its sizzlers. Not that the other items are bad, but Café Royal, serves probably the best sizzlers in Mumbai. Also you’ll find highest number of varieties of sizzlers available. Freshness of the ingredients, (be it vegetables or meat or sea-food), quality of oil used for sizzling, and the quality of sauces, make the difference between GODD and BAD sizzlers. Café Royal serves the best. For vegetarians I would recommend “Baked Beans on Cutlets” or “Paneer (cottage cheese) Sashlik. For non-vegetarians I would suggest “Pepper Chicken”, “Chicken Shashlik” or “Veal”. For sea-food lovers,. I would recommend “Sea-Food Delight”. Have any of these on Rice or Spaghetti, as you may prefer, with all or any combination, of Garlic, Pepper and Cheese Sauce.
Besides sizzlers you could try the “French Toast”, “Fish ‘N’ Chips, or “Vegetable Submarine Sandwich roll”.
Service :
Service could easily be termed “Very Good”. The stewards as well as most of the waiters are all knowledgeable, helpful, and prompt. I have been a regular customer of theirs since past four years, and very often they have readily served a combination of vegetables and ingredients of my choice, though it may not be out of the menu. My children prefer no cabbage and extra mushrooms and baby-corn on the sides. I, myself often opt for only french-fries no vegetables on the “sides”. Never have I been refused such special requests.
Added Attraction :
For “Mumbaikars” (Bombayites) it is needless to say that the added attraction is ”Headquarters” the disco/pub right above (on the first floor) Café royal. Where again, the service is very good, music excellent, and standard variety of cocktails besides all variety of “drinks” (Try out their Shot of Golden Taquilla). For the younger (like me…hehehe) crowd, during weekends, dine at Café royal, and freak-out at “Headquarters”.
PS. I have been a regularly frequenting Café Royal for the past four years. Hence the above, is by no means being influenced by the famous “visit” of Bill Clinton to Café Royal.
