~~~ Darbari Zaika ~~~. Review on Jaffer Bhai's Delhi Darbar, Vashi, Navi Mumbai

Nearly two weeks back while dining in a restaurant, my hubby overheard someone saying that Delhi Darbar has opened in Vashi. Being Muslims we are always in search of Muslim owned eateries as we are assured of Halal Meat. My Hubby has to entertain a lot and knowing another good restaurant never hurts. From then on searching that restaurant became his sole mission and he finally succeeded in achieving it. He first took a business client there after fully being satisfied that the food was at par with their other outlets(previous visits) he came home and promised us a visit.

We rarely visit restaurants on weekends as they are very crowded. Last Saturday my Hubby being in a benovalent mood insisted that I don’t cook at home and which wife can refuse such an offer. So at the appointed hour picked my Hubby from his office and we Foodie Mortals set off to grace Delhi Darbar at Vashi with our presence. It is situated in an ideal location due to its proximity to Mafco (Veg) Market and Sanpada station is barely 10 mins walk away. Bus services in that area are also very frequent, so not taking your own vehicle isn’t a big problem. Auto rickshaws are also available in plenty though parking is a big issue. There is no parking facility but you can park your vehicle in Mafco Market parking lot for a nominal fee.

As I entered in, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I didn’t have to grope in dark (tell your dirty mind to shut up) for my seat nor was I blinded by the garish lights which unfortunately happens tobe the case in many eateries which don’t have natural ventilation. Due to absence of natural lights, strategically placed light fixtures throw sufficient light. The air-conditioners were running at optimum speed, the place was neither stuffy nor chilly. It can comfortably seat around 40 people ( I counted roughly as I didn’t want people to think that I am peeking at their food)downstairs, there is a Family room upstairs but don’t know how many people can be seated. Next time I will surely go upstairs even if it is solely for counting the seats ;) You can rest yourself in comfortable seats that don’t shake and even the tables were soberly standing on their four legs. The smooth table top minimized the noise while placing the dishes and cutlery. The Décor is a mix of Marble and Veneer that is soothing to eyes.

I felt that the service wasn’t at par compared to their other outlets though it was far better than most other restaurants. The Captain who took our order for Starters disappeared, after a little while another apparition clad in full black appeared before us. The Captains were the height of sophistication, they even wore a black tie with black trousers and black shirt. I seriously contemplated meeting the person who designed their uniform. After having a word with the captain, the service was more quicker but the waiters need to know the exact names of the dishes that they serve. They also need more training to serve properly.

We ordered Tandoori Prawns(must have starter for us), the size of prawns was smaller compared to other restaurants that we frequent but they were done to perfection. Chicken Tikka accompanied by the customary green chutney was tasty. If you are fond of kababs then their very soft and melt in the mouth Shami Kabab(Rs 35 for two pieces) are a must, I have already ordered my hubby to get them very frequently during the month of Ramzan. Many restaurants have started offering Buttered Roomali Rotis, in this restaurant they are calling it Reshmi Paratha, they are very soft and again melt in the mouth variety. Since I avoid butter I found this tobe a little heavy for my taste. The oil less Tandoori Paratha that I ordered was also soft and the best thing is that each and every item that came on table was hot. We ordered Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Gravy(don’t remember the exact name of the dish) for our main dish, to our horror we found that the gravy of the both dishes was same and only the size of chicken was different. So read the menu carefully, they have described the menu in detail, if the gravy base is same for two of your choices order only one item. Their food is perfect for health conscious people neither looking bland nor oily, their use of spice is also less though we are used to spicy food I didn’t find the food bland.

Their Biryanis though tasty are little oily in content, just after having two spoonful of Mutton Biryani I gave up. They have a few Muslim specialities too like Khichda and Paya. They have a wide variety of Non-Veg, Veg and Chinese food items on the menu, so every customer is happy. We were too full to have any dessert but we ordered Chicken Biryani and Khichda as Take-away. The portions are just right for 2-3 people and price is also reasonable as the quality of ingredients used is very good. They will also deliver to your home but I am not aware of the distance upto which they do Home Delivery. There are many Delhi Darbar restaurants in Mumbai but do check its Jaffer Bhai’s Delhi Darbar with Double D logo. Do pay a visit to this Darbar if you love good food.