There's a new shawarma place in town!. Review on ShumZ Cafe, Bandra, Mumbai

My undying love for shawarmas made me check into this bright cafe on the 29th Road; you can't just walk past the restaurant and not notice the rustic arabian decor. The intricately designed staircase invites you. The temptation to walk in was such that it felt the place connected with my soul and my feet knew. The aura was so charming that it did not require much convincing on my part, friends readily agreed. Three of us stepped right in.

Let's take some time to admire the decor. The dim-light setting and the arabic music sets the mood. If you're looking to sit somewhere by yourself, then they also have a table for two in a secluded corner. The corner is also perfect for a date. The mirror at the opposite end  of the room is exquisite and totally selfie-worthy.

The menu is a mix of Lebanese and Indian cuisine, tandoor items, Indian main course, shawarmas, open shawarma, smoke rolls and more, at a reasonable price. A chicken shawarma costs Rs.100. Currently, the menu lacks variety when compared to other restaurants. The chicken tikka hummus salad as well as smoke rolls were recommended by the owner while we also added a chicken shawarma, chicken pahadi kabab and fresh lime soda to the order.

We noticed the kitchen had a transparent door, what's better than knowing the food is made right in front of your eyes. Questions regarding kitchen hygiene can, therefore, be put to rest. And in our conversation with the owner, he revealed that the kitchen is designed to not stock food for more than a day. Hygienic and fresh, I was impressed.

There is a wifi facility and a TV screen to help you pass time while waiting for the order. However, the service is pretty quick and the food was right in front of us in no time.

Chicken Pahadi Kabab

Cost: Rs.180

A decent presentation with kababs encircling the salad. Chicken was well-cooked, soft and succulent. It was easy to chew and pretty much like what you would've tasted elsewhere. No surprises there.

Chicken Tikka Hummus Salad

Cost: Rs. 230

The presentation made it look delightful, chicken tikka and hummus in the centre with veggies(a mix of jalapeno, red pepper, yellow pepper, capsicum, cherry tomato, lettuce and chilli) on the circumference and a smoked tikka sauce on the side. It could easily serve two people. The richness of hummus, tender chicken, soft pita bread and marinated vegetables engulfed my mouth. It was our unanimous opinion that this was one of the best lebanese salads ever. Worth every penny.

Chicken Shawarma

Cost: Rs.100

A no-nonsense back to the basics shawarma with chicken strips, fries, hummus and garlic dip in a pita bread. It was effortless, easy to bite through. My friend liked it better than Carter's Blue. I begged to differ because it lacked options. I like my shawarma with veggies and a wheat pita bread. According to the owner, the choice of toppings and pita bread is in the pipeline.

Chicken Reshmi Tikka Smoke Roll

Cost: Rs. 140

This is a specialty as they are the only ones offering a smoke roll. If you love your meat smoked, then try this. You won't regret it. After the lebanese cuisine, we couldn't really enjoy the rolls. Friends found it a little hard to chew when compared to a shawarma. I felt chicken tikka smoke roll would've tasted better. Word of advice: if you plan to have a roll as well as a shawarma, then gorge on the roll first.

Dudhi Halwa

Cost:

Friend 1: "I liked it. Its not too sweet, just the right amount of sugar."

Friend 2: "The color is appealing, unlike the usual dudhi halwa. It has a good shade of green. I found it a little too sweet."

Me: "Tastes like home"

Verdict:

Its a nice budget-friendly restaurant with cozy ambience where you can chill with friends. The menu lacks variety, but give it some time, they will come up with more options. Dessert options are limited. Location could've been better as it is not on the main road which limits the discovery prospect. We couldn't try the Indian main course(look forward to on my next visit), the lebanese food had us occupied. The Chicken Tikka Hummus Salad is a must-try.