All the way from Bhatkal

Who says Iftar feasting can't get experimental? Try traditional Navayathi community cuisine from Bhatkal at the Ali Baba Cafe and Restaurant

Ifu00a0you happenu00a0to drive down MM road in Frazer town, Ali Baba Cafe and Restaurant is not one of those places that will catch your eye.

This is because this restaurant is a rather unassuming eatery located on the first floor of a building with its entrance through a narrow bylane. In close vicinity of the mosque located on MM Road, the spirit on the streets is already high, thanks to fasting and feasting going on at street stalls.

After sampling a kheema samosa or two from these stalls, we suggest you head straight to the Ali Baba Cafe for an Iftar feast in a more relaxed manner. A narrow staircase leads up to a landing done up with cane blinds and a colourful glass lamp.


Laham Machboosu00a0and Hummus with Khubbus

The restaurant entrance resembles a carved wooden doorway that leads to a space that will instantly remind you of a Middle Eastern retreat. The decor instantly connects to something of Arabic or Persian nature with wooden framed mirrors, carvings, curtains with sheen and inviting alternate seating with arm chairs and dewans.

As quaint as the location and ambience, is the cuisine offered by this cafe. Along with the regular Persian, Arabic and a few Lebanese delicacies Ali Baba serves Navayathi cuisine, from a small community of Arab traders who had settled in Bhatkal region of Konkan.

The menu made out of wood and cloth is elaborate and interesting to look at. We started with a Cucumber juice (Navayathi style), a mocktail made out of grated cucumber and sugar syrup. Refreshing and mildly sweet, the mocktail was a perfect start to the meal.

For starters, we opted for a Kukdi Maas Fry (Rs 145) and Hummus (Rs 145) served with Khubbus or Pita (Rs 15). The Kukdi Maas Fry was a deep friedpreparation of chicken with generous red chillies, slightly tangy and crispy which we quite liked.

For the mains we picked a Laham Machboos (Rs 595), a traditional Arabic mutton biryani, mildly spiced and cooked with long grained rice and spicy chunks of mutton. We strongly suspected that the meat offered to us as partof the mutton biryani was actually lamb and was slightly underdone.
u00a0
Though the biryani was served with a delicious tangy and slightly charred tomato chutney, the undercooked meat couldn't save the dish. We then tried a Chicken Sharwa Maas (Rs 125), another Navayathi speciality cooked with a green chilli masala and rather fiery with underlying flavours of pepper.
u00a0
The chicken was perfectly done with the gravy tasting of hot green chillies and caramelised onions. Garwa Poli (Rs 25), the suggested accompaniment was a typical home cooked Bhatkal-style paratha. The meal altogether was wholesome and the quantities, quite satisfying.

Left with not much space for desserts like Kunafa, with layers of cheese, dry fruits and semolina, which sounded very heavy we decided to opt for a Moroccon Teapot (Rs 85) instead.
u00a0
It came in an attractive looking antique teapot and was a warm and soothing mint tea. Sweet and flavoursome with the use of mint leaves, the tea succeeded in washing away the effect of the spices we were exposed to through the meal.

A few cups down, we realized we had made the right choice by choosing tea over desserts.

At Ali Baba Cafe and Restaurant, No 69, 1st floor, MM Road, Frazer Town
Call 4091 7163
Meal for two Rs 1,000
Ali Baba Cafe didn't know we were there. The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals