Freedom, the new restaurant in Bandra, completely contradicts its name with a lackluster menu that does not give patrons much to choose from
Freedom, the new restaurant in Bandra, completely contradicts its name with a lackluster menu that does not give patrons much to choose from
Despite opening four months back, an internet search and enquiries on city helplines failed to give us the restaurant's exact location. So we headed to Carter Road, Bandra, and after walking two kilometres, discovered Freedom on a near-deserted road in Rizvi Complex. The few people in the restaurant were glued to the IPL semi-final. Our entry into the restaurant was greeted by a shout out from one member of the staff to the other, "Apne hotal mein public aa raheli hai baap." Talk about business being bad!
Chicken Lazeez Roll Pic/ Satyajit Desai
Disregarding the rude welcome, we settled into uncomfortable metal chairs and browsed through the single page menu. For vegetarians, there are exactly three varieties of rolls, a few pizza and sandwich options whereas non-vegetarians can choose from chicken rolls, chicken cutlets, and chicken and mutton main course dishes. With the chicken rolls priced at Rs 35 and sandwiches priced between Rs 20 and Rs 60, it was clear that their target customers were students from nearby Rizvi College.
We placed our order quickly, as there wasn't much to choose from. We asked for Corn Veg Pizza (Rs 50), Chicken Lazeez Roll (Rs 35) and Butter Chicken Boneless (Rs 85) with Roti. The only other 'meal' option available was the Daily Special Jeera Rice.
The chef prepared our roll by taking a home-made chapati from a plastic box and heating it on an induction plate, which students use in hostel rooms. Then he put some readymade chicken gravy, a little green chatni and shredded cabbage on it, rolled it and put it in the microwave oven. Next, he transferred some boneless butter chicken from a big steel container into a take-away plastic container and served it to us along with chapati greased with butter.
The roll was too hot to bite into so we started with the cold Butter Chicken and Roti. The chicken tasted like any run-of-the-mill chicken gravy, except in this case the chicken was a tad burnt. The roll tasted exactly like the one your mother would make with leftover chicken.u00a0u00a0
Next was the Corn Veg Pizza, which was basically tomato ketchup, onions, corn and capsicum sprinkled on a local bakery-baked pizza base. All this topped with processed cheese. To gulp the meal down, we desperately needed a good drink but the ready-mix Peach Iced Tea did not help.u00a0u00a0If you are student and your mother forgot to pack lunch for you, you could stop over at Freedom for some cheap and greasy grub. However, if looking for some real rolls and affordable and genuine Mughlai food, the vicinity has better options.u00a0u00a0
Freedom
Food: disappointing
Service: average
Ambience: decent
At 5A, Parichay, Rizvi Complex, Sherly Rajan Road, Bandra (W). Call 26483655 Freedom didn't know we were there. The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals.
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