Craving for seaside South Indian delicacies? Visit this new restaurant in Marol

On a midweek afternoon we dropped by a newlyopened coastal restaurant at the Times Square Building in Marol At first glance its name might lead you to expect a Keralacentric menu inspired by the serene seaside town of Bekal in Kasaragod Instead this restaurant offers a more expansive culinary journey featuring South Indian coastal specialities from Mangalore Kerala Karnataka and Goa mdash served in a sensitively designed contemporary space Architect Umesh Desairsquos sharp sense blends with traditional architecture and offers an inviting ambience soft lighting geometric patterns brass accents and wooden carvings giving the space a warm elegant aestheticGhee roast with neer dosaThe restaurant had a quiet unhurried atmosphere and was occupied by mostly office goers from the vicinity on the day we dropped by Helmed by chef Lalit Chunara the menu we are told is authentic We started with goli baje Rs 125 and asked for kadam idli which we were informed has been discontinued Considering it is a new place it was surprising why lesserknown idli like kadam cucumber idli steamed in turmeric leaves should be discontinued so soon mdash Mumbai needs to explore beyond the staple idlidosavada trifecta to appreciate the expansive South Indian cuisine The goli baje was crispy on the outside and warm and chewy inside mdash it had a bite to it We would have preferred the usual coconutcoriander chutney but they served it with a standard duo of tomatobased and coconut Instead of kadam we opted for soft pillowy podi thatte idli Rs 165 with the right amount of melted ghee and spicy savoury ground chutneyKori roti PicsNASRIN MODAK SIDDIQIThe pipinghot benne masala dosa Rs 185 prepared with dollops of butter was quickly compared to a popular Bandra eatery where the craze for this dosa variant has caught on like wildfire This Marol version comes a close second after the Bandra eateryrsquos version Next we opted for chicken ghee roast Rs 445 The spicy tangy and flavourful dish of chicken and spices cooked in ghee would have been great with appams but we were suggested neer dosa and it melted in our mouth Next up kori roti Rs 545 a spicy staple of the Tulu UdupiMangalorean cuisine is a classic pairing of the kori gassi chicken curry with dosa crispsPIC COURTESYINSTAGRAMDespite barely having any room for dessert we tucked into the gadbad ice cream Rs 395 This classic desi dessert brought back memories from our college days when this cost Rs 20 at the neighbourhood ice cream parlour that was savoured till the very end among friends With its origins in Mangalore todayrsquos Mangaluru this sundae is arranged in a tall glass with three different flavours of ice cream and jello fresh fruits and chopped nuts layered in between to give it some texture We feel it is one of the most underrated ice cream iterations At this restaurant it was pricey too We washed down all of it with filter coffee R95 mdash which was as good as you can sip on at any South Indian eateryPodi thatte idliBekal House is ideal for a working lunch if yoursquore in the area or for an indulgent breakfast date on weekends However we wonder what the tandoor and Asian dishes were doing on the menu given that their main attractions didnrsquot miss the markGadbadBekal HouseAt Times Square Building AndheriKurla Road Marol Andheri EastTime 9 am to 4 pm 7 pm to 12 amCall 9619525145Exceptional Excellent very Good Good Average Bekal House didnrsquot know we were there The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals