Andheri's new veg eatery promises to satiate your craving for yummy North Indian veggie food

Tucked in the by-lanes of the loopy lanes of the Laxmi Industrial Estate in Andheri, a quaint new joint opened its low-profile doors sans trumpet blasts, quite unlike its namesake -- the Karan Johar song, Mahi Ve. Mahi Veg is a vegetarian paradise. The simple, unassuming interiors and a moderately priced menu don't do much to chalk up the ambience or coolness quotient but what they lack in decor, they definitely make up in delight.



The Aloo Tikki (Rs 60) was suggested as the most popular snack dish the menu. When it arrived, as promised, it lived up to its reputation of being perfectly baked, mildly spicy, and melted in our mouths. The accompanying onions were soft and golden browned to a medium crisp-like texture that glazed through the Aloo Tikkis, making it the perfect supplementary salivate.

For the gravy, the Mixed Vegetables (Rs 65) offered a bunch of vegetables shredded and diced into thin strips (The typical vegetables included in the mix were cauliflower, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, French beans and peas) simply sauteed in onions, garlic, green chilly and curry leaves. They say that when you prepare recipes that include a variety of vegetables, you receive the nutritional benefits of each. In short, this dish will add to the health benefit plan you've subscribed to.

We cannot say the same for the Palak Paneer (Rs 75) though. This was served piping hot to the table. This cottage cheese amusement came with succulent paneer cubes, simmered with palak (spinach) in a more than generous helping of buttery (makhani) gravy. The only slight complaint here was that perhaps the paneer wasn't brown enough to our liking and given the copious amount of butter it came with, felt a little liquidy.

Firmer pieces would have definitely enhanced the experience. Furthermore, the curry sauce was on the slightly spicier side and seemed to be competing with the tomato puree to offset the flavour. This might not bode well with touchy taste-bud-type people who won't be able to take a distinct stand on it being a sweet or spicy dish.

The accompanying Butter Naan (Rs 20) sadly, lacked that typically North Indian flavour. It was a tad softer than it should be, since a typically luscious Butter Naan should be crispy and crackling and still have the melt in the mouth quality. Still, for 20 bucks, can't go wrong, really!

Washing off the sinfully heavy meal with Gulab Jamun (Rs 25) seemed like a great idea. The dessert didn't disappoint and was bathed in the right amount of soaked rose flavoured sugar syrup. It was served nice, smooth and warm and melted in our mouths. But this one scored more on the presentation scale. A small tip for the sugar unfriendly -- this one is VERY sweet.u00a0

To sum it up -- if you have an immense craving for the North Indian tadka, Mahi Veg is definitely worth a balle balle visit.

At Mahi Veg, behind Laxmi Industrial Estate, 8, New Shantivan, Raviraj Oberoi Complex, Andheri (W). Call 9920010055
Mahi Veg didn't know we were there.u00a0The Guideu00a0reviews anonymously and pays for meals.