Oriental Blossom - Birthday Celebration

Happy Birthday

Rest: Oriental Blossom
Location: Marine Plaza
Meal: Dinner
Company : Mr&Mrs Jain, Mr&Mrs Bathija, Mr&Mrs Chabbria, Mr Patel, Miss Anie, Mr.Jain


The Decision : We were looking to go someplace with a group of 9 to celebrate my wifes birthday. The alternatives were China Garden ( no table at short notice) Golden Dragon (read dine here and become a Banana Republic) Henry Tham (untested weapon)

Since our fav Oriental place shut down (china white) and we absolutely detest Royal China Oriental Blossom was the only natural choice.

The Experience : It turned out to be a good move. We got a table for 9 and the meal was the best so far at Oriental Blossom. Usually the restaurant can be patchy or short of great but it has never been bad or below par.


The Meal -

Beverages: We ordered a bunch of beers Kingfisher(terrible) Heineken, Diet Pepsi.

Soups : Our soups were Wanton Soup (excellent) Tom Yum (not bad)
absolutely first rate. Although the tom yum has been wildly inconsistent but it was ok this time.

Appetizers : Potato in dry red chilli (good) Grilled Wanton (not bad) Some mushroom thing (not bad again)

The Boys

Main Course : We got Hakka Noodles ( excellent, very well done) we got two different veggies one was the regular veggies sans broccoli in an Oyster Sauce and the other was Stuffed Mushrooms in their hot sauce. The veggies in the oyster sauce were not too bad but the Mushrooms were just fantastic. Too good, this one dish is the highlight of their meal service. Its hot (temp) and tasty.

Dessert : We cut a cake.

Overall : The meal was pretty good. The service was slow and scatter brained at times which was disappointing. Mrs Bathija had been to Royal China recently and China Garden and said this was by far a much better meal than any of the others. Overall its a def place to visit and can easily become your regular Chinese joint. If only they were slightly more consistent with food and service they could jump a notch and enter the real of the 9's on this blog.

Rating : Food 8/10, Service 7/10

Damage : 6500 ($175) (includes additional alcohol)

Oriental Blossom
Hotel Marine Plaza
29, Marine Drive, Mumbai
Phone 22851212

Cafe Madras

Rest : Cafe Madras
Location : Dadar - Matunga
Meal : Dinner
Company : Loki

Ambience : Cafe Madras is a very very basic eatery. Small, on two levels and harkens back to a time when the city was probably full of places like this.

Meal : The menu is south indian and interesting however some of the items you know nothing about since the names are things we have never heard (Neer, Ungdu etc) Anyway we got the vada sambar (good) the madras dahi misal (excellent) the onion rava (below average) the set dosas (two pancake like dal-flour dosa with masala in the middle, very different and good) many other options with uttapams and rice which ill try out if im ever back.

The filter coffee was the drink to have. in that heat too i had like 3 cups. Fantastic.

There was a 20 min wait on account of it being Sunday. beware its very basic no A/c no fancy stuff. eat and get out though the staff is pretty friendly.

Food : 8/10 Service 8/10
Damage : 180($4.50)

China Gate

Rest : China Gate
Meal : Lunch
Location : Atria Mall, Worli
Company : Gotti, Rishab, Wife


Ambiance : The place is well done up and the seating is comfortable, it has an upscale loungish look to the whole thing more than a restaurant.

Drinks : Corona x 1, Diet Pepsi x 2

Soup : We got the Tom Yum (below average) Wanton (good) Sweet Corn (disgusting)

Appetizers : Onion Pancakes were pretty on the money, the spring rolls are something we never order anywhere and with good reason, they were terribly done. The kung pao paneer had a very soya beanish taste to it but overall was pretty good.

Main Course : Three veggies in chilli garlic sauce, the sauce was mostly all heat and not enough taste but it wasnt all bad. The burnt chili fried rice was pretty good, the pan fried noodles i thought were pretty average.

Experience : Overall the ambiance was acceptable, the meal itself was nothing above ordinary and too inconsistent to become a regular jaunt. The service too was quick but not good enough.

Rating : Food 7.9/10 Service 6/10
Damage : 1600 ($38)