Fine Dining at Restaurant 29 in Mumbai, India - a review
Head to Restaurant 29 in a group to savour the delectable vegetarian delights of the 29 States of India. You will also be delighted with the service - quick, non-intrusive, helpful. Hands-down, one of the best services we've had in a restaurant!
You can also get a complimentary sweet dish - won't tell you how, as that would be spoiling the fun!
The Decor
Outside is an odd map of India - odd, because the outline is made of tin cans of paint!
On the inside - what a lovely place to dine! Pleasing to the eye is just about everything.
Against the wall on the right side as you enter is the white sofa seating arrangement with tables seating six, beneath white rectangular hanging lights.
For large groups, two six seater tables can be joined up, as was done for a group of ten who arrived after us.
What's on the Menu
As mentioned earlier, there are dishes from the various States of India. Before you open the menu, have a look at the paper mat on your table. Some of the cuisine is listed on it. 
It is advisable to dine at 29 in a large group so that you get the opportunity to savour a variety of the pan-India cuisine (note that it is only vegetarian food and no alcohol is served) from the vast menu. Smoking is prohibited.
Our group of 5 had:
The Lal Hara Chaat was a salad dish of Mizoram, with a combo of pulses (brown channas) & veggies (peas and corn) lightly tossed with a dressing of honey and lemon.
The Kashmiri Harissa Roll comprised of chunks of paneer marinated with a spicy paste & wrapped firmly in rumali rotis.
The Kalmi Kebab was the best of the lot. Have this as a starter, from the State of Telangana. It is not deep fried, but tandoor-type, with 5-6 on a plate.
Elongated in shape, it has a combination of seasonal vegetables mixed with herbs. We requested that not too much spice be added and accordingly we got our wish.
The Manglorean Gassi (image on the left) was a thick curry with mixed vegetables (capsicum, corn, potato was what we could taste) which was teamed with coriander slightly fried rice.
The thick curry was the usual type, with a combination of various vegetables. However, the rice was truly exceptional, light on the stomach & just lovely, herby to taste.
The Kerala Parottas (two served) with the Kofta Curry was very fluffy and soft and served with the thick paneer-based curry with potato koftas was heavy to eat.
The Pakthu with Sticky Rice was something we had never tasted before. It seems the vegetable stew with shell-shaped pasta accompanied by a sticky rice is the contemporary traditional food of the Galo tribe of West Siang in Arunachal Pradesh. Though I did not much like it (I don't really like pasta or sticky rice!), the others in our group did enjoy it.
All the 3 beverages we had - Punjabi Lassi, Shattoot Ka Ras and Shikanji got a 10 out of 10 from all of us! You must try all 3.
The most unusual was the Shatoot Ka Ras, a blend of frozen mulberry, apple and pineapple crush.
The Shikanji (image on the right) we've had before at another restaurant, but this one was good too - very refreshing nimbu paani with a hint of spice.
The Punjabi Lassi too was refreshing, not too sweet on the palate.
Last, but not the least, we only ordered one dessert due to filled up tummies all round!
The Kesar Malai Ladoos were served in a most unsusual manner, on a little sea-saw type contraption, placed in leafy rolls (see image below). The yellow-hued ladoos were not exceptional in taste, though, and somehow the taste of Kesar (saffron) did not quite come through. Disappointing.
At the end of the meal, the owner Nikesh Jain came up to our table to find out whether we enjoyed the food and handed over recipes of his menu. He also gave us a complimentary dessert of piping hot Lauki ka halwa, sprinkled with bits of almond. This was in addition to the free dish of Gulab Jamun with rabdi I got - as I said at the beginning, won't tell you how!
Theatre at the conclusion of the enjoyable dining experience: The staff brought a tray with a roll of small tissues, poured warm water on them and the rolls immediately expanded in size! It was the first time we had seen this unusual way of providing tissues for wiping hands at the end of the meal.
Food
Lal Hara Chaat: Rs.180/-
Kashmiri Harissa Roll: Rs.325/-
Kalmi Kabab: Rs.295/-
Mangalorean Gassi with Rice: Rs.375/-
Kerala Parotta with Bhuna Kofta Curry: Rs.350/-
Pakthu with Sticky Rice: Rs.325/-
Beverages
Punjabi Lassi: Rs.125/-
Shikanji: Rs.125/-
Shatoot Ka Ras: Rs.125/-
Sweet dish
Kesar Malai Ke Ladoo: Rs.80/-
How to locate 29
This restaurant is not at all difficult to find. Just go to Cumballa Hill Hospital at Kemps corner. The hospital is a pink building and in the normal lane right next to it is 29. Parking slots in front, though, may be filled up. You can ask the security guard of the restaurant where to park in case space is not available out front.
The address:
Mohammed Bhai Mansion,
NS Patkar Marg, Cumballa Hill Hospital lane,
Kemps Corner,
Mumbai - 400036
Maharashtra
India
Contact number for reservation:
022-6999 2929
Footnote: The menu changes twice a year, in April and in November.The owner also informed us that he will be shutting down this restaurant 4 years from now, but was not forthcoming about the reason.So hurry ~ book your table & dine at 29 soon!
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