GUGHAN

Vegetarian South Indian

Excitement! We are in the midst of a hushed evaluation of  “Gughan” the fairly new market player, located in Marine Lines. Im lunching with my brilliant foodie friends from a leading global private bank (and getting influenced by their terminology). They help me taste multiple dishes and evaluate each dish against similar offerings by other market players.I was fascinated to watch Mehul Marfatia, Neha Shah and  Abhishek Gumashta  carry out an in-depth analysis, much like their job of developing investment strategies and managing portfolio for their clients, they finally gave their unbiased opinions to identify the blue chips. 

DÉCOR

Tucked into the corner of the street, Gughan has a  simple table and chair décor. There are splashes of bright colours with  hangings and murals of deities. An aura of neatness and orderliness.

FOOD

Gughan serves up the predictable idli dosa fare but more interestingly, it aces the curries from Chettinadu and Tamilnadu and their unlimited “thali” served on a large glistening banana leaf is worth trying. Bursting with layers of complex flavours and handpounded spices, there are several curries from the 

Poondu kuzhambu (garlic curry, the More kuzhambu Buttermilk curry to the yennai kattikai kuzhambu Brinjal curry. On my second visit, it was the 

Sunda vatha kuzhambu turkey berry curry that came up tops. Do check the menu carefully as these are served only on fixed days of the week. Rice lovers in for a treat…Ask for the Curry leaf rice, gooseberry rice.  

Fluffy, steamed to perfection and sparkled with Milgapodi idli. Golden crisp meduvada, flavorsome 

Kottu roti, authentic spicy sambhar, (not sweetened for the Gujrati palate).Comforting Curd rice. Ask for the well-made Sweet Pongal and Paniyaran.

MINUS POINTS 

Gughan falters on the popular staples…turns out soggy dosas and  uttapams. Their attempt at innovation with  Mushroom dosa and cheese dosa  falls into the cracks. While the Milgapodi idli is worth trying, strangely enough the plain idli is stodgy. Pepper idli too spicy. Slow confused though friendly service. 

MY POINT

South Mumbai needs more South Indian eateries.   Nariman Point’s Arya Bhawan  and Teen Batti’s  Dakshinayan top the sparse list (mainly of multi cuisine restaurants serving idli dosas).  Go to the open through the day,  Gughan for  Tamil Nadu and Chettinadu curries and the range of rice sadham  that they serve up. The unlimited thali on a banana leaf is a must try. Foodie regular, Harshad Dhamankar (who was lunching at Gughan) also pointed out that the traditional meal added new flavours to his taste.  Their service needs improvement. Idli-dosas avoidable.

GUGHAN  Ground Floor, 91, Shalimar Building, Near Registrar of Companies (RoC G Road (Bhagwandas Todi Marg), Marine Lines (West)

 7 am to 11PM

Ph: 2288 0036

RATING FOOD 3 SERVICE 3 DÉCOR 3

Av meal for two Rs 500