REVIEW: TIFFIN BOX ETC

POSTED ON JULY 4, 2014

Indian multi-cuisine

Kya naam hai! Full marks. Can you think of a better name than “Tiffin box etc” for a casual eatery that swiftly serves many an Indian regional cuisine through the day and home delivers too? I have the perfect guests to help me check it out, not only  are they Sindhi, Maharashtrian and Gujrati but also well-traveled, discerning foodies.

Having just returned from Peru, they are planning their Belgrade and Iceland trip.

While Dr Raju Khubchandani has  pioneered pediatric rheumatology in India, writing is his passion and I am riveted by the iconic child-care book he is co-authoring with  Dr RK Anand. Shaila Khubchandani, a surgical pathologist of repute, actually finds interpreting Kidney biopsies relaxing as she does  looking after their home .We eat our way through the menu, our review follows…

DÉCOR

Doodh ka dabbas, bicycle tyres, kettles, caricatures  (you get the picture?) adorn the canteen-like space. Tables and benches, open kitchen, paper mats et al.

FOOD

They take the “etc” in their name very seriously and serve it all… from Awadh to Bengal to  South India  and even Birmingham, chaats, idli, upma etc etc. Surprisingly it’s the juicy, succulent kebabs (seekh and murg pudina tikka) that come up tops. Must trys…Robustly spiced Balti Birmingham curry,  flavorsome  Nalli Nihari and  Lamb Koshe Mangsho. Go for  the

Mustard infused rawas tikka (the most expensive dish at Rs350). However, the fish curry and the chicken makhanwala are just about okay, but the bhakri is superb.Wind up with the delightful Paan icecream and sugarfree gajjar halwa. VFM meal served in a tiffin box ( veg Rs 350, non veg Rs 420)  curry, dal, three chapatis, rice and a sweet. Lunch buffet (Rs 414 for 10 dishes) too.

 MINUS POINTS

Uncomfy seating. It can get very noisy.Patchy dishes lacking flavor.  Slushy Chettinad chicken, stodgy veg kabab.soggy chappatis  served in foil. But the biggest disappointments are the lackluster saibhaji  and the tasteless Sindhi curry. No alcohol.

MY POINT

This casual, quick service, open through the day, three month old Tiffin Box etc is somewhat light on the wallet ( Av meal for 2, Rs 1000) but can be heavy on the tummy with it’s many a curry and gravy. Its vast and ambitious menu tries to put all the complex cuisines of India into a Tiffin dabba and falters in doing so. While it does not warrant a special trip across town, Tiffin Box etc, a contemporary dhaba is perfect for a quick desi meal, snack etc for the office goers in the BKC vicinity.

Ground Floor, Naman Center, C 31, Next to Yauatcha, Block G- Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (E). Ph 61378080

Open 8 am to midnight

RATING FOOD 3 SERVICE 3.5 DÉCOR 3.5

MEAL FOR 2: Rs 1000

YOUR REVIEWS OF TBE

Value your twitter and instagram feedback. Please keep it coming (@rashmiudaysingh) @cityslicker_me (quick service, good chicken kolhapuri , dry  Dhokla quick cheapandcheerful  Indian meal)

voraviyaI (great for lunch) tableforone_pv (didn’t like the flavours at all.)

notjustanotherfoodie (Love the food, the   parathas,  dal makhani) @kalpitabhosale @mansidedhia1 (clichéd décor).

@voraviya (TBEs buffet is good!

RAMADAN KAREEN

May Allah shower you with miracles this holy month of Ramadan and always. I am writing this right after a  delicious Iftar dinner, thanks to  Janhavi and Shan Mohammed giving me the lead about  the brand new “Royal Flavors” (Oshiwara   26320600). So I called in for home-delivery (advance notice needed)  for a few of their signature dishes. It was the pounded meat and wheat Mutton haleem (Rs 245) the fragrant kache gosht ki biryani (Rs 290)   and flavorsome Khubani ka meetha (Rs 110) which worked the magic for us.