Get ready to feast on a Bohri thaal at this upcoming restaurant in Bandra

Clockwise from left Bheja Hara Masala Nalli Nihari Paya Soup Tandoori Roti Dal Chawal Palidu Pizza Naan and Bohri Biryani centreThe Hill Roads din is drowned out by soothing Middle Eastern music as we step into The Thal Co tucked in a residential building off the bustling street We soak in the pale blue and stone grey deacutecor with charming latticework candlelit tables and abstract art adorning the walls half expecting a performance of belly dancers Instead two staffers bring out a massive 33inch Bohri thaal laden with nine types of starters four pickles and two salad optionsPineapple Halwa Kesar Pista Sancha Ice Cream Amba Roti Paan and MukhwaasOwner Avinash Bhatia gets the reaction hes hoping for our gaping mouths Bohri food has always been close to my heart as I grew up with friends from the community I sourced traditional recipes from them says the Sindhi businessman who hails from a family of property developers He also has experience of running the familyowned Club 9 at Pali Hill which replaced Hungry Bunny a cosy cafeacute that his father had launched back in 1990sA community callThe Thal Co offers agrave la carte and set menus the latter in the form of thaals for a solo diner and even a family They also take catering orders The family thaal feeds seven guests It includes mains and desserts too he says as he ushers us to a lowseating table with seat cushions It represents the communitys traditional dining setup where a family sits on the floor around a common thaal However we opt for the tableandchair set up considering were in for the long haulClockwise from left Bheja Hara Masala Nalli Nihari Paya Soup Tandoori Roti Dal Chawal Palidu Pizza Naan and Bohri Biryani centreAfter the traditional passing of salt and a bite of sodhanu rice and sugar to start the meal we dig into Dhungareli Tangdi wrapped in foil and cooked in coals The dish stars falloffthebone chicken legs cooked in creamy gravy with a distinct crumbly cheese texture that teases our palateThen we move on to friedtillcrisp Chicken Kheema Samosas and Chicken Shahi Roll where crumbfried barrels burst with meaty cheesy flavours Theyre washed down with refreshing watermelonflavoured Bir Soda as integral to the community as Pallonjis is to ParsisFor veggies tooThe vegetarian options include Soya Chaaps where the mock meat is slathered with a makhanilike gravy We also enjoy the salads Kokam Bateta featuring wellcooked potatoes hidden under a thick tangyspicy coating and Kachumber laced with silken mashed brinjalThe highlights are the meltinthemouth minced lamb Galawati and the skewered Seekh Kebabs where the soft and juicy mutton packs in robust spicy flavoursDance to DCPThe mains include Nalli Nihari Bheja Hara Masala Bohri Biryani and the vegetarian DCP aka Dal Chawal Palidu The Nihari wins us over with its soft and succulent lamb cooked in a wellspiced stock with a hint of fennel seeds that we relish with fluffy Pizza Naan The Bheja Hara Masala scores for its creamy corianderbased gravy whose flavours are soaked in by goat meatThe dumcooked Bohri Biryani with succulent chunks of mutton and potatoes turns out to be a lighter version of its north Indian sibling Its long rice grains are laced with the right amount of whole spices and slight tang from the curd A smokinghot piece of coal on a bed of mildly flavoured rice and lentils takes the modest DCP to the next level The flavour lingers in our mouth long after weve tucked into the comforting dish with Palidu a drumstick stew tempered with cumin and thickened with Bengal gram flourBy the time we reach the desserts the rich Pineapple Halwa and creamy Sancha handchurned ice cream in kesar pista flavour we feel too stuffed to move realising the true meaning of food comaOpens Next week 12 pm to 330 pm 730 pm to 1130 pmAt Pooja Society Chinchpokli Road Bandra WestCall 8956988888Cost 786 single thaal 986 per person for family thaal