This Khar eatery offers a slice of Patiala to Mumbai foodies

52 Patiala ChowkFood TastyService EfficientAmbiance FunctionalThink Patiala and yoursquore mentally transported to goldenhued cornfields where you can munch on coal firestoked Makki Ki Roti and Sarson Da Saag while sitting around a bonfire and later enjoy some Bhangra with Patiala pegs The onemonthold 52 Patiala Chowk attempts to recreate this ambiance sans alcohol or the luxury of spaceThe Chicken Patiala was satiating PicsSayed Sameer AbediStacked between two shops on the bustling Khar Station Road we missed the eatery at the first go but found it post a call to the restaurant for directions The tiny space included five seating tables kitschy paper fans adorning a wall and lamp shades with images of India Gate and Bhangra performances lighting up the area Sparse but effectiveAachar muchThe eatery offers a wide variety of both vegetarian and nonvegetarian fare as separate dishes and combo meals in North Indian and Chinese cuisines Apprehensive about ordering Oriental cuisine at a restaurant that has Patiala in its name we stuck to North Indian farePrawn Curry with Chawal made for good comfort foodFrom the limited beverages menu we chose the Masala Chaas Rs 40 and Aachari Aaloo Rs 110 from the vegetarian starters section The owner who was busy jotting down other home delivery orders they deliver between Khar and Santacruz noted our order too Within minutes the food arrived With hints of rock salt cumin and red chillies the Masala Chaas was a bit too sour for our liking Lacking the tandoor flavour the Aachari Aaloo tinged with the pickle marinade was quite averagePatiala picksHoping that the main course would offer a better deal we ordered two vegetables mdash Paneer Kucharan Rs 250 and Chicken Patiala Rs 240 mentioned as the house speciality in the menu Lacha Paratha Rs 30 and Garlic and Cheese Naan Rs 60 were our choices from their section titled Patiala Chowk Ki Roti As we patiently waited for the food to arrive we fiddled with a pretty birdcage candlestand holder placed on each table to add to the ambianceThe interiors of 52 Patiala ChowkAs the dishes arrived we couldnrsquot help but stare at the portions The Chicken Patiala could easily serve three As we tried spoonfuls of the dish our smiles widened Coated with eggs the tender chicken was cooked to perfection in traditional spicerich red gravy The eggs added a nice touch to this flavourful dishWith soft chunks of paneer cooked in onion gravy with hints of cardamom Paneer Kucharan tasted delicious as well Among the Indian breads we preferred the soft naan mdash thankfully without an overdose of cheese or garlic mdash over the paratha that tasted a tad undercookedWhile we were recommended the Chicken Tikka Biryani we tried the Prawn Curry with Chawal Rs 200 served as a single portion Tempered with red chillies and mustard the tangy curry was quite like its Goan counterpart and made for comfort food with steamed riceA complete valueformoney option 52 Patiala Chowk scores due to the rich flavours it packs in each dish While wersquod like them to expand their beverage menu and add a dessert section wersquod be willing to do an encore soonTime 1130 am to 1130 pmAt 52 Patiala Chowk Municipal Market Khar Station Road Khar WCall771098998752 Patiala Chowk didnrsquot know we were there the guide reviews anonymously and pays for its meals