From Chandni Chowk to Bandra: This new restaurant in Mumbai serves street food but in luxury

If Bandra needed a new idea for a restaurant one that exclusively sells chaat would be a good option Imlee the Chaat Gali at the junction of Turner Road and Perry Cross Road does just that The eatery offers North Indian chaat from regions including Delhi Agra Meerut and Jodhpur We beelined to the joint all the way from the distant suburbs late one night after calling ahead for a table ldquoTonight 1030 pm No problem table is reserved We opened just two days agordquo the staffer told us over the phone Anxious about facing a new eateryrsquos teething issues we gave it a go bite and it turned out to be a smart pickDilli wale chole kulcheThe entrance is nestled behind a large looming tree adding to the cosy vibe The interiors are warm with brown and bronze tones minute pops of vibrant colours and large framed illustrations of chaat vendors The seating includes cushioned benches against the wall with chairs around small side tables The front foyer holds a pani puri cart staying true to the experience of standing and eating golgappa even in this premium setting The restaurant wasnrsquot kidding when they said this would offer a diverse chaat culture with a touch of luxury Theyrsquove combined the two perfectly without any trace of the hipster faccediladeMutter poori with Agra wali kache tomatar ki subziWe start off with the famous dahi bhalla chaat Rs 135 and Dilli wale chole kulche Rs 150 which is served piping hot with pickle They donrsquot disappoint us with four soft bhalla vadas that come topped with the perfect balance of slightly sweetened curd green and tamarind chutneys and pomegranates The kulcha different from the ones available in Maharashtra is the authentic lighter and softer flatbread The mutter poori with Agra wali kache tomatar ki subzi Rs 165 is another winner The pooris are light and crispy while the raw tomato green sabji is lightly spiced and earthyTender coconut kulfiWe also try the Mumbai special pav bhaji and are happy to report that it doesnrsquot come topped with tonnes of butter It is quite homely and wellspiced with small soft chunks of veggies and no trace of artificial colour The final savoury dish is Jodhpur pyaaz ki kachori with lassan chutney Rs 135 a crispy flat and rich kachori We are tempted to steal the chutney The Kolkata puchka Rs 110 might need more filling and the puris arenrsquot as crispy as their palak puri option Rs 90 Of the 11 pani flavours we suggest combining the classic khatta meetha and dhaniya pudina panis The guava Ayurvedic herbal and other flavours are at best a fun first attemptThe eatery has warm and welllit interiors with pops of colour and a pani puri cart near the entrance PicsShadab KhanWe end the meal with a tender coconut kulfi Rs 120 that leaves the palate clean this could be because itrsquos made with Gir cow milk and now fattier buffalo milk and classic thick and creamy lassi Rs 135 This Bandrabased swish eatery offers competitive prices making it quite affordable With inhouse masalas and chutneys including spice mix potatoes and other produce sourced from Chandni Chowk the flavours are as authentic as it gets We are pleasantly surprised to learn that part of the proceeds from the eatery go towards founder restaurateur and philanthropist Neeti Goelrsquos tiger widow project that works towards making women who have lost their husbands to tiger attacks in the Sunderbans financially independentImlee the Chaat GalliAt Carlton Court Building Turner Road Bandra WestTime 12 noon to 1 pm all daysCall 9819060144 Exceptional Excellent very Good Good Average Imlee the Chaat Galli didnrsquot know we were there The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals