mid-day 37th anniversary: Your favourite Mumbai eats under Rs 37

Russian Chicken Cutlet At Rs 15There is nothing Russian about this cutlet Tosha owner Sheikh Mudassar admits But he promises it is masaledar with a zing of ginger garlic and garam masala While biryani remains the bestseller at this eightyearold Versova joint its their cutlets that have a fan following to rival the biryanisTIME 12 PM 3 PM 6 PM 12 PMAT Tosha Shop 13 Juhu Versova Link Road next to Vikram Petrol Pump Andheri WestCALL 9987013276Single pattice at Rs 37A twominute walk from Jhama Sweets Vig Refreshments is a Sindhi food lovers paradise offering Dal Pakwan Chhola Puri Ragda Pattice and chilled Salted Lassi However if you are on a budget ask for their richlyspiced mixed Single PatticeTIME 7 AM 10 PMAT Vig Refreshments Chembur Camp Gidwani Road Chembur EastCALL 8691070000MALAI SANDWICH AT Rs 25Youve probably headed here in the past for the Chicken Chilli Mutton Dum Biryani and Mutton Khichda But when all the fiery dishes are devoured we suggest you call for the Malai Sandwich Made fresh every day it comes stuffed with khoya and kesar Calories Whats that TIME 8 AM 2 AMAT Shalimar Vazir Building Shalimar Corner Bhendi Bazaar Sandhurst Road BycullaCALL 23456630MAGHAI MEETHA PAAN AT Rs 25 The paan has 18 ingredients including gulkand dates betel nut clove rose petalshellip rattles off Jaishankar Tiwari as famous for his handlebar moustache as the Muchhad Paanwala establishment since 1971 that he manages For those who arent on a budget there is the Banarasi Chocolate or Chappan Bhog PaanTIME 630 AM 1 AM AT Muchhad Paan Wala Khatau Mansion Umar Park Shop No 13 99 Bhulabhai Desai RoadCALL 23690782MUTTON PATTICE AT Rs 18 Flaky on the outside mushy inside the Bandra bakerys buttery meat puffs are a steal A1 stands cushioned between two other famed Hill Road bakeries Hearsh and American Bakery but this counter shop stays crowded nonetheless until goods are sold out TIME 5 AM 9 PMAT A1 Bakery 89B near Holy Family Hospital Hill Road Bandra West CALL 26426211CHUTNEY SANDWICH AT Rs 20 Its far from a fancy preparation but this item makes it to our list because its so easy to get the chutney wrong Candies gets the zing right and the freshness of the bread compliments it beautifully Godfree Falcon manager at the Pali Hill branch says At a time 45 sandwiches arrive here from the central kitchen They fly off the counter in less than 30 minutesTIME 830 AM 11 PMAT All Candies outletsCALL 2643072826423512BACON AND EDAM CHEESE CROISSANT AT Rs 28Churchgates openair cafeacute and bakery Gaylord lets you try a fancy Dutch cheese without the extravagance They stock a mini croissant that tucks in bacon and the mild sweet curdlike tasting Edam cheese Its a bestseller since it was introduced last year so head here before noon to get your hands on a piece If bacon isnt your thing try the Turkey Salami Cheese version stuffed with sausage produced from ground dark turkey meatTIME 9 AM 11 PM AT Gaylord Restaurant Mayfair VN Road Churchgate CALL 22821259PIYUSH AT Rs 35 The Maharashtrian drink is a hybrid of shrikhand and buttermilk carrying a strong hint of nutmeg and cardamom Its the perfect drink to order on a hot day while tucking into Kothimbir Vadi and Sabudana Vada the other hits at Ladu Samrat In case you dont have the time to wait in queue at this crowded vegetarian eatery opt for a takeaway glass available in half and full versions TIME 730 AM 10 PM AT Ladu Samrat Shop No 12 Habib Terrace Lalbaug Dr Ambedkar Road Parel CALL 24710127Radio City RJs Salil and Archana dropped in at Moti Halwai to try the famed Aloo Parathas When you get crispy paratha with makkhan boondi raita and greenred chutney in just Rs 30 its full paisa vasool says ArchanaALOO PARATHA AT Rs 30Packed with office goers at lunch hour Moti Halwais top selling items are the Milk Cake R30 and burnyourfingers Aloo Parathas We make our dishes in pure ghee and serve the paratha with butter says owner Sunil Saigal Every nutrionists nightmare You think the Punjabis careTIME 8 AM 11 PMAT Punjabi Moti Halwai Salva Chambers 40 Cawasji Patel Street Kala Ghoda FortCALL 9820058249GULAB JAMUN AT Rs 20While they may have expanded to other suburbs Jhama Sweets flagship Chembur store gets the largest crowd Established in 1947 the shop is known for its meltinthemouth Gulab Jamuns offered in different shapes and sizes and best eaten piping hot the Vachirajanis and Kewalramanis will say besides the popular Sindhi delicacy Singhar Jhi Mithai Pista Barfi and the savoury MatthiTIME 9 AM 10 PM AT Jhama Sweets Chembur Camp Gidwani Road Chembur East CALL 25531762VEG PATTICEAT Rs 20A popular hangout spot for officegoers looking for a quick bite before they board the locals Churchgates Stadium restaurant offers a variety of eats covering everything from biryani and kheema to thali and Chinese too One of their more pocketfriendly options is the Veg Pattice Stuffed with a savoury veggie mixture the flaky puff pastry makes for a filling snack considering its tad bigger than the miniatures you find at other bakeriesTIME 8 AM 1030 PM AT Stadium Restaurant 76 Veer Nariman Road ChurchgateCALL 22046819PIZZA SANDWICH AT Rs 36Is it pizza Is it a sandwich Owner Mehdi Dashti says its a bit of both We bake a special flatbread and stuff it with veggies cheese and pizza sauce Its then folded and grilled TIME 5 AM 11 PMAT City Bakery No 204 Dr Annie Besant Road WorliCALL 24931215SEV PURI FOR Rs 30Secondgeneration chat vendor Raju uses filtered water for cooking to go with the fancy address he hawks his street food at and his sev puri is a hit with Bandraites and expats alike Food blogger Kalyan Karmakar elaborates on the reason why this sev puri trumps others I have never fallen sick after eating his sev puri Eversmiling Raju asks you for your spice preference His father had started this stall 60 years agoTIME 430 PM 9 PMAT Rajus stall Pali Hill Sea Queen apartments Bandra WMAWA SAMOSA AT Rs 10Remember how many hearts broke when they heard that B Merwan was downing its shutters Strangely the 100yearold Irani bakery still holds fort in Grant Road In case you cant make it in time for their Mawa Cakes sold out as early as 8 am opt for the signature Mawa Samosa with a milkbased filling evoking dnostalgia with every biteTIME 530 AM 6 PM AT B Merwan amp Co Shop No 1 2 Merwan Building Allibhai Premji Road opposite Grant Road Station East CALL 23093321FILTER COFFEE AT Rs 30Though its price has risen from 15 paise in the 1940s the Filter Coffee at Matungas legendary Cafeacute Madras remains a draw for loyalists No meal at this 75yearold South Indian joint is complete without a piping hot tumbler of the frothy concoction brewed in a staple south Indian filter Goes best with Rasam Vada Rs 60 and Pesarattu Dosa all grain with fried onion filling Rs 65TIME 7 AM 230 PM 4 PM 1030 PM Mondays closedAT Cafeacute Madras 38B Kamakshi Building Circle House Matunga near Kings CircleCALL 24014419CHICKEN LOLLIPOP AT Rs 20J Hearsch amp Co Bakerys legacy dates back to the Raj when a German named Hearsch handed over his business to Bandra resident Sophia Fernandes The family continues to be proprietor of the bakery but its run by brothers Melvin and Steven Dsa Their chicken lollipop is a hit for its succulent meat marinated in a spicy coating and deepfried TIME 7 AM 10 PMAT J Hearsch amp Co 90A next to Holy Family Hospital Hill Road Bandra West CALL 26435361BREAD PUDDING AT Rs 30Made with boiled milk bread eggs and a dash of vanilla essence the sponge soft bread pudding at Ideal Corner is an energy kick that goes well with your afternoon tea Its also a proteinrich breakfast option You wont get hungry till lunch Parvez Patel partner at the 30yearold Parsi eatery promises TIME 12 PM 330 PM 530 PM 1045 PM Monday closedAT Ideal Corner 12 FG Hornby View Gunbow Street FortCALL 22621930MAWA CAKE AT Rs 18 While Sassanian has expanded its menu of traditional Parsi eats its signature oblongshaped Mawa Cake remains a favourite for customers and the competition ask nonagenarian Boman Kohinoor of Britannia amp Co That is what a Mawa Cake should taste like he had said when asked to name his favourite Parsi eat from a competition establishment TIME 7 AM 10 PM AT Sassanian Boulangerie 98 Marine View Anandilal Podar Marg near Metro cinema CAll 22006198KALA KHATTA AT Rs 12 Running a holeinthewall joint pinched between a line of eateries opposite CST Kala Khatta Cold Drinks House owner Akram K han deftly fills up rows of glasses with onefourth portion of syrup before topping it with water and ice chunks This place was set up before Independence At the time the sherbet was sold for 1 he says before enticing us to try the other popular drink watermelon and raspberry mix TIME 9 AM 11 PM AT Kala Khatta Cold Drinks House Shop No 11 opposite BMC Office Mahapalika Marg CSTPuran Poli at Rs 35Owner Suryakant Sarjoshi was in the news for launching a branch of his iconic Maharashtrian eatery Dadars Aaswad at the International airport recently Here guests stuff themselves with Vada Pav and Missal but its the carrymeaway packets of Puran Poli that you will want to take home for dessertTIME 10 AM 1030 PMAT Aaswad Shivaji Park House Ram Ganesh Gadkari Chowk Dadar WestCALL 24451871SHEERA AT Rs 30Shri Krishna is known first for its Vada Pav that Mumbaikars in a hurry wolf down while biting into crunchy fried and salted chillies But the other showstopper is their Sheera a mound of glistening white carrying the sheen of ghee served piping hot fro a separate counter TIME 11 AM to midnight AT Shri Krishna Radha Nivas Chhabildas Road Dadar West CALL 24307416AFLATOON AT Rs 35Laced with desi ghee the meltinthemouth mawabased baked Aflatoon remains a bestseller at Mohammad Ali Roads Suleman Mithaiwala which now also stocks assorted varieties with cashew nuts and almonds among other milk and Bengali sweets TIME 730 AM 1230 AM AT Suleman Mithaiwala No 41FG Mohammad Ali RoadCALL 66366606UKDICHE MODAK AT Rs 26While their demand goes through the roof during Ganeshotsav the Ukadiche Modak a Maharashtrianstyle steamed dumpling are available allyear round at Modakam Gopal Balgi 62 whose brother Deepak Gaikar is owner of the restaurant is the only one to serve a variety of the modak topped with gheeTIME 8 AM 11 PMAT Modakam 81 Kamana CHS SK Bole Marg near Siddhivinayak Temple PrabhadeviCALL 30401011MEDU VADA AT Rs 15 Maddu Mess owner Kanakraj Nadar has a sunny disposition and is far from fatigued manning an establishment that his family has helmed for 40 years Dus paise ke zamane se hum idhar hain he smiles Maddus breakfast specialties include medu vada dal vada idli sambar at dirt cheap rates keeping the students of nearby IIT in mind But heres the challenge wake up at dawn to savour their snacks because Maddu opens its doors at 430 am TIME 430 AM 9 PMAT Maddu Mess opposite Market GateIIT PowaiCALL 25789912UPMA AT Rs 33 In the same neighbourhood as Cafeacute Madras and A Rama Nayak is Anand Bhavan established in 1946 and currently managed by thirdgeneration owner Haridas Nayak Its a favourite with office goers who drop in for a quick nutritious breakfast before taking on a challenging day The upma tempered with curry leaves mustard and roasted urad dal comes sprinkled with crunchy farsan boondis Its served with flavoured coconut chutney and sambhar The other under 37 snack to try here is the spongesoft idli Rs 33Time 7 AM 9 PM At Anand Bhavan 461A Ram Niwas Kings Circle Flyover Matunga East Call 24015745IRANI SEEKH KEBAB AT Rs 24It is a long preparation is all I can tell you says Sarvis Haji Ghulam Ali about the Nagpada budget eaterys famed seekh kebabs The working class grab a quick meal in the grubby environs and cars halt to pick up takeaways An Iranian Ali moved from Yazd province to Mumbai to set up the familyrun establishment The kebabs are flavourful like the meat preparations of his hometown but missing the luscious quality of lamb they enjoy in Iran TIME730 am to 1230 amAT Sarvi Dimtimkar Road Nagpada Byculla CALL 9820142967Veg meal under Rs 37This year Gharoba an eatery run by womens collective Stri Hitwardhini Audhyogic Sahkari Sanstha celebrates 50 years Headed by 62yearold Urmila Vinayak Padwal the large mess lined with benches and tables serves homely food till 1030 pm dished out of shiny stainless steel utensils Rotis for Rs 3 and sabzi for Rs 20 make up a meal that will get you by even in the last week of the monthTIME 8 AM 8 PMAT Gharoba Dr SS Rao Road opposite Peninsula Centre Parel