Mumbai Food: Andheri restaurant with a unusual menu serves till 3 am

Tenderloin bunThe combination of a burger and fries is a culinary match made in heaven if both are done right We are not talking here about the blinkandyourburgerisserved variety We are talking a fat juicy patty with the right glaze tucked between buns that smell fresh served with crunchy fries you struggle to keep your hands off And it doesnt need to be a gourmet version A simple one made with care and precision is all it really takes as is reaffirmed to us at a new Andheri eatery called Honest BunsWe reach there post midnight on Thursday and find a small place tucked behind a glass door just off the footpath in a Lokhandwala lane There is a dimly lit outdoor area with a few occupied tables But we prefer being inside at the lone seating in the matchbox space settling down under better light with a menu thats small but high on surprises For its unusual to come across a fish dish starring kasundi outside of Bengali restaurants Also the Creolestyle grilled rawas Rs 249 that we ask for isnt a staple on menus in this suburbClassic chicken momosThe burger we choose is tenderloin bun Rs 249 which has a minced beef patty glazed with teriyaki sauce We ask for quinoa salad too Rs 175 since we are with a friend whos vegan by choice And as an afterthought we get classic chicken momos Rs 175 just because we are on a constant quest to find quality versions of it in a city that doesnt seem to do full justice to the Tibetan dishThe quinoa salad arrives first and our friends bland expression tells us that it hasnt done wonders for her A spoonful of it makes things clear Its the chaat masalakind of seasoning that seems at odds with lettuce red and yellow peppers baby corn and quinoa The burger however looks like the real deal when its served The buns baked inhouse have a promising gloss and one bite into the generous patty reveals a sweet relish so nofrills in nature that it oozes with a sense of comfortCreolestyle grilled rawasWhats more a taste of the fries makes our friends face light up They are the right shade of brown and make a crunchy sound between our teeth similar to what you get when you crumple up an empty packet of chips Andheri West actually has had a clutch of solid burger joints mushroom in the 4 BungalowsLokhandwala area over the past couple of years or so and Honest Buns is now a worthy addition to that growing list of placesThe Creolestyle grilled fish though doesnt look very southern American when it is served consisting of fillets of rawas nestled together next to a pile of sauteed vegetables But the seasoning in it is conservative without boring the palette while the veggies have a pleasant dressing that mdash Creole or not mdash gives the item the type of balance that an Olympic gymnast would be proud ofThe interiors of Honest BunsThat leaves the momos And heres the big question Have we found a place in Mumbai that does an authentic version The answer is yes we have The steamed packets of flour have a minced chicken filling with such minimal flavouring that its reminiscent of eateries in the small towns and hilly retreats of Sikkim for example Thankfully it doesnt have any of the ghastly garammasala kind of spices that afflict many of the citys streetside versions The ones here are served in the style of dumplings in a closed wicker basket And the filmy flour casing is firm enough for it to hold its shape without revealing the contents inside So everything put together Honest Buns gives us more reason to go back there than just their burgers But thats mainly because we eat nonvegetarian food because if youre vegan stick to the fries would be our honest suggestionTIME 12 pm to 3 am AT Shop 7 Greenville building Lokhandwala Complex Andheri WestCALL 33951619Catch up on all the latest Mumbai National and International news hereDownload the new midday Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go