Mumbai Food: New dhaba-themed restaurant serves wholesome Punjabi food

The interiors PicsSameer MarkandeThe Singh family knows a thing or two about that popular snack Fish Koliwada They claim their grandfather Bahadur Singh introduced the dish at his restaurant Mini Punjab in Sion Koliwada In fact Parvinder and Harmeet Singh tell us their fondest memory of the dish is their father giving them pav stuffed with Koliwada prawns and chutney for lunch on their return from schoolWe are at Turban Tales the soontoopen dhabathemed restaurant by Jagjit Gurcharan Harmeet and Parvinder Singh On a table with a rotating centre decorated with paper fans faux branches and a horn are the dishes we are talking about Fish Koliwada and Jhinga Pav The fish preparation Rs 249 is wellcooked but the batter lacks the flavour we expect from the rich spices in it The Jhinga Pao Rs 299 has juicy prawns between fluffy bitesized paos but the batter doesnt impressPaneer Papdi PoppersFlavour warsTurban Tales belongs to the Mini Punjab family but is completely unique when it comes to the interiors High on kitsch quirk and mustInstagramthisnow quotient there are painted matkas low cots overturned buckets suspended from the ceiling tables laid on tractor engines and stools made of kadhaisThe food on the whole impresses The Tikka Supreme Rs 235 is tender and has a cheesy centre making for a hearty dish We are impressed by the smokiness of the Reshmi Soy Chaap Rs 200 easily the best mock meat dish weve tastedJalebi ChaatAmong the chaats we like the Jalebi Chaat Rs 199 with the tiny sweet syrupless jalebi adding a nice bite to the soft cold dahi vadas We find ourselves returning to the Paneer Papdi Poppers Rs 209 mdash fried paneer wrapped in a papad crust The Patiala Fried Chicken Rs 229 is a typical succulent dhabastyle dish flavoured simply with coriander powder tomato onion and chilliesMummy di DaalOur favourite dish of the night comes from the aptlynamed Mummy di Daal Rs 229 served with rotis laid out on a mini cot This dal makhni is filled with the richness of cream and butter and packed with flavourKitchen experimentsThe restaurant wants to promote small plates and smaller portion sizes The Punjabi Tapas section features traditional dishes staying true to flavour but served innovatively While we love the warm and tangy saag in the Makke TartletsSarson Da Saag DIY R239 we arent fans of the rotis served as tartletsAmong other small plates the meat in the Lamb Galouti on Sheermal Rs 245 is wellflavoured but a bit dry it couldve done with a yoghurt dip instead of coriander chutneyChuski RitaThe drinks section too has familiar flavours with a twist We are impressed and slightly intimidated by the Patiala Booze Ice Tea Rs 500600 ml which comes served in a tall brass tumbler filled to the brim with sweet raspberry apple iced tea we tried the mocktail version The kiwi popsicle adds a nice fruity freshness to the margarita experiment the Chuski Rita Rs 375Patiala Booze Ice TeaCold fried caviar Rs 400 is perfect for the summer mdash a refreshing vodka drink it has fresh curry leaf watermelon cranberry and just a pinch of black pepper Opens on April 15 Time 6 pm to 130 amAt Turban Tales second floor above Mini Punjab Lake Side near Panch Kutir Bus Stop Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road Powai Call 25708633