At new Chinese restaurant Shaolin, Go prepared for a taste of the orient that goes beyond the food, given its statues of dragons, red Chinese lamps and martial arts poses on the walls

Eateries seem to crop up every other month at Pimple Saudagar, located near the Mumbai-Pune Highway. The latest one being Shaolin, a tiny Chinese restaurant that attempts to provide diners with a feel of China.


Shaolin Restaurant at Pimple Saudagar. pics/ Jignesh Mistry

We stopped by one evening, only to find ourselves in a queue, and finally managed a table after a 20-minute wait. We spotted groups of working professionals and families taking a break from homemade food. During the 90 minutes we spent at the eatery, the manager remained transfixed behind the counter.

The two-storeyed restaurant has a colourful seating area, and though it is a hole-in-the-wall place, it is still welcoming. The walls are dotted with images of martial arts poses and an eye-catching Chinese red-lamp (seen in most Chinese films) hangs on the wall. Even the entrance door has a statuesque dragon sculpture to welcome diners inside.

For starters, we ordered the Chicken Mongolian Dry (Rs 140), which was spicy and salty. It consisted of chicken pieces stir-fried with garlic, spring onions, and ginger. The tangy and spicy flavour agreed with our taste buds and we almost forgot about the extra salt.

For our main course, we opted for the Chicken in Black Bean Sauce (Rs 150), Veg Ball in Hot Garlic (Rs 120) and Veg Fried Rice (Rs 100). The Chicken in Black Bean sauce looked and tasted like an extension of the Mongolian Dry except for the gravy. The Veg Ball in Hot Garlic was ideal for those, who like a little spice in life. The service is helpful.

If you're looking for a filling Chinese meal, and don't mind the wait, then Shaolin in worth stopping by.