As for Indians living away from the western coast, Mumbai, the Bollywood city, has always been a dream. The sunsets by the sea, having bhelpuri at the Marine Drive, munching vada pavs on the go, and so on, Mumbai as an idea is mostly pictured through the lens of Bollywood.
Bringing the Mumbai street food, from pav bhaji to bhelpuri to the all-time favourite pani puri, Colaba Canteen is all set to serve in Chandigarh. If you are someone who has moved to Punjab from Mumbai or wants to experience the essence of Parsi cafes, Colaba Canteen, the recent addition to the food scene of Chandigarh, is a must-try for you.
The Bombay Aesthetics
Right after you enter through the doors of Colaba Canteen, you are transported to a quaint Irani cafe in Mumbai. “We’ve gone to Bombay all our lives,” says Ankush Arora, the founder of Colaba Canteen. “My family has had their business in Mumbai, and for me, it was always about the Fort area - Colaba. And all my life, I’ve carried a piece of the Irani cafes, military cafes, and of course, street food at the Marine Drive.”
Ankush goes on to describe that his intent behind the wall colours was getting the red shades from the fort area and the greens of Colaba. The restaurateur has made sure to give Chandigarh the best vibes of South Bombay by procuring the tasselled lampshades, chandeliers, and vintage furniture from Chor Bazar.
“I wanted to play with nostalgia. Right from the red and white tablecloth to the checkerboard flooring, everything in Colaba Canteen is sure to remind you of your childhood days, and of course, the Irani and Parsi cafes in Bombay,” Arora further explained.
What’s On The Menu
As advertised, Colaba Canteen’s menu is what you’d typically get in a South Bombay restaurant. Instead of chasing modern fusion or Instagrammable gimmicks, the food is all about serving nostalgia on a plate. Spilling the secrets on maintaining the authenticity, Arora says, “We have a chef who’s been in the epicentre of the Irani cafes for the last twenty years. Born and brought up in Mumbai, though it was hard to convince him to move to Chandigarh, he’s now taking care of all the nitty-gritty of keeping the kitchen Bombay-like.”
Small Plates
Starting from the mouth-melting Pav Bhaji to Akuri Pav and then to Anda Kejriwal, you can find everything on the menu. I tried their Choori Vada Pav and Oh So Boojee Bhel, and I was immediately reminded of my last trip to Mumbai. Not to forget, their Bun Maska served with a side of jam and sev is nothing but an ode to the Irani cafes. As for the non-vegetarians, Colaba Canteen’s Patrani and Taj Chicken Tikka are something you can’t miss.
Main Course
Bringing the Mumbai-special Canteen Ke Dabbe to Chandigarh, you can get the taste of Goan Fish Curry, Bawa’s Dhansak Dabba, Chicken Sanju Baba, Kerala Prawn Kadipatta, and much more. To cater for the North Indian cuisine lovers, they’ve also got Butter Chicken, Canteen Ki Daal, and Paneer Lababdar. While the Hyderabadi Murg Biryani sounds fab, the Britannia Berry Pulao was well-received by the diners.
Beverages
To wash it down, the sodas served in glass bottles will remind you of the 90s era. You can choose from flavours like raspberry, melon, cola, lemon, etc, and relive the childhood summer days. As for a hot beverage, you can pick from Cutting Chai, Thermos Vali Coffee, Cold Coffee, and of course, Bournvita.
Desserts
For your ‘kuchh meetha,’ you can have their Baked Gulab Jamun, Chocolate Chandani, Caramel Custard Mawa Cake, and the best of all, Haji Ali Styled Fresh Fruit Cream.
Colaba Canteen, Chandigarh
Address: SCO 143, Madhya Marg, Sector 9-C, Sector 9, Chandigarh, 160009
Contact: 9815439949