My friend qtfan highly recommended Highway Gomantak.It recently won the Best Coastal Food Award from Times Foodie Awards hosted by Kunal Vijayakar who runs the hugely popular " The Foodie Show".My parents are so fond of it that they give up going out on a Saturday evening to watch his adventures.
Highway Gomantak lies on a service road parallel to the highway,adjacent to the Bandra East M.I.G Colony.It offers Gomantak or Goan Hindu cuisine comprising of seafood,chicken and mutton.The term Khanaval means eating house(not hotel),Mr Potnis the owner clarified.When people from the Konkan moved to cities like Mumbai,they got homestyle food at Khanavals or community kitchens.
The walls of this Koknyache Khanaval has the Gayatri Mantra,a poster of various Indian fishes and some social messages.One states that pregnant women should avoid consuming crabs as it can lead to a miscarriage.The health of the woman and her diet during pregnancy is so important as it determines the child's future health.In the western world too there are recommendations to avoid certain fish during gestation.
The exceptional thing about this place is that they offer not just the usual fish such as Pomfrets,Mackerels and Surmai(Kingfish) but also those from Goa and Karwar such as Chonak,Kerli and Pedi.Karli is a fish that has many bones but has to be cut obliquely to avoid them.Chonak is that which is found in fields.During monsoons,fish from the sea flows into the fields and the eggs hatch there.I got to try both Chonak and Karli here.Both had a glistening white and a sweet flesh.
We started with the Jawala Kismoor...a salad like concoction of dried mini shrimps.
There was Papdi Bhaji( Beans) and Vangi Batata(Brinjal-Potato),both of whiche we had.Fresh and tasty!
The walls had the Thali list on the wall so we all ordered our own.
Mr uncle,Mr Jayanta Acharya ordered Bangda Curry and loved the coconut tomato tangy base.Being a Bengali, he has a soft corner for fish.
His wife Mrs Indrani Acharya runs a Rabindra Sangeet School called Shahana.Luckily she could make it for lunch.She ordered Pomfret Curry which had a lovely green coconut base and she loved it.
I ordered the Kalwa or the Oyster Curry,which was spicy.All three curries were dramatically different which made the experience so enjoyable.
The ambience here is simple.No airconditioning but we didn't miss it even though it was afternoon because it was well ventilated.We arrived early but by the time we left the place was full.
Mr Potnis,the owner is a friendly man and is polite and knowledgable.He taught me a lot about various kinds of fish.It is his wife who cooks all the food,which is why it is homely.Many a times people working in the nearby offices come here for lunch and then return at night with their families...that is their stamp of approval!
Baburao Patil was our steward who helped us make excellent choices.
My aunt visiting from USA had never had traditional Goan Hindu food.She is allergic to fish so she had meat.We had no place for dessert...Kheer or Kharwas.I know we have to return here with my friends.
Mr Acharya had a blissful look at the end.I am sure he is going to get his twin grand daughters here.
Mrs Acharya started reading the take away menu with great interest! :))
Highway Gomantak...........it's the way home!Highway Gomantak
44/2179-80 Gandhinagar
Pranav Coop Housing Society
Near Mhada
Bandra East
Mumbai 51
Tel: 26409692
Closed on Thursdays
10 comments:
I love this place, the food is just so deliciously satisfying! Haven't been here in a while though, so time to make a trip soon. Thanks for reminding me :-)
Has been a favourite joint when i worked in BKC and later a pick and move parcel place for convenience. Nothing like having their fish curry with hot steamed rice..the place has its very unique ambience ... feels like you are out of Mumbai.glad to see this review on a very popular khanaval
Gia,it is a lovely place!
Swati,how lucky to have been working close to it
K & I went to Bandra Gomantak years back. Frankly the hype and the thalis underwhelmed us then as we were too loyal to the bombil fry, sukha mutton, shark achari and prawn fry masala of Saayba oon the West.
Years later I had a few clients at BKC and went to HG for lunch. There was too much of a queue so one ended up going to Sindhdurgh which later shut down and Sadicha.
But I agree that a trip to Highway Gomantak is long due ...though for me 'Goan' food would always be defined by its Catholic porcine delights
This is Goan Hindu food!
I have eaten at Sadiccha,Sindhudurg and Saayba but I liked the food at Highway Gomantak the best.It's not too spicy and is fresh.How about a Finely Chopped Expedition soon?
My favourites are the eateries in parel and Lalbag. Must check this one out. I went here once but it was a holiday :(
Are u talking about Jai Hind and Modern Lunch Home? Yes,they are nice.By the way,the Mumbai photoes on your blog are just fantastic!
Highway Gomantak is closed on Thursday
Best food ever. More importantly for a student, reasonably priced! There are a couple of places (other than Jai Hind/MLH) in Parel/Lalbuag (as Mumbai Paused) pointed out which are on par. For the life of me, can't remember the names though. Always thanked the food Gods that I was with my marathi speaking friends there, got better service that way!
yeah Dilshad...good food and reasonably priced!
Highway Gomantak is a pretty unique restaurant actually. Saayba is probably the closest to the type of food HG serves, but Saayba leans towards Malvani tastes and has a very limited repertoire. Sindhudurg (original at Dadar and the one at Bandra which shut), Sadiccha and the others of their ilk are Malvani. Modern is mangalorean food. So HG is probably the only purveyor of Goan Hindu food. This type of restaurant is uncommon in Goa too. Try their Bangda Udad Methi or their Pomfret curry for some very typical Goan Hindu curry.
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