Hyderabadi ‘House’ Food

Rashmi Uday Singh's Good Food Guide

Come veer off the eaten track with me as we discover brand new, small but value for money eateries. How about a taste of Hyderabad right here in Mumbai? The 30-year-old ‘Hyderabad House’ has seven branches in the royal city and now, happily for us, the eighth branch opens in Mumbai. And guiding me to this month old restaurant from the land of the Nizams is the true-blue-blooded, dyed-in-the-drool Hyderabadi Ghazal-maestro Talat Aziz. It's a double treat, over a lavish spread (which costs me a mere Rs. 540) the charming Talat Aziz regales me with Hyderabadi Nawabi history.

GO TO HYDERABAD HOUSE...

• Authentic Hyderabadi food, be it the shikampuri kabab (stuffed minced mutton kabab as good as Talat's mother's cooking) the full-bodied achar gosht, the fragrant dum ka gosht and mutton biryani too. Superb khubani ka meetha. I love the haleem (Talat's wife makes the pounded wheat and mutton delicacy better)
• Outstanding bagare baigan and mirchi ka salan. Good veggie choice.
• Great value for money, Rs. 95 (mutton, chicken dishes), Rs. 30 to 60 (veggie dishes) Rs. 35 (Khubani ka meetha)
• You can ask for catering at your parties (that's what the Prime Minister of Malaysia and several other dignitaries do)
• It's a comfy, no-frills, large, neat and clean air-conditioned section. There is an open air one too.
• Takeaway counters. Convenient home delivery.

DON'T GO TO HYDERABAD HOUSE...

• If you are going for the paya which is not flavorsome, even the chicken boti is too dry, ditto for the double ka meetha.
• No lukmi available (even though on the menu). No shirmal naan either.
• Service is slow.
• The food is served somewhat cold.

FINALLY…

Go to this great value for money, authentic Hyderabadi restaurant. No frills, extremely basic ambience here. Service needs to be bucked up, some of the dishes need fine tuning, but we are rejoicing and welcoming… Hyderabad ko Mumbai ka salaam hai!