Welcome to the ‘hipster’ Kanteen!
Kanteen Urban Kitchen, the newly introduced brand name by Mahesh Lunch Home, is for sure worth a try. The place has explored dishes from Durban in South Africa like the Bunny Chows, and it’s one of the most sought-after dishes at the place, much like the Mumbai Misal.
For those who need a brief introduction to Misal - the main component in this dish is Usal – a curry made from moth bean, dried pea or mung beans, garnished with a dry snack mix (mixture of spicy, fried stuff made from lentils, chickpea flour, etc), onions and coriander leaves. Misal is extremely popular with residents of Maharashtra and is eaten at any time of the day.
Besides the Misal, their Dosa Taco also makes a great starter. This Indo-Mex dish is worth a try due to its fusion of flavours. For openers, one could try the Kokum Cooler or the Mandarin Mint or Apple Kesar. They are perfect to beat the summer heat.
Start your meal with a traditional crab meat or sea food soup. Follow this up with main dishes like the Prawns Dhamaka, made with Mahesh Lunch Home’s signature masala or lobsters and prawns masala. It’s Mahesh’s unique blend of spices that make these dishes special. Another option to try out is their Dabbawalla. It offers diners a taste of diverse cuisines, served in compact, tiffin containers.
The choices include Sindhi Dabba, Punjabi Dabba, Parsi Dabba and Malvani Dabba.
The food is served in a typical Mumbai style dabba (circular metal tiffin boxes that come in two, three or four tiers) and gives you the feeling of sitting in an office canteen and relishing some delicious homemade food!
The Sindhi Dabba features Aloo Tuk, Sindhi Kadhi and rice; the Punjabi Dabba comes with Chicken Tariwala, Saag Aloo and rotis (Indian flat bread); the Parsi Dabba includes mutton Dhansak, spicy potato and brown rice, and last option, the Malvani Dabba, features prawn curry, Usal and chappati.
The Malvani dishes are prepared with a unique blend of coastal spices found in Malvan, a region in coastal Maharashtra.
“We felt that what Karama lacked was an urban hipster kind of place where you not only experience good food and authentic taste, but also a chic and urban environment,” said Sudesh Shankar, Partner, Mahesh Lunch Home. Details
Kanteen Urban Kitchen by Mahesh Lunch Home, near Park Regis Hotel, Karama
Timing: Open from 11am to 11pm
Meal for two: Dhs150 (approx)