Mumbai is a melting pot of cultures and here you’ll find almost every cuisine having at least one restaurant (almost) doing it justice. The same applies to Mangalorean food. While it might be tough to find authentic Mangalorean food in Mumbai, Fort’s Mahesh Lunch Home has been serving a slice of Mangalorean cuisine to the city since 1977. Today, it has evolved into a small chain, spreading across a few more outlets in the city. However, the main question remains – does Mahesh Lunch Home live up to its legacy?
In this edition of Dine & Dish, our social media series where we give our honest, unfiltered food reviews, we made our way to the iconic Mahesh Lunch Home in Fort.
A Legacy Of Serving Mangalorean Food To Mumbai
Today, Mahesh Lunch Home might have a number of outlets spread across the city. However, it was once a small, humble eatery tucked away in one of the numerous streets of Fort.
The restaurant was started in 1977 by Mr. S.C. Karkera (also referred to as Sooru Karkera). He moved to Mumbai from Udupi in the 1950s and after managing a family-run hotel, he opened Mahesh Lunch Home to serve authentic Mangalorean food to those craving home-style Mangalorean and Konkani food in Mumbai.
Mahesh Lunch Home holds the distinction of being one of the first restaurants in Mumbai serving authentic coastal Konkani and Mangalorean seafood and other dishes from these cuisines.
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Food We Tried At Mahesh Lunch Home
Surmai Fry
INR 730
No Mangalorean meal is complete without a Surmai Fry, isn’t it?
We straight up ordered the Surmai Fry, and the succulent fish coated with coastal spices was fried to perfection. It might be perfectly spiced for those who like it medium-spicy while others might feel like it needs more of that ‘masala’.
Chicken Ghee Roast
INR 520
Next, we ordered the Chicken Ghee Roast. A ghee roast, with the choice of protein, is a classic staple in most Mangalorean kitchens. The richness of the ghee and the combination of several spices and blends makes a ghee roast one of the most delicious dishes in a coastal Konkani and Mangalorean food spread.
We paired the Chicken Ghee Roast with Neer Dosa (INR 225), soft, thin, lacy dosas that are perfect for scooping up and absorbing all the flavors of the Chicken Ghee Roast. However, we found the dish to be quite oily and the chicken was slightly overcooked. The neer dosas also weren’t impressive either.
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Butter Garlic Crab
INR 2700
Trying a coastal cuisine and not tasting a crab dish is a serious food offense! We went for the Butter Garlic Crab and were delightfully surprised to see that they let us choose the crab we wanted. However, the dish was underwhelming to say the least. The spices didn’t work well and the dish, overall, fell flat.
Final Verdict: Mahesh Lunch Home – Dine Or Dish?
We paid a total of INR 4,704 for three dishes, and while that might be a reasonable amount for seafood in Mumbai, the overall experience wasn’t very impressive. The food was average and not worth the price but the service was attentive and courteous. The ambiance reminded us of old-school, nostalgic Indian diners. So overall, Mahesh Lunch Home didn’t quite impress us with its food, which was average at best, but the service and ambiance stood out.
Also Read: Malvani Seafood Trail: Pre-Monsoon Guide To Malvani Food
Mahesh Lunch Home: Essential Details
Mumbai Locations: Fort (main outlet) | Juhu | Sakinaka | Thane | Vashi | CBD Belapur
Timings: May vary based on individual outlets
Price for two: INR 3000 to INR 4000 approximately
Summing Up
Overall, Mahesh Lunch Home didn’t manage to impress us. The flavors, we felt, needed more improvement, especially if you’re paying the prices on the menu. The service and the ambiance were impressive, but for food, it definitely has room for improvement.
