Velvety sofas, Instagrammable corners, and plated-to-perfection food don’t guarantee that a restaurant actually serves delicious food. A lot of new restaurants get caught up in luxury vibes and Instagrammable spots, without realizing they’re moving away from what actually matters: the food. But then some legendary spots are testaments of the fact that good food wins over anything and everything. So this time at unstumbled on Dine & Dish, we decided to review the legendary Hotel Deluxe in Fort instead of any new restaurant.
As you know, in the Dine and Dish series, we explore various restaurants and provide honest recommendations on whether you should dine there.
Here’s our unfiltered and honest review of Hotel Deluxe.
About Hotel Deluxe
Hotel Deluxe, which is now rebranded as Deluxe Kerala Restaurant in Fort, Mumbai, is one of the legendary and iconic restaurants in Mumbai. It is a budget-friendly culinary landmark that is renowned for serving some of the best and most authentic Kerala cuisine. Despite the name starting with “Hotel,” it operates primarily as a casual and iconic dining restaurant and not a luxury lodging space.
It is well-known for its traditional Kerala Sadhya, which is a feast served on a banana leaf, as well as delicious coastal delicacies. The patrons here love the non-vegetarian staples served here like Kochi Parotta, Beef Roast, Chicken Dum Biryani, and Kerala-style fish curries. They also serve a great selection of filter coffee and traditional hot teas.
It features functional and deeply traditional mess-style interiors where food is clearly prioritized over luxury aesthetics. The space feels more like entering a local eatery in Kerala rather than a typical Mumbai restaurant. It is split into two primary sections: non-AC on the ground floor and a family AC section on the mezzanine floor level.
Hotel Deluxe Food Review
Heads up! This place barely serves any vegetarian food, so if you are a vegetarian, you may not get a lot of variety here. But if you are a non-vegetarian, the variety will surely confuse you!
Chicken Chettinad With Appam
Chicken Chettinad is an aromatic and fiery South Indian curry. It is a classic recipe hailing from the cuisine of Chettinad in Tamil Nadu. It is made with bone-in chicken, which is simmered in a freshly roasted paste of whole spices, tomatoes, grated coconut, onions, and curry leaves. We found it to be really simple, very flavorful, homely, and very tasty. We did find the chicken to be a little tough to chew, but overall it was good. The appam was soft and perfectly complemented the classic Chettinad curry.
Cost: INR 250 plus 36 (for appam)
Rating: 7/10
Also Read: Dine & Dish: Is 66 Chuim Worth The Hype? Here’s A Review
Surmai Tawa Fry
Surmai Tawa Fry is a coastal Indian delicacy featuring succulent slices of Seer fish or kingfish, which is known as Surmai. The fish is coated in a tangy, spicy spice blend and then shallow-fried in oil. The fish was completely fresh and meaty, and the flavors of the masala felt just right. We thought that if you are used to relishing Maharashtrian-style fish fry, you will surely love this one here.
Cost: INR 600
Rating: 7.5/10 (average of T’s rating: 8/10 and L’s rating: 7/10)
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Mutton Kizhi Parotta
Mutton Kizhi Parotta is a popular South Indian street delicacy that has layered and flaky Kerala parottas with slow-cooked, spicy mutton curry and an egg roast (optional). This stack is then wrapped in a fresh banana leaf packet or kizhi and gently cooked on a griddle or gently steamed. This helps in infusing the parotta with all the aromatic oils and rich flavors of the curry. We thought it was flavorful, soft, and super delicious. We totally loved it.
Cost: INR 450
Rating: 8.5/10
Final Thoughts: Dine or Dish
Did we like it? We paid INR 1,423 for this meal. The food and price here clearly tell us why this place is always so crowded. We absolutely loved all the food dishes that we tried here. This restaurant is a good reminder that you don’t need fancy aesthetics or luxury elements to serve good, delicious food.
You can check out our other reviews on cafes and restaurants in Mumbai like Veronica’s and Bang Bang! Noodle.
More Information
Vibe: The atmosphere here is hectic during rush hour, and solo diners or small groups will frequently share a table with other strangers happily.
Address: No.10-A, Pitha St, behind Saraswati Temple, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001
Timing: 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Cost For Two: INR 400
