What comes to your mind when someone mentions the maestro Padma Shri awardee Shankar Mahadevan? “Mitwa”, “Breathless,” “Maa Tujhe Salaam,” and more such chartbusters. But henceforth, you will also be reminded of the South Indian restaurant cafe. Yes, you read that right, Shankar Mahadevan has launched a South Indian resto cafe in Mumbai which offers delicious South Indian cuisine with a touch of modernity, named ‘Malgudi’. We at unstumbled had the opportunity to visit it, and here’s how it went.
Malgudi: Fusion Wrapped In Earthy South Indian Tones
We visited Malgudi in Borivali, and as soon as we walked in, we were welcomed by their warm staff with a pleasing smile and a hearty “Nasmaste”. This single word has the power to instantly make you feel at home, and we did feel so. The ambience of the place gives you the vibe of a South Indian city infused with just the right amount of modern touches.
Wooden tables, plant vases, and plush seating create a welcoming, homely atmosphere. The space is decorated beautifully and thoughtfully with potted plants, funky frames bringing back nostalgia from different parts of South India, blending with pop culture, and walls painted in earthy tones of orange, blue, and cream colours on the walls. The venue has both indoor and outdoor seating.
The outdoor seating is divided into two distinct sections: swing seating and casual, straightforward seating. Their indoor seating is split between the ground floor and first floor. The ground floor seating features a lovely Filter Kaapi Barista, while the upstairs area houses a Dosa, Idli, and Stew station, adding a delightful touch to the experience.
The crowd at Malgudi spanned generations, with Gen Z diners alongside senior citizens and families enjoying their meals together.
A Vibrant Menu And Some Delicious Southern Delicacies
After serving us water, the staff gave us their food menu with the beverage menu. We opened the beverage menu first, and we were greeted by a sweet note from Shankar Mahadevan, who promised cocktails and reinterpretations that were sure to surprise and delight.
Filter Kaapi
The first thing we ordered without any surprises was Filter Kaapi, I mean, you cannot not order this as the first thing when you visit a South Indian restaurant. We were served filter coffee in its traditional way, that is, in a brass tumbler and a shallow saucer, giving us all the authentic vibes. The coffee was rich, aromatic, and served its purpose, making us smile.
Podi Cheese Balls
The next thing we ordered was Podi Cheese Balls, which were featured under Malgudi Superhits. The dish arrived, and there were 6 cheese bombs, which were dusted in gunpowder, giving the dish a crispy coating with molten cheese inside, served with tamarind sauce. The balls offered a burst of cheese with subtle seasonings in the mouth, complemented beautifully by gunpowder on the outside.
Davangere Benne Dosa (Masala)
How could we visit a South Indian restaurant and not order Benne dosa? We ordered Davangere Benne Dosa with masala, and it was served to us with masala, white coconut chutney, sambhar, and a dollop of white butter on the dosa. Enough inviting! The dosa was soft yet crunchy, filled with a good amount of butter and gunpowder. We scooped some masala and then dipped it in coconut chutney, and it was simply heavenly. A must try!
Paneer Ghee Roast with Neer Dosa
You all must have heard about Chicken Ghee Roast, hailing from Karnataka, but this dish here was a vegetarian version of it served with soft, thin neer dosas. The paneer ghee roast looked flavorful and fiery, but lacked something. The taste did not come across as we had expected, but it is not a complete failure. The neer dosa too could have been better, but they together did taste fine. Maybe it wasn’t at its best.
Dindigul Veg Biryani
We then decided to try a rice dish because South Indian cuisine is incomplete without rice. The Dindigul Veg Biryani hails from Hyderabad, and Malgudi did it good justice to the flavors. This short-grain biryani was perfectly seasoned with whole spices and robust masalas, making every bite a nice punch of flavors.
Filter Kaapi Panna Cotta
Malgudi puts a delightful South Indian spin on the classic Italian dessert Panna Cotta by infusing it with the rich flavor of Filter Kaapi. It looks absolutely scrumptious, and every bite delivers a perfectly balanced harmony of creamy Italian indulgence and refreshing coffee notes.
Sundowner
We later also tried Sundowner, a wonderful mocktail which was served with a bright ball of colours inside. The flavors of pineapple and cinnamon came across pretty well with a vegan foam drama that added to both the presentation and vibe.
Summing Up
All in all, Malgudi in Borivali was a good experience with friendly staff, vibrant menu with flowery yet inviting language, good food, and plush seating.
