The Bombay Canteen

Anyone who comes to this casual, always busy Lower Parel spot in a central Mumbai office complex falls unfailingly in love with it. Blame it on their playful riffs on traditional Indian dishes that amp up familiar flavors and textures. Flying off the pass are the cheese bombs known as the Eggs Kejriwal, the flaky, fragrant Guava Tan-Ta-Tan (a post-school street snack meets tarte tatin), and the Chettinad prawns Ali-Yolio, an intense study in umami thanks to the pool of prawn head oil at the bottom of the bowl. The lively dining room, which evokes a high-ceilinged Mumbai bungalow with marble mosaic tables and Art Deco flourishes, guarantees a grand time. First-timers should go for The Canteen Experience: eight courses (₹2,950, or ₹2,650 for vegetarian) that take you through the menu’s best, while regulars should order the always worthwhile recent menu additions marked with a highlighter. Adding to the fun are cheeky cocktails, like a bright mini gin martini with housemade chili marmalade. And thanks to the friendliest bartenders in the city, dining solo at the bar is never a bad idea.