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“if the train doesn’t stop at your station, it’s not your train”

I love traveling by train but particularly I enjoy observing life around the train station.

You can judge the pulse of a city by watching the ebb and flow of humanity around the station.

In fact, my favorite railway station is the grandly known Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai but known simply to the locals as Bombay Victoria station.

The imposing Colonial Gothic structure was built in 1887 and the interior is like a soaring  Gothic Cathedral as opposed to a mass transit point.

I love sitting outside the Leopold Cafe and watching humanity flow in and out like the tide of the Indian Ocean just a couple of blocks away.

We have the locals scurrying out of the station going to work in the morning or wearily scurrying back depending on the time of day.

Then we have the begger class, beggers are classed as an unofficial profession in India and a whole cottage industry has grown around begging.

we have the beggers themselves who often maim themselves to make them more feeble and pathetic so to attract the big bucks from gullible western backpackers.

Next up we have the western backpackers who stick out like a Celtic fan at an Orange parade, they are the easy prey that all the scheming locals target.

The beggers know that backpackers’ misguided sense of “savior complex” will generate big bucks for anyone looking pathetic enough and need a savior from the pradomitaly affluent middle-class gap year saviors.

The most fascinating substrata of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus are the Dhabbawalas, which constitute a tiffin delivery and return system that delivers hot lunches from homes to people at work in the Bombay central business district.

The Dabbawalas deliver 200,000 tiffin boxes a day and the dabbawalas make less than one mistake in every six million deliveries.

The theme of Dabbawalas at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is actually the central premises of this week restaurant, Bombay Bustle

Bombay Bustle is in Maddox Street in Mayfair which soon could be called Curry Alley if they are not careful as the street has three Indian restaurants.

The interior is designed like a luxurious train cabin with quaint period features.

We kicked off the proceedings with a Bohri keema samosa, the hand-ground Hampshire Mutton was delicately spiced with Kashmiri chili and the pastry was thin and crispy, the chili sauce had a smooth kick yet fruity.

The Black Pepper, Cheese, Mace, Green Cardamom marinade chicken tender was delicious, delicate in its make up yet the different elements made themselves known, a definite master’s touch.

The Goan mild Peppercorn, Coriander, Curry Leaves, Coconut Milk based non-spicy shrimp curry was smooth yet surprisingly flavorsome, the prawns were firm without overcooked

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Dum Lamb Biryani was a revelation, the second coming, the piece de resistance…I cannot give it the superlative it deserves.

simply put the biryani was absolutely delicious, the lamb was cooked in its spicy stock until it was falling off the bone, it was then added to the rice and sealed and cooked until the rice was fluffy yet individually standing to attention like soldiers on the parade field.

The spice was rich and pungent yet did not overpower the different elements of the meal.

i loved it, a wee bit of cloud in the sky was there was some bone still in the biryani and could cause someone to chip a tooth.

In Conclusion

I loved the Bombay Bustle, its from the stable of the Leela Hotel group and the sister restaurant of the Jamavar, the cooking was top notch as well as the ingredients, the Leela touch could be evident as they have some of the best chefs and the training id industry standard.

The decor was fresh quirky and playful and that translated down to its food.

I was looked after by Rodger from Barcelona, who was knowledgable and friendly, and attentive.

The Star of the Meal?

I would make the 400 mile  trip to Bombay Bustle again and again just for the biryani, who cares it costs £28

The miss of the Meal?

The rogue bone in the biryani

Honorable Mention

So how did Bombay Bustle do against its peers?

Definitely on par with Jamavar, Kutir, Kahani, and Indian Accent

I loved it equally as the Gymkhana and Opheem

Halal Rating

The Chicken, Beef, and Lamb  is Served in the restaurant and HALAL

Alcohol is served on the Premises

Pork is served on the Premises

100% impartial Guarantee

Alfie Foodwala visits all restaurants anonymously and pays for the bill like any other customer, Alfie Foodwala does not accept free meals in return for meals

All reviews are the personal opinion of Alfie Foodwala based on his 30-year experience as a restauranteur.