[varunsain]

Kinara Dhaba
Dhaba style restaurant on highway
Phone: 32513910, 32504143 , Mobile: 9821853752

Mumbai - Ahmedabad Highway
Near Ghodbunder bridge

If your heading from Mumbai - Then follow the road direction towards Ahmedabad... Take the highway from the city itself.. Will cross Kandivali and all that.. There are no random turns.. if your on the highway then there is just one road to get there..

Once you exit the city and on the Highway.. Major landmarks would be Fountain on the right.. Its like a fast-food joint/parking area with shops for travelers coming in from Gujurat.. Its huge and right at a junction so you cant miss it..

Go straight from here.. Soon you will reach a bridge.. Its pretty big so you cant miss it.. Its called the Ghodbunder bridge.. once you cross this.. In about a minute or two you will reach Kinara Dhaba..

Keep looking on the left cause its very easy to miss it.. No decent lit board..

Anyways..

For Kinara..

The layout of this restaurant/dhaba is spectacular.. with complete uneven leveling the tables are well spread out throughout.. Seating capacity is huge.. so you will always find a place.. Once your there.. first make sure to take a tour of the place.. You can select your own table you know.. so its best to look around.. Those guys there never suggest a good place.. The entire place is under a huge shed but practically open air..

Seating: (this really is the ESP of the place)

Khatiyas: There are the typical Khatiyas available there.. Khatiya tables can usually accommodate 4-8 ppl.. These tables are there in plenty.. They provide you with pillows.. bolsters actually.. but during the rains.. they are usually moist and can get really disgusting for the clean freaks.. these khatiyas get a little uncomfy after a while.. but a must for the first time!

Regular tables: These are the ones with the regular plastic chairs.. Not many of them.. but you will find a few tables.. after visiting the place many times.. I have realized that these tables are sometimes a blessing.. specially when your on the bike for long.. You really want to be seated in a good posi..

Round table in huts: Then you have some 2-3 round tables (for big groups) in private huts.. no doors or windows.. or even walls.. but its made in sort of way that it gets you good privacy.. Not been in one.. so don't know how its there.. guess a mixture of khatiyas and chairs..

Tree top area: They have this huge platform made on top of a few trees together.. so there are about 7-8 tables here.. These tables are with regular plastic chairs.. Its fun to sit up there coz you get a good view of the dhaba..

Private huts: On our last visit.. this is the place where we sat.. once your in the dhaba.. you will see a small play ground (with grass and all that).. on the other side of this play ground.. there are 4-5 tree houses sort of huts made at some distance from each other.. here you can have all the privacy you would want with good view, a fan, lights, insect killing things, and ground seating.. the table in here is low.. and no chairs or khatiyas are available here.. so you have to be prepared to sit with folded legs.. You get a private waiter.. and order taker.. butler service types.. but to be here.. they have RULES.. max. of 2 hours can be spent there.. and order must exceed Rs. 1000 (which is easy if your 4 people)..

Im sure there are many other seating types which I have not yet firgured..

I saw one guy eating from his plate right next to the tandoor itself!!

Food:

They serve Moghlai and Chinese.. I personally don't consider ordering for Chinese food at a dhaba.. but when I tasted what my friend had ordered.. it seemed like some home made Chinese food.. (so its actually okay to order it)..

Overall.. the food is good.. What you would expect from a dhaba.. but in restaurant style.. The quantity is really average.. so consider your eating habits while ordering..

Alcohol:

They serve everything.. Indian to imported.. but all at DESI PRICES!!! Really cheap alcohol.. If your many people.. and are having a tough time ordering.. then PLEASE ASK THE ORDER TAKER FOR HELP.. They calculate the quantity really well and help you save a lot of money.. You can order for a quarter/half/full instead of the regular pegs.. so if you plan on having 2 pegs for 2.. then he would just get you a quarter you know.. saves your money.. hes good at all that..

They have stopped serving any peanuts and papad and all that.. they charge you for it now lol.. so think before ordering.. its was Rs. 60 for peanuts!!

Service:

They would beat any 5 Star in their service.. okay not in their cleanliness and attentiveness or their serving mannerisms.. timeliness.. umm.. but just you know overall. they are like always there.. and are always helping you with things.. very polite.. Just don't expect anything smart.. last time I asked "What's good?" I got.. "Sir everything is good.. ".. and then started off with the entire menu..

Price:

I would just say that its a VFM because of the ambience.. Not really dhaba pricing but yes the alcohol is.. A meal for 2 would cost you anything between Rs. 300-450.. (non-veg).. The alcohol is cheaper than you think!!

Variety:

4 visits and I still haven't been able to read the entire menu.

Ambience: Fantastic! They have ghazals and singers in the evening time for entertainment.. They have some chickens and all that locked up in a cage somewhere.. Actually right in the middle of the place.. Very lively.. the crowd is also usually good.. for a dhaba.. Many young groups are seen.. also many Gujurati families who don't find place at Haveli..

Don't get into fights.. many drunks over here.. And the waiters have some unity defense system.. I noticed that last time I was there.. Some guy was not ready to pay up - 15 waiters to 1 customer!! His friends apologized and took him back.. Cliched..


Overall.. The place is fantastic because its very close to the city but yet on the highway.. so the experience is different.. it takes only about 45 mins from Andheri...

Night time is the best time to go there.. Never seen it during the day..

I think I have covered lots.. Only once your there you will get a true feel of the place..

Contact me if you need more info.. Have fun!!

Oh if your from bbay.. then its a must go.. every college guy.. call center fellow.. media line work friends.. everyones there.. having a party!!

PS: ONLY VISIT HAVELI ON YOUR WAY BACK TO BBAY FROM KINARA.. its like some posers paradise.. actually just a decent clean family place..

[anupmathur]

Gosh, this must be the most comprehensive (& emotional!) restaurant review on the forum!!
Well done!

The only thing missing is a few photos.

[sandeep.barve]

well,great review varunsain!! pls post some pics if you can.. this is totally on my "to-do" list now!

PS: do tell more abt Haveli also..

[varunsain]

Well its a good place!!!

The next time I am there.. I will make sure to click some pics..

Sandeep you have to go there.. Its like a highway Mocha.. if you know what I mean..

About Haveli... its like a family place.. I guess a little more expensive.. fancier for sure.. if you with friends then I would suggest Kinara.. and then on your way back to bbay.. you can stop over at Haveli to have a look..

Haveli though gives you the chance to have a boat party on the river which flows under the Ghodbunder bridge..

Haveli also has some place to spend the night.. Tents actually.. Its a separate area.. with private pool and all that.. very surreal the way its built.. you should really have a look..

[varunsain]

Haveli dhaba by Yogesh

Haveli Dhaba, Karnal

[varunsain]

Found some pics of Kinara Dhaba on my comp...

Got some from the net.. and some are cousins..