Less isn’t Always More

Food was first thought of as nothing more than fuel for the body – a means to an end. Over the years, it has evolved into a lot more than just that. Today, it is considered art. It is about exotic ingredients or how you can transform local ones to create magic. While all that is very exciting, another important aspect of food today is the plating. Thanks to many cooking shows and celebrity chefs, restaurants are not caught up with presentation and the idea that less is more on a plate.

However, when it comes to fine dine establishments or even trendy restaurants, they can get a bit stingy with their portion size and it can get infuriating. Less isn’t always more or doesn’t make a dish tastier. If you are looking for wholesome grub that is both delicious and enough to share, then these restaurants might just work for you.

Imbiss – These guys adore their meat and aren’t shy about it. While the menu is full of sausages and various meats (sadly, not much choice for the vegetarian diner), it is also their portion sizing that attracts their regulars. Take, for example, their chorizo fried rice, which is a mountain of rice heaped on a plate topped with a fried quail egg and even some lettuce leaves. It is a massive portion for one person and will fill you up. Same goes for their pork schnitzel.

Yoko Sizzlers – It might be a little unfair to include them in this list, as most sizzle joints make it their mission to challenge you to polish off their platter. Yoko Sizzlers is no different with their mounds of meat, veggies, cheese and thick, delicious sauces all sizzling on the plate. What does make them a little different is that their sandwiches, soups and other dishes apart from the sizzler are also large in quantity and easily fill you up.

Frangipani – When you think of five-star hotels and fine-dining restaurants, you expect the food to come out on pretty plates with tiny portions. I suppose that’s what TV shows and movies would have us believe and, most of the time, it is true. Frangipani at the Trident Hotel is quite unlike these restaurants. While it certainly isn’t a cheap place to dine, they go out of their way to make sure each plate has a healthy portion of food on it before it goes out of the kitchen.

Lemon Leaf – This is an old Bandra classic restaurant that believes in offering their customers good food at a good price. The menu is a mix of popular South East Asian dishes, which are all delicious, but the real kicker is their portion size. The perfect example is their nasi goreng or the khowsuey, which is literally a meal in a bowl. Don’t be surprised if you end up with full tummies and half your dinner in a doggy bag because they take pride in feeding and do not scrimp on the quantity.

5 Spice – There isn’t a single meal at any of the 5 Spice outlets that will ever leave you hungry or complaining about their portions. Even today, at certain outlets on the weekend, you will see people lining up outside the restaurant waiting to be seated. Over the years, 5 Spice has amassed its fans and regular customers not just because of the kind of food they serve, but because it is great value for money. Each plate of rice, noodles, chicken or gravy is generously served and you always feel like you have been well fed without paying an arm and a leg for it.

Follow Roxanne @The Tiny Taster