If someone were to give an analogy to explain Mumbai's love for coastal cuisine to non-Mumbaikars they most definitely would say, "Seafood is to Mumbai what Butter Chicken is to Delhi". But when you have a slew of seafood serving eateries dotting the culinary landscape of the city, zeroing in on one exceptional place seems like quite a task. Well, lucky for Mumbai foodies as whenever they crave an out-of-this-world seafood experience, they can always head straight to the legendary Mahesh Lunch Home.
A pioneer in serving traditional coastal cuisine in Mumbai, Mahesh Lunch Home is an iconic restaurant that has been around since the 70s when it was the first-ever place in Mumbai to serve authentic Mangalorean cuisine. What started out as a humble lunch spot with a handful of well-done preparations, has today grown into one of the most popular seafood serving restaurant chains in the city, often frequented by celebrities. To carry on this legacy of excellence, they have now come up with multiple branches in India as well as internationally.
Since its humble beginnings, this legendary eatery has come a long way. Touted as one the most renowned restaurants in Mumbai, Mahesh Lunch Home is almost a household name for Mumbaikars when it comes to seafood. Their menu features delectable Mangalorean cuisine classics including a variety of traditional recipes that are prepared using the freshest ingredients and a unique combination of spices that make them stand out. 'Butter Pepper Garlic Crab', Prawns, Lobster, 'Fish Tawa Fry' & 'Gassi' preparations are some of Mahesh Lunch Home's signature dishes that lure gourmands from far & wide.
The restaurant in Sakinaka offers a relaxing evening away from the bustle and noise of the city. As it is one of those places where the focus is on the delectable food so, in terms of ambiance, the place offers nice subtle lighting, mellow background music, and comfortable seating to enable diners to be comfy and relaxed while they enjoy an infinitely indulging gastronomic experience.
Besides having a stellar food curation, they also hold special Crab & Wine festivals from time to time, which are always an exquisite treat to the taste buds, especially for crab lovers. Moving on to food, their all-encompassing menu carries a little bit of everything from North Indian classics to quite a lot of Chinese preparations as well but it’s their sublime seafood that takes the prize. We recommend starting your gastronomic journey here with any of their delicious seafood starters. Our absolute favorite is the ‘Silver Fish Fry’, a Mahesh Lunch Home popular appetizer that is a must-try!
Another great choice is their ‘Special Non-Veg Platter’ that includes ‘Mahesh Special Prawns’, ‘Spicy Chicken Skewer’, ‘Nizami Mutton Seekh Kebab’ and ‘Mangalorean Style Fried Rawas’.
Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, the ‘Surmai Tawa Fry’ is a shallow fried delight that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. The distinct flavor of the marinated spices together with the texture of Surmai make it an appetizer that you cannot miss out on!
It is a Mangalorean restaurant, so, the 'Gassi' is a must-try. You can opt for the meat of your choice, but their ‘Prawn Gassi’- a coconut-based gravy featuring spicy prawns paired with the simplicity of 'Neer Dosa' is sure to mesmerize you at the very first bite.
Crab lovers will find solace in their expansive crab galore of a selection. Their ‘Tandoori Crab’ absolutely tops our ‘must-try list.
Another classic from their menu is the ‘Fish Pulimunchi’- a special Mangalorean preparation that comes in its characteristic hot and tangy gravy and can be enjoyed with ‘Malabar Paratha’ or rice.
Other must-try dishes from their menu include delicious preparations like 'Tandoori Pomfret', ‘Butter Garlic Prawns’, ‘Chicken Ghee Roast’ and the ‘Sukha Mutton’. You could also go for 'Lobster Kerala Chili', 'Fish Pollichathu' and/or ‘Fish Tawa Fry’, which are some of their signature dishes!
If you wish to end your meal on a sweeter note, make sure to order their sinfully decadent Caramel Custard, which is every bit as decadent as it sounds.
Gargi Bisht is an event copywriter/conceptualizer turned writer currently working with EazyDiner Pvt. Ltd. Compulsive eater, book hoarder, dog lover and pop culture enthusiast with an innate love for storytelling. Usually the quietest person in the room, Gargi is an introvert who loves her own company. When not eating, can be found in front of her laptop watching movies. Knows a thing or two about art and literature.
