A lot like us!

Every part of this restaurant, including the ambience, extensive menu, flavours of the dishes, reflects the name of the place — Dil Se Desi.  Normally, when one thinks of going for Indian food, it is assumed that it’s Punjabi or Mughlai khaana, but Dil Se Desi is one joint that brings together dishes from every corner of the country.

Owner Harish Karande, says, “Here, you can enjoy delights from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Though I am from the automobile, textile and real estate industry, my heart belonged to the kitchen as I am a hotel management graduate. I opened this restaurant out of passion.”

And his passion can be seen in all the details. For example, the tables inside are made of haath-gaadis, each topped with things usually sold by vendors, like glass bangles, kites and spices. A big truck has been converted into a bar out on the terrace. And taking the seating a step further, there’s also a private dining area on the terrace, which is inside a big boat that was purchased by Karande from a fisherwoman in Panvel.

However, at the end of the day, what really makes one happy at a restaurant is good food and Dil Se Desi ensures this. Start off your exploration of India’s popular bites with Chote Qutub Minar from Dilwalon ki Delhi se (Rs110), which serves you tandoori babycorn on skewers, Murthal Naka Say Nikle Hue Aloo - Panipat Haryana Se (Rs110) and Potli Wale Baba- Haridwar Uttarkhand Se (Rs140), which are minced veggies sauted in green masala in fried potlis.

There’s also Howrah Bridge ki Machli-Hilsa from West Bengal (Rs195), Assam se Gire  Pattay me Attke (Rs 195) — that’s a dish from Dispur in Assam made out of chicken cubes, marinated in strong pepper masala and wrapped in banana leaf.

For the main course, decide your destination; whether you want to travel to Gujarat with Sev Tamatar nu Shak (Rs100) or to Patiyala with Channa Ve Ghar Aaja Na (Rs100) or maybe to Gulmarg in Jammu Kashmir with Rogan Josh ka Gosht (Rs250).  There’s also plenty more from Cochin, Bhopal, Agra, Kanpur, Goa, Pune, Kolhapur, Chennai, Nagpur, Bihar, Bareli, Lucknow and so on.

There are many meal combos to choose from too. For example: Paistonji Ki Pasand, which is a meal by itself complete with Mutton Dhansak with brown rice or pav (Rs225) and Ram Ram Patil ‘Misal Pav’ Khaanar Ka? (Rs125).

To end your meal from Apna Bhaarat Mahaan, turn to the dessert section titled ‘Pappu Pass Ho Gaya?’ that lists out dishes like Rasmalai from Bangalore, the Matka Kulfi of Maharashtra and Anguri from Indore (each Rs100). A truly desi meal indeed!

Address: Second floor, Runwal Diamond, NIBM- Corinthian road, NIBM annexe
Meal for two: Rs 500
to 750
Parking: Available