Snack Up With Any Of Mumbai’s 11 Greatest Cheese Dishes Today [Vol. 1]

There are very few things in life more rewarding than delicious food smothered with cheese and we’re willing to bet it’s an ingredient that would feature on most people’s death meal wish. Maybe it’s the hero (as in a molten bubble bowl of mac n’ cheese) or maybe it’s on the sidelines (as in stuffed into a buttery, garlicky piece of naan) but let’s face it. Even on the sidelines, cheese always steals the show. And it’s just so goddam versatile too. Pair it with fruit, wine, breads, pastas, chocolates, whatever you like…it’s just impossible to imagine a world where cheese doesn’t make everything better.

Plus, it’s vegetarian. So you can’t accuse us of encouraging food biases anymore but it’s not our fault if some of the best pairings on this compilation happen to be with non-vegetarian accompaniments. We didn’t have to try too hard to put this together either. Don’t look further for the 11 best, gooey, delicious, unbearably good cheesy meals in the city right now.

I. Pizza Fries at The J

Where: Seven outlets across Mumbai

Though The J specialises in glamourising the humble french fry, this one is particularly creative and combines two of our favourite eats in the world. Crispy french fries marinated in pizza marinara sauce and accompanied with painfully delicious melted mozzarella cheese and mayo sauce will have you polishing this treat off in a heartbeat. The mozzarella gets a little browned in parts and those bits will have you begging The J to stop with the unnaturally good combinations.

Cost: Seconds? For Rs. 130 we’ll take thirds too!

II. Cheese Platter at Smoke House Deli

Where: Three outlets across Mumbai

Another platter to show your palate a good time, an assortment of five types of cheese including Brie (a soft centered cheese), Cheddar (a French origin yellow matured semi soft cheese) Bocconcini (Italian cheese, soft and freshest form of cheese) Feta (Greek salt marinated cheese) Blue Cheese (blue vein semi soft cheese) are served with breadstick, lavash, fruits and nuts.

Cost: Eyes on the prize, not on your wallet at Rs. 690

III. Gremolata Cheese Fondue at Moshe’s

Where: Six outlets across Mumbai

Moshe’s might be living in the afterglow of its reputation as one of the more popular hangouts with newer competitors cropping up, but just tasting the cheese fondue is enough to reinstate its place right up there in our list when it comes to the city’s cheesier offerings. The restaurant’s cheese fondue is an assortment of delightful flavours with lime, green peppercorn, parsley, capers and infused olive oil that you can have with either the roast garlic, jalapeno and mushroom or with black olive, basil and pepper pesto. This is served with an assorted bread basket including lavash and pita, just the perfect finishing touch to make you feel less terrible as you basically drink an entire pot full of cheeses blended together.

Cost: Shell out, you know it’s worth it at Rs 570

IV. Mini Garlic Cheese Naan at The Breach Candy Club

Where: 66, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Breach Candy

The elite Breach Candy Club might boast of the country’s largest India-shaped pool (would love to know who keeps track of these things) but another littler specialty they’re known for are their bite-sized naans, which taste equally good regardless of whether they’re eaten with an accompanying dish or all by their ownsome. For the garlic cheese one, we’d definitely stuff it in our mouths solo.

Cost: Mini prices for mini naans at Rs. 60 + tax (Unfortunately, you can’t eat them unless you know a member so get hunting!)

V. Naan Turnover with Chicken Makhanwala at Jantar Mantar Juhu

Where: Plot G-5, Near Juhu Church, Opposite Horizon Hotel, Juhu, Mumbai

Who said Indian fare can’t be enhanced with a little (or a lot of) cheese? The naan turnover from Jantar Mantar is truly a thing of legend. Essentially stuffed cheese naan breads with a filling of your choice, we suggest you go with the Chicken Makhanwala. You can expect to be served two halves of a sizeable cheese naan sliced open and filled with Chicken Makhanwala and finely diced onions that’ll have you tearing up with joy for how good it is. Comfort food at its finest, this.

Cost: Order doubles from the get-go at Rs. 195

VI. Watermelon and Feta Salad at The Tasting Room

Where: 1st Floor, Good Earth, Raghuvanshi Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai

There is beauty in simplicity, and this salad is definitely a great example of this old adage. Marinated watermelon is layered with feta, arugula and toasted pine nuts to make for a salad that has some really interesting flavours, making each bite a textured delight. But we’re willing to say what nobody else is thinking. This is a cheese dish. Because without those sudden bursts of creamy, salty, cooling feta, we’re not sure we’d even try it.

Cost: No need to think twice, it’s at Rs. 490

VII. Quattro Formaggi at Ray’s Cafe & Pizzeria

Where: Gazebo House, 133, Hill Road, Bandra West, Mumbai

Loaded with a positively sinful blend of Parmesan, mozzarella, blue and gruyere cheeses, this four cheese pizza is the ultimate knockout on the list. Keeping its eyes trained on the prize, this piece of heaven gives cheese lovers exactly want they want, and four kinds of it at that. We suggest you go in for the regular pizza base to balance it out, but if it’s really just the showstopper you want to focus on - go right ahead, thin crust it is.

Cost: Rs. 475 for nine inches of coma-inducing cheesy glory.

VIII. Cheese Platter at Salt Water Cafe

Where: 87, Rose Minnar Annexe, Next to Mount Carmel Church, Chapel Road, Bandra West

This platter’s no-holds barred approach to cheese is what does it for us - a spread of five to six kinds of cheese are served seasonal fruits and breads of your choice for your dining pleasure. A perfect appetizer (also munchies-buster) this is the perfect opportunity to indulge in cheese like a beast just let out of the cage while still looking like a lady.

Cost: This sumptuous spread is a steal at Rs. 650

IX. Dough Balls Doppio at Pizza Express

Where: Five outlets across Mumbai

Pizza Express is more famous for these dough balls than they are for their pizzas these days, which is saying a lot because their pizzas are pretty damned delicious. The balls are rolled and baked with Gran Milano cheese and comes with a trio of dips - pesto, pesto rosso and garlic butter. Needless to say you’re going to be one happy camper once you’re done with this and it’s one of the more subtle cheese offerings on this list.

Cost: We definitely want in at Rs. 305

X. Chilli Cheese Toasties at The Table

Where: Ground floor, Kalapesi Trust Building, Apollo Bunder Marg, Colaba

The sublime flavours of Fontal, Cheddar and Emmental, a tomato-chili dip and house-made brioche intermingle in this big daddy of cheese toasties takes this simple snack and catapults it into gourmet heaven.

Cost: Love ourselves a classic done right at Rs 605

XI. Jalapeno Cheese Poppers at Pizza By The Bay

Where: Soona Mahal, 143 Marine Drive, Churchgate

Summer breeze, feeling kind of fine? While there might be no breeze to speak of, these batter-fried jalapeno cheese with cream cheese are guaranteed to put you in a good place. Think crispy shell, cheesy sauce, and that hot, hot jalapeno heat. Hallelujah for jalapenos, hallelujah for cheese and forget Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner, we’d cry way more if these two ever broke up.

Cost: We’d give our souls for a taste of these beauties so Rs. 465 is nothing!