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There are very few things in life more rewarding than a bowl of food with cheese all over it 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 31 best, gooey, delicious, unbearably good cheesy meals in the city right now.
I. Chilli Cheese Fries @ The J
Where: 3, Vaswani Mansions, Dinshaw Vachha Road, Opposite HR College, Churchgate, Mumbai
This is the place for french fry-lover on a shoestring budget. Served in creamy cheese jalapeno and spicy garlic chilli sauce, the fries do get soggy after a while – but the kind of soggy that you like, and will most likely have you licking your fingers (or elbows) clean. If you’re feeling like something a little chunkier, you can also go in for the chilli cheese wedges which is essentially the same thing, but better because it feels like there’s more of it.
Cost: The messier the better @ Rs. 100
II. Pizza Fries @ The J
Where: 3, Vaswani Mansions, Dinshaw Vachha Road, Opposite HR College, Churchgate, Mumbai
These guys have gotten particularly creative with this one to combine 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? Yes please, it’s at Rs 130.
III. Nacho Fries @ The J
Where: 3, Vaswani Mansions, Dinshaw Vachha Road, Opposite HR College, Churchgate, Mumbai
Ok, ok, last J option. But they also have Nacho fries which include fries with crispy tortillas chips, beans, cheese, salsa, sour cream and a seasoning that has our mouths watering every time we think about it. Come on...we’re talking Mexican, fries, cheese and sour cream all in one sitting? Don’t wake us up.
Cost: Nacho place to turn this down @ Rs 130
IV. Gremolata Cheese Fondue @ Moshe’s
Where: Above Mamagoto, Hill Road, Bandra West, 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. Located above Mamagoto, the Hill Road restaurant’s cheese fondue is an assortment of delightful flavours with lime, green peppercorn, parsley, caper and 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 it out, you know it’s worth it @ Rs 485
V. Dough Balls Doppio @ Pizza Express
Where: Ground Floor, Crystal Paradise, Off Veera Desai Road, Andheri West, 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 dam delicious too. 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 @ Rs. 325
VI. Watermelon and Feta Salad @ 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 @ Rs. 480
VII. Naan Turnover with Chicken Makhanwala @ 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 @ Rs. 175
VIII. Cheese Souffle @ Zodiac Grill
Where: The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Apollo Bunder, Colaba, Mumbai
The recipe for this signature dish at the Bombay Taj is rumoured to have been stolen from Delhi’s Orient Express, which boasted of it back in 1983 - but to us, sharing is caring, and all in all, we’re really happy this mouthwatering dish made it to maximum city. The incredibly light cheese soufflé is surrounded by a fabulous sauce, and while it is slightly chewier than others we’ve tried, they take it easy on the flavours and don’t overwhelm you with them, making for a refreshing change and a lip-smacking souffle that you can actually finish without getting queasy!
Cost: Breaking the bank just this once @ Rs 2750
IX. Mini Garlic Cheese Naan - Breach Candy Club
Where: 66, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400026
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 @ Rs. 60 + tax (Unfortunately, you can’t eat them unless you know a member so get hunting!)
X. 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: Regular ray of sunshine @ Rs. 780 for 12”
XI. Cheese Platter @ Salt Water Cafe
Where: 87, Rose minnar Annexe, Next to Mount Carmel Church, Chapel Road, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400040
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 spread is worth much more @ Rs. 650
XII. Cheese Platter @ Smoke House Deli
Where: 33rd Road, Pali Hill, Madhumilan Building, Near Browni point, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400051
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 vain semi soft cheese) are served with breadstick, lavash, fruits and nuts.
Cost: Eyes on the prize @ Rs. 690
XIII. Chilli Cheese Toasties @ The Table
Where: Ground floor, Kalapesi Trust Building Opp. Dhanraj Mahal,, Below Hotel Suba Palace,, Apollo Bunder Marg, Colaba, Mumbai
The sublime flavours of fontal, cheddar & emmental, tomato-chili condiment and house-made brioche intermingle in this big daddy of cheese toasties you’re not going to want to miss out on.
Cost: Love ourselves a classic done right @ Rs 500
XIV. Cheese Quesadilla @ The Table
Where: Ground floor, Kalapesi Trust Building Opp. Dhanraj Mahal, Below Hotel Suba Palace,, Apollo Bunder Marg, Colaba, Mumbai
Perfectly browned cheese quesadillas, anyone? This comfort food staple is served with Crème Fraîche & Salsa Fresca at The Table, gooey and crispy in just the right measure - that’s when you know you’re in the hands of a true culinary master who can’t pretend he doesn’t love cheese as much as the rest of us.
Cost: Quesadilla? Aise diya @ Rs. 650
XV. Jalapeno Cheese Poppers @ Pizza By The Bay
Where: Soona Mahal, 143 Marine Drive, Churchgate, Mumbai
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: Rollin’ with your shawty’s always worth it @ Rs. 465
XVI. Bombay Masala @ Pizza By The Bay
Where: Soona Mahal, 143 Marine Drive, Churchgate, Mumbai
When in Bombay... make sure you eat a really great version of an Indianised dish. This incredible pizza can be whipped up for your crunching pleasure in thin crust or the deep pan variety (although we’ve always nursed a soft spot for the former). Topped off with oodles of cheese, and sprinkled with Indian spices, this is culinary creativity at its finest and blends the goodness of a basic amul with a sweet/spicy/tangy spice mix that you never even knew was possible.
Cost: Queen’s necklace and all that jazz @ Rs 570 for the 8” and Rs 870 for the 12”
XVII. Marinated Cherry Tomatoes & Burrata Cheese Sandwich @ Fenix
Where: The Oberoi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Rd, Nariman Point, Mumbai
Our love for cheese sandwiches never gets old. The big O does this one spectacularly well with the burrata cheese adding that extra-creamy fresh Italian mozzarella to make you swoon, along with some freshly marinated cherry tomatoes and avocados on a toasted six cereal bread.
Cost: Of course it comes with fries @ Rs.1,387
XVIII. Ham and Brie Sandwich @ Sante
Where: 1 Shahina Apartments, opposite Soul Fry, Pali Mala Road, Bandra (W)
Keeping it simple has never worked so well; the flavours of the slightly salty ham and creamy-as-hell brie makes for a real treat. Sante is one of those joints that has caught on famously with the everyday Bandra crowd with its medley of cold cuts, cheeses, coffee, cheesecake, dips and baguettes.
Quick tip–all the sandwiches here are actually great so pick any one in case brie isn’t exactly ideal for your palate. Just make sure you get your sandwich with a dash of French style mustard.
Cost: Middle ground’s never been so tasty @ Rs 295 each.
XIX. Brie and Caramelised Onion Sandwich @ Café Zoe
Where: Ground Floor, 110 Cyrus House, near St. Theresa School, junction of 24th Road and 30th Road,
Bandra (West).
Creamy, gooey brie and zippy arugula join forces with gloriously caramelized onions to amalgamate three simple ingredients into a flavor-filled tour de force. We have a particularly special place in our hearts for big, bold and complementary flavours so on that note alone, Zoe’s brie-onion delight is one of our absolute favourites across the board.
Cost: Maybe a bit over-priced but it’s never stopped us from getting it @ Rs. 550
XX. Cheese Fries at Sancho’s
Where: Colaba and Bandra
With its stucco walls and floral tabletop tiles, Sancho’s is the perfect place to hang out aimlessly on lazy weekends and drown your sorrows (or joys) in bottomless margaritas and refried bean-laden Mexican fare. But sometimes, all you need are their ridiculously scrumptious cheese fries, served here with a smoky chipotle queso sauce that know just how to hit the spot. Que se ve deliciosa!
Cost: Crunchy + gooey @ Rs. 190 should keep you coming back here for more.
XXI. The Deli Chilli Cheese Toast @ Indigo Deli
Where: 5, Ground Floor, Pheroze Building, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharashi Marg, Apollo Bunder, Colaba, Mumbai
Chilli cheese toast is the sort of meal that’s always passable but trust the Deli to lift it up and refine it to the level of gourmet. Utterly flavourful the cheddar to bread proportions are just right, and the combination of chopped bell peppers, jalapeños and onions will ensure you expect more from the simple dish in the future.
Cost: More than you’d ever expected to pay for a chilli cheese toastie but worth it either way @ Rs. 445
XXII. Brie Tempura @ The Fatty Bao
Where: Summerville, Junction Of 14th & 33rd, Linking Road, Bandra West,Mumbai
One of the newest restaurant entrants (it literally opened last week) didn’t take long for its dishes to start featuring on these food guides.
This tempura’d cheese is exactly the way you want to start any meal too. The salty creaminess of the brie blends in beautifully with the hint of sweetness from the plum sauce that accompanies the crunchy cheese blobs, essentially whetting your appetite for whatever comes next. Hopefully, more cheese.
Cost: A tad steep for a plate full of cheese, but well worth it @ Rs. 350
XXIII. Wood fire baked Camembert Cheese @ 212 Bar & Grill
Where: 12 A, Ground Floor, Hornby Vellard Estate, Opposite Nehru Centre, Worli, Mumbai
212 Bar & Grill’s always featured on our lists as that lofty, more exclusive option for those who wouldn’t be caught dead eating an amul cheese grilled sandwich at Wright Place. Instead, they could forego the carbs and opt for the oh so elegant combination of woo fired baked camembert cheese accompanied by some charcoal grilled vegetables and fresh rocket leaves. Warm, toasty and delicious especially on a rainy day.
Cost: Steep for a hunk of cheese, but worth an especially cheesy occasion @ Rs. 690
XXIV. Butter Garlic Pizza Slice @ Under The Banyan Tree
Where: 34/A, Sophia College Lane, Peddar Road, Mumbai
Ever thought about what might happen if you take a hunk of cheese, bake it till it’s nice and warm and then douse it in some rich, buttery, garlicky sauce? No? Well, someone did and thank god for that or the world might have been worse off for it. UTBT’s one of those ultimate yuppie college hangouts that not everybody who doesn’t basically live within a 3-mile radius of it knows about but now that you do, ignore the average age of the crowd and go grab a slice of this pizza. It’s unlikely you’ll feel very good about going for seconds though.
Cost: Very nice for one slice @ Rs. 90
XXV. Grilled Vegetable & Cheese Sandwich @ Right Place
Where: Warden Road, opposite Breach Candy Hospital
Grilled cheese is pretty much always on our minds and at this Warden Road eatery, bread, cheese (yes, we’re talking good old Amul), chopped up vegetables and chilli chutney with some green coriander come together and present themselves, slathered in butter, in scrumptious bite-sized pieces. Take one crunchy bite and you’re guaranteed to feel like everything’s falling into its right place. Cue that Radiohead.
Cost: Street Side ain’t always cheap, but it sure hits the spot @ Rs. 100
XXVI. Jalapeno Mac & Cheese with Parmesan Crust @ Social
Where: 242, Mathuradas Mill Compound, Near Viva Centre, Todi Mills, Lower Parel, Mumbai 400013
There are a few too many choices in this illustrious mill compound these days, a few of which have already been mentioned on this list. But we haven’t done a great Mac n’ Cheese yet and let’s be honest. No ‘Death By Cheese’ list is complete without the grandmama of all cheese dishes, this American fatty classic. Of course, Anti Social knows the Indian palate and quickly identified just a plain ol’ Mac n’ Cheese might be too bland for us so they’ve diced generous proportions of jalapenos in there wonderfully cheesy mix, cooked that macaroni just right, and added a crunchy parmesan crust on top for texture and good measure. You’d be crazy not to order this one.
Cost: One hearty meal @ Rs. 350
XXVII. Goat Cheese Tart @ Cafe Zoe
Where: Ground Floor, 110 Cyrus House, near St. Theresa School, junction of 24th Road and 30th Road, Bandra (West).
We hate to be biased when it comes to cheese. Really, it’s cruel and impossible. But goat’s cheese sort of deserves to be an ingredient all by itself, a lone ranger in the world of cheeses as far as incredible, tart, unparalleled flavours go. Basically, what we’re trying to say is that goat’s cheese is our absolute favourite and it can make just about any dish better. Moreover, not enough Bombay restaurants cater to our goat’s cheese needs so this Zoe tart goes above and beyond our expectations. It removes goat’s cheese from an embellishment-on-a-salad status to hero-in-the-middle-of-perfect-pastry status and it’s everything we’ve ever wanted from a tart.
Cost: Don’t think about it, just eat it @ Rs. 380
XXVIII. 4-Cheese Omelette @ Salt Water Cafe
Where: 87 Chapel Road, Rose Minar Annel Church, Reclamation, Bandra West, Mumbaixe, Next to Mount Carmel Church
Ideally, breakfast is the right time to get seriously indulgent with your cheese preferences and if you’re planning to do just that, nothing beats Salt Water Cafe’s scrumptious 4-cheese omelette. The eggs are light and fluffy, while the cheese blend contains scamorza, cheddar, grana and fresh mozzarella, making it every cheese enthusiast’s wet dream. You don’t need toast, you don’t need the hash browns or the grilled tomatoes either...you’ll be too focussed on the good stuff.
Cost: We’d pay double for eggs this good @ Rs. 280
XXIX. Warm Cheesecake @ The Tasting Room
Where: 1st Floor, Good Earth, Raghuvanshi Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai
And now, to wrap it all up, we obviously need a dessert to seal the deal. We’ve spent an unhealthy amount of time both obsessing over and hunting the city’s culinary destinations for the best, or even a good cheesecake and we finally met our match at The Tasting Room. Their warm cheesecake with a raspberry sorbet has everything you’d ever want from a dessert. It’s comforting, has hints of freshness from the sorbet, has fantastic consistency, and that biscuit crumb that makes up its foundation has both the texture and the saltiness you need to balance it all out. Welcome to cheesecake heaven.
Cost: Make that 2 please @ Rs. 250
SPECIAL MENTIONS:
XXX. Nachos & Cheese @ New Yorker’s
Where: 25, Fulchand Niwas, Chowpatty Seaface, Chowpatty, Mumbai
Ok we lied, we’re not done yet. You’re either going to hate us or love us for this, but there’s no denying it a place on this list even if we tried. Too many childhood meals were comprised of these disgusting yet delicious nachos and cheese that truly have a flavour all unto its own. Hell, it got so popular in the ‘90s, they even started selling the cheese sauce in containers to (mostly) Gujaratis who couldn’t get enough. And those random bits of green capsicum that we all used to pull out? IT ADDED TO THE FUN OK. Now don’t hate on it, and go eat a plate for nostalgia’s sake.
Cost: You can’t put a price on childhood memories, yo @ Rs. 260
XXXI. American Corn Cheese Balls @ Cream Centre
Where: 25, Fulchand Niwas, Chowpatty Seaface, Chowpatty, Mumbai
And finally (no really, this time we’re actually done) there’s no leaving this baby off of this list if Nachos from New Yorker’s made the cut. Cream Centre’s American Corn Cheese Balls are the stuff legends are made of, and we’re fairly certain there would be riots all through Chowpatty if they ever decided to take it off their menu. Not much to explain here really though. Crumb fried batter, that signature oozing cheese sauce, little bits of corn cutting through for that sweetness. Don’t kid yourself, you’ll never stop at just one.
Cost: Gotta double up on orders like these @ Rs. 199
Words: Aditi Dharmadhikari & Mandovi Menon
