I grew up in a family where dinner was discussed at the breakfast table and Bollywood songs were the background music all day long. I still remember that my uncle, with whom I shared my room, used to constantly listen to songs to concentrate while preparing for the Civil Services Examination. My preschool vocabulary comprised the words Amitabh Bachchan, Rafi, Jaya Prada, biryani and kabab.
So for a person with such filmy associations, a place like the recently opened “Mumbai Matinee” seemed just perfect. Located in Noida’s Sector 18 market, this Bollywood café is the brainchild of husband-wife duo Prateek and Seep Gambhir. Elaborating on the thought process behind the concept, they say, “The idea of a Bollywood inspired café germinated during our college days itself, when just like other youngsters, we used to spend so much time watching movies and dining at restaurants. We had always aspired to weave the two together…The idea is to give our patrons a place to unwind and relive some of their best days of life.”
Given its convenient location, I decided to shop with my wife and later settle by lunch at Mumbai Matinee. As usual shopping didn’t finish on time and I politely asked my wife, “Darling, can I just go and order food for you till you clear the bills so that you get the food as soon as you enter the café?” She was in a good mood and said “you may go”.
Happily I left and entered the café which had Bollywood written all over it, right from the interiors to the décor and food. As my hunger was peaking, I ordered all the food at one go; Mumbai roadside hero vada pav, some tikkas, a pasta with some finger starters were good enough for me. The tikkas were succulent while the wings were the crispiest I have ever had. The good old Vada pav lacked that Mumbai punch but still went well with the cutting chai.
I tried their footlongs and club sandwiches next. I was halfway through my food, listening to “Bewafa woh nahi, yeh mujhe hai yaqeen, phir wajah kya hui intezaar ki”, and in came my wife needing help from the gatekeeper to open the door for her.
Venue : J 19, 1st floor, Sector 18, Noida
Meals for two : Rs. 800 plus taxes
