Punjabi Food for a dime....

When I was studying for my MBA at the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management, the girls in my class who were non Mumbai-ites , used to stay at the Girls hostel at Marine drive.
These girls had discovered a nice homely food place called Crystal. This small “hole-in-the-wall” joint is situated next to Wilson college.
See the pictures below:

The old owner sitting below the staircase that leads to the upper mezzanine floor

External Facade with the Icecream counter :

The lower seating area :

The upper seating area :

Located next the GANT showroom, behind a well stocked coconut seller !!, Crsytal signifies the “old-meets-new” theory.The restaurant does not boast of ambience or décor but speaks only through the delicious food. The food is vegetarian and based on the North-Indian cuisine
The décor (one cannot really call it décor) consists of plastic chairs, small tables and antique fans.
The mezzanine floor is for families and has table fans.
While passing Marine drive yesterday, my wife and I just felt like trying it out after many years..Though the rates have gone up a little but not so much as to get our finance mister worried about inflation, (Baingan Bharta at Rs. 22 against Rs. 15 around 15 yrs ago), the quality of food remains the same.

Menu Below : is short and crisp, around 30 dishes.. Max price Rs 35.

Forgetting my diet for a day, we ordered Baingan Bharta (mashed brinjal), Rajma (kidney beans), Alu-Gobi (Potato-Cauliflower), Phulkas (puffed Indian bread) and then Kheer (yummy-milk and rice based dessert) and some chaas (butter milk) and bottled water..And the bill was just Rs 130. (USD 2.5) .. Cheaper than what it may have cost to cook at home..

Over the years I have seen many such food places who serve great tasty food at rock bottom prices being sold to make way for bank ATMs, apparel showrooms etc.. Hope Crystal survives the onslaught of the global brands into India..