~ People who love to eat are always the best people. ~
As rightly quoted by Julia Child- people who eat with their heart and soul, are always the best!
So today’s post is dedicated to all our foodie friends who love to eat and find solace in all things food! 
We were invited by The Bayleaf Multicuisine Restaurant which is located inside Hotel Grand Mookambika, Koparkhairane. The ongoing Mangalorean Food Festival at the venue enticed us by it’s aroma, as soon as we walked past the entrance.
 
 
 
Cosmopolitan
As a part of welcome rituals, we were treated with a couple of refreshing cocktails. 
We particularly enjoyed the Litchi Margarita, for it’s subtle sweet taste and icy textures that enhanced it’s flavors. 
 
Litchi Margarita
Focusing more on Mangalorean cuisine, the menu is curated by culinary expert and highly experienced Chef- Mr. Don DSouza; who not only designed the menu, but also shared his secret recipes and helped with ingredients that matter the most when added to each dish. 
Haven said that, it was an honour to witness his finest recipes which we relished to our heart’s content!
The Thaalis are being served in 4 options viz. Veg, Chicken, Mutton & Fish. Out of which, we tried the Chicken Thaali and Fish Thaali.

Chicken Thaali
The Chicken Thaali consisted a bowl of Chicken Sukkha, a chicken curry, 2 pieces Neer Dosa, 1 plate rice, 1 small glass of Masala Chaas, Papad, pickle, onion and Kesar gulabjamun. 
 
Chicken Thaali
Whereas, the Fish Thaali has 2 options fish- Surmai and Pomfret. We chose the Pomfret thaali which tasted divine! 
 
Fish Thaali
This thaali is filled with typical Mangalorean style fish, Bombil curry, 1 plate rice, 2 pieces Neer Dosa, papad, Kesar gulabjamun and other accompaniments. 
 
Fish Thaali
Also, one can call for extra Neer Dosa, if required. The dessert keeps changing on a regular basis.
Both Thaalis were extremely filling and more than sufficient for one person’s meal. All food items tasted excellent and seemed very fresh. We loved how authentic each dish tasted, and is made in the traditional way. 
 
Gadbad Ice Cream loaded with dryfruits
At first, these Thaalis seemed extravagantly priced; but to our surprise they’re extremely reasonable and pocket friendly! The Thaali prices start from INR 200 onwards going up to INR 400, depending on Veg or Non Veg. 
So if you’re in for a delicious Mangalorean Thaali, come treat your taste buds at Grand Mookambika. The Mangalorean Food Festival will be hosted everyday until entire summer holiday season, both for lunch and dinner. 
Address: Plot no. 1, Sector 1, Ghansoli station road, Koparkhairane, Navi Mumbai. 
Considering each and every aspect from service till food, we loved everything about this place. The restaurant is most suited for team lunches and family get togethers.
TheHungryCancerian verdict for ‘Grand Mookambika’ is 4.5/5.