Lebanese is one of the most popular cuisines around the world, and not
without reason. Lebanon's Mediterranean location and climate and Levantine
origins and varied cultural influences have made its food naturally agreeable
for people across the world. The Lebanese diaspora has brought its cuisine to
wherever they have gone - Europe, the US and far flung places like Australia
and even South America. Lebanese fast food joints with their inviting Shawarmas
are as common in several countries in Europe as McDonalds and KFCs.
India has not been left untouched by the Lebanese restaurant phenomenon either. Shawarma joints started appearing in Bombay sometime in the 90s and the trend seems to have continued. Some of these are even chains operating in several Indian cities. However, as far as I'm concerned, the benchmark for Lebanese food has been set very high. While I've not been to Lebanon, three months in Europe as a student meant a lot of Lebanese food on the road. The best of the lot was, in fact, in Toulouse where I stayed - right across the street from our apartment. It was called 'El Dayaa' and was owned by Lebanese immigrants from Tripoli. I even wrote a post about it on this blog here.
Most Lebanese joints in Bombay leave a lot to be desired. This is especially true if you've eaten Lebanese in an 'authentic' restaurant abroad. While most of these new restaurants seem to have worked on middle-eastern interiors and have fancy sounding Arabic names, the Shawarmas and Shish Tawouks are as Lebanese as Chicken Manchurian is Chinese. There is one exception though, one restaurant that pre-dates all its mediocre peers in the city. Lebanese is just one of the cuisines served here - the others being Iranian and European - yet it is what the restaurant is most known for. Not surprisingly, it is located in South Bombay and is the second restaurant to be featured in the ongoing series.
Piccadilly sits right at the mid-point of Colaba Causeway, opposite Electric House and the iconic Cusrow Baug. Hidden behind a row of hawkers, it's really easy to miss.
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Unfortunately, I have not been able to gather enough information on the history of the restaurant. Post 26/11, bars and restaurants in Colaba have turned extremely security-conscious (understandably) and I was reprimanded by the owner after taking the above picture as I entered the place one evening. I obviously couldn't quiz him about the origins of his restaurant after that.
I do know that Piccadilly was started many decades ago by Iranian immigrants and was much like some of the many Irani cafés in the city. Somewhere down the line, the menu was modified to cash in on the trend of western backpackers making Colaba Causeway a port of call on their trip through the country. Lebanese was one of the cuisines introduced during the revamp and the restaurant has never looked back since and is even featured on Zomato's 'legendary' collection.
I have been to Piccadilly many many times, and have tried a lot on their substantial menu, which spans several cuisines, Lebanese, Iranian and Western being the main ones. But for this post, I'll focus on the Lebanese food at Piccadilly - after all, that is what got it a spot on the series.
The Shawarma rolls are understandably the biggest draw at Piccadilly. The sandwiches are served with Chicken and Mutton Shawarma fillings inside a Pita wrap with Hummus, garlic sauce and fries. This is what the Mutton Shawarma sandwich looks like.
.JPG)
The sandwich is as good as it is simply because it is a sum of great parts - great pita bread, great hummus, great garlic sauce and obviously well-marinated roast meat. Once you've tried the Shawarma at Piccadilly, the others in the city will pale in comparison, that's for sure. It also scores extra points for the pickled cucumber, beetroot and chilies served with each portion!
Most of what is served as a sandwich at Piccadilly can also be enjoyed as a 'meal on a plate'. This is a large portion of grilled meat served with garlic sauce, hummus, fries, salad and Khaboos bread. The pick of the lot is the Mutton Kebab plate.
Shawarmas and Kebabs are not all that you can eat at Piccadilly. Dazaz Mahashi is the Lebanese version of Biryani. But while most Biryanis are served with either chicken or lamb, this rice dish has both! It's diced chicken and mincemeat with brown sauce marinade in basmati rice, and it’s neatly served like this!
What I've described in this post is just some of the delectable Lebanese fare served at Piccadilly, but Iranian and Western portions of the menu are equally good - Zereshk Polo (Berry Pulao) and Baked Chicken being the must-haves.
Does sound like it's worth a visit no? So do like me when in Colaba and grab a window-side table at Piccadilly!
The address, reviews and addition info in the link below.
https://www.zomato.com/mumbai/piccadilly-1-colaba
India has not been left untouched by the Lebanese restaurant phenomenon either. Shawarma joints started appearing in Bombay sometime in the 90s and the trend seems to have continued. Some of these are even chains operating in several Indian cities. However, as far as I'm concerned, the benchmark for Lebanese food has been set very high. While I've not been to Lebanon, three months in Europe as a student meant a lot of Lebanese food on the road. The best of the lot was, in fact, in Toulouse where I stayed - right across the street from our apartment. It was called 'El Dayaa' and was owned by Lebanese immigrants from Tripoli. I even wrote a post about it on this blog here.
Most Lebanese joints in Bombay leave a lot to be desired. This is especially true if you've eaten Lebanese in an 'authentic' restaurant abroad. While most of these new restaurants seem to have worked on middle-eastern interiors and have fancy sounding Arabic names, the Shawarmas and Shish Tawouks are as Lebanese as Chicken Manchurian is Chinese. There is one exception though, one restaurant that pre-dates all its mediocre peers in the city. Lebanese is just one of the cuisines served here - the others being Iranian and European - yet it is what the restaurant is most known for. Not surprisingly, it is located in South Bombay and is the second restaurant to be featured in the ongoing series.
Piccadilly sits right at the mid-point of Colaba Causeway, opposite Electric House and the iconic Cusrow Baug. Hidden behind a row of hawkers, it's really easy to miss.
.JPG)
Unfortunately, I have not been able to gather enough information on the history of the restaurant. Post 26/11, bars and restaurants in Colaba have turned extremely security-conscious (understandably) and I was reprimanded by the owner after taking the above picture as I entered the place one evening. I obviously couldn't quiz him about the origins of his restaurant after that.
I do know that Piccadilly was started many decades ago by Iranian immigrants and was much like some of the many Irani cafés in the city. Somewhere down the line, the menu was modified to cash in on the trend of western backpackers making Colaba Causeway a port of call on their trip through the country. Lebanese was one of the cuisines introduced during the revamp and the restaurant has never looked back since and is even featured on Zomato's 'legendary' collection.
I have been to Piccadilly many many times, and have tried a lot on their substantial menu, which spans several cuisines, Lebanese, Iranian and Western being the main ones. But for this post, I'll focus on the Lebanese food at Piccadilly - after all, that is what got it a spot on the series.
The Shawarma rolls are understandably the biggest draw at Piccadilly. The sandwiches are served with Chicken and Mutton Shawarma fillings inside a Pita wrap with Hummus, garlic sauce and fries. This is what the Mutton Shawarma sandwich looks like.
.JPG)
The sandwich is as good as it is simply because it is a sum of great parts - great pita bread, great hummus, great garlic sauce and obviously well-marinated roast meat. Once you've tried the Shawarma at Piccadilly, the others in the city will pale in comparison, that's for sure. It also scores extra points for the pickled cucumber, beetroot and chilies served with each portion!
Most of what is served as a sandwich at Piccadilly can also be enjoyed as a 'meal on a plate'. This is a large portion of grilled meat served with garlic sauce, hummus, fries, salad and Khaboos bread. The pick of the lot is the Mutton Kebab plate.
Shawarmas and Kebabs are not all that you can eat at Piccadilly. Dazaz Mahashi is the Lebanese version of Biryani. But while most Biryanis are served with either chicken or lamb, this rice dish has both! It's diced chicken and mincemeat with brown sauce marinade in basmati rice, and it’s neatly served like this!
What I've described in this post is just some of the delectable Lebanese fare served at Piccadilly, but Iranian and Western portions of the menu are equally good - Zereshk Polo (Berry Pulao) and Baked Chicken being the must-haves.
Does sound like it's worth a visit no? So do like me when in Colaba and grab a window-side table at Piccadilly!
The address, reviews and addition info in the link below.
https://www.zomato.com/mumbai/piccadilly-1-colaba
