Aromas of China, Crystal Plaza Mall, Andheri, Mumbai
By Chef at Large Contributor • Oct 31st, 2009 • Category: Reviews
Contributed by Sanjay Kashyap
Having lived across the street to this restaurant, I was one of the few who visited it soon after their opening. It was and still is value for money – 5 star restaurant food at affordable prices – especially the buffet. Just so you know, Aromas of China is a part of the BJN group, serves a buffet for lunch and provides an a la carte menu for dinner.
At Aromas of China, you start with a welcome drink (Beer or soft drinks) and a soup from the tureen on the buffet table. The kimchi, starters and sauces are placed on the table to nibble on, till you’re ready to eat. Great chicken and lamb starters satiate you till you decide to hit the buffet table for main courses. Mumbai people being predominantly fish and sea food eaters, one finds the maximum crowd around these dishes. One can’t blame them – where on earth can one get fish, crabs, lobsters and prawns on one buffet table at the price of Rupees 599 at an all inclusive, all you can eat buffet? No wonder it’s crowded! The poor chicken and lamb dishes lie forlorn as the rest of the buffet is rapidly eroded. The standard fare of accompaniments (fried rice, noodles, vegetarian dishes (equally good) were there, but I didn’t quite venture there as I’m totally carnivorous.
However, of late, after a few more visits I find the taste of the buffet to be the same and repetitive. The same sauce is used for all the sea foods and then the taste starts getting pretty much the same. The dim sum were excellent and the lamb and chicken ones were good with different flavors, but apart from the seafood, the icing on the cake was the dessert section. No pun intended here! The chocolate fountain and the various mousses and pastry will make up for anyone’s sweet craving.
Highly recommended for a couple of times, they have an extremely helpful and attentive staff which makes the dining experience quite good. The valet parking is a boon in this heat and the location is wonderful and uncluttered. They could however, do with a little more space inside – as diners keep bumping into each other at the buffet. All in all – worth a visit. Go for their Sunday lunch buffet and stuff yourselves with the crabs, prawns and lobsters! Nirvana.
- Sanjay Kashyap
Meal for Two: Rs 800 – 1200| Credit Cards: V, MC | Alcohol: YES | Takeaway: YES | Home Delivery: NO
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