Mumbai’s toughest critic visited Smoke House Deli in Bandra to sample the new Children’s menu. Veda Jain, age 2, looks not only for flavor in her meals but also for fun. And Smoke House Deli nailed it!
In honor of Children’s Day, Smoke House Deli tied a balloon on one chair at every table. Veda straight away wanted to sit in that chair and play with her balloon. They then presented her with their children’s menu. It’s honestly the best children’s menu I have ever seen! Aside from the usual box of crayons and coloring book, this one also included stickers (every kids favorite thing!). Veda was able to turn the pages in her menu and select the stickers of the items she wanted to order. Then she placed the stickers on her “to order” page, which the waiter would later take to process our order.
While waiting for our order, she was able to busy herself coloring in her menu and playing with the stickers. It was so refreshing to be able to take her out to lunch, without having to resort to electronics to keep her entertained. I really hope Smoke house Deli keeps this menu throughout the year!
In addition to the fun menu, the chef at Smoke House deli was also really creative in his plating. He understood that children eat with there eyes first. If something looks fun, they are more likely to eat it! We had ordered the “Truckload of mixed French fries” and vanilla milkshake to start. I loved the French fry truck! They had created a little paper truck and placed the fries and dip inside. Veda had so much fun playing with it while digging in to get her fries and smileys. She also would not stop drinking her milkshake! 🙂
My favorite dish was the “Popeye’s spinach, cheese and corn sandwich”. It was a twist on a grilled cheese, with the added nutrition of spinach and corn. If there is a way for me to get Veda to eat more veggies, I’ll take it! She really gobbled this one up.
We next received the Chicken Burger. This was beautifully presented in a little tin box and came with a little surprise. Along side the box, they had included a pirate patch, hat and earring! Veda loved putting on her pirate gear, though the burger itself was a bit of a let down. Unfortunately, it lacked flavor and was a strange texture. Maybe the Lamb or cottage cheese burgers would be a better choice. The pizza was also pretty average.
For the slightly older kids, I would recommend the Vegetable lasagna from the “Major Meals” section. I found it to be cooked well, full of veggies and covered in a flavorful cheesy tomato sauce. We had also tried the “Grilled chicken, mashed potatoes and greens” from that section. Unfortunately, while well presented, the chicken was a bit stringy and bland. However we loved the mashed potatoes! The major meals are served with a juice or milkshake and a dessert, all presented in a nice big plate.
I want to also add that we thoroughly enjoyed our salad and drinks from their standard menu. The Chevre and orange salad was nice and light, and paired well with our refreshing fresh juice and mocktails. It was a perfect balance against Veda’s fries and burgers. 😉
We ended the meal with the “Good Kid” fruit salad. I loved the creative presentation of this dish. The chef served the fruit and dipping sauces (chocolate and toffee) in little beakers, all on a chalkboard. Veda had lots of fun dipping her fruit into the sauces, and I was happy she was eating fruit!
I highly recommend the Smoke House Deli Children’s menu and encourage you to take your kids! You will finally be able to enjoy your own meal, while your kids have fun with their special menus. The Children’s Menu will now be available throughout the year and at all Smoke House Deli locations!
Getting There:
Smoke House Deli,
Corner of 33rd Road and B. R. Ambedkar Road,
Opposite Brownie Point,
Pali Hill, Bandra West, Mumbai
022 65287800