Meat-ing Point - Mad House Grill, Koregaon Park

I love meat. I can eat red-meat all the time, if that were possible. However, it isn't, sadly, because apparently human beings were made to eat vegetables sometimes as well.
So I live from craving-inspired binge to craving-inspired binge. And every new binge, I decided, must be a new discovery. I mean, come on... There are meat-serving places in this country aplenty, and I need to discover them all.
To this end, my friend suggested, one day, that we go to one Mad House Grill. Now, this place is at rather a tiring distance from our general haunts, but he insisted that it was worth the distance. So off we went.
Now, if you look up Mad House on Zomato, etc, you will get pretty-much an overview of the menu and such. Cut-and-dry details.
I did as well, and was expecting your average steak/sizzler place.
Mad House Grill is a small eatery in a lane off the main road in Koregaon Park, Pune. The establishment is small, but done up so well that it feels homey and comfortable. There is a bar, with interesting decor, and the whole place has a rustic, wooden hut type feel to it. The amusing thing is their use of mint in the water jars. I do not imply mint leaves, but the whole stalk including leaves, which they submerge in their jar of drinking water. It's quite cool, once you're over the idea that you're drinking plant-juice.
The staff is unobtrusive, quiet and helpful, which, in my mind, is perfect. Since the eatery is a little way inside, there is no annoying traffic noise intruding on your meals, which makes the whole place very easy to be taken with.
And now the good stuff... The menu. There is a ton of stuff on the menu, from starters to steaks, and all kinds of meats and vegetarian options. However, being the carnivores that we are, we opted for the steaks. The waiter asked us how we would like our steak, did not feel the need to make a face and say "Raw hoga..." when we asked for it rare, and quickly took the order and left. Placing the order, however, was hard work because there were so many tempting options. The non-vegetarian stuff is decently priced for the place and the cuisine, between Rs 350 and 600 depending on what you want to eat. I am talking only of the main courses, of course. The rest of the menu also hovers thereabouts. There is a drinks menu as well, and they have interesting cocktails like Sangria and such, but we stuck to good-old beer.
The service was quick, so hungry carnivores that we were, we dug in. At the outset, when they set a plate in front of you, you feel a little let-down because it looks rather less (Indian mentality, no, we have... Money's worth means the plate has to be overflowing). However, beef, as most meats, is very filling. Along with this, they serve you veggies and whatnot, so it's all a great combination. What really impressed me was that the steak was actually rare, which isn't something most people manage to do. Another very interesting thing was that there were different and new names and flavours on the menu. No standard 'garlic sauce, pepper sauce' nonsense. The flavours they promised were very definitely delivered.
I am super-impressed with Mad House Grill. I am rather a stingy person, so parting with about 600 bucks for food and beer would have been death for me, but here, it was money that begged spending.
I'm craving more already...

Sheep in the Big City

Mumbai is the city to head to if you're looking to make it big in the glamour world. At least, that's what all Hindi movies or urban legends told by mothers to their kids about the big bad world teach us. Mumbai, the city that never sleeps; the place where dreams come true; where, literally, ships come in. But the truth of the matter is that living in Mumbai does not mean that you're suddenly transported into the big league. You don't hobnob with the stars and dine with the elite the moment you begin to breathe the air here. One look at the streets every morning, and you know that not all the people who live here have roofs over their heads. However, rich or poor, bed or street corner, you have to eat. And food is one thing that this city manages rather well for almost all its inhabitants. Whether we're talking about spending a hundred a head, or ten, we can find something for you. At least, that's the endeavor. The problem is, it's a large city and I have enjoyed it longest as a poor low-on-funds college student confined to the most expensive part. This will be the tale of my trials and tribulations and all those triumphant moments when a still-heavy wallet allows you to give a belch of VFM satisfaction.