Table for three at crystal

[Continued from an earlier post – let me count the ways…]

Atmosphere – that is the word that describes Crystal – the tiny place is thick with that elusive quality called atmosphere. Not to be confused with that other abused word ambience.

If Crystal had a cool ad agency to create a positioning statement for them, it would surely be No frills, only food. And you would be surprised how many people in Bombay buy into that statement. It is not about cheap food – although that mattered a lot in the days when IO first got introduced to Crystal and the ecosystem around it – the coconut vendor on one side – healthy non-alcoholic aperitif (if there is such a thing), the paanwala on the other – is there anything to beat the joy of a post prandial paan? It is about good food. Make that very good food.

Waiting for the food

Crystal is one of the few places I have known in Bombay where it is possible to get light and fluffy phulkas in place of the chewy maida dripping-with-oil-passed-off-as-butter naan. And it is the only place where I have known a waiter to snatch a roti midway between your greedy hand and hungry mouth – you look up with all intention of glaring at him and he says – yeh thanda ho gaya hai – yeh le lo – garam hai. You look at the smile peeping out from somewhere behind the mustache and meekly want to say ji, uncleji but the smell of the garam roti has worked its way into your brain and all you can do is pick it up and eat it before it disappears into a cold trail again. Crystal is also where old friends of the owner drop in just to chat with him as he sits behind the old fashioned counter near the steps, and waiters knows their regular customers by name and perhaps even food preference.

Over-the-counter gossip

That blur is the waiter hurry by – that is their usual speed

The exteriors and interiors of the restaurant do nothing to inspire confidence in the newbie. But I have been eating there since the time I first moved to Bombay ten years ago. And I love everything about the place, even the things that would make me recoil in horror anywhere else – the white plastic chairs, the crumbling walls, high ceiling fans, corner sink. My husband and I have fixed favorites from the menu; aloo jeera, baingan bharta, paneer bhurji, yellow dal, phulkas – and we usually end up ordering two or more of these each time we go there (which I regret to say, is very very infrequently).

Greed and gluttony at Crystal

The painless bill

The food is surprisingly light on the tummy and as I have said before, the wallet. Last night, we were with a friend and ended up ordering all of these. And ended up paying a grand sum of Rs.157 at the end of the meal. Then there is the kheer for those with a sweet tooth, served in quaint steel cups; it is an absolute must except when you are feeling particularly guilty nd decide to skip dessert. Or decide that a short brisk walk is in order and head to Bachelors’ along the road for a fresh fruit juice, or if you can convince yourself that you have digested the food by then, fresh mango with ice cream.