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Time travel at Taj: Tea for Re 1.25, patties for Re 1.75: The Asian Age
Mumbai, Oct 16: The Taj Mahal Hotel at Apollo Bunder, easily one of the country`s most celebrated landmarks, took Mumbai travelling in time earlier this week: anyone entering the Sea Lounge in its heritage wing on Monday and Tuesday would have felt instantly transported back to a more relaxed and comfortable age.Particularly when it came to paying the bill.
Mumbai, Oct 16: The Taj Mahal Hotel at Apollo Bunder, easily one of the country’s most celebrated landmarks, took Mumbai travelling in time earlier this week: anyone entering the Sea Lounge in its heritage wing on Monday and Tuesday would have felt instantly transported back to a more relaxed and comfortable age.Particularly when it came to paying the bill.
On these two days, the Sea Lounge celebrated its reopening after refurbishing by giving its regular patrons a treat, taking a giant leap back to the ’60s — serving some of its most popular dishes at the prices of four decades ago. It was back to the days when a refreshing cup of Lopchu cost Re 1.25 and a plate of toasted chicken-cheese sandwiches Re 1.50. Even a full multi-course lunch was for just Rs 28.
Anybody walking into the Sea Lounge could order soups (sweet corn with chicken or sweet corn with asparagus) for Rs 2.50, a Chicken Hawaii Salad for Rs 3.50, chicken patties, hot dogs, chicken rolls at Re 1.75 each, and rich assorted pastries for 60 paise. For dessert, one could take a pick from cheese and pineapple pie or iced litchis and fruit salad with cream, at Rs 2 each.
One could also beat the summer heat by going in for chilled juices like pineapple, mango, sweet lime, banana and oranges at Rs 2. Tea and coffee of different varieties just made the wallet lighter by Re 1.25 and Re 1.50 respectively. Ice-cream specialities were charged only Rs 2.25.
These prices were, however, not made public to people who walked in to the restaurant. "We wanted to surprise them with the rates and that is why the pecial price did not show in the regular menus. They got a big surprise on getting the bill, seeing the prices reduced. That look of surprise on their faces was the satisfaction we got," said the Taj’s senior vice-president (special projects) Subir Bhowmick.
Among celebrities who turned up for the Sea Lounge treat on both days were the writer Shobhaa De and her husband Dilip De, Munna Zaveri and top painter Jehangir Sabvala.
Originally known as the Palm Lounge in the early ’60s, the Sea Lounge has been a favourite haunt of many for its innovative cuisine, from introducing Scandinavian Open Sandwiches to Mumbai Street Food like bhel puri, dahi batata puri, or the wide varieties of tea and coffee and the famous dessert trolley with mouth-watering pastries.
According to Mr Bhowmick, though the special pricing for the two days was not advertised, people were standing outside in queues to get in and savour the experience.
On these two days, the Sea Lounge celebrated its reopening after refurbishing by giving its regular patrons a treat, taking a giant leap back to the ’60s — serving some of its most popular dishes at the prices of four decades ago. It was back to the days when a refreshing cup of Lopchu cost Re 1.25 and a plate of toasted chicken-cheese sandwiches Re 1.50. Even a full multi-course lunch was for just Rs 28.
Anybody walking into the Sea Lounge could order soups (sweet corn with chicken or sweet corn with asparagus) for Rs 2.50, a Chicken Hawaii Salad for Rs 3.50, chicken patties, hot dogs, chicken rolls at Re 1.75 each, and rich assorted pastries for 60 paise. For dessert, one could take a pick from cheese and pineapple pie or iced litchis and fruit salad with cream, at Rs 2 each.
One could also beat the summer heat by going in for chilled juices like pineapple, mango, sweet lime, banana and oranges at Rs 2. Tea and coffee of different varieties just made the wallet lighter by Re 1.25 and Re 1.50 respectively. Ice-cream specialities were charged only Rs 2.25.
These prices were, however, not made public to people who walked in to the restaurant. "We wanted to surprise them with the rates and that is why the pecial price did not show in the regular menus. They got a big surprise on getting the bill, seeing the prices reduced. That look of surprise on their faces was the satisfaction we got," said the Taj’s senior vice-president (special projects) Subir Bhowmick.
Among celebrities who turned up for the Sea Lounge treat on both days were the writer Shobhaa De and her husband Dilip De, Munna Zaveri and top painter Jehangir Sabvala.
Originally known as the Palm Lounge in the early ’60s, the Sea Lounge has been a favourite haunt of many for its innovative cuisine, from introducing Scandinavian Open Sandwiches to Mumbai Street Food like bhel puri, dahi batata puri, or the wide varieties of tea and coffee and the famous dessert trolley with mouth-watering pastries.
According to Mr Bhowmick, though the special pricing for the two days was not advertised, people were standing outside in queues to get in and savour the experience.