An Odyssey of Flavours: Dadar's Pritam Da Dhaba brings forth its 81-yo culinary legacy to Juhu

Food is a serious business. Those who agree with us, will understand how important it is to keep finding new avenues to feed this passion. And Mumbai's iconic Pritam Da Dhaba, does it right and how!

In 1942, the first Pritam restaurant established itself in Dadar, marking the beginning of its culinary journey. Renowned for its introduction of 'purani Dilli-style' Butter Chicken to Mumbai, this iconic dining establishment has recently expanded with a new branch in Juhu, which has been operational for the past few months. And we simply had to drop by, with our rumbling tummies!

And yep, it was a good decision. Upon entering this vibrant space, our eyes were mesmerised by the colourful murals, the open, roomy seating areas and of course, Pritam's bar - lovingly called 'Theka'. The dhaba-like seating, the exposed brick walls and a groovy Bollywood playlist, definitely added to the charms of this eatery! We got a table in the private air-conditioned room, escorted by the hospitable staff, and we simply couldn't wait to order.

The menu is long and making choices, takes even longer! We blame it on the wide variety of classic desi dishes and fusions - such as the Truffle Nikke Naan, Chicken Tikka Hummus, Zaitooni Paneer Kebab and more. Safe to say that we were spoilt for choice! So, to save you time when here, we've listed our picks from the menu that will have you licking your fingers and burping hard!

Get ready to start your meal here, with Pritam's decadent Murgh Lapeta Kabab (₹405) and Palak Cheese Lifafa (₹335). Served within 15 minutes, these bites are the perfect way to kick off any meal! The kababs were bursting with flavours and the lifafa kept us nibbling, ceaselessly.

For the main course, we went with Pritam's Signature Dal Makhani (₹395), slow-cooked for 14 hours. The thick texture of this dal, is derived without the use of butter, cream or other alternatives. This dish was certainly one of the stars of the show and we couldn't wait to dig in our spoons further.

Along with the dal, we chose Pritam's Bhuna Gosht (₹625), that just set the mood right! With the meat falling off the bones, in a bowl of spicy (but not too hot) bhuna gravy, this dish had our attention. We mopped off the gravy with a soft yet crispy Butter Garlic Naan (₹145), which was the perfect fit with it.

To wash it all down, we browsed through the eclectic Retro Cocktail Menu menu, which instantly put a smile on faces! With drinks named after retro Bollywood stars, the Theka menu had us excited.

We choose The Zeenat (₹695), which was a concoction of rum, strawberry, peach, lime and egg white. It had the right kinda punch - not too subtle or overpowering, simply like the star herself! On the other hand, Prem Naam Hai Mere, a blend of vodka, raw mango, cumin, and chilli powder, delivered a masaledaar, boozy punch. But for us, Sridevi (₹625), standing in a tall glass, became the highlight. A mixture of vodka, watermelon, rose, mint and basil leaves, this refreshing drink was all we needed, after wolfing down the rich mutton gravy.

We concluded the meal with Pritam's gooey and chilled Kulhad ki Phirni (₹205), which enabled us to end our dinner on a sweet note. As a classic phirni should be, this one was creamy and sugared, just the right amount. But we kept eyeing the Shahi Tukda, that arrived at the next table and surely, it will be our pick the next time around!

Drawing inspirations from its Dadar outlet, this Juhu restaurant has maintained its repute of being among the best, when it comes to North Indian grubs. And now we clearly know why! Run by Jaibir Singh Kohli, the fourth-generation owner, Pritam undoubtedly has stood tall through the tides of time. BTW, it is also said that after the Dadar outlet of Pritam Da Dhaba was refurbished in 1975, it became the first AC restaurant in Mumbai.

Essentially, Pritam Da Dhaba is a space that is suited for big fat Indian families who want to hog on delicious, desi food with contemporary twists. This is where you can bring along a date too, as the menu and decor along with the Theka, are all definite conversation starters! So make your reservations ASAP and head out for a night of great food and good fun.

Where: 1st Floor, Bloom Hotel, Juhu Tara Road, Shivaji Nagar, Juhu, Mumbai

Cost for two: ₹3,500 approx. (with drinks)

Timings: 12 noon – 3:30 pm, 7 pm – 12 midnight | Mon - Sun

Best time to go: Early dinner or during brunch hours; this restaurant quickly becomes busy during peak dinnertime.