OMG, the hype! We’ve not been to the original, but we’ve been to the one in Kochi’s very own Mecca – Lulu Mall. On a Sunday afternoon, we thought it would be worth it. The crowd was such that they might as well start calling it Sobha Maul. There’s really no reservation, so you just go in there, and like good old bureaucratic systems, they note your name down, give you an (inaccurate) estimated waiting time, and then… you wait.
While you do that, you could congratulate yourself for deciding to come to a very ‘happening’ place, and maybe look at the day’s specials to build your appetite.
After finally managing to get a table, we started with a Beef Chilly that passed muster. The Pandan Chicken was surprisingly not bad though I have had better. The Kanthari fish, which by definition (bird’s eye chilli) should have been super spicy, was toned down, probably to appeal to a broader set of taste buds, I suppose. The Payyoli Kozhi Porichathu was special only because of those crumbs that brought back a childhood memory – ghee residue. 😍
Kerala Porotta, Mutton and Chicken Biryani, Kozhi Chuvannamulagu Curry, and Pathiris for the main course. We liked the mutton biryani more than the chicken version, and the porottas were perfect. The biggest con game was that chicken curry – which despite the fancy name turned out to be a reasonably bad version of a Butter Chicken!
That name hooked me – Chatta Mary pudding, but the pudding itself was meh. And while the Elaneer Pudding wasn’t bad, KCK‘s version is leagues above. And yes, I forgot to take a snap till we started drinking, and by the time I got it back, it was in this state. This is my pick of what to drink here – Pacha Manga juice, though I suspect that sharp tang is an acquired taste.
On the whole, this version is most definitely not worth the hype, especially if you’re Malayali. It’s a curiosity for those who cannot access the original. That’s about it. The service is prompt, and friendly, despite the crowds, that’s a plus.
Paragon, Sobha Mall, Church St, Shanthala Nagar, Ashok Nagar Ph: 9063251111