Verdict: For an only-kheema menu, there’s a lot of potential but as of now Kheemas has a long way to go. The food and its taste needs serious attention.
Rating: 1.5/5

Table for Two: Rs 160-200
Address: Behind Baker’s Point, NIBM Road, Wanowrie (The place is now closed.)

We were told of a place in Wanowrie serving an only-kheema menu. Those words are enough to have most non-vegetarian’s mouth watering. But Kheemas, an year-old eatery, was a rather surprising disappointment.

As of now, the short menu consists of kheema pav, kheema omelette, kheema roll, grilled kheema sandwich and mini meals – each available in either mutton, chicken or vegetarian options. Kheema samosas and kheema pizzas are possible additions to the menu in a month or so.

Just like Veg Biryani and Veg Haleem have always confounded us, so does a Veg Kheema (made with soya nugget chunks), but we guess an eatery can’t really dismiss a vegetarian amongst a group of meat eaters. But out of curiosity, we did try it. Similar to the Mutton Kheema, all we could taste was oil (not overtly oily however) and a handful of spices.

The omelette and sandwich were still better in comparison as there was negligible oil. The sandwich was well grilled – a crisp toast stuffed with kheema is always good. Guess if you’re running late on a weekend to catch up with your friends for a few drinks, a quick to-go from Kheemas could do well.

The preparations are moderately priced, most between Rs 50 and Rs 80, which seem reasonable enough keeping in mind a huge Arab student population residing in the area.

The eatery is run by Eish Chawla, a cricketer playing from the New Bombay Sports Club and his partner, Shrikant Mundhe who’s on the Pune Warriors team. If Eish is really hoping to start a second outlet on Senapati Bapat Road, the duo need to get their act together. With Kheemas being bang on the roadside, there’s tons of noise as well. Just glimpses of possible stardom don’t and will not make a hole-in-the-wall package-able for franchises.

Photos by Mehr Singh