Gajalee
Gajalee has just three locations in all of India, and all three are located here in Mumbai. The Malvani-inspired seafood restaurant offers everything from Rava-fried king fish, broiled prawns, and even squid cooked in spicy curry. The spice comes from a pepper native to Malvani cuisine, called tirphal; a cousin of Sichuan peppers, it gives a fiery kick guaranteed to leave you reaching for ice-cold solkadhi, a beverage accompaniment made from coconut milk and kokum.
Address and telephone number: Kadamgiri Complex, Hanuman Road, Vile Parle, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400057, India +91 22 2616 6470
Konkan Café
The Konkan region of India stretches from the Sahyadri Mountains to the coastline of the Arabian Sea, and as such boasts a palate of spicy and tangy fish-based cuisine that has locals flocking to Konkan Café. Owned by the globally reputed Vivanta by Taj management, you can expect food of the highest quality and service of the highest caliber when you enter this cafe. Each seafood thali (or plate) carries the aroma and flavor of three authentic and classic Konkani ingredients – coconut, rice, and of course, fish.
Address and telephone number: Vivanta by Taj, President 90 Chamundeshwari Nagar, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400005 India +91 22 6665 0808
Oh! Calcutta
The restaurant’s name says it all, laying bare the cooking style you’ll find here; pure, authentic Bengali seafood. Oh! Calcutta defines the concept of affordable fine-dining, combining luxurious decor with tantalizing Bengali dishes at modest prices. Here, you won’t find the classic tandoori crab meat or curried fish stew. Instead, you can choose from menu items you’ve only ever seen in a Bengali kitchen – bhapa illish, a boneless delicacy steamed in banana leaves, pabda, a butterfish marinated in creamy malai, and so much more.
Address and telephone number: Shop No 7,8,9, Melbourne Society, Shastri Nagar, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400053 India +91 22 2636 4975
Fresh Catch
Pomfret, jumbo prawns, kingfish, ladyfish, lobster, mussels and clams are just a small sampling of the diverse seafood menu at Fresh Catch. A hole-in-the-wall restaurant located in the tiny Mahim West area of Mumbai, this quaint and old-fashioned restaurant demonstrates it’s values in cooking techniques, decor, and the fact that they don’t have a website. The sheer volume of multi-ethnic Indian curries in which your fish of choice is marinated and stewed will blow you away; from tongue-numbing heat to mouthwatering tang, Fresh Catch offers home-cooked meals so authentic you’ll forget you’re at a restaurant.
Address and telephone number: 144/C, Diman Cot, Mahim West, PN Kotnis Road, Mahim West, Maharashtra 400016 India +91 22 2444 8942
Highway Gomantak
Highway Gomantak, a popular restaurant in Mumbai’s bustling Gandhi Nagar region, is making waves in the seafood world for its insanely authentic Goan dishes. The Goan chefs, waiters and owner are all family, the decor is reminiscent of the snack shacks on Goa beach, and the menu exclusively promotes Goan cuisine. A meal here won’t make a dent in your wallet, but it will drop an anchor in your stomach; the seafood plates (or thalis) are filled to the brim with enticing prawn fry, fried mussels, and Bombil fish.
Address and telephone number: 44/2179, Behind Maratha Store, Service Road, Gandhi Nagar, Bandra East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400051 India +91 22 2640 9692