Tea Bliss Club Mahindra

Cuisine Recommended: Chinese

Shudh Shakahari Meter: 3/5
Cost of Meal for two: Rs. 1000

While researching things to do, places to go and foods to eat in Moshabra, I came across the name Tea Bliss over and over again, highly being recommended for its Chinese food. Chinese food lover that I am, I chalked it down as something I ought to do while there, even convincing my husband who doesn't really like Chinese much! The fact that it was located at the resort we were staying in anyway, added to it too :)

To start with the ambiance of the place didn't impress me much. It hardly looked like a restaurant, much less one that specialized in Chinese. The walls had a museum-like feel to it, filled with interesting pictorial/ historical frames of Mashobra in the years gone by! 

Shudh Shakaharis beware. Their Veg dishes also have egg wash on it, so you will have to mention it to them that you'd like it purely veg. They did take in the special request and make it purely veg for us when we mentioned it though.

For starters we ordered Spring Rolls. They were tasty but oily. Had a yummy sweet chilli dip to go on the side though.

For main course we ordered Garlic Chilli Noodles and Manchurian Gravy.

To be honest, I have eaten much better Chinese food so I wasn't as thoroughly impressed with the place as I was expecting to be. But maybe the allure really is that there isn't such a yumm Chinese food joint in the locality? I wasn't completely impressed with the place after hearing raving reviews during my research. 

On our way out I noticed this cute pixie door knob. :)

...And some food awards the place has received. :)

So do go if in mood for Chinese when in Mashobra. But don't feel bad if you miss it; coz this Shudh Shakahari thinks, the food is good but not worthy of the raving review its getting.

Cafe Sol @ Hotel Combermere, Shimla

Cuisine Recommended: Mexican

Shudh Shakahari Meter: 4.5/5

Cost of Meal for two: Rs. 1200

So what happens when your MIL's been raving about a Mexican joint in Shimla and you visit there for vacations? You eat at the food joint of course! And what happens when you see the yummy food, go ooh-aah about it and promptly dive into eating it (as soon as it arrives) and forget to click a pic of the dishes? You visit again to have lunch and click pics of course! Did I mention these are some of the perks of being a New Food Blogger on the block? :P

So let me start by saying I had never heard of this lovely place before I visited Shimla myself, this vacation... Not until my Mom-in-law told us how great the Mexican food here was and just how much she had enjoyed it when she was there a few years ago, on an official trip. So boy am I mighty glad that I finally did eat here! :)

Cafe Sol, a restaurant of the Combermere Hotel Group is known for its Mexican & Italian cuisine and is one place you shouldn't miss eating in, when in Shimla. Its conveniently located next to the lift on the Mall Road. It overlooks a beautiful view of the valley below. The service is absolutely great and the food is totally delicious. 

They have a varied selection of Cocktails and Mocktails to choose from. For our drinks we ordered Virgin Mary & Sunshine Beach. 

They tasted as exotic as their names and looked awesome, too! :)

For our Mexican selection, we chose Veg Enchiladas and Veg Quesadillas and both were totally mouth wateringly yumm! Believe me when I say it, coz I ordered the exact same thing twice :) On two separate days and they were yummm both the times :)

We also ordered a Veg arrabiata pasta and a pizza on separate occasions. They were passable but didn't impress me much. Pasta for one, was quite sweet for my taste pallet. Perfect if you have a child by your side.

We ended our lunch with an egg-less Chocolate truffles for dessert. Made of dark chocolate, it had a scrumptious, rich and lovely taste to it. Watch out weight-watchers! 

All in all, the Mexican in this charming Cafe joint got a thumbs up from me, more so, than the Italian. But then there are very few good mexican joints around anyway. So when in Shimla, you must definitely visit this place and enjoy its charms, thoroughly! :)