Butter idlis and F.R.I.E.N.D.S

C's Street Food Diary: 2. Amar Juice Centre

This is a very famous place for street food. Very popular with college students and with the late-night party crowd. Located right outside Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle, it's a great place to go for some hot idlis and spicy pav-bhaji.S2 did not like this place. It was quite unsettling that he actually tried a street food joint before I did. He had the usual issues with it: not hygienic enough, too greasy, etc etc.

T wanted me to try Amar for really long. I was game. So one winter's night, after watching a hilarious play at Prithvi, we went to Amar Juice Centre. T recommended the Butter Idli and I went for it. What I got was out-of-this-world, piping hot, melt-in-the-mouth idlis with a humungousoid dollop of butter on the side. I spread the butter on the idlis and tried a bite. I love idlis and I love hot idlis even more. Combine that with butter and you have definitely won me over. The combination worked like a charm. It was soooo good!!! I can still taste it! We also tried the Masala Pao and watermelon juice. It was all quality stuff.

What really amazes me about this place is the fact that it is ALWAYS crowded. There is usually a waiting time to get a table. Even if you want to eat in your car, the waiters do take quite a while to come to you. But I think we're digressing...

The second time I went with T, S1 was with us. She ordered a Chilli Cheese Toasted Sandwich. I would rate this as one of the best items at Amar, second only to the Butter Idlis.

The third time I went with T was the most memorable outing ever. It was totally impromptu. T was supposed to be at a play (for which she was late) and she couldn't get in because the doors had been shut. She called me and I suggested we go for a drive. I picked her up and we ended up going for a walk in the alleys of Juhu. One of the many momentous walks that we have had. Of course, once the walk was done with, hunger struck and we decided to go to Amar.

Now that I think about it, the Amar evenings have played a major role in our relationship. There was something which happened on that night in February 2008 which changed us forever.

T's Pages: Chapter 3

Oh well, Amar just brings back a lot of memories. I’ve spent more time here in my first year of engineering than I have attending classes. Quite a bit of madness has happened here with some really dear friends, including a mad dash across to college and someone actually taking home the Amar menu. More madness followed so many years later with C, including some very famous imitations. This is where it all began.

So going back to the subject, Amar Juice Centre is famous in the area for the Pao Bhaji and Masala Pao they serve, which are quite yummy, but their South Indian fare is really good. Typically udipi style chutney-sambar, with awesome idlis and dosas. They even do some fancy, schezwan and noodles type of dosas, which I’m not too fond of, in general, but their Paneer Mysore Dosa is worth a mention. What is really awesome is their Butter Idlis. They have contributed a lot to my weight gain in engineering. They’re just amazing as 2^nd breakfast at 11 in the morning, especially on a wintry or rainy morning. It’s a killer combination, giving you a warm comforting feeling, but doesnt go down too well with South Indians, or so a half south Indian friend tells me.

The chaat here is just ok, but the grilled sandwiches are really good. Like C said, the Chilli Cheese Toast is really yummy, so is the Corn And Cheese toast. The frankies are also quite nice and zingy, but a little on the expensive side. Other regular fare includes juices and milkshakes, udipi pizza (don’t try the fancy ones, only the regular veg. or cheese is good).

On any day, and especially at nights, you’ll find the pavement and road outside Amar lined with cars and waiters running helter skelter trying to meet rush hour demands. It’s one of the few places in the area open till late at night. Every time I pass by makes me miss the butter idlis with C in dhanno…sigh!