Charges and taxes in restaurants!

By bankbazaar | Bankbazaar.com 

TaxSavings_istock

It is Friday evening. You are in a restaurant. You had nice full course dinner with soup, main course, followed by dessert. You checked the prices before and ordered. However, when the bill came, you were little shocked. The numbers did not match till you came across few items called service tax and service charge which inflated the bill by about 15% to 20%. Since this is Friday evening and you have been waiting for this for the whole week, you don’t question it and pay. We have all faced this situation in fine dining and not so fine dining restaurant. Almost all of us agree that the extra cost is high but none of us know the charges and taxes included in bill.

A simple thing made complicated

We have an uncanny ability to screw simple things and make it complex. Taxes and charges on seemingly simple stuffs like food and drinks are one such thing where customers are taken for granted. Let’s understand few terms that we see on our food bill often but do not understand.

Service charge

This is charged by the restaurant for the services rendered to you. This money goes to the restaurant. The establishments are free to charge any amount as service charges as there are no guidelines provided by the tax authority. The charge varies from 5% to 10%. Few restaurants don’t charge it. This is equivalent to the tips people usually give to waiters. If you are charged service charge in the bill, don’t pay tips as this charge is supposed to be shared among the staff.

Most of us don’t bother about it even when we feel the charges are higher. One reason is that we don’t think anything can be done about it. Secondly, we don’t want to spoil our evening because of this and argue with restaurant manager. However, the ground rule is that if the menu mentions service charges, you have to pay. If it doesn’t, you can question it.

Service tax

Many people confuse service tax with service charges. Service tax is the tax levied by the Government on the services rendered by restaurants. Service tax is same in all states. It is 12.36% on the 40% of the bill. The bill includes your food and drink and the service charge. The restaurant must be air-conditioned for the service tax. The problem here is that most of the customers are taxed at the full bill and not on the 40% of the bill as directed.

To make things simple, service tax should be 40% * 12.36% = 4.94% on the total bill. Hence whenever you see service tax on the total bill exceeding about 5%, you can question it.

VAT (Value Added Tax)

There is another tax called VAT (value added tax) that is state specific. The rates can be as low as 5% and as high as 20% depending upon the states. Moreover, VAT for food items and drink are different. Many restaurants might club food items and drink and charge a flat rate on the total bill. In such cases, it is good to ask for separate bills for food and drinks. This should clearly show the different VAT for both the items. (To understand VAT better, click here)

Example

Let’s see how service charge, tax and VAT work with an example. Suppose you have dined in an AC restaurant and the price of food items is summed to Rs 900. You will be asked to pay service charges (goes to the restaurant) and VAT and service tax (goes to Government)

Items	Amount
Bill of food item	900
Service charge (assuming 6%)	54
Sun Total	954
Service tax to be levied on (40% of sub-total)	381.6
Service tax (at the rate of 12.36%)	47.16576
VAT @ 12.5% of the sub-total	119.25
Total amount to be paid	1120.416

Many times, restaurants charge the highest rate on the total bill. This is general complaint by almost all the customers.

Conclusion

Most of the times, we cannot do anything about overcharging. The reasons are not only our unwillingness but also the ignorance of restaurant managers. In many cases though, you can question these items and get your bill corrected. Please remember that this will not be easy. However, you can always question and explain this to the restaurant manager and get your bill corrected. There have been cases where customers were able to reduce their bill.

Have you been ripped off wrongly by a restaurant? How did you react? Share your experiences by posting a comment below. 

Chilling out in sizzling Dubai's all-ice cafe

Honeymooners and other tourists from the Gulf are heading to the throbbing heart of Dubai to beat the summer heat by cooling off at the first "ice lounge" in the Middle East. The interior decor of Dubai's Chillout cafe is made entirely of carved ice, with frozen picture frames, ice curtains and frosty seats covered in fur. The interior of the cafe, owned by UAE's Sharaf Group, is lit with multi-coloured fluorescent lights.

By Mirna Sleiman | Reuters

• 
  Reuters/Reuters - A British couple drink hot chocolate at Chillout cafe in Dubai May 12, 2013. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

DUBAI (Reuters) - Honeymooners and other tourists from the Gulf are heading to the throbbing heart of Dubai to beat the summer heat by cooling off at the first "ice lounge" in the Middle East.

The interior decor of Dubai's Chillout cafe is made entirely of carved ice, with frozen picture frames, ice curtains and frosty seats covered in fur.

The interior of the cafe, owned by UAE's Sharaf Group, is lit with multi-coloured fluorescent lights.

"We got married in Riyadh four days ago and the first place on our to-do list was to visit Chillout cafe in Dubai," said 27-year-old Saudi travel agent Ahmed, holding the hand of his veiled bride Nouf.

"Can you imagine you're in a freezing café while it's 35 degrees (Celsius) outside?"

Visitors are kitted out with thermal jackets, boots and fur hats provided by the cafe in a striking similarity to the ice hotels which dot Scandinavia in winter. 

Dubai - which is famous for its luxury shopping, beaches, indoor ski slope, the world's tallest tower and a man-made palm-shaped island - has become a top short-stay tourist destination in the Middle East alongside Cairo and Beirut.

Tourism is crucial to Dubai's economy, which had a gross domestic product of around $90 billion last year, supports the emirate's large retail industry and hospitality sectors.

Dubai aims to triple its annual income from tourism to 300 billion dirhams by 2020, which would involve doubling the number of its hotel rooms, Helal Almarri, director-general of Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), told Reuters last week.

Visitors to Chillout, pay 60 dirhams for a 40-minute visit and are served one hot drink. The cafe can fit 40 people at a time and gets about 100 visitors a day.  

(Reporting by Mirna Sleiman, editing by Paul Casciato)

World's most dangerous drinks

1. Absinthe: A drink made famous by pop-culture is known worldwide as being the brand ambassador of illegal drinks all around the world. Made out of wormwood and anise, it is considered to be a highly alcoholic beverage. Supposedly, it drove people crazy and caused epilepsy and tuberculosis, and hence was banned in the 19th century. Albeit, due to recent changes in the rules and regulations of food and beverages, there has been a revival of Absinthe culture and it is back in the market.

2. Mezcal: Mezcal is a distilled alcoholic beverage made of a form of agave plant from Mexico. What makes it special? As a marketing gimmick in the 1940's, the producers started putting a worm in the bottle, a larval form of the moth Hypopta Agavis that lives on the agave plant. The trend caught on and to this very day Mezcal is sold with a visually disturbing worm inside it!

3. Scorpion Vodka: To everyone who considers vodka to be the ladies’ poison, think again. Vodka is a strong concoction, and the Russian’s love it. Albeit this time around they’ve taken it to the next level. Scorpion Vodka has a full-length scorpion preserved vodka in it. And is used as an aphrodisiac in south-east Asia and for medicinal uses such as back and muscle pain. Oh, and the scorpion is edible, along with its stinger.

4. Three Lizard Liquor: Want to feel powerful and avoid evil spirits from messing with you? Just have a sip of this uber-awesome drink, a liquor stuffed with three lizards! The Three Lizard Liquor originated in China and Vietnam. It is believed that the lizards are a source of energy and are capable of repelling evil spirits and are hence consumed by the masses.

5. Snake Wine: Yet another drink originating from Vietnam, this one's a rice wine with a snake in it, a very venomous snake to be precise. The distinctive taste doesn’t come from the snake's meat, but the poison itself. Thankfully, the ethanol kills the venomous effect of the venom and reveals the protein-rich essence of it. This one too is considered to have various medicinal qualities.

6. Baby Mice Wine: Hate rodents? Despise them? Want to render their existence meaningless? Here's a solution. Stuff all the live baby mice that you can grab into a wine, maximum three days old, mind you. Let them drown till their miniature lungs are filled with wine, and leave them for fermentation for a year, and voila! You have your very own Baby Mice Wine, and you have a mice-free home too. Radical indeed. This one originates from China, and like others, has medicinal qualities.

7. Seagull Wine: This one has to be the manliest drink around. Invented by the Eskimos to brave the cold arctic weather, this one is made by mutilating a seagull, chopping it into pieces or storing it whole in a bottle of water, and leaving it in the sun for a prolonged period of time till it ferments.

1. 1. 1. Absinthe: A drink made famous by pop-culture is known worldwide as being the brand ambassador of illegal drinks all around the world. Made out of wormwood and anise, it is considered to be a highly alcoholic beverage. Supposedly, it drove people crazy and caused epilepsy and tuberculosis, and hence was banned in the 19th century. Albeit, due to recent changes in the rules and regulations of food and beverages, there has been a revival of Absinthe culture and it is back in the market.less 

   2. 2. Mezcal: Mezcal is a distilled alcoholic beverage made of a form of agave plant from Mexico. What makes it special? As a marketing gimmick in the 1940's, the producers started putting a worm in the bottle, a larval form of the moth Hypopta Agavis that lives on the agave plant. The trend caught on and to this very day Mezcal is sold with a visually disturbing worm inside it!

   3. 3. Scorpion Vodka: To everyone who considers vodka to be the ladies’ poison, think again. Vodka is a strong concoction, and the Russian’s love it. Albeit this time around they’ve taken it to the next level. Scorpion Vodka has a full-length scorpion preserved vodka in it. And is used as an aphrodisiac in south-east Asia and for medicinal uses such as back and muscle pain. Oh, and the scorpion is edible, along with its stinger.

   4. 4. Three Lizard Liquor: Want to feel powerful and avoid evil spirits from messing with you? Just have a sip of this uber-awesome drink, a liquor stuffed with three lizards! The Three Lizard Liquor originated in China and Vietnam. It is believed that the lizards are a source of energy and are capable of repelling evil spirits and are hence consumed by the masses.

   1. Absinthe: A drink made famous by pop-culture is known worldwide as being the brand ambassador of illegal drinks all around the world. Made out of wormwood and anise, it is considered to be a highly alcoholic beverage. Supposedly, it drove people crazy and caused epilepsy and tuberculosis, and hence was banned in the 19th century. Albeit, due to recent changes in the rules and regulations of food and beverages, there has been a revival of Absinthe culture and it is back in the market.less 

2. 2. Mezcal: Mezcal is a distilled alcoholic beverage made of a form of agave plant from Mexico. What makes it special? As a marketing gimmick in the 1940's, the producers started putting a worm in the bottle, a larval form of the moth Hypopta Agavis that lives on the agave plant. The trend caught on and to this very day Mezcal is sold with a visually disturbing worm inside it!

3. 3. Scorpion Vodka: To everyone who considers vodka to be the ladies’ poison, think again. Vodka is a strong concoction, and the Russian’s love it. Albeit this time around they’ve taken it to the next level. Scorpion Vodka has a full-length scorpion preserved vodka in it. And is used as an aphrodisiac in south-east Asia and for medicinal uses such as back and muscle pain. Oh, and the scorpion is edible, along with its stinger.

4. 4. Three Lizard Liquor: Want to feel powerful and avoid evil spirits from messing with you? Just have a sip of this uber-awesome drink, a liquor stuffed with three lizards! The Three Lizard Liquor originated in China and Vietnam. It is believed that the lizards are a source of energy and are capable of repelling evil spirits and are hence consumed by the masses.

Memories make music at Fatehpur Sikri

It’s hard to find a ghost town as beautiful as Fatehpur Sikri. Emperor Akbar seems to have left a piece of him in its red walls,

By Lakshmi Sharath | Lakshmi Sharath

• 
  Yahoo Lifestyle Entertainment/Lakshm Sharath - Fatehpur Sikri is hauntingly beautiful.

A group of men threw themselves over the jeep as we almost skidded to a halt, but the driver continued to drive past them in a hurry, ignoring them. I was thrown out of my seat and wondered what had possibly gotten onto my erstwhile sober driver that he drove so recklessly for the next couple of minutes ignoring more such men and their waving hands. The men on the road worried me as much as my overspeeding driver.

When he finally slowed down, I demanded an explanation. “This is Agra, madam,” he said nonchalantly. I looked at him rather baffled, wondering when Agra turned out to be filled with reckless drivers and men throwing themselves on the cars. But before he explained any further, we were already entering the portals of Akbar’s old capital city, Fatehpur Sikri. And in that parking lot, I heard the story - not about the city, but behind that drive. These men, my driver said, are guides who accosted tourists on the road and are often so aggressive that you are left with no option but to hire them. Even before he completed the warning, the car was surrounded by these guides screaming their lungs out, yelling at each other as they insisted that we hire them. It took a lot of resilience to ward them off as I walked up towards the beautiful, abandoned city.

There was something tragically beautiful about Fatehpur Sikri. A melancholic poignancy radiated through its rich sandstone walls. The monuments sparkled in the glow of the mid afternoon sun, like faded jewels of the past. It was intriguing why Akbar would abandon this capital city that he lovingly built and ruled for fourteen years.

The guides returned, this time trying to be polite and persuasive. We finally hired one just to get them off my back and listened to some stories. Sikri as a village was first noticed by Babar, not Akbar, when he defeated Rana Sangha in the 16th century. He apparently gave it a title, Shukri, feeling grateful, as a token of thanksgiving. But it caught Akbar’s attention as it was the home of the Sufi saint, Shaikh Salim Chisti, who predicted that the heirless emperor would soon be blessed with heirs. Perhaps it was an emotional decision or a political decision to win the favour of the Sufis, but Akbar decided to build his capital here. And true to the prediction, Salim or Jahangir was born in this new town.

The name Fatehpur came much later, as it was from here that Akbar marched to a successful victory over the rulers of Gujarat and renamed it as the city of victory. The Bulund Darwaza was built here to commemorate the victory. Many more legends echoed from these walls, as it went down in history as the court of Akbar’s legendary courtiers. This was where Tansen sang for rains and Birbal polished his wits.

The Buland Darwaza erected by Mughal Emperor Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri.

Dazzling in rich sandstone, the monuments beckoned us. Some local people enjoyed their afternoon siesta while others headed to Salim Chisti’s dargah. The musicians started performing louder, a cue for asking for more money, as we entered. Looking around at the edifices, palaces and assembly halls sparkling in red against the blue sky, I was still drawn to the music, drowning the murmurs and voices around. There was the Jami Masjid and the imperial palace complex with more than fifteen monuments that included the Diwani-i-am or the public enclosure, Daulat Khana or the Abode of Fortune with the Dhiwani-i-khaas which was the Jewel House, the Anup Talao, Jodhabai’s palace, and Birbal’s house among others. A little monument called the Ankh Michauli or Blind Man’s Buff was believed to be Akbar’s favourite haunt where he played the game with his harem.

I headed to Anup Talao as the guide told me that this was where Tansen regaled the court with his music. Seated in the island in the centre of the pond, he used to sing four different ragas during the day. Suddenly history was forgotten amidst lore. Did Tansen charm Akbar’s daughter Mehrunissa and marry her eventually? Did he really make the clouds melt with rain with raga Megha Malhaar? Did he really die when he was engulfed by the fire that broke out when he was singing raga Deepaka? History does not really answer these questions, but very often these are the stories that linger in our minds.

But the story of Fatehpur Sikri itself defied logic. Here was a king who passionately built the city brick by brick. It was believed that he was at the quarry personally working along with the workers. But the city that took 15 years to build was inhabited for just 14 years. When Akbar moved his capital, he left it as a ghost town. One wondered if he moved because of the shortage of water or as some historians say that he had no intention of building a permanent capital. Whatever the reason may be, Fatehpur Sikri remains Akbar’s masterpiece as he seems to have left a piece of him in these red walls. 

Weekly Predictions: 05th May to 11th May

From career to health and relationships, here's what's in store for you this week. Read on

GaneshaSpeaks.com 

Aries : Ganesha foresees a rather rough week ahead for you; there may be setbacks, frustrations and confusions. The work pressure on you may be overwhelming, and no matter how hard you try, you may still fall short of others' expectations of you. Understand that this is a part and parcel of life – take it in your stride and this temporary crisis shall soon blow over. Besides, the negative events will not dent your strong will-power in any way. When you resolve to do something, you shall make sure you take it to its logical conclusion. Plus, things shall not be so bad on other fronts. There is always a silver lining! However, your mind may be cluttered, so it would be better first to get your priorities straight. Travel is predicted, but undertake it only if it is for professional purposes; avoid personal travel.

Taurus : You are likely to take your professional obligations rather lightly this week, predicts Ganesha. You may involve yourself in planning extra-curricular activities. However, you shall not be able to neglect your work altogether. You will have to meet the minimum requirements, for which you shall come up with ingenious ideas, such as persuading other co-workers to help you through. You may be given a higher post with more responsibilities, and with humility you shall receive the cooperation of everyone. All this means that you shall have enough time to give to your beloved and other family members. Perhaps the only thing which you need to be careful about this week is your short temper, because you don't want to spoil the good times by indulging in petty skirmished with near and dear ones.

Gemini : This week things may appear to be a bit confused to you, and you could find yourself running around in circles, foresees Ganesha. So, instead to trying to get to the depth of things by analysing them threadbare, you would be much better off simply continuing to hammer away at your routine chores. An area of concern may be finances. Unforeseen contingencies may take a toll on your bank balance. Even if you try, you may not be able to avoid such expenses. What you can do is, try to economise in other areas. You may also find yourself up to your neck in an extra-marital affair. Most of your mental energies shall be burnt up trying to figure out how to wriggle out of it. Just be patient, it will pass.

Cancer : Your mood this week is likely to shift dramatically to the optimistic side, predicts Ganesha. As the negativities vanish from your mind, all the clutter shall clear up, your thinking shall become sharp and meticulous, and it will have a direct bearing on your professional performance. Your concentration will improve, and you shall be able to vividly visualise your goals, which makes it that much more easier to chart out your course of action. Even in your personal life, this shall help you a great deal, as you shall begin to see the good things in other people instead of just their negative attributes. An atmosphere of cordiality shall  prevail in your household. Children shall perform much better in studies, which shall give you great happiness.

Leo : Ganesha foresees an auspicious week ahead for you on all fronts. Since you have been laboriously slogging at work in recent times, you may now expect to be fairly rewarded for your sincere efforts. Your financial position shall be quite comfortable, and your prestige, in and out of office, is bound to enhance. It will not be too much, you might think, if you expect to be promoted in your company. Your colleagues shall hold you in high esteem and seek your guidance at every turn. This kind of success usually makes one proud, but you know the pitfalls of such an attitude and you shall keep your distance from it. You shall remain humble and offer your help to whoever needs it.

Virgo : On the social front you are likely to have a great week, foresees Ganesha. Hopping from party to party, you shall be the life and soul of every gathering that you attend. Your popularity by no mean measure is because of your compassionate nature, the fact that you can identify with the troubles of the people you meet. And you gauge it by their mood, they don't even have to confide the melancholy details to you, and then, having grasped the nub of their distress, you come up with brilliant ideas to resolve them. Who would not be attracted to a person with such a kind and helpful disposition? You can't expect everything to go your way, though. In matters of romance, brace up for some setbacks.

Libra : Ganesha predicts that on the job front things may get tough this week. You may tend to become a bit temperamental, though your adaptability shall help you resolve some over-blown ego issues to the satisfaction of all parties. On the positive side, you are likely to get a windfall, as a result of which your financial situation will become rock solid. Make sure you invest it in extremely secure instruments, so that never in your future shall you have to face any kind of financial problems. Many changes are foreseen in your life, and the less you resist them and flow with the tide, the better it shall be for you in the long term. If you are feeling fatigued, a little break may do you a world of good.

Scorpio : Ganesha predicts that though there shall be no let up in pressure for you this week on the work front, by this time you may have got used to it and picked up a few subtle tricks of the trade to accomplish your tasks both efficiently and within the stipulated time-frame. This will, of course, leave you with sufficient time to spend with your family, and all your near and dear ones shall be thrilled with it. In short, there shall be a healthy balance of work and pleasure this week. Even distant relatives may come calling and you shall give them due importance, because your shrewdness tells you that you never know when who may come in handy in this world.

Sagittarius : This week you shall go about implementing your strategies, however dynamic they may be, in a very cool and composed sort of way. The years of experience that you have behind you shall reflect clearly in the way you conduct yourself. You will be very meticulous, planning everything down to the last minor detail, so much so that is will save you a lot of trouble while actually putting your plans into practice. You are not much into multi-tasking, but with your efficiency, it won't even be warranted. However, when it comes to solving domestic issues, you may develop cold feet. You may thoroughly resent intruding in-laws, but there is precious little you can do about it, without actually hurting their feelings.

Capricorn : If you have been busy shooting applications to myriad companies with the intention of landing a more lucrative job, Ganesha predicts that you may very well receive a positive response this week.  One thing is for sure – the time is just right to make such moves as it shall accelerate your professional progress. Even in your present job, since you have been putting in sincere work, you are likely to be rewarded with a promotion or a hefty increment. In fact, you may be spoilt for choice, and if such happens to be the case, you shall have to take your decision very carefully, weighing all the pros and cons. Though finances may be pouring in, you need to make sure to invest them keeping your long-term interests in mind.

Aquarius : This week your tendency to look at the larger picture and your keen insight into worldly affairs and human nature shall be of immense help in drawing up your long-term career path. Your acute intellect and analytical abilities shall make things even easier. Ganesha predicts that even otherwise, your workload is likely to lessen, and you shall have ample time to spare, which you would do well to devote to your family. You may tend to also be very generous this week, helping people cope up with their sufferings. Financially you shall be comfortable and you shall judiciously set aside a substantial amount to take care of your needs after retirement. Banish the thoughts of buying property at this rather inauspicious stage.

Pisces : Though some major transformations shall be taking place in your life during this phase, Ganesha predicts that you shall not let yourself get confused by the circumstances. You will let things take their own course, look at them in a sort of detached way, which is the best way to look at them as it gives you great mental clarity and understanding of the situation. Your determination will be firm. Travel, whether for personal or official purposes, is very much on the cards. Your family or love life shall go on smoothly, though when it comes to taking major decisions, you need to exercise extreme caution, because one wrong move can cause a great deal of unwanted trouble to yourself and your loved ones.

Eat Breakfast like a Mumbaikar

I like Mumbai in the morning. Not because it is the quietest place on earth and definitely not because I am a morning person. But because 8:30 a.m. has just enough buzz, offering an essence of the city without the overwhelming chaos.

It is also a great time to eat in the city.

Apart from the food being fresher, Mumbai's local breakfast options are an assortment of cultures, inherited from a long and luscious culinary melting pot.

Many local dishes are modern adaptations derived from the Kolis, a fishing community said to be the original inhabitants of Mumbai.

Others are borrowed from our friendly neighbors, like the Gujarati and Udipi foods that are extremely popular amongst Mumbaikars from all backgrounds.

And then there is the plated relic of Mumbai’s Parsi-Irani culinary heritage.

Here are five highly recommended Mumbai breakfasts:

1. Misal 

An onion-topped typical Maharashtrian breakfast. Talk about morning breath.

Misal is an extreme dish, both in flavor and texture.

It’s intense tangy taste comes from a spicy curry that is mixed with sprouted and whole lentils and pulses, garnished with a combination of crispy dried peas, chivda (chickpeas flour noodles) and flat rice topped with coriander, lemon, chopped onion and tomato.

Misal is often served with pav (the local bread bun) to balance its sharpness.

This array of spice-coated textures is sure to wake you from a slumberous mood.

Misal is a typical Maharashtrian dish enjoyed across the state, yet carefully customized in every household and restaurant. It is easily found in most Maharashtrian restaurants and teashops in Mumbai.

Average price: Rs 30 per plate. 

Recommended at: Panshikar Aahaar, Shop 2, Gordhandas Building, J.S.S. Road, near Central Cinema, Girgaum; +91 (0)22 2386 1211, 5634 0941

2. Poha 

Poha made of flattened rice is a comparatively light local breakfast.

Compared to most other Maharashtrian breakfast snacks, poha is a relatively light dish made out of flattened, processed rice, roasted with chilies, onions, mustard seeds, cumin seeds and curry leaves and topped with a squeeze of lime. Some poha recipes add sugar to the seasoning as well.

The soft tanginess of the lime gives the otherwise dryly flavored dish just the right kick and moisture to balance it out.

It is quick to prepare and easy to digest.

There is a variety of pohas, from the classic onion to the hearty potato or a fresh and aromatic coconut poha.

Like misal, poha is also found in most Maharashtrian restaurants and teashops. It is the perfect accompaniment to your morning chai and newspaper.

Average price: Rs 20 per plate. 

Recommended at:  Hotel Vinay, 71183, Jawahar Mansion, Fanaswadi Corner, CP Tank, Girgaum; +91 (0)22 2208 1211

3. Sabudana vada

Sabudana vada is as local Maharashtrian as it gets.

Sabudana is a spongy extract from tropical palm stems found in vast quantities in Maharashtra.

It is a pure carbohydrate with very little nutritional value, but said to be cooling to the system and especially popular as a fasting food.

The most enjoyable sabudana dish is no doubt sabudana vada.

A crunchy snack made from sabudana, potatoes, onions, green chili, cumin powder, ginger and lemon all mixed together, rolled into balls and then fried. The crust of the vada is beautifully crisp while the inside remains soft and chewy.

To get a taste of an authentic sabudana dish one must venture to Shivaji Park, an area in Mumbai named after a 17th-century warrior king. This patriotic neighborhood offers some small, no-frills but genuine Maharashtrian breakfasts. 

Average price: Rs 30 per plate 

Recommended at: Aswad, shop 20, Anand Building, Sheetla Devi Temple Road, Mahim, Shivaji Park; +91 (0)22 2446 3214

4. Upma 

Upma, a traditional South Indian breakfast popular in Mumbai.

Upma was originally a South Indian breakfast but it is found all over the country.

The Matunga neighborhood in Mumbai is known for its Udipi eateries and Ram Ashraya is one of its oldest, going back three generations and retaining authentic South Indian recipes.

The upma at Ram Ashraya in Matunga is just divine. A subtly flavored portion of semolina, onions, mustard seeds and curry leaves made in a fair amount of ghee that makes the semolina melt in your mouth like a hot snowflake.

Ram Ashraya is also known for itsneer dosa and seasonal sheeras (a sweet, dense dessert).

Ram Ashraya opens at 5 a.m., earlier than most breakfast joints, and serves idli, upma, sheera, tea and coffee till 7 a.m., after which they open up their full kitchen.

One may well visit in the wee hours of the morning for the perfect upma and a hot tumbler of south Indian coffee.

Average price: Rs 20 per plate 

Recommended at:  Ram Ashraya, Bhandarkar Road, Matunga (Central Railway), Matunga; +91 (0)22 2414 2623, 2414 2369

5. Sali par edu 

Sali par edu translates to eggs over chips.

Edu in Parsi means egg. The Parsis are a protein-loving community and as such, are particularly fond of eggs.

They have many delicious egg dishes, akuri (scrambled eggs with spices) being one of the most popular, for good reason. But what tops it off for an indulgent hangover brunch is sali par edu.

The description of Parsi sali is one of those rare moments where the words thin and fried are used in conjunction to create thin fried potato sticks.

This sinful breakfast dish is fried sali further sautéed with onion, ginger, garlic, cumin and chilis and baked with eggs till nice and crisp.

This brilliant heavy breakfast goes wonderfully well with a nice cup of Irani chai.

Average price: Rs 90 per plate 

Recommended at:  Jimmy Boy, Vikas Building, 11 Bank Street, off Horniman Circle, Fort;  2270 0880, 2266 2503+91 (0)22

Monthly Predictions May 2013 for all the signs

Wondering what this month holds for you? Find out what’s in store for your personal and professional life. Plan ahead

GaneshaSpeaks.com

Aries : With so much work stacked up on your plate, this month you decide to hit the ground running, foresees Ganesha. Give it your best shot, but don't expect the sky, for there are bound to be setbacks which can drag your spirits down. Official travel is very likely, and the trips be lengthy, so be prepared to live out of your suitcase. The thing you need to be most careful of this month is your financial situation. You shall not exactly be hard up for cash, but there be a tendency to blow up all you have, in which case your savings could deplete severely, and getting back in the comfortable position take a long while. Love life : be lacklustre initially, but things : begin to look up as the month progresses. Your compassion too shall grow, and apart from your loved ones, others too seek you out for guidance.

Taurus : You shall be so resolute this month that once you have made a decision to do something, nothing will be able to shake you out of it, predicts Ganesha. You shall also slog very hard and will leave no stone unturned in your efforts to achieve all your aims and objectives for the month. These qualities will not go unnoticed by your superiors, who : entrust you with more important tasks. You shall receive all-round praise, but it will not go to your head and you shall remain down to earth. On the stray occasion, you : become impatient, but if you stay alert it will prevent you from taking any wrong decisions. You : also develop some stubbornness, but you would do well to remember that you can't have your cake and eat it too. Despite a heavy workload, you shall not neglect your family life and shall spend enough quality time with your loved ones.

Gemini : In the beginning of the month you : be a bit disoriented, but the fog shall clear up by the end of the first week and you will start brimming with enthusiasm. In fact, your zeal : be a matter of great surprise for your immediate bosses. Your relationship with your co-workers improve, and they willingly share some of your workload. Around the middle of the month you : wish to take a small break to unwind. You would do well to start playing an outdoor sport, which shall not just be recreational but will also keep you in fine fettle. It is in your personal life that you are likely to encounter a dicey situation. You could fall for the wily charms of Cupid, and if you are married, it become a major cause of headache. But if you keep your distance from any such temptations, you should be fine.

Cancer : The one thing which cause you a big headache this month is your tight financial situation. Certain expenses, no matter how much you try to avoid them, you shall have to incur. It will deplete your resources, and it take a long time to replenish them. However you're not one to let anything affect your work adversely. In fact, predicts Ganesha, you shall convert the negative energy into positive energy and work with renewed vigour to achieve your goals. Despite this monumental effort your superiors not give you the due credit, which, you might think, is like adding insult to injury, but your fortitude shall see you through again and again. Businessmen need to read the fine print with a magnifying glass before appending their signatures to important documents. The most positive thing this month is that your relationships with your loved ones shall strengthen.

Leo: Success in the early part of the month go to your head a little later around the middle of the month, and your arrogance is unlikely to go down well with your co-workers. It is bound to lead to ego clashes, and : even vitiate the office atmosphere, so in the larger interests of the organisation and to make your workplace an amiable place to work in, you need to check your arrogance, treat everyone on par, and even become more cooperative with colleagues. Businessmen come across new opportunities but not be able to capitalise on them owing to lack of resources. Also, at times, especially in the latter part of the month, you : feel rather depressed without being able to fathom the reason why. Take a break, try meditation, go for regular walks, join a gym or play tennis – in short, do something that can raise your spirits.

Virgo : This month you shall give family matters more priority than work, because you know it for a fact that when you are happy in your personal life, your professional performance shoots up. Ganesha predicts that you shall give full support to your family members and they shall reciprocate in toto. You are not the one to demand respect, but it is your conduct – mature, professional and compassionate – that wins you the high regard of others. But if you are in love and planning to pop the question, it is another matter. There is a danger of getting rejected, so it would be better to put it off for a little while longer. All this does not mean that you shall neglect your work. On the contrary, you shall learn the art of working smartly, which actually makes you more efficient. You deliver more in less time. You prefer to go solo, but no one shall grudge you that.

Libra : A very auspicious month is predicted by Ganesha for you, especially if you are single. During the course of the month you are sure to meet your soulmate, fall head over heels in love and could even decide to get married. However, not all of you are going to be so lucky. Married couples are likely to get embroiled in bitter disputes, but they shall soon get resolved, so it is really nothing to be worried about. In your professional life, you have a roller-coaster ride. You not like the swift changes taking place right now, but in the long run you shall see that things had really panned out in your favour. So it would be wise to ignore short-term setbacks, and get a long-term perspective. This month is not too favourable for big investments, so if you have been entertaining any such thoughts, banish them! Invest only when the stars turn in your favour.

Scorpio : This month your professional life shall start on a low key, and you have ample time to relax. Ganesha advises you to utilize the time recharging your batteries, because the work burden on you is going to progressively increase. The initial stages of the month are also the best to spend quality time with your family members, and prepare them, and yourself, for the rush of work which start around the second week. When the work does come pouring in, you shall find yourself fully equipped, mentally and physically, to take it head-on. You shall put your heart and soul into your work, but you will be better off not expecting over-night results, for they shall not come so quickly, and then you get dejected. So just hang in there, keep the faith, and the rewards shall come in due course of time. Use your energies very judiciously to stay fit.

Sagittarius : Multi-tasking is not your cup of tea, but the work pressure shall be so much this month that you not be able to avoid it. You have to give it a shot, foresees Ganesha. Or else, you shall have to plan out things very meticulously and manage your time very skilfully to be able to accomplish your targets. A great deal of consistency, perseverance and logging in over-time will be warranted. Even on the domestic front, the circumstances be too demanding. Enough, you might think, to drive a sane person up the wall. This month, therefore, you shall have to summon up all your reserves of patience and wisdom to achieve even a modicum of success. It shall be imperative for you to seriously start a diet and exercise programme, tweak your lifestyle, and give up your vices, or else it affect your health adversely.

Capricorn : Ganesha predicts that the fact that you have been consistently slogging out in the past few months shall be acknowledged this month by the powers that be. Time to reap the fruits of your hard labour.  Not only is a promotion or an increment likely, but you also get a very lucrative job offer from a bigger company, all due to the fact that your reputation has spread far and wide. If you face any financial problems, some of your friends or relatives whom you have bailed out in the past shall come forward to contribute their mite. So don't worry on that account. If you are a businessman, you have to cross some hurdles this month. Projects which appear to be going on smoothly get thwarted because of some snag in the works, and that too at the last moment. It be very frustrating, because it means that you shall be overshooting the deadline.

Aquarius : Ganesha foresees that the stars shall be aligned in your favour this month, and things in most spheres shall pan out positively. Your creative instincts be very pronounced and you : put them to profitable use if you are engaged in some artistic field. Even in other fields, your imaginativeness shall fetch you rich dividends. However, some of you be fed up with the monotony of your job, and shall earnestly look out for another one which is not only more lucrative but also suits your temperament better. And if you do get a chance, you should grab it with both hands. On the personal front there shall be niggling problems, but you shall realise that you have been blowing them out of proportion. Such things, if they are harmless to you or anyone else, are best left alone. They will get ironed out over time on their own

Pisces : Going pretty much against the grain of your nature, this month you shall act with the kind of fleet-footed alacrity and clarity of mind that almost everyone who knows you would be vastly surprised, foresees Ganesha. You shall handle all your tasks with the dexterity of a magician. You shall exploit this purple patch to take practical decisions that shall do you a world of good in the long run. You will have the full backing of your life-partner, which makes you all the more confident. On the romantic front, your relationship with your spouse is bound to strengthen. Singles could find the man/woman of their dreams, and even decide to get married. On the financial front too, this month is very auspicious. Monetary inflow will be much better than you would have expected, and there is no harm in making big investments. Travel is on the cards, but unforeseen contingencies force you to cancel it.