Honest review of this new gluten-free menu in Mumbai

Mushroom shammi pav. Pics/Ashish Raje; (right) Paneer cheese pav with fryums

Food: Flavourful
Service: Prompt
Cost: Overpriced
Verdict: 1/4

In a society where mindful eating is a constant talking point, and where individuals are always in pursuit of how to incorporate small dietary changes in their daily life, a new gluten-free menu by Pack-a-Pav caught our eye. The Bandra West-based eatery that was established in 2014 with the aim to support local pav-themed snacking options, serves a range of vada pav-style fusion sandwiches. We ordered two of their gluten-free pav sandwiches to our newsroom in Bandra East.

The order was delivered within 30 minutes. The restaurant had added a few complementary packets of fryums. While we were glad that the food arrived in microwave-safe reheat-able containers, these boxes are not environment-friendly, and squash the plump pav-sandwiches inside. As a result, the filling in the paneer cheese pav (Rs 280 for two) was smothered across the pav, and fell by the side as we attempted to hold it all together for the first bite.

The patty was a hearty combination of cheese, paneer, and sauces. It was sandwiched in between generously lathered red garlic paste and hung curd basil dip. The pavs, which were the gluten-free part of the snack, were soft, despite the restrictive packaging. We couldn't taste any difference from the locally available pav.

The pav sandwiches arrived in compact containers

Next, we tried their bestseller mushroom shammi pav (Rs 280 for two). This one used the same sauces and hence tasted similar to paneer cheese pav. The catch was in their filling, which pleased the hardcore non-vegetarian on the team because it had a similar texture as a chicken kebab. Taste wise, it passed the test; thankfully, there was no masala and salt overkill that sometimes happens with ambitious twists. Although these pav sandwiches are priced on the higher side, they are a perfect on-the-go, and now, healthier option of this popular street snack.

Later, when we chatted with founder Rohan Mangalorkar about this addition, he revealed that the gluten-free option was already a hit among the health-conscious groups of Bandra. "Sara Tendulkar [daughter of Sachin Tendulkar] used to be a regular client. But she, like many, shifted to a gluten-free diet. I had never thought of introducing gluten-free pavs, because our vision is to support the local pav-wallas. However, with a growing demand, we decided to cater to this group. I reached out to one of the vendors who has been selling pavs to us since we started shop. They are local bakers who are not acquainted with such terms, so we helped break it down for him. He was keen to try something new," Mangalorkar revealed. The gluten-free pavs are available with all the options in their menu.

Time 10 am to 4 am
At Pack-a-Pav, Pali Hill, Bandra West.
Log on to packapav.dotpe.in

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4/4 Exceptional, 3/4 Excellent, 2/4 very Good, 1/4 Good, 0/4 Average. Pack-a-Pav didn't know it was us. The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals