Village-The Soul of India, Mumbai, India

If names could tell anything about what to expect of a place, the Village restaurant in Kandivali narrates a whole story. Designed and run by Kambala Hospitality Private Limited, this mega eatery is nestled on the first level of the Raghuleela Mall and can be easily overlooked by first-time visitors. But once you have found your way to this haven of rural Indian cuisine, you will know what you would have missed otherwise. Just before you enter the restaurant, the doorkeeper greets you in a typical Rajasthani (Northwest-Indian) accent and directs you inside. Push the door ajar and step into a make-believe world of remote India. A musician clad in dhoti, kurta and pheta (traditional North-Indian attire) blows an over-sized trumpet to welcome you. Village replicates the small-town ambiance of classic India with grace and charm. From the mouth-watering range of exotic Indian cuisine and the low-level seating arrangement, to the traditionally dressed staff and other in-house activities like palm reading, puppet shows and folk music, Village speaks downright desi. It is only the cool comforts of air-conditioners and the elite Mumbaikars (residents of Mumbai) exploring delicious dishes that remind you of its urban reality. Rightly so, The Soul of India.