Top 5 Restaurants and Bars

L and I came up with a top 5 list of restaurants and bars. Our lists were similar, though we did tend to get biased towards Indian sea food.

Inevitably, Philly’s restaurants/bars have a certain pseudo ambience where it’s the “In” thing to do. Baltimore, probably because it’s not trying to live up to any image tends to have bars and restaurants that exude that personality as well.

Restaurants:
1. Mahesh Lunch Home, Mumbai - Mangalorean sea food. Don't miss the prawn gassi. Drool!

2. Alma De Cuba, Philadelphia - Excellent food, beautiful presentation, very romantic ambience. Don’t miss the mojitos and the lamb merguez and fig glazed antichuchos (skewers)

3. Tapas Teatro, Baltimore – Small plates, tastefully done décor, trendy and still cozy. My idea of a perfect date is going for an indie movie at the Charles, and then to this restaurant next doors.

4. Mainland China/Legacy of China, Mumbai – Chinese done the desi style.

5. Levante's, Bethesda/Dupont Circle – The Adana kebabs are to die for. The restaurant has a peculiar “Levante’s” dish in every course.

Other contenders were The Pod (Philadelphia), El Sarape (Blue Bell), The Helmand (Baltimore). Rumor has it that this place is owned by Hamid Karzai’s brother.

Bars:
1. Continental, Philadelphia – L likes the quantity of the martinis, I love the white chocolate martinis and the “Steven Starr” kind of décor – meaning this is the place to be in the “in” crowd.

2. Brewer's Art, Baltimore – a once-grungy, now-yuppy hangout, it serves really good Belgian and German beers. Being a devout Catholic, L’s favorite house beer is “Resurrection” :) My favorite is the girlie beer - Kindl Weisse served with a raspberry shot. L’s friend’s gripe is the newly painted peach colored walls. But personally, I prefer it to be yuppier than grungier – considering my hair doesn’t end up smelling like an ashtray.

3. Not Just Jazz By The Bay, Mumbai – just love this bar’s live band. I actually recognize and love – be it the Beatles, Clapton or Santana.

4. Leopold, Mumbai – the hangout of all the characters in “Shantaram”, this is the perfect place for people-watching. Be it druggies or foreign couples with adopted Sri Lankan kids, this place is always filled with people in interesting phases of their lives.

5. Tangerine, Philadelphia

Other contenders were Peanut Barrel (East Lansing), Buddakan (Philadelphia).