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Crystal Restaurant Chowpatty

North Indian, Punjabi, Vegetarian · ₹₹ · Sea Face, Rd, Gamdevi

Crystal Restaurant Chowpatty

Representative image, not a photo of this restaurant.

Crystal is a small vegetarian Punjabi restaurant on Chowpatty Seaface, next to Wilson College and across the road from Girgaon Chowpatty beach. Curly Tales dates it to the early 1950s. It is run by the Mehra family, who in 2026 opened a second restaurant in Fort, on Cawasji Patel Road, where Fort Central used to be.

The cooking is plain North Indian home food, and the kheer is the reason many people come: thick, chilled and mentioned in more Google reviews than any other dish. Rajma chawal, paneer bhurji, dal fry, baingan bharta and alu paratha are the regular orders, and fruit custard is the other favourite sweet. The thali brings dal, two vegetables, roti, rice, dahi, chaas and a bowl of kheer.

The room is plain and split over two levels, with tables set close together, and it is now air-conditioned, which it was not as recently as 2017. It is busy with students, office workers and families, and there is often a queue at dinner. Listings in October 2026 put a meal for two at about ₹600. It is open every day for lunch and dinner, and closes in the afternoon.

Ratings

Food
8.7 / 10
Service
8.1 / 10
Ambience
7.9 / 10
Value for money
8.4 / 10

What diners say

Diners love it for cheap, homely Punjabi food, above all the kheer, followed by the rajma, paneer bhurji and dal; many have been coming since their college days. The complaints are about the cramped, plain room, queues at peak times and a kheer that some find too sweet.

What to order

Details

Address
Lily Cottage, 19, Chowpatty Seaface, near Wilson College, Sea Face, Rd, Gamdevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400007, India
Nearest station
Charni Road, about 800 m away
Nearest metro
Grant Road (Line 3), about 1.0 km away
Phone
+91 77387 33360
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Dessert
Best times to visit
Early dinner, Weekday lunch
Good for
North Indian restaurant, Punjabi restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Family dining
Amenities
Paid street parking, Takeout, Delivery, Dine-in

Opening hours

Friday11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, 7 to 10:30 PM
Monday11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, 7 to 10:30 PM
Sunday11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, 7 to 10:30 PM
Tuesday11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, 7 to 10:30 PM
Saturday11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, 7 to 10:30 PM
Thursday11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, 7 to 10:30 PM
Wednesday11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, 7 to 10:30 PM

Frequently asked questions

What should I order at Crystal?

The kheer, which diners mention more than anything else on the menu. For a meal, regulars order rajma chawal, paneer bhurji, dal fry or baingan bharta with butter roti, or the thali, and finish with fruit custard if one kheer is not enough.

What are Crystal's timings?

Google Maps lists it as open every day from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM for lunch and 7 to 10:30 PM for dinner. It is closed in between, so do not plan on a late-afternoon meal.

What is Crystal's contact number?

+91 77387 33360, the number on its Google Maps listing.

How much does a meal at Crystal cost?

It is one of the cheapest sit-down meals near Marine Drive: listings in October 2026 put a meal for two at about ₹600, with a bowl of kheer at around ₹110.

Is Crystal on Marine Drive, and how do I get there?

It is on Chowpatty Seaface beside Wilson College, at the Girgaon Chowpatty end of Marine Drive. Charni Road station on the Western line is about a 10-minute walk away.

Can I book a table, or will I have to wait?

Most people simply walk in. It is busy at meal times and there is often a queue at dinner, so arrive early, and expect tables to be close together.

Is Crystal pure vegetarian?

Yes. The menu is entirely vegetarian, mostly Punjabi home-style dishes such as rajma, dal and paneer.

Things to do nearby