When I used to stay in Dombivli and regularly commuted by local trains, the aroma of freshly buttered bread and a delicious bhaji always used to attract me when I used to enter the subway opposite the Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (or VT station, as we used to call it back then).
Pav Bhaji is said to have originated around 170 years ago in Mumbai as a quick lunch for the textile mill workers. It was basically a mix of various vegetables mashed together with mild spices and topped with coriander and a dash of lime, served with the Mumbai laadi pav. Of course, over years, this dish has seen many improvements and has been modified to suit various tastes and preferences.
I often hear from friends that their favorite Pav Bhaji is Sardar (Tardeo) OR Sukh Sagar (Chowpatty). I too, have eaten Pav Bhaji at several places, but apart from home, my favorite Pav Bhaji stall continues to be Cannon. It was started in 1975 and has been a very popular eatery since then. Since I was a kid, I have seen a Sardarji preparing the bhaji at this stall till a few years back.
There are a couple of ladies that we used to call mavshi who used to serve the food and manage the cash counter. I personally prefer and like their signature Amul pav bhaji till date with a glass of butter milk as my go to meal on this stall.
Since a last few years, we see a lot of additions to the menu, including but not limited to Cheese Pav Bhaji, Vada Pav, Poha, Sabudana Khichadi, Gajar Halwa, Gulab Jamun, Lassi and Butter Milk. Frankly, if I wanted to eat Vada Pav, Poha, Sabudana Khichadi, I would actually walk a few steps and go to Aaram for these snacks.
These is no seating space and you need to enjoy your food on a standing counter. While you could take-away parcel, this dish is best consumed at the stall so that you can request for extra buttered pav straight out of the tawa. The quantity of the bhaji seems to have reduced over the years but the taste still remains great. I used to order 2 extra Pavs before, but these days, the bhaji gets over with the 2 Pavs that come as a part of the plate. Nevertheless, the food is worth every penny you spend here.
{pic: with cousins over a weekend}
Sometimes, when I am not in the mood for buttermilk, I step to the next stall that serves Kala Khatta.
Address: Cannon Pav Bhaji, Mahapalika Marg, Opposite Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Hazarimal Somani Road, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001
I think post covid era we should all go to this place for yummy pav bhaji with Kala Khatta!!!
Hope that day comes soon!!