YOKO

With the temperatures dropping gradually, we decided that some heart-warming food was the order of the day. And what could be a better than sizzlers? I wished to head straight for a sizzler place however, there are only a handful of places to choose from. I decided to mix business with pleasure...now, while the menus at all the places are similar, one place stands out in a unique way - quantity. That made me remember Yoko. Yoko sizzlers has been in Pune for over five years now. Apart from chicken, mutton, beef and fish sizzlers, they also have burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, soups and desserts in the menu. Initially I had thought of trying the starters, mains, a side dish and the dessert. But it seems my memory had failed me and I had forgoteen the amount of servings at Yoko. And I could not go beyond the main course. We had the seafod mix grill and mushroom, cheese and noodles. The dishes were sumptuous. The quantity of mushrooms and noodles was plentiful, so were the boneless pomfret pieces and prawns. While we are talking about sizzlers, I recall that many people have asked me the recipe for one. And the answer is there is none. Because of the simple reason that anything served on a sizzler plate qualifies as a sizzler! Originally, steaks would be served accompanied by vegetables or starchy preparations like rice or mashed potatoes. The food would be served on a plate and later doused with butter and sauces to give it the ‘sizzle’. Eventually, this took on a specific form and we have categorised it as a separate preparation. Coming back to Yoko’s, the taste lingers even after leaving the place. The service is efficient as two servers managed the 50-people outlet - filled to two-thirds of its capacity even on a Monday - with remarkable ease. For me, personally, I think Yoko has the best sizzlers to offer in Pune. P.S.: You need not worry about digesting the huge quantity of meals provided here. The sizzlers are piping hot and you need to take breaks between two bites. This makes a sizzler a great meal if you have skipped lunch and want a hearty dinner that warms up your heart.

MY OVERALL RATING: 8/10

Yoko Sizzlers,

G3, 5th Avenue, Dhole Patil Road,

Pune 411001. Call: 020-26111389/30521400

POST 91

Sunday is the most sought after day in the whole week. Plans are made for days in advance. So what happens when there are no plans, or if like the best-laid ones, your’s go downhill too? Simple! Get yourself pampered by indulging in a Sunday brunch. To experience the most unique and mouthwatering delicacies and unlimited drinks late on a Sunday afternoon seems like a dream come true. Many of the restaurants, that you can visit foe a Sunday brunch, also offer you a free dip in the pool. So what makes a Sunday brunch so special? Well apart from the fact that food and the drinks are unlimited, your kids can enjoy the afternoon in the company of cartoons or mimics, and the wives can look in on some or the other exhibition or fair, which is going on. All this while you soak up the sun,chill and relax till late afternoon! To indulge in at his experience first hand, we visited this place which offered food and unlimited wine @599 all inclusive. Well it was surely a steal. The starters were abundant and tasty - be it chicken nuggets, crispy vegetables, cheese balls, sheek kabab, paneer tikka or oriental fish. The food seems like it was just pouring in along with the wine for the first half-an-hour. Deciding to take a break, we checked out a jewellery exhibition, which was on at the hotel. After a few more intervals, we again dug into live counters of chaat and pastas. Though the chaat was not the better option, the pastas surely won hands down. Having asked the chef to prepare a customised pasta, we sat and enjoyed the live band. Our few suggestions were readily honoured too! And when it came, it was worth the wait. To give full justice to the plethora of food options available, we kept taking breaks in our gourmet journey. The array of main courses baffled us so and left us guessing as to which one to try out first. After having dealt with the main course, it was time to indulge the sweet tooth. The display of the desserts was so tempting and inviting, it was a ‘bitter’ choice to make indeed, as we decided on the ones to sample. After the whole experience was over, we thought that three hours were in fact less to embark on such an amazing culinary journey. The service was attentive, though there was a lot of running around the table to satisfy the wishes of those present. The ambience and weather were also good. Only thing to note - be sure to call and reserve a table as soon as you get up in the morning. With the hordes of people trying to get in on the Sunday brunch experience, be sure you are not left out. After all, Sunday comes only once in a week!

MY OVERALL RATING: 8.5/10

Post 91, Lane 6,

Koregaon Park

FOODLINK

I had spoken earlier about how hard it is to find good lounge experiences in the east side of Pune. I guess my complaint was heard by one more authorities. This time it wasby the Foodlink restaurant at the ICC Trade Centre B Wing. Don’t confuse the place for the one that was previously well-known here. Foodlink is in the new wing. Giving you a complete bird’s eye view of Pune, the ambience scores very high. Foodlink also has a well stocked Sky bar and grills. There is a party deck area overlooking it with a DJ console, where already a party was in full swing. For walk-in guests, there are two restaurants — one serving Indian and the other Italian cuisine. We chose to check out the latter.

Though the menu is limited, it promises variety. The cream of asparagus soup was really good as they were extremely generous with the quantity of this exotic vegetable in the soup. Minestrone also lived up to our expectations. Pizza Mama Mia (cottage cheese with spicy tomato sauce, Italian herb, onion, capsicum, coriander topped with mozzarella) was also good. But again, I found the base very crispy and hard. The toppings and quantity though, were sufficient. Pasta Farfalle Fresco and Lasagne Bolognaise were both perfect, and very close to the authentic. Grilled Salmon Steak with asparagus and cherry tomato in a saffron white wine sauce, seemed perfect for the chilly atmosphere. For desserts, we tried Choclate Budino (pudding in Italian) and

vanilla Crème Brule. The latter was better, while the budino reminded

us of a brownie.

The service is courteous and attentive. The guest relations themselves escort you to your place, thus putting the service standards at high. Having pampered us with this hospitality it would be not a good idea to grouch on looking at the left side of the menu. But once again, the location and the ambience have scored upon. One can’t argue about the feeling you get when you dine-in here. Strongly recommended for couples. If you are going on first time date, you have

won half the battle!

MY OVERALL RATING: 8/10

The Foodlink Court

‘T’ Floor, B Wing, ICC Trade Tower,

Senapati Bapat Road, Pune 411016

Contact: 66239999 / 01

SALSA

No one could have done better than The Corinthian Hotels to introduce a restaurant dedicated to Greek cuisine. You will be fascinated by the view at the entrance, especially the life-size sculptures of racing horses. Even if, I feel, the interiors do not compliment the cuisine, it’s spectacular to dine in. Okay, to move forward and coming to the point, we have experienced Greek cuisine in Pune. To name a few, tahini paste, chickpeas, hummus, tzaziki or slouvaki. Many of them must have spotted these names among appetizers on the menu. But now we can experience an entire meal, rather have the whole cuisine! We started on with the most known name – Greek Salad. It was great as ever with imported Feta cheese to give it full flavour. It was followed by Chickpeas Cakes (similar to falafel but here they add dill) and Minced Lamb Rolled In Vine Leaves. Both were good, but the latter would have been better had the portion of minced lamb been bigger. They had also added some Indian preparations to balance customer preference, I guess. So, when we tried Chicken Kasturi Kebab, it was really great! So succulent, it didn’t give the bitterness of fenugreek at all. We also tried Curried Fish Fingers (made of betki) - fresh and tasty. For the main course, I was eager to try my favourite Greek preparation – Moussaka. Made from eggplant, zucchini, potatoes layered with pungent tomato sauce finished with cheese and baked. I ordered the vegetarian version, and it didn’t turn me down. We was suggested their Paneer-Bhindi Korma, it too turned out to be well prepared. The Orange Mousse Cake gave it a sweet ending. The number of dishes on offer might be fewer, they haven’t compromised on taste. It’s difficult to prepare these dishes with local ingredients, so they use imported stuff which makes it expensive. But yes, a visit here is truly satisfying.

MY OVERALL RATING: 7/10

Salsa, The Corinthians

Nyati County Nibm Annexe,

Off Nibm Rd, Hadapsar, Pune - 28

THE HIDDEN PLACE

This week we hunted down a place that is typically not included as a restaurants or a food outlet. It’s more of a hangout joint and despite it’s name, the place is not exactly hidden. When I entered, it reminded me of the many places that have sprouted up in Mumbai’s western suburbs. Then gradually, I got convinced the Hidden Place is different and much better. There are cricket matches playing on big LCD TVs, chartbuster songs on in minimal volume which means you don’t have to scream for your order, and the bottle keepers and coasters all bear hit Bollywood dialogues. Imported spirits, including beers, rule the bar menu. Also superb are the cocktails, martinis and muddlers. Their chocolate frappe was good too. So, after trying some of these, I was waiting for the main event – the tasting of the food.

When I was told about this place, I wondered what I could possibly write about. But now, after tasting the food over here, I planned (in vain) to write about the food only. The starters are very good. Especially the Lucknowi Galouti Kebab,Malai Kabab and Tandoori Hariyali Prawns. Even the Tacos with Tomato Salsa and Garlic Bread were fine!

But still, what is a review if there’s no criticism at all. For instance, the Fish Biryani we had was not as nice as the rest (with uncooked rice and a slight lack of flavour), the normal bread used in the garlic bread or extra béchamel sauce in the cheese dip. But who’s complaining? I hadn’t expected the quality of food to be so high! Even the service is splendid and super fast. Well, I don’t want to fail to mention other reasons to recommend the place. There’s no entry charge, however, on the weekends you might have to arrive early to secure a good place where you can relax, enjoy a drink and the starters too!

Even lone patrons can enjoy the place just by looking around and reading the stuff put up on the walls. And now, as to why I said this place is good for Pune, is because we get good quality, a variety of food at more than just ‘reasonable’ prices.

MY OVERALL RATING: 9/10

The Hidden Place

Near German Bakery

North Main Road

Koregaon Park

JUICE LOUNGE

Being healthy and staying fit is the mantra of any generation today. So, it comes as no surprise that lots of health sessions and workshops keep cropping up in newspapers, television shows, cookery programmes, magazines, etc. Even larger corporates have taken stock of the need for a healthier lifestyle and are making a killing in the market with a wide range of health foods and energy boosters. Today’s review is about latest trend of healthy eating in the form of specialty eat-out cafes. Juice Lounge, on Dhole Patil Road, opposite Kapila Hotel, is the latest entrant in the world of healthy food outlets. The ambience is vibrant, cool and inviting. As the name suggests, a score of fresh juices are up for grabs on the menu. All these juices are sugar, ice and water free along with being 100 per cent natural and freshly squeezed. As you flick through their selection, there are several bannered under power juices, energy boosters, super boosters and even a gym freaks special. The fruit protein shake was good, so was the memory booster thanks largely to the spinach-beetroot in it. In their selection of eats, they offer salads, soup pots with assorted toppings, sandwiches, pastas and pizzas. The sandwiches could do with some improvement. The pizzas are up to the mark, with the base being prepared by wheat-refined flour, thus making it a healthier option. I wondered about pizzas, known for their high calorie content, being served in a health juice bar. I probed a little deeper and found that they added this selection to the menu after reducing the extra carbohydrates. Low fat butter and cheese is the key. When first I learnt about this place, I was sure that it had something different to offer. The name indicates exclusivity and high prices. I was pleasantly surprised with its very reasonable and pocket friendly rates. Recommended for everyone. But if you’re a fitness freak, this is just the place for you!

MY OVERALL RATING: 6.5/10

Juice Lounge

Nalin Chambers,

173 DP Road,

Opp Hotel Kapila

65007974 /26051016

SOY

Oriental cuisine, I would say, is served in many variations — the very authentic Indo-Chinese preparation and the street food style. The very authentic ones will have duck, chicken, pork and seafood — not for an average Indian palate. One ingredient serves as an imitation meat: Soy Bean Curd or as we know, Tofu. This place is inspired by this essential ingredient of Chinese cuisine, soy. Though conceptualized on soybean, not much focus is seen in the menu. The menu is full of variations, is descriptive, but remains only for starters and mains. The rice and noodle section is not descriptive, making it tricky to order. We had Teppan Soba (noodles served on a sizzler platter) which turned out to be over-done and the noodles were simply cooked with tomato sauce! (I hate to write negative stuff, but there are certain things an average diner expects. And it’s a critic’s job to think from their view-point.) As for starters, the dumplings are the best option. Prawns Sui Mai tasted amazing, so did Dragon Rolls (similar to spring rolls). The preparation is done well with essential additive ingredients such as bok choy, shitake mushrooms, bean sprouts, corn, etc. They serve Thai varieties too. The taste is authentic but inclined to Indo- Chinese style, because, vegetarian versions are consumed in only 1/4th part of China. Pork or duck may not be served here, but lobsters always find a place. Date pancake with vanilla ice-cream was the winner for the day. The ambience is good too. The service is quick and polite. The quantity is very good; priced reasonably. This place is best suited for couples and for those who want to enjoy semi-authentic Chinese dishes with proper use of additive ingredients. Don’t forget to read your fortune in the bites served at the end.

MY OVERALL RATING: 6.5/10

Soy— Le Royce

Bund Garden Road

66289999

TRIKAYA

I had mentioned in an earlier review how the west-side Puneities, like me, hate to travel to the east for a fine dining experience. I feel my detestation was being heard by Trikaya. The ambience itself is so spectacular, even normal water would be enjoyable. I felt great positive energy when I entered the place. Maybe, it’s for the mystic Buddha statues. Both the outdoor and the indoor sections are magnificent! Coming to the food part, Trikaya serves flavours from the East. They have incorporated some Indian preparation too! The bar is well stocked with international brands of both spirits and beers. The menu reflects artistic compilations very well thought of and presented. The preparation is familiar, but I thought the quality of seafood, and the meat used is distinctive. It is impossible to comment on the preparations at one go, but the stir-fries seem to be good. What I enjoyed the most are the starters, and that too prawns! Wrapped chilli prawns, crab claw lollipops are juicy, crispy and tasty as well. The vegetables and glass noodles stuffed spring rolls are different, as they have used readymade sheets for the covering, which actually make the difference. Having got stuffed with the starters, I ordered what an average diner would in an Oriental restaurant – stir-fried noodles. Though being over-cooked, they had the best possible accessories added to it making it crunchier and tastier. Also the manchow soup had excessive cornflour, but we made it palatable by adding some sauces. To end on a sweet note, corn pudding with cinnamon kulfi and fruit skewers were the winner of the day. Wish I knew why they were so miserly with fruit skewers (only one piece)! Make use of the seafood the most; the pricing is above average but satisfying.

MY OVERALL RATING: 7.5/10

Trikaya

Aditya Shagun Mall,

NDA Pashan road, Pune-21

96 K

Pune has several restaurants that cater to your appetite for the regional cuisine — be it the small eateries or lavish fine dining places. 96 K (earlier known as Radhika) on FC Road, is one such place where you can drop by to taste some select Maharashtrian cuisine, which is typically supposed to be spicy. To add to the effect, the interiors of the place are done up like the palaces of the Marathas. The menu has select delicacies from the vast Maharashtrian food items. Aperitifs include Solkadhi — that comprises Kokum, a coconut flavoured spicy drink and Kokum sherbet. For starters you have the option of choosing from Kothimbir Wadi — made of fritters of coriander
leaves and besan, Onion Pakoda and then there is Golden Fried Babycorn, Prawns and Fish mixed with spicy batter. For main course, in vegetarians, there are options like Masoor Masala (lentils cooked in a thick gravy), Vangi-Batata Rassa (made with brinjal and potato) and Kadhan (a vegetarian variant of famous spicy mutton preparation).
The non-veg menu includes fish, mutton and chicken — all prepared in special spicy masala. You can order Bhakari to go with it. For desert, there is Caramel Custard and cardamom and coconut flavoured Lapshee (similar to wheat porridge).
The food preparation is simple but unique. The curries taste different and are spicy.
For those who relish spicy Maharashtrian food, a visit to 96K is a must. It is a nice blend of the ancient settings with a contemporary touch. The staff has their professionalism intact. They maintain good hygiene standards and have separate kitchens for veg and non-veg preparations, so even if all you are a staunch vegetarian, you can enjoy your meals without having to worry about the mutton being cooked in dishes used for preparing your preferences.
If you want the food to be less spicy, don’t forget to mention it while placing the order. But I suggest don’t if you wish to have an authentic Maharashtrian meal. And yes, do not forget to carry your handkerchief!

MY OVERALL RATING: 7/10

96 K
Sanas Memories, 927 FC Road, # 020 25679669

WITCHES AND DOGS

If a place has passion for food, it reflects in its ambience. In this new place, the concept of sandwiches and hot dogs have been illustrated very well. There are informative wall frames which describe the origin of sandwiches and the terms associated with it from the sauces to the condiments used. Wi c h e s and Dogs is a compact eatout place, with a section and menu exclusively for tea-cakes, muffins and an assortment of cookies. Among them, the carrot muffin was very tasty. The main menu is influenced by American food. Vegetarian options are very few. We tried out the Roasted Pepper and Cottage Cheese Sandwich, Tomato and Mozzarella Sandwich, Chicken Burger, Fish and Pesto Sandwich and a Hot Dog. The vegetable variants were slightly bland for my Indian palette. I felt the flavour of basil in the tomato mozzarella was underplayed. The burger was lacking in flavour — I guess all readymade burger patties are like that. Fish and Pesto was quite tasty. The taste of the pesto was distinct and blended really well with the fish. When I asked about the hot dog preparation (I found it bland too) — the reply was, “It is just like they do it in the West. Sausage, gherkins, mustard and mayo.” I feel the base sauces make all the difference. Apart from the regular mayonnaise, mustard sauce, tomato ketchup, they didn’t have anything unique. But if you want it customised, that wish will be fulfilled! Also on the menu are freshly squeezed juices and smoothies. It felt great to see Wheat Germ in there too. Overall we found the preparation could have been tastier. Portions are great when compared to the prices. If you love the way the Americans eat their hot dogs, this is surely the place for you.

MY OVERALL RATING: 6/10

Wiches and Dogs, Princeton Flair,

Lane No 8, Koregaon Park, Pune- 411001

SHAHJI PARATHA

The quality of food need not necessarily be dished out from extraordinary and expensive ingredients, posh kitchens or air-conditioned lounges. This time, we decided to turn the tables and look for some old places in busy areas of the city which are famous for their food and only food. Shahji’s Paratha House on Laxmi Road (on left side of the next signal from Alpana Talkies, towards Deccan) is an old, well-known place for parathas. We immediately knew it was a no-nonsense place. Seating is cramped, like it is in a typical city eating joint. Service is swift. Menu is to the point, with 12-15 types of stuffed parathas. Aloo, Gobi, Methi, Mooli, Onion, Mix-Veg, Green Peas, Paneer, Cheese and some different, innovative ones, such as Papad, Rice and even a special sweet Mava-Malai stuffed paratha (Rs 40). Among options other than parathas, is the Paratha Thali which consists of a bowl each of boondi raita, dal makhani, mix vegetable, salad and the paratha (Rs 65). They also serve a proper thali and even north Indian Punjabi delicacies. A few chaat items are also on the menu, along with desserts, and yes, the lassi and masala chaach. The reason for my reciting the menu here is the taste which is exceptionally well. The Dal Makhani deserves a special mention, the best I’ve had till now.I strongly recommend this place for all paratha lovers to try out at least once. Though the place is far off inside city and the ambience, perhaps, not suiting your requirement, as you may have to cross elbows to share the table with an unknown person. But you can always take home a parcel. One thing is for sure, this place would put the star restaurants to shame. Still, this place will not find a mention in newspapers or on the internet. They also have a challenge for you — if you are able to eat four stuffed parathas, they not only waive off your bill, but also pay your to and fro transport charges. When asked if anyone had won the challenge, we were pointed towards photographs of the proud winners!

MY OVERALL RATING: 8/10

Shahji’s Paratha House,

1037, Raviwar Peth, Laxmi Road,

Pune – 02

NORTHERN FRONTIER

Almost half the food listed in a typical menu of most restaurants has items from north India. So, this cuisine is very popular and easily available, but at the same time, is altered too. It’s tough to recognise the authenticity of the ingredients, as there are slight differences, but these play a major role in the outcome. Northern Frontier is famous in the area, (Yerwada), for its food and my taste buds got ready for a journey to the north. A glance at their menu made a positive impression — there seemed to be much thought that went into the compilation of preparations. But in reality only a few items managed to impress me. Paneer Birbaly (stuffed paneer) with soft mild tasty gravy was one. The Gushtaba (boiled meat balls in yogurt based gravy) had nice meatballs and would have been perfect if the gravy wasn’t curdled. Jhinga Mehrunisa (marinated with cream) was also good. But the marination failed to infuse in the chunks of Achari Paneer Tikka and Fish Tikka, making them rather tasteless. The service though needs much attention. I found no co-ordination among the order-takers. They were not updated with available lists for the evening, resulting in a delay of service. The place has a bar, but again, it’s the person who takes the order that makes the drink! That didn’t work for me. It showed in the quality of the cocktails that were served! The only person I found attentive and with a watchful eye was the doorman, who in turn was directing the staff when they were called for. The quantity of starters was less compared to their price. The main course was comparatively okay. Seating on weekends may be difficult as options for couples are few. Also, if you are looking for privacy, ignore this place. Families though may easily like the place. But do go with a bit of patience, as the service may kill the pleasure of the nice food.

Northern Frontier

My Overall Rating: 5/10

LEGACY

LEGACY - By Nawab International
LUNKAD SKY STATION,
Next to HDFC,Viman Nagar, Pune 14. 020-66401401

Many restaurants claim to serve authentic food which is almost as good as the region it comes
from. The trend is very old and authentic or not, everyone has their own version. And even then, the place can carve its own niche. Legacy by Nawab International in Viman Nagar – which has been in business for 19 years with branches in Dubai, Uganda, Malaysia and Toronto —serves authentic Indian cuisine.And as you will notice, their niche is the menu card. Almost 80 per cent of food items listed on the menu are accompanied by actual photos of the preparation. So,
what you see is what you get. Very unique! We tasted Prawn Soup, Assorted Vegetable Platter,
Fish Tikka, Chilli Garlic Paneer, Mutton Biryani and Gajar Ka Halwa. Starting with the plus points, the Prawn Soup had a perfect blend of spices with an extra dose of black pepper. The Chilli Garlic Paneer was a nice change from a typical paneer and vegetable preparation.
The Gajar Ka Halwa was as good as home cooked! On the flip side, the rawas in the Fish Tikka was succulent, but the marination needed spice. It was the same with the Paneer Tikka, babycorn and cauliflower in the Assorted Vegetable Platter. The three had the same marinade, but the stuffed vegetable in the platter was good. I had high hopes of the Mutton Biryani, but neither the rice nor the mutton were tender enough. Although a moderately expensive place, it is a good fine dining option in the area. The ambience, décor and service are excellent, but the food, I thought, was not close enough to the ‘authentic’. However, the taste is surely unique and at the end, that is what matters to customers. For me, who closely dissects the ingredients and the preparation, the hunt for authenticity is still on!

MY OVERALL RATING: 5.5/10

HIGH SPIRITS

The High Spirits, 35A/1 North main
road, Koregaon park, Pune

Till now, we have reviewed restaurants serving speciality, themebased or contemporary menu.
This time we thought of visiting a place which is not one of the above. It’s a well-known party place. High Spirits is already known for its amazing flares in spirits and cocktails. So a perfect sample to try out their food. The place has an ample amount of options from Chinese and Indian to continental. A new menu introduced in continental seems fascinating. We tried Buffalo Style Chicken Wings, Tempura Shrimps, and Multani Mushrooms. Buffalo Style Chicken Wings were very soft, juicy and the covering tasted well. Mushrooms, filled with cheese and cooked in tandoor, was also delcious. But, their mention in the menu about Tempura Shrimps – Japanese crisp secret batter - did not support what we were served. But the amount, quality and size
of shrimps are worth mentioning. For mains we tried out Vegan Pizza and Hunters Rustic Chicken. Pizza didn’t turn out to be well. The vegetables were raw, the amount of cheese and the base sauce were little. The sauce and the mashed potato in the chicken tasted well, the chicken though was rubbery. It should have been seared and braised so that the meat retains the juice and prevents it from becoming rubbery The ambience is at its best, along with the service. Visiting High Spirits and not ordering any spirits amounts to doing injustice to the place. Jacks Love was my choice and I loved it a lot! All in all no need to take a look at the mains, as the
bar snacks are very well planned out. The portions are good and pricing average. After all, very few guests go for the main dishes, otherwise spirits, music and thumps is all that matters here. For me, food still remains on the top spot!

MY OVERALL RATING: 5/10

RANGILA'S

Rangila’s,
Flower Valley,Wanowrie,
# 30422211/88

Indian cuisine varies from region to region, thus reflecting our diverse culture. One of the oldest and most prominent of these is the Mughlai cuisine. Derived from the Persians and Turks, it is found in specialty kitchens of royal heritage hotels across the country. But Rangila’s, an unassuming eatery in Wanowrie, serves the food of the royals without the fancy trimmings.
The ambience is in complete contrast to the cuisine. No royal furnishings, uniforms or even royal tableware. We ordered Shaami Kebab, which did not turn out too well. We asked for a fresh helping, but the waiter came up and explained that the preparation method would be the same, and said he would cancel the order. Full marks to the staff for being honest and gracious. Another starter — Chicken Afghani Kebab (minced chicken stuffed in a boneless breast) — came next. But I felt the curd marinade was a bit sour and the chicken breast was rather too thick
for a covering. For the main course, we ordered the popular Mughlai preparation Mutton Rogan Josh, mentioned on the menu as Roghan Gosht. The mutton, rather the gravy, was excellent. The staff suggested their specialty, Dum Biryani. This turned out to be the best choice by far.
For dessert, we had Dudi Ka Halwa.

MY OVERALL RATING: 5/10

ASIAN MELANGE

Asian Melange
Near Karve statue, adjacent to Kothrud bus stand,
Kothrud, # 25397212


Weekend fine dining options in Pune are mainly either in west Pune or the east, that host a number of restaurants. Eventually more and more eating places are sprouting even in central Pune. To speak of Kothrud, one such place has managed to make a mark. This area has many conglomerates of ‘peoples restaurants’ and few of fine dining. The latest trend in dining is all
about oriental and pan Asian cuisine. This place, opened in February, too serves Asian
cuisine. A glance at the menu suggested it was more of an Indian spread than Asian. This time I
kept my authenticities aside and decided to rate the food plainly on the palate of others. I was accompanied by a six-year-old, a 35- year-old and a 65-year-old. This helped to get an unbiased verdict. The place has three storeys with the ground floor for families, second
for private diners along with a bar and the terrace for open air barbeques. The concept
of live-barbeque-on-the-table has hit Kothrud with this one. The ambience is contemporary,
stylish and service is well managed. We chose to dine on the terrace and had a wide spread
of barbeques. They have a separate menu only for starters. Paneer Achari Tikka, Noorani Seekh Kabab, Murg Rojali Kabab (cheese stuffed chicken) tasted well. I thought the marinade for paneer was less, but they had kept around nine different dips to compensate for it. Tom yum soup was also perfect for the drizzling atmosphere. Tawa Paneer Kasuri was dicey, though the Murg Makhani was different and tasted really well. The Thai curry tasted close to the original.
My critics for the evening gave a round of applause for they liked the taste, the hatke preparation, portion size and most importantly the reasonable pricing. Perfect for a family, couples, cocktail lovers and definitely for Kothrudians who hate to drive through heavy traffic to the other side of the town!

MY OVERALL RATING: 8/10

SMOKE ON WATER - CENTRAL PARK

The Central Park Hotel,
Smoke on the Water,
Bund Garden Road, near Inox,
020-40104000 (7pm-11pm)

At last I found a place that supports my belief (as mentioned in early reviews) that the taste of a restaurant’s food is inversely proportional to the number of items listed in the menu. This means that with fewer items on the menu, you can be assured that each will taste good.
I found such a place after visiting dozens of other places. And I cannot resist talking about it right from the start. All of my earlier reviews mentioned one dislike or another, but to my surprise, and quite unexpectedly, this place does not have anything negative to write about! Simply put,
the food of Central Park’s Smoke on the Water is impressive. Though the menu is limited, there is enough variety. The bar is well stocked, wines are plentiful, as are the cocktails and mocktails.
We started off with Rawas Tikka Peri Peri and Paneer Tikka. The tikkas were served on a small
barbecue, with live coals beneath that ensured the tikka remained hot till the end. The fish and
the paneer were both very succulent, fresh and had perfectly balanced spices. The peri peri sauce is spicy and blended well with the rawas. Next we called for the Tawa Vegetables
served with Roti Mini Basket along with Dal Makhani! Again, very impressive as this costs only Rs 300, and the quantity was more than enough for two people. Of course, it tasted great
too! The makhani had a mixture of two or more types of lentils, but I’m not complaining!
Finally, with desserts, I thought I would get a chance to complain. According
to my experience, this is usually the weakest area of most restaurants. We ordered Fresh Fruit
Brochette and Crème Brule. Both were fantastic! What’s worth a mention is the sugar in the Crème Brule that’s caramelized right in front of you. The service is prompt and staff well-informed as is expected from a hotel of this class. Located by the pool, the ambience is just perfect for a couple to spend the evening. For me, what matters most is the taste of the food taste, and I returned extremely satisfied!

MY OVERALL RATING: 8/10

MOMO CAFE - COURTYARD MARRIOTT

MOMO CAFE,
Courtyard Marriott Hotel,
P No 4 S No 19 & 20 Rajiv Gandhi Infotech
Park, Hinjewadi, Pune,
# 42122222

Courtyard Marriott opened its coffee shop — Momo Cafe — only a couple of months back. The name has no connection with dimsums or oriental cuisine. It stands for ‘modern living modern dining’. So the ambience too is vibrant with splashes of bright colours. The menu too is modern, with a blend of global tastes. They offer a wide buffet spread as well. The buffet has continental style non-veg starters, Indian veg starters, soups, main courses, a wonderfully stocked salad
bar with dozens of condiments and vinaigrettes. The chef can also toss up a salad of your choice. Coming to the taste, the fish served here is truly the best. All sourced directly from Mumbai, with some that we won’t find elsewhere! Barbeque Jerked Chicken and Grilled Calamari were the best. However, Chicken Tikka Marinated in Cream tasted a bit sour and bitter. The salads were amazing, specially the tossed glass noodles. Still I felt something missing, until the
wood-fire baked pizza arrived — very thin, very crispy, very good. The main course was
also enjoyable. What left me frustrated was the wide spread of desserts in the end. Well planned,
well blended and well presented! Blueberry Cream Cheese, Basil Mascarpone, Walnut Brownie,
Black Forest and of course, Tiramisu. It was served in a large margherita glass with the best mascarpone cheese I have ever had. Basil and Mascarpone blended well too! Then, we ordered crispy mushrooms from the a la carte menu. They tasted good, but were soggy from the time they arrived on the table. The cost of one dish was almost close to the buffet. Soft beverages also cost about the same! The ambience, though vibrant failed to give privacy to couples. But the style of displaying the buffet was great and it’s for this reason, along with the
desserts, that I’ll remember the place.

MY OVERALL RATING: 7/10

KAPILA HOTELS - CAFE BOULEVARD

Kapila Hotels —
Café Boulevard
Dhole Patil Road, Pune.
# 66823084

What I hate about a restaurant is when one of the waiters come up to you at 11.15 pm
and asks, “Sir, last order please. The kitchen is closing”. This fuses the mood and kills the hunger too. No complaints about them, as they are too doing their duty. So we decided this time to visit a place where no such phrase exists! Kapila Business Hotels Café Boulevard is the place to be when you are late to catch on some food. The restaurant is compact with around 40 covers, and a pleasant ambience. I walked in around 12.30 am to see the place half filled already. Once you are here, order a couple of pints as you might get your food a little late. Beer is only served
post midnight. I didn’t expect much as I presumed this place to be where you wont have nice food post midnight. So I ordered fish and chips. To my surprise, I was wrong — two generous fish fillets and chips along with tartare sauce came to my table. The beckti fish
was so fresh you wouldn’t get it anywhere in the daytime. I refused to believe the quality of food, so I ordered kheema pav, Grilled Supreme Chicken with sautéed vegetables and
mutton biryani. Apart from these you can binge on pakoras, kababs, mini pizzas,
open sandwiches, burgers, pastas, paneer tikka masala, chicken curry, rajma rice and the famous kathi roll of theirs. Grilled Supreme Chicken tasted the best. Kheema and mutton biryani
were tasty too. I would like to share some information here with regard to mutton: I have seen many hotels in Pune serve lamb meat, but I personally think goat meat which is less fatty and
more fibrous is easier to digest than lamb meat. Also if you go to rural places in Maharashtra, goat meat is widely used. This place impressed me a lot. The menu is short but varied as priced from Rs 75 – Rs 150. Don’t compare the portions with regular ones, it’s enough to calm your hunger pangs after midnight. When I left the place around 2:45 am, people were still flocking in!

MY OVERALL RATING: 7/10

TERTULIA

Terttulia
Bel Air, Lane no. 6, North Main road,
Koregaon Park, Pune

This place is known to be among top favourite breakfast places in Pune. Moreover, it’s supposed to be famous for bacon and eggs. Terttulia is a Spanish word used in Latin America, meaning — social gathering or scheduled event in a public place. The menu though is not Spanish but American style, with additions of pastas and pizzas. As this time I had gone for breakfast, the
options included fresh seasonal juices, cereals, porridge, muesli, cous-cous upma, eggs to order, Eggs benedict, Eggs Florentine, bagels, waffles, pancakes, French toast and Terttulia’s freshly baked basket. To my surprise there was no option in tea, but for green tea. Even masala chai was not available! Getting to the business, I always like to check on the hardest part of the menu. Many restaurants add famous preparations in their menu, but few manage to dish out
the perfect recipe. This time I targeted Eggs Benedict, Eggs Florentine and waffles.
In the menu, it mentions Eggs Benedict as poached eggs and ham on an English
muffin topped with Hollandaise sauce served with hash browns. To be honest,
neither did I find hash browns nor any ham. The eggs were poached by inexperienced
hands. Also the Hollandaise sauce was too thin, when it should have a creamy texture and the poached eggs should be nicely covered up by the egg whites. Eggs Florentine passed the test and
waffles came out with flying colours. Had it been for baking powder-free waffles, it
would have won my heart! But these were the best waffles I have ever had in town.
And for the bacon, it should be crisp and done from both sides. The add-on bacon
served was done rare, but bacon tastes best if it is crisp. Breakfast is served from 8am to noon. In the afternoon who have a wider choice of sandwiches and hot dogs, which should ideally be incorporate in the breakfast. Also for a tea lover like me, there are no options! Ours was the only table occupied, which showed some signs. If you manage to be in this locality, this is the place to visit after noon. But, I wouldn’t suggest this as a breakfast place.

MY OVERALL RATING: 4/10

SEN5ES - OAKWOOD PREMIER

Senses, Oakwood Premier Pune, 81, Mundhwa,
Koregaon Park Annex, # 41428888

Oakwood Premier Pune opened doors a few weeks back, to a uniquely conceptualized restaurant. Senses, as it’s called, has a food menu comprised of five cuisines for the five senses.

FOOD AND SERVICE
Pan Le Grill, Pan Italian, Pan Fusion, Pan Oriental and Pan Indian are the five cuisines offered over here. Every cuisine is comprised of cleverly picked preparations from each region. To name a few, you will find Norwegian salmon steak, T-bone steaks specially flown in, in Le Grill; pastas
of your choice right from the sauces to the ingredients chosen by you and cooked in front of
you, polenta, rissotto in Italian; sea food Laksa, grilled Thai chicken with mango salsa in oriental;
garam masala seared tuna with sundried potatoes in fusion and a variety of Indian spread
with a mention of prawns and basil biryani. I was amazed by the fact that they have a
similar vast menu in spirits too! I hardly managed to recollect all of them but they sure have some 50 cocktails listed! Here there is a very small change but a commendable one — they have referred mocktails as ‘zero%’ which shows the passion behind building up the menu. No guesses
for quality and taste as the paneer tikka only showed us the difference. Here they stuff
the paneer tikkas by adding spices through a slit (not just dipped for marination).
Tiramisu here is gelatin and egg-free which tastes awesome. What’s more, every staff
even if he is not related to restaurant shows you the hospitality.

VERDICT
Don’t look at left side of the menu as the experience is worth business class. They have a midnight express menu which is a cheaper option, comprising quick grabs. They also have a German buffet — Stammtiseh — every Friday with unlimited beer. After your meal, ask the bartender for an aperitif which is an amazing combo of cognac, triple sec and angostura bitter. If you want to strike a business deal and end it on a high note, you know where to head!

MY OVERALL RATING: 7/10

FISH CURRY RICE

FISH CURRY RICE
586, Narayan Peth, Gangadhar
Apt Near Kanya Shala
96898 91819

Eating fish in Pune is not that simple, simply for the lack of availability of fresh sea fish. So when
this new place opened a month back, I was more than tempted to try out their fare. More so, because they serve fish that’s picked up every morning from Mumbai.

AMBIENCE
Located in the heart of the city, it’s small but nicely done-up. I have always disliked one thing
about the way tables are layed in most restaurants with a whole lot of space dedicated to salt and pepper shakers, spoons, a paper napkin holder and bud vase. At Fish Curry Rice, there’s nothing
on the table! The cutlery and seasoning you might might need, is kept nicely on a shelf within reach. You can also see the open kitchen, without getting suffocated by the over-powering
smell of seafood.

FOOD AND SERVICE
Very authentic home-made preparations from Goa, Malwani, Kokani and Karwar. The fish
they serve includes surmai (kingfish), prawns, pomfret, bangda (mackeral) and crabs
(on weekends). It has a typical thali system, with limited fish and chicken meals.
Their tawa fry surmai, prawns karwar, prawns biryani are tasty too. Whatever the dish, the fish is always fresh. However, the chicken biryani tastes different here. Vegetarians do not get
neglected either — with seven meal plans for each day of the week. Karela ki subzi is the best, as it does not have that bitterness about it. Service, too is simple. Instead of areated beverages,
you get nimbu paani, butter milk and sol kadhi. Dessert includes home-cooked kheer.

VERDICT
The place was full on the second day of the week, with a long waiting list! That says something. Don’t expect to have a quiet peaceful dinner — it’s only the fish that rules
here!

MY OVERALL RATING: 7/10

TIGER TRAIL

TIGER TRAIL
Royal Orchid
Central
Marisoft Annexe,
Kalyaninagar
Phone # 40003000

AMBIENCE
I had a different picture in my mind when I came across the name. A hunter hat, hunter guns, old casks as tables; but the real ambience is a lot simpler. It’s an open space with wooden furniture.

FOOD AND SERVICE
The preface at the start of the menu is quite fascinating. The dishes when served were
somewhat different. I wondered why Tomato Adraki Shorba was spicy. Yakhni Shorba was very
good. For starters, Chandi Ka Kabab (yoghurt marinated chicken) and Dohra Kabab (a
unique blend of chicken and mutton) were okay. Pug Mark (lamb mince marinated with
special spices and served in a bowl shaped as a pug mark) sounded interesting. Veg starters include achari, bharwan, tandoori preparations in mushroom and paneer. In main course, Tawa Murgh, Paneer, Dum Mirch Malai, Gosht Saagwala did not taste exotic enough. Desserts have an interesting addition of Pyaaz Ki Kheer. Service could have been better, given the standard of the hotel. Special mention of the restaurant manager who came in after being confronted, and personally looked after the well-being of the guests till the end.

VERDICT
I failed to find the trail of food connecting to the theme. Also the rustic woody flavour was missing, so particular of a meal on a trail. Otherwise a unique concept and a fresh theme for the city.

MY OVERALL RATING 4/10

MY GOODNESS

My Goodness
Shop No 4, Flower Valley,
Next to Coffee Jar,Wanowrie.
Phone: 98908 91333.

Here comes yet another entrant to the line of coffee shops in the city: My Goodness — coffee,
cakes and everything after.

AMBIENCE
Though the place is small, the first glance reveals an ample spaced neighbourhood café, because of its well planned interiors with good lighting and colour combinations. They have a
mini-library of books and some tablegames. The overhead projector displaying entertainment is a nice change from the typical flat screens.

FOOD
The coffee menu is regular with specialities like Maple Spiced Latte or After 5 (mint chocolate, vanilla ice-cream). The Black Forest Shake is dry with an overpowering smell of eggs. Smoothies,
hot teas and iced beverages also find their place here. But I preferred the Green Apple Mojito.
Sandwiches are huge and come with a dip and fries. But I felt the Eggs to Order
has scope to excel. Other quick bites include garlic breads, bun maska, ready to fry nuggets, samosas and fish fingers. Desserts and cakes come as Chocolate Excess, Fuchsia Queen and another one called Bubble Gummies with a bubble gum syrup.

VERDICT
Not exactly a food joint but yet another place to chill with friends. I found a group indulging
in an exciting game of Uno. The owners claim that the place is an outcome of their
passion for desserts, cakes and coffee. They genuinely want guests to stop by, relax and unwind,
and I guess this is their USP.

MY OVERALL RATING 7/10

SQUISITO

Squisito
Lane No 5, Koregaon Park, Pune
# 26054005

Delicious, exquisite, delightful are some of the words that define Squisito. Though this place is quite old, I chose it because I heard it is a serious competition to other Italian joints. The interiors take you to the streets of Rome. But the mezzanine has some Mexican themed art. That’s when I realised the place also has Mexican and Lebanese. So the competition is somewhat invalid. The food menu shows some traditional antipasti with a good range of insalata (salads) too. Soups though few, the one I tried (brocolli and cheese) could had been better. A wide range of pastas are included gnocchi, ravioli (stuffed pastas), penne, fusilli, tagliatelle and spaghetti. Pasta Barbaresca (spicy, with sundried tomatoes, tempeh) was cooked perfectly. There was a wide variety of pizzas too. The one called Pizza ala Vodka sounded great but the crust was not traditional - a bit doubtful. Risotto made me smile. But it was the dessert from which I will remember of this place, specially the Tiramisu. That apart, there is a major chunk of Mexican specialities. Quesadillas, enchiladas spice up the menu. Lebanese cuisine shows up in the form of starters only - falafel, baba ganoush, fattoush to name a few. Italian wine adds up to the flavour.
This place stands out on its own. The service is a bit slow but the staff is cheerful. A quite place for couples, it’s pocket friendly for the taste it provides. Bon Appetite!

MY OVERALL RATING 8/10

SILK ROUTE

Silk Route
Lane no. 6 Koregaon Park, Pune
# 26135793

Serving authentic cuisine from the exotic Orient’ is what the restaurant claims. Located in Koregaon Park area would probably justify that it would be authentic! So I went on an inspection prowl.

THE FOOD
One glance at the menu card and I can assure you will not read the whole at one go, and neither end up having everything on the menu. They have approximately 304 items listed from six regions - Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Korean,Indonesian and Vietnamese. That again questions the authenticity, as I believe the taste is inversely proportional to the food items listed
in the menu. The less number of items means more assurance of the taste. So I mixed a few regions and selected some famous names. Magura Sushi (imported tuna), Veg Tempura (deepfried seasonal vegetables with ginger and radish dipping), Tom Yum (Thai
traditional sour and spicy vegetable soup), Yam Woon Sen (glass noodle salad), Kalbigui (Korean chicken barbeque), Nasi Goreng (Indonesian fried rice), Pho Saigon Noodle (flat noodles
with vegetables). Sushi was way too good with a promise of serving with shoyu, gari and
wasabi being fulfilled. Tempura was to the mark. Tom yum too was a close call. But Yam Woon
Sen was too spicy making it nowhere close to the authentic. The version of Kalbi Gui was different. I guess the chicken was shallow fried and not grilled. The mains Nasi Goreng
and flat noodles were disappointing. Some of the Far Eastern desserts were not available,
and the mango cheese cake could have been better. Service, however, is fast and polite.

VERDICT
As Indian cuisine is sometimes misleading in the foreign countries, vice versa for East Asian cuisine here. This place surely has dared to list an array of items in their menu,and serve them authentic but only for Puneites. Recommended to those who want to try out new things, first tastes and of course, to enjoy sushi!

MY OVERALL RATING 6/10

MAKKHAN MAAR KE

Makkhan Maar Ke
Ground Floor, Rituraj Apartments
Near Mauli Gardens, Baner.
Ph: 98234 43289

Iam always searching for restaurants with unique menus. Makkhan Maar Ke on Baner Road is one such place that serves contemporary north Indian cuisine. The name itself is inviting
enough! The restaurant is quite small, with seating options — dining area and lounge area — on the mezzanine floor. As such, it’s a bit congested.

FOOD & SERVICE
The food menu has typical soups, the only uncommon additions are a sea food soup and a Dal Palak soup. Their starters are quite impressive and unique. To name a few — Saunfiya
dhingri (mushrooms with fennel) Kurkure Paneer, Paneer Sheek Kebab, Dahi Ke Kebab. The last is a prepared just right, but the dahi was sour! Paneer Sheek Kabab would have been better if the binding agent was lighter than the paneer. Non-veg kebabs included Sharabi Kebabi (tandoori chicken marinated in wine), Patri Kebab (chicken breast stuffed with chicken
mince), Golmaal ( mutton mince) stuffed inchicken breast).Main courses are also very typical
except for Subziyon Ka Aachari korma or their special Makkhan Maar Ke
(combination of two gravies — white and red — served separately in one dish). They also serve
lassi, chaas, mocktails and an array of desserts. I often wonder why restaurants struggle with their dessert!

VERDICT
All praises to the food menu compilation, specially the starters. It’s expensive, given the ambience, space, service offered. They serve complimentary butter (as the names suggests), so not recommended for figure conscious people. But, the success of a restaurant lies in its taste, which I think they have to compete for.

MY OVERALL RATING : 6/10

PORTICO - SAYAJI

Portico
Sayaji Hotels, Mumbai-Bangalore
Bypass Highway,Wakad, Pune, #
42121212.

Portico is a treat for Puneites who were waiting all this while for a lavish buffet at a reasonable price. Added advantage is that they come with live cooking stations — with at least eight chefs at your service — at the ‘interactive buffet’.

THE AMBIENCE
Truly a business hotel, it comes with bright interiors. The ultra-comfortable chairs are worth a mention. But what steals the show is the grand buffet! They use magnetic heating units instead of chaffing dishes, omitting the use of fire completely.

THE FOOD & THE SERVICE
I should have fasted at least for one day to do justice to spread on offer. The chaat section is amazing — the imli chutney has khajoor in it which most other places fail to provide. The salad bar is well stacked with dozens of vinaigrette dressings, mayonnaise and condiments.Though the only option in lettuce is iceberg. The buffet consists of soups, four Indian vegetable preparations, biryani — both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, including crab, lamb
and prawns! At the live cooking stations, you could go for pastas or Chinese. A request for a special preparation was answered with
a smile from the chef. Prawns in Barbeque — too good! But the brownies are a bit too hard; Tiramisu is alcohol free, which is an insult to the dessert. It’s perhaps for the chocolate fountain that the rest of the desserts took a backseat! I dipped fruits in the fountain — to hell with table manners — and put them straight into my mouth.

THE VERDICT
At Rs 350 + taxes per head, it’s worth every penny! But it might not live up to the expectations
of those with developed tastes.

MY OVERALL RATING : 9/10