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