OLENT

The oil spill certainly hasn’t deterred the consumption of seafood at least thet’s the scene in Pune restaurants. The initial reluctance that lasted for the first few days, has been replaced by people flocking to places serving seafood, reminding me of the commonly believed theory amongst non-Puneites, that seafood served here is not of exceptional quality. The over-flowing crowds at sea food restaurants on weekends, however, manage to suggest the contrary. The substantial demand and easy accessibility to raw materials has set the seafood business booming. Olent, meaning scent or fragrance is a new place that not only serves seafood but the regular spread of veg-non and veg items as well. It’s an idea that could pay off as most places serving the regular family dinner fare have few seafood options and here, non-seafood favouring family members can enjoy their meal too. I’ll focus on the seafood, as the menu is quite vast. They have segregated the preparations fishwise, so you have Malvani, Manglorian, Tawa, Masala, Goan, Maratha, Kalwan and some Southern Coastal styles. In seafood, pomfret, rawas, surmai, bangda, kane or lady fish, crab, halwa, prawns and tisre or shell fish are all on the list. Lobster, squid and other varieties are missing and so are regional styles of preparation other than the south- Indian ones. This seems to be the only drawback of the place. The Achari Surmai Tikka (Rs 220) comes in good portions. The tangy masala is well coated around the meat. The same goes for the large Tandoori Pomfret (Rs 220) served with an amazing beetroot carving, as well as the Crab Soup, the base of which, is similar to sweet corn soup but has generous portions of crab meat to flavour it. You can ask for your choice of seafood to be used in your Biryani (Rs 150) which makes it different from other places. Lastly, one should try the Prawns Puli Munchi (Rs 210) with Appam or Neer Dosa (Rs 30) — it is absolutely delicious. There was no room to manipulate the gravy. The flavours of tamarind, mustard seeds, curry leaves and the spice of red chillies blended perfectly. It tasted fresh as if it was prepared upon order. The good things about Olent are the quality of the seafood, value-for-money quantities served and the availability of the non-seafood menu as well. Every family member’s gastronomic desires are fulfilled under one roof. The ambience is simple yet trendy. Now, when most seafood places are packed on the weekends, you know where to take the plunge!

1195, Sushila

Apartment,

Shivaji Nagar,

Ghole Road,Pune

Phone: (020)

65012244, 65000874

TAWAAH

I remember while working at a star hotel in Mumbai, guests used to flock around live stations every Sunday for brunch and feast on chaats and parathas. Though these preparations are available outside in abundance and at much lower prices, the satisfaction of gorging on street food in hygienic conditions in unique. It’s also difficult to replicate the same taste. Tawaah is a hygienic take on the Indian street-side food joints. This pure vegetarian place is clean and tidy, replete with shiny steelware. Six chutneys are arranged for as universal accompaniments. Out of them, the chilli and mint chutney should be tried for their strong flavour. The menu has few items on the list, but with much variation. The parathas are eight inchers and are stuffed generously. The covering remains soft for a long time, which suggests that an experienced hand has mixed the dough. Accompaniments with the paratha are appealing — the Dal Makhani, in particular is delicious. The Bharwan Moong Chilla, a thick dosa made from moong dal, filled with spicy paneer and cheese, this is truly filling. Direct preparations off the tawaah include a Mushroom Kheema Pav, Pav Bhaji, Appams with White Stew and Paneer Kathi Rolls. Sarson da Saag with Makke di Roti is pure and unadulterated. There are only two options in tawa pulao category — one with Hara Masala and the other with Tamatar and Paneer. The latter may be a better option as the former is low on taste despite including methi, spinach and coriander. To accompany the tawaah khana are Jalebis with Rabdi, Malai Lassi as well as Chai and Coffee served in earthen pots. If you’re going to compare the price with regular street food, you’ll find it pinches the pocket. The average price per food item is around Rs 80, with portions large enough for one person. However, do keep in mind the high standards of hygiene and quality of ingredients used here. The service is fair and sometimes a bit too attentive. Tawaah is what it promises — crisp, street food, in a more upmarket ambience and better hygiene.

1,Park Plaza

755/1,

Near Kamala

Nehru Park,

020-65108667

BY THE WAY - FC road

Fergusson College Road is one of my favourite streets in the city. The fact that several new places keep opening here, just adds to the attraction. By The Way, which has recently opened up, manages to steal a few glances. This could be because of its bright white exterior, or then perhaps it’s the name. It looks like it’s an old British establishment, what with waiters that accessorise with suspenders and a typical flat cap. The morning menu goes very well with this theme. They serve omlettes, waffles and pancakes, but after noontime, they have a desi twist going for them. The attire of the waiters remains the same but not the menu. The lunch and dinner menu has a little bit of everything including Thai, continental, Oriental food, pastas and Indian cuisine. I visited in the evening and decided to try their continental menu. The Veg Ceasar Salad (Rs 130) and Italian Bruschetta (Rs 90) were the first on my list. Surprisingly, what I received didn’t quite fit the description mentioned in the menu. That was followed by an exhaustive series of events that included checking, re-checking, apologising and replacing the dish. Out of all the choices I had, I decided only to inform the manager about the absence of romaine lettuce from the Ceasar salad and that the bread of bruschetta had not been grilled (as was promised in the menu). But it was the Indian food that brought back my joy of dining here. The Cheese Murg Tikka (Rs 140) stuck to its description, while the Paneer Makhani (Rs 150) and the naan were delectable. The naan is unbelievably soft right until the last bite and the makhani gravy was doused with heavy cream, khoya and butter. By The Way also serves an Arabi Chicken Biryani (Rs 170), which is according to them is supposed to be the original biryani. The description read layered biryani but at the moment of truth I found it to be a mixed pulao variation of the biryani. However, the taste did hold up—with a sweetish tinge and generous sprinkling of slivered almonds. For dessert it was the Chocolate Bomb (Rs 150) that I decided to try. Melted chocolate inside a spongy cup cake, I wondered about the taste of chocolate sauce for a bit, but then found that it did go very well with ice cream.

11991A, F.C. Road,

Pune-4. 020-25531511

AVEES - karve road

Very often people form opinions about a new place based on its size or location. It’s

only after a reference from someone they know who’s tried it, that they might themselves go ahead and visit, which also means they have certain expectations regarding the aforementioned location and size of the restaurant. However, of late, several small eateries that serve quality food have sprung up, in spite of dealing with a space crunch. Today’s restaurant falls into that set mould. One glance suggests ‘tried and tested’ food and a look through the menu could well verify that thought. But then, one may argue, any menu is more than just a list of food items. But the pattern here is relatively familiar — a certain item followed by variations of it. It’s only when the food does arrive that it’s likely you’ll begin to build up an appetite. One bite into the fresh meat eases concerns that it may be a bit over-priced. The Tandoori Prawns and Mutton Sheek Kabab here are tender and flavourful. Avees has a variety of fresh fish, with King fish and baby Surmai being their specialties. Their Chinese food is also tempting — a version of the commonly-found Manchow Soup has a brilliant, un-common taste. The noodles which accompany the Indian version of this soup are freshly fried and served, the freshness of which small detail came as a pleasant surprise. When asked, it was revealed that they are prepared only as and when needed, as opposed to frying in bulk in advance, which is definitely appreciable. In Indian food, the Vegetable Soni Subji and Vegetable Chatpata are different from the usual vegetarian fare. The rotis here come in several varieties and amongst those, the Delhi Naan (required to be perfectly crisp), goes down rather well. The Biryani here is made dum style and the chicken was good too. Every item was diverse as we went over the menu. The texture of the meat gravies came from a fine, thin paste made from cooking fresh pounded masalas. There was no danger of the common permutation and combination scenario we have with basic gravies, which normally end up having that thick, heavy consistency. No gravy overpowered the flavour of the meat, which was a blessing. A meal for four would cost around Rs 1500, including five courses, of vegetables, seafood and chicken. Apart from just one other restaurant, this is the only place on Karve Road that serves fish. Considering the weather, I’d suggest you head here for hot kebabs and of course, the fresh seafood.

AVEES

6, Swaroop Complex,

Opp Ranka Jewelers,

Karve Road,

Pune 411004

020-25410708 /

0808

COPACABANA - Jagtap Dairy

Ihave observed that people visiting restaurants are of two categories, those open to trying out new places and those who are devoted to the tried and tested. The latter, have their own reasons for their loyalties and can’t really be faulted for their lack of adventurous spirit. But often, they seem to be disillusioned or misled about originality, and therefore stick to a single option. But then, at the end of the day, the originality is only secondary to the tastes that restaurant offers, and if thats impressive, any patron will become a regular. Copacabana is undoubtedly one of the biggest stand-alone restaurants I have visited, whether for the spacious outdoor seating, vibrant indoors, a fully loaded retro lounge bar or the aqua scenic banquet area (which is truly fascinating). The restaurant serves global cuisine, mainly far Eastern followed by a bit of Lebanese and Mexican appetizers, a few Mediterranean and a pan-Indian array. Having taken several mintues to go through the menu, we finally selected varied preparations - an Italian Bruschetta, Spicy Tamarind Prawns, Paneer Shaslik Sizzler and Spanish Paella. The bruschetta was tangy, I guess because the olives carried the excess brine (the solution in which they are kept). The Spicy Tamarind Sauce was very tasty, but the taste had not infused with the prawns as they had been cooked separately (they turn pink and get a rubbery texture) and later tossed together with the sauce. The Paneer Shaslik was truly amazing — the paneer was true to its taste. A variation on the original, but it won my heart. Finally, there were few things which put me in a bit of a dilemma while judging this place. The theme was only restricted to the ambience. The staff waiting on us were in Hawaiian attire, but the menu did not reflect this region. I also wondered why, when the menu had such a huge variety to choose from, the dessert section was literally ‘deserted’ with only two items on the list. Whatever my verdict may be, the place manages to attract crowds. The lounge bar seems to be very promising for the youth, and the rest is a perfect family getaway! It doesn’t matter which category you are looking for, it will surely fulfill all your senses!

COPACABANA

Vishal Nagar, Aundh-Wakad road,

Near Jagtap Dairy, Pune 27

020 - 46742928/29/30

THE REGENT - JM Road

About a decade ago, JM Road boasted of having over a hundred restaurants. However, all these restaurants were very similar in pattern, menu and cuisine. After a considerable amount of culinary evolution, and learning from past mistakes, there has been some variation in these restaurants. There are still a lot of such places that do exist, but I wouldn’t call them genuine or authentic. The Regent of Deccan Royale is an exception. I confess, I always had imagined this place to be no different from any other restaurant. It took me one visit to change my opinion, and I am definitely not complaining. The interiors are well suited to a Four Star restaurant. The surprise element here, is the content of the menu. It is not very varied but has the choicest preparation selected from a global spread. To name a few, Japanesetempura, Korean Bulgogi, Thai curries, Burmese Khow suey, Italian Pastas, Risotto and a vast Indian selection are available on the menu. The ones which I tried were Dhania Makai Shorba, Israili Kebab, Dakshini Jhinga Sukka, Laal Maas, Paneer Kadhai, Prawns Biryani and the Sizziling Brownie. The first three are exceptional while the rest are common yet have a distinctive taste. Having Dhania Makai Shorba in this climate was awesome, while the Israili Kebab was a classic with only cinnamon in the marination with a hint of garlic. It comes with a small roti too! The Dakshini Jhinga was the best. The perfectly pounded marination of curry leaves, onions and lots of coconut gave it just the right taste. The mutton was also cooked differently yet retained the softness of the meat. I must say, for me, it was the very personification of the saying, “Never judge a book by its cover”. I am happy to be proved wrong. Being moderately priced makes it a sure, safe bet. It is indeed a dark horse on the run on this culinary stretch!

The Regent,

Hotel Deccan Royaale

Near Sai Service petrolpump

JM road Pune

PH:

020 41024000

ESCA - AUNDH

Urban dining” is the first impression that one gets after taking in the interiors and the menu of the restaurant. The chandelier is a nice touch to add to the ambience of the place. There are two sections for seating: mezzanine, which is the more enjoyable one, and a bar, which is well-stocked with the best liquors and wine. I was very happy to find Dom Perignon here, as I believe that this is one champagne which defines the class of a restaurant. The food menu is divided into two cuisines, the European one and the Indian one. Both appear very varied yet there is repetition in the ingredients used for both the types of cuisine. For instance, prawns appear as a starter only in European cuisine and not in the Indian one. As for how it actually tasted, the Pasta Soup had the flavour of fresh herbs that balanced well with the taste of tomatoes. After enquiring with the waiter about the use of brandy as a marinade in the Brandied Prawns, I decided to give it a shot. Unfortunately, I found it a failed attempt to replicate the famous prawn cocktail, which is served in a martini glass on a bed of lettuce with cocktail sauce. This version, lacked the taste of brandy. It could have been better if the cocktail sauce was served in smaller quantities. However, the amount of sauce with this cocktail was extremely overpowering. The Pahari Machchli, however, was very good, very succulent and very tasty as it was prepared from Betki fish which is rarely used by restaurants. I would give the Paneer Tiranga and Gosht Roganjosh a pass as the rogan and the masala stuffed in paneer were less, even though the paneer and mutton were both very fresh and succulent. I was waiting to receive Pan Seared Turkey Medallion with Potato Mash and Cranberry Sauce which sounded very appealing to me. It was designed and presented very well, but the turkey meat didn’t hold on to its warmth and the cranberry sauce tasted like jam, which, I felt didn’t go down well. If it had been a bit more acidic, it might have been a hit. The trio of Indian desserts turned out to be a good ending as the Gulab Jamun, Rasogulla and Gajar Halwa, all in-house products tasted really well. Summing it up, the place sticks to its tag line. As expected, it is not light on pocket (Rs 1800 all inclusive for the dishes mentioned above). It has its ups and downs, but these would entirely depend on customer expectation. For me, I can’t deny the fact that from a culinary point of view, it is very good!

ESCA Ground Floor,

Centriole Mall,

ITI road,

Aundh,

Pune – 411029

Tel: +91-8805210001

MY OVERALL RATING: 7/10

Milestone

After driving for long and cutting through heavy traffic, reaching this milestone was a quite a journey. The name initially suggested an up-market pub or at least an air-conditioned lounge bar. Surprisingly, it turned out to be a nice, open air garden restaurant with an attached middle-eastern styled semilounge seating. The upper deck gives a beautiful view, though it is more popular with regular ‘spirited’ guests. Couples will feel more comfortable downstairs as

there is very minimum lighting. Not good for a food critic as it was disappointing for me, but

scores a point for those wanting to have nice time. I was expecting a lot from the menu, but again

was let down as it is turned out to be typical with all the necessary and unnecessary dishes showcased in different avatars. There wasn’t too much to comment on the food preparation. The only different dish we came across — a Paneer Punjabi Chop Masala which is evenly diced paneer sautéed in ginger garlic and pounded khada masala mixed in onion tomato gravy. It was something good and new to taste. Other than that, the Mixed Veg Platter and Prawns in Hot Garlic Sauce were not great. The variety in the platter was appealing though the marination was very spicy as all the items had the same marination. The prawns were overcooked, making them rubbery and chewy. Prawns have their own taste and always remain succulent only if added, when fresh, at the last moment, just before the gravy is cooked. There’s one particular thing I’d always remember this place for — its determined, polite and attentive service. I have witnessed such service only in star hotels, and even there you’ll find a bit of arrogance. But here was service with courtesy. I felt sad when I looked at the expression on one of the waiter’s face when he heard our feedback of the veg platter. He listened to us patiently, but felt helpless as he could not do anything much. If you stay in Undri, Wanowrie or Kondhwa, you have a decent, economic place with good ambience that serves the tried-andtested food items with particularily excellent

service.

36 Mile Stone,

Plot No 969,

Survey No 12,

Before

Corinthian

Club, NIBM

Undri Road

My Overall Rating : 6.5/10

LE KEBABIERE

This week’s restaurant is for those who had thought about Indian food being monotonously served wherever they dined. Who so ever agree to this, must visit Le Kebabiere. Initially heading to this place, I was assuming to take yet another kebabful ride as the name suggested. The interiors are contemporarily styled. So is the tableware. When I dig into the menu, it was more than just kebabs which happened to surprise me. The content of the food preparation seemed to be very carefully selected, that is why there is no repetition in terms of ingredient or flavor. While there are lots of appetizers in form of kebabs, there is a long list of seen and unseen wine labels too. The preparation is exotic, traditional and sticking to the roots with infusion of some trendy compilations. As I evidently say after having tried mushroom galouti – which was commendable for if any vegetarian have not tried the original meat galouti, should go for this. So was the tandoori mushroom – two mushrooms stuffed in between mixed vegetables emitting perfectly balanced smoky taste. Then there is murgh parcha kebab – a traditional nawabi preparation having shahi jeera, almond paste marination with a touch of saffron and Dakshin year – prawns cooked over the tandoor giving out best taste of lemon and curry leaves. The curries too have divergence in flavors, still we sticked on to the shahi paneer makhani – which again satisfied the taste buds with its silky smooth curry. Having feasted on the kebab and curries it was time for biryani to make way. The sofiyani biryani – the only white biryani packed the punch. The final blow was the desserts - badaam chennay ki kheer and house made gulkand ice cream. With meekly service, the dining experience takes you through a path which is apart from the norm still heading you towards fulfilling and appealing Indian cuisine. Do try the specialty house made cocktail section. I relished the shot of pan flavored vodka and realized; Indian cuisine in any which way is still the best and ever evolving!

Le Kebabiere

Pyramid Complex 81/82 North Main Road Koregaon Park Pune- 411036

Ph: 95521 34400(020) 4103 0333

NEBULA

It’s actually quite an old place for a review... However whenever I used to take this road (NDA-Pashan Road) this place used to catch my eye. Mainly because of it’s name. The entire building is a restaurant as the name suggests. Despite the heat we chose not to dine in A/C comfort but on the rooftop simply for the cool, cool breeze. The well stocked bar is situated right in the centre giving open air dining the right appeal. To add to it was the screening of IPL match! The menu is more of Indian along with Chinese. Here I would say upgraded Chinese. The reason for this is that gone are the days when a Chinese menu used to be dotted with fried rices with names of Chinese cities, like Hong Kong Fried Rice, Singapore Fried Rice, etc. Now-adays, we find good aut h e n t i c Chinese food with lots of options. The credit goes to the procurement of different varieties of sauces available in the market, which actually adds to the taste. Now that does not mean the Indian food is not good. It was good indeed! Especially the Fish Rara Masala prepared with Basa fish which comes from Vietnam seas tasted good. Paneer Malai Kabab and Noodle Bhel were good too. The dessert section made me happy. The choclate mud cake and the sizzling chocolate brownie with vanilla ice-cream are must haves here. The service needs attention: We had to actually wave out to the staff for orders. That can be slightly irritating sometimes. Also I found the ratio of cost to quantity to be slightly unbalanced, when the bill finally came in. Otherwise it is a good place to dine-in and recommended to couples who want to spend a quiet evening starwatching.

MY OVERALL RATING : 5.5/10

NEBULA,

NDA-Pashan road,

Bavdhan

22952073

R BHAGAT TARRACHAND - LAXMI ROAD

After much adulation from colleagues, I revisited this place, but in a new location. R Bhagat Tarrachand isn’t new to me - I’ve visited this very old, pure vegetarian restaurant in the highly congested area in Mumbai’s Zaveri Bazaar and even the one that was situated near the Talegaon toll on the Expressway. The thalis here are more famous than anything else. In spite of that a visit to this place on Laxmi Road was a new experience for me. The interiors of the restaurant are the same as the previous one at that location. However, don’t confuse the interior with the name or the theme. The main purpose visiting this place must strictly be for the food and the taste. The menu is typical, but there is the catch — the preparations have a huge difference. The taste, quantity and preparation served at the prices they offer would mortify others who give away same named preparations using additives such as khoya or thick pastes. I always crib about this ‘typical’ taste which is served all over town. For instance, if you don’t have a tinge of tomato in your Paneer Kadhai, you’ll probably be eating that thick paste which only fills your stomach but doesn’t satisfy your palate. Here, you will find more paneer pieces perfectly coated with enough gravy to give out lip-smacking taste. They also have Chinese preparations of which the Manchow Soup and Paneer Chilli was really good. Paneer Tikka, Vegetable Korma, Sarson ka Saag and Veg Pulao is almost better than what you’d consider the best! The staff is efficient and courteous. Don’t miss another signature dish of theirs – a beer bottle filled with creamy and delicious chach (butter milk). Situated on the busiest street of Pune, I spotted more of a student crowd compared to family and couples enjoying the treat.

R Bhagat Tarrachand

City Jewel, 2 nd floor, Opp Om Market

Laxmi Road (Monday Closed)

020-24457799

THE BREAK

In spite of an inflation in food prices, new places keep cropping up. Today’s restaurant is a massive 350 seater with spacious ambience and a name plate too! But I didn’t understand why the “AK” from the name Break is hugely stretched out. There are new concepts that can be seen here. For instance, a postersize cutout of a crumpled cigarette is pasted on the walls to notify the message instead of writing it usually. A pure vegetarian restaurant, the style in which the food items are presented on the menu card is different. Using different permutations and combinations of ingredients, the menu is a massive one with over 500 preparations. That’s why I found 19 varieties of pav bhaji here. Some items fascinated me merely because of their names - Tex Mex Pizza, Desi No. 1 Pizza, Jade Corn Soup, Duke Salad, Rocket and Mango salad, Brinjal Hot Garlic, Veg Ganesh, Veg Dragon, Paneer Chocolate Masala... I don’t know how they taste, but full marks for imagination. The juice section had some interesting varients too - Kohinoor (orange + anar) and Taal (strawberry + lichee). I was left wondering what ingredients could be in the Honeymoon Special in the dessert section! The taste of the food here is typical. Authentic preparations are out of the question. The quantity is very good considering the price. Their Chinese variations are also good — I liked the Veg Hot Pan the best. As The all time fav paneer tikka masala too was good. It also has Chinese desserts too namely honey noodles, date pan cake or fried ice-cream. Visiting this place is like watching a typical comedy movie which has no connection with reality, but does satisfy your funny bones.

MY OVERALL RATING: 6.5/10

THE BREAK (veg restaurant)

Comet House, Next to Big Bazaar,

Satara Road, 020-24211111

MALGUDI DAYS

What’s in a name,” Shakespeare asked. Well, after visiting this place, I’d have to say there is definitely something to it. Naming a restaurant in a certain fashion may make a certain type of foodie client naturally gravitate towards it, which makes people go out of the way to use whacky names. There is a strong possibility that eventually the customer could get disappointed, since there is also that important aspect — taste. Even if eating patterns have changed and new themes have been introduced over time, a large chunk of customers still crave that onegravy- in-different-combinations type standard taste. It’s really not their fault either, as when you travel in or out of Pune within Maharashtra, this particular dominance on the palate is witnessed in restaurants across the board. You have no option left but to dig into these ‘typical’ dish names and their preparations. I was one such customer who got pulled in by the name of the establishment in this case. My visit had great expectations… and one knows what generally happens to them. The menu here is predictable, with one ingredient in different combinations. It is touted as more than just a seafood place — the fact is that seafood is 15 per cent of the menu. The rest is replete with the aforementioned ‘typical’ preparations. The Bombay duck roasted in rawa, and deep fried wasn’t too exceptional but for its absolute freshness. If this particular variety of fish is not served absolutely fresh, it falls apart when you take a hold of the piece. Mutton could probably be avoided in the starter options — the Boti Kebab was clearly not a thigh piece as it should have been. The Makai Kebab looked bright green (with probable colour enhancement), but also tasted pretty good. The curries (dominated by fish preparations) come in about five gravies – Tawa, Masala, Goan, Koliwada and Hara Masala, names that more or less suggest exactly what is going to arrive on your platter. We chose the Goan Curry. There was complete absence of coconut and the gravy was tangy but not from the small amla like fruit — bimla — which is usually used in original Goan recipes, but by an excess of tomato. The inflation in onion prices was visible in the gravies as well. The biryani was more like a tawa pulao in terms of taste and preparation. The ambience of the place had not much to do with the name, or theme or the menu — even if the wonderful fictional town created by R K Narayan is immortal, the preparations here aren’t exactly so. If you like that familiar ‘typical’ taste and do not wish to have a pinched pocket, do visit!

Opp Shivaji

Statue and

Thorat Udyan,

Kothrud Circle

WOODS

The stretch from Chandni Chowk to Mulshi is a very famous area among couples, ‘spirit’ ual friends and corporate people.There was aboom around 10 years ago on this stretch. Saturday nights used to be a hot spot for every hotel on this road. Unfortunately and eventually the quality of the food, service and ambience started to decline in the past few years, making it difficult for couples and female friends to dine in safely till 11.30 pm or so.However,now, after visiting this place, I feel that it has crated a benchmark for other fellow hoteliersto follow some decent guidelines, improve the quality of service and food and most importantly, include global variety in their food preparations. After visiting Woods, which is exactly opposite of octroi post on Paud- Mulshi road, I could hardly believe its existence in that area.The ambience itself is represented in its name.With a pool table in the centre and three other sitting areas, tells you how ample the space is. Even the dim lit tents have a cozy feeling, with no sketchy or shady undertones.And the food factor isn’t lacking either. An amazing wide spread, this place has almost everything including sizzlers, Indian, Chinese, oriental,Thai, pastas and Arabic food.The taste, too, is great.Apart from food, hookahs are also served. Drinking buddies might through back an extra peg or two as the rates are very reasonable. But what I would love to talk about most this week, is the ambience and the fact that you can bring along a date and truly enjoy the evening below an open sky. I also noticed different genres of customers here, all having their good time.There was a couple, a family with kids, pool playing youngsters and only-girls groups.The service is good, polite and on their toes. The owner being around, helped to maintain that standard and also I think keep away unwanted disturbances. One thing to keep in mind though, is to make sure, you have your feet covered when you visit as you might have crawly friends giving you company.After all, you are going to dine in the Woods!

MY OVERALL RATING: 8/10

Woods, Opposite Octroi Post, Paud Road, 9890222230

GANDHARV RESIDENCY

After a request from a reader, I decided to eat at this restaurant. And the visit here took me down memory lane — about 18 years ago, I used to eat my fill here on weekends. At that time this breed of restaurants were limited to just a handful, and this was one of the most popular. That was also the time when eating out was a much bigger deal and happened only once or twice a month for most Puneites. So, I had another reason to visit - to refresh the taste of this place on my palette. Gandharv Restaurant is in the lane behind the Gandharv Residency. The resto-bar here is called Rasagandh. While browsing through the menu, I noticed that it had evolved — the change reflecting the world around it which is changing too. The menu is varied with lots of paneer dishes prepared in different forms. Shorbas too come in five different options. The Murg Pudina Shorba was different and tasty. Motiyon ke Bahar (stuffed paneer tikka flavoured with herbs and spices) was of a sweeter taste with a negligible amount of herbs and spices. Jhinga Anarkali (prawns marinated in spices and pomegranate seeds) was something new and turned out to be very tasty. Though the variety in main course was abundant, with options from murg, prawns, fish, lamb even Pan Asian with Sichuan style preparation with five spices and a few more well-known Thai and Chinese preparations. The Pan Asian section also has an elaborate soup section. We chose to order Paneer Tikka Masala and Chicken Walnut Broccoli with Fried Rice. I imagined (quite rightly) what the taste of the paneer would be. However, I found the Chicken Walnut and Broccoli lacking. If only the walnut had been crushed and added and chicken pieces cut in slivers, it would have turned out well. The dessert options here aren’t many — Jelly, Fruit Salad, Gulab Jamun, Kulfi and Caramel Custard. So, there wasn’t much to comment on this. Gandharv Residency is a great place for friends in their late thirties to have a reuinion. There’s a long list of spirits, quiet ambience and below-average speed of service. The ones who are impatient and hungry, will find that taxing. Even though there were only a few tables occupied, the service was slow that day. Otherwise, those who wanted to reconnect with the place (as I did) must visit.

MY OVERALL RATING: 7.5/10

Gandharv Residency, 1291, 1292, Shivajinagar, behind

Gandharv Restaurant, 020-25520903

CREAM CENTRE - FERN HOTEL

Many of us believe that options in vegetarian cuisine are few. This happens when we take a look at the menu and find it difficult to choose a particular preparation. It is even more tedious when half of the items on the list are tried and tested. When you visit Cream Centre, the tables are turned. For the menu is vast, varied, completely vegetarian and most importantly they have all sorts of global preparations under one roof. Cream Centre, they say, is a 50-year-old eatery that began on Mumbai’s Chowpatty. Having traveled sucha culinary journey, they now have found a place in Pune - a restaurant outlet at the Fern Hotel. Plush interiors, well-lit ambience and ample seating capacity makes this place suitable for family outings. Two things in particular will make me always remember this place. Firstly, for its menu card. I haven’t seen such immaculately presented content before. Clear, high definition photographic illustrations make your mouth water. The first few sheets present their all-time hit preparations, things for which this place is famous. So, I tried those. Among them are the Original Chana Bhatura, the World’s Best Nachos, Onion Rings, Lime Ice Soda and Sizzling Brownie. Except for the Lime Ice Soda and Onion Rings, the rest were true to their word. Lime Ice Soda had ice-cream blended with lime and soda, which I, personally, thought to too sweet. I had thought it would be like an iced tea. As for the Onion Rings, the batter was more puffy and less crispy. I make it the other way around. However, with Onion Rings, there’s an abundant variety of preparation methods, so I’m not rejecting their version. The other unique thing about this place is its dedicated management. The huge success of any restaurant lies in this. I had ordered a Lebanese Original Falafel after seeing a photograph in the menu. The picture showed iceberg lettuce in it, but when it was served it had more of cabbage shreds. I brought this to the notice of the manager and he promptly requested me to note it down in the feedback form. As usual I filled it up thinking no one would bother to read it (it happens in most cases), but to my surprise I got a call from a concerned general manager the very next morning! This is the first time such an event has taken place since I started reviewing. Cream Centre is recommended for families with children (they will love pouring chocolate over the Sizzling Brownie). Not recommended for diet conscious people. Why? The name itself should be a clue. It would be pity if you discuss diet plan while dining here!

MY OVERALL RATING: 8/10

Cream Centre

Fern Hotel, Lane no 10, Opp Solaris Gymnasium,

Kalyani Nagar, 0204018000

CITRUS

This is first time I stepped outside Pune, to visit the twin cities of Pimpri-Chinchwad. It’s also a coincidence that this hotel is also first of its kind in PCMC. Citrus Hotel is situated exactly opposite the municipal building. The main buffet at Beso is laid right in the centre. The high roof gives the ambience a vibrant and classy look. The buffet has plenty of food preparations on display — 12 salads, four starters, two oriental, two continental preparations, three veg main courses, three non-veg main courses, two types of rice, two noodles and 10 different desserts. This is the largest spread I have gone through for a while. They have inserted few small things that make you remember it for. For example there are banana wafers and potato chips kept on the table. This is very unique, for I started nibbling those while browsing through the spread. The taste is right on the mark. From all the items, Mustard Fish Salad, Peanut Sheek Debab, Paneer Tikka Masala, Pepper Pulao, Fish Steaks in Oriental Sauce, Mushroom Curry and Fruit Trifle Pudding are what I remember the best. However, the continental preparations needed a more experienced touch. It is quite easy to prepare pasta, but if the sauce is not perfect, it can be difficult to settle with the way it tastes and the appearance. The Indian and Oriental preparations are undoubtedly true to its origins. The service is polite, smiling and attentive. On Monday evening, the buffet was filled with diners. And why wouldn’t they be? This huge spread costs just Rs 299 + tax. Though there aren’t any live stations, it is still worth it! After all, not many like to wait at a counter while food is being prepared, they just shoot off and dig into the spread, and I did the same!

MY OVERALL RATING: 8/10

Beso, Citrus Hotel

Opposite PCMC building, Mumbai-Pune highway

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