PIZZAATTA

A huge pizza craze erupted around 10 years ago, creating a premium meal option for the masses. This was followed by a series of branded chains sprouting up, resulting in some pretty cut-throat competition. Besides that of course, there were a few attempts to serve the junta the kind of pizza that would be in the Rs 20 bracket. This particular commodity has become way less exclusive today than it used to be, but there is still a highly steady demand for it, which is catered to by this new place near Chandni Chowk. The notable difference about Pizzaatta, is that apart from pizza, they serve sandwiches, pastas, burger, soups and some ice creams and desserts as well. As they say, “In Rome do as the Romans do” — similarly, in Pune, serve what the Puneites really want. Pizza served in India is highly often ‘Indianised’ and amended to cater to the Indian palate. And that’s exactly how it is preferred and so served in Pizzaatta. There is this thick pizza base resembling a bread loaf, a delicious sauce and most importantly, the cheese used has good body, flavour and is superbly elastic when hot! The starters are interesting — their Chicken Popcorn (Rs 70) is crunchy and meaty with no substitutes other than pure chicken added in. The Garlic Bread was crisp, crunchy and flavourful. The eight-inch regular pizza is more than enough for one person and the price ranges from the Margherita (Rs 65) to the Supremo Veg (Rs 165). The prices of the 10-inch and 12-inch pizzas are double and quadruple of the eight-inch ones respectively. The steal would be the Calzone or Cono Pizza, where a Chicken Kheema Calzone will come for only Rs 100. The pastas, burgers and sandwiches are not worth much of a mention. The good thing about the place is that it is value for money. A meal for two would cost you Rs 400, inclusive of all taxes. You can also get meal combos for Rs 210 onwards. Here, they maintain cooking a raw base with toppings, which is a good sign. The toppings are included in sufficient quantities, which gives it a satisfying quality overall. This place definitely wins points for quantity, taste, ambience and service.

PIZZAATTA

1st floor, Bhusari Colony, Near Lohia-Jain IT Park,

Above CCD, Paud Road, Kothrud, Pune 38

SOUTHERN SPICE

Many places serving global cuisine have come up in the last few years, with many more filling up the scene in recent times. In all this galore, we somewhat fail to understand and promote our regional spread. So only the favourites like tandoori chicken, dum aloo, dal baati, khandvi, goan curry, chicken kolhapuri, Bengal fish curry, besi belle huliyana and even momos are showcased. But there is much more than these representatives that lie in India’s regional gourmet treasure. Similarly, beyond the universally popular idlies, dosas and appams, a spectacular and exotic gourmet cuisine blended with age-old spices exists in god’s own country — Kerala. Even though, Keralites are known fish eaters, the vegetarian spread is fascinating too! I was pretty sure that yet again a seafood specialty had to be covered, which will have a similar tried-and-tested taste. But when I glanced through the menu and found an equally balanced vegetarian spread — I was happy to be proved wrong! A glass full of Rasam (Rs 25) as a starter gives you a peppery feeling much needed in these unforeseen weather conditions. Drumstick Soup (Rs 65), a black channa Kadala Curry (Rs70), Avial (Rs70), Vegetable Stew (Rs 85), a small onion-tomato-coconut subzi Ullytheeyal (Rs 85) and a seasoned buttermilk curry, Kachiya Moru (Rs 45) proves this place hasn’t opened only to attract customers by its theme. They keep their promise and really serve regional spread. Although the squid preparation, especially in the starters is avoidable as it tend to be chewy if not prepared with care. Even the Lemon Rice wasn’t exactly the way it should be (it should have had red chillies, roasted split black gram, chana dal and peanuts). The Mutton Pepper Fry was too hot for my palate but was flavourful! Nevertheless, expect lots of coconut, curry leaves, pepper, cloves, cardamom and Kodampuly (similar to kokum) in various combinations. The main courses are excellent both in fish and mutton. The Malabar Prawns Curry (Rs 160) was incredible for the curry was made from roasted coconut paste and finished off with thick coconut milk. Also the Fish Moilee (Rs 150) was too good for its preparation made in coconut oil and having an optimum use of spices. The flaky Malabar Paratha (Rs 10) and perfectly fermented rice appam (Rs 10) goes well with the main course. The place is a small sit down restaurant, but promises original Kerala cuisine. Not the entire region is covered (noting the limitations of getting regional raw material). So savour true Indian regional cuisine as the trip down south is exciting and given the prices, absolutely worthy

KROSTINI

Pune has seen outlets for every street-snack, ranging from frankies to the sandwich combo and burger joints. There was a wave of dosa joints as well, which subsided, and I heard of biryani outlets too. The fast food market inspires such singular variable products to cash in on. But just because coffee proved to be a money spinner, it isn’t necessary the formula works for the rest too! Another place here to try their luck is Krostini — with a ‘K’. Crostini and Bruschetta are two Italian appetizers more or less defined as finger food. Bread is a staple diet of the region and reinvents itself in various avatars, of which bruschetta is well-known, while crostinis are now finding some identity. There is not much of a difference between the two, as one is consumed in central Italy while the other is sub-regional. At Krostini, on J M Road, 25 per cent of the menu is theme-based, while the rest is composed of salads, pasta, sandwiches, wraps, desserts and eggs, confusing me a bit about whether to go with the theme or order like it was a regular hangout. From the eight options available, I tried out the Exotica Krostini and Mushroom ‘n’ Basil Krostini. Both had a distinctive taste, in one the mushrooms were tossed in a basil sauce, while the other had thick long strips of zucchini and peppers topped with cheese. The similarities lay in the overthickness of the slice of baguette. You get three pieces of crostini a plate, averagely priced at Rs 59, all of which serve the topping and the bread in an almost equal proportion. Had this been a 70:30 proportion, it may have appealed more! The Krostini Special Salad was unavailable due to an expertise crunch, while the substitute ordered — the Greek Salad (Rs 59) was overpowered by onions against how it was described in the menu as containing bell peppers, black olives and feta. The wraps (Rs 69) needed some zest as the filling was bland and oily. Chocolates, muffins, teacakes and cookies are the saviours here. At the end of the day, it is a good concept, showcased nicely and just needs focusing on variety and more of a permutation-combination with ingredients. Currently, the demand is quick service and these changes will definitely light up the theme, which if implemented more tactfully, can give tough competition for other bread-based fast food places.

Krostini Restaurant

3, Anant Chambers,

Jangli Maharaj Road

KOLHAPURI RASSA MANDAL

The styles in which different foods are prepared across the globe often have common threads. The cooking technique can be similar, the ingredients used could overlap, but the spices do change from region to region. This was the primary thought that dominated my mind after visiting the Kolhapur Rassa Mandal. The French cook their basic sauces such as aspic or demi glaze by reducing meat stock and then further thickening it with a mixture of butter and flour called roux. The same procedure follows for stock or broth which are then made into soups or consommé. The rassa prepared at Rassa Mandal is a dead ringer for the above preparations. The only difference is that a thickening agent is not used here and of course it has its own original style of preparation. The similarity is an absolute coincidence! Here, meat chunks are boiled along with pounded coconut and spices, regionally called a vatan, to form the pandhra rassa which has the flavour of the meat (either chicken or lamb), while the tambda rassa is prepared similarly, the only extra addition being select red chillies along with spices. Not only is the flavour of the meat incorporated, the fat content which rises to the surface is what every customer digs. There is absolutely no use of red colouring or of a thickening agent used, which again is a true sign of the simplicity and authenticity. The menu has three basic thali preparations, in either Chicken (Rs 120) or Lamb (Rs 130) which come as masala, fry or rassa. It is accompanied by a freshly-prepared onion-curd raita, 10-inch wide, soft chapatis or bhakaris, pulao and an unlimited flow of the two rassas. Also available are Egg Curry, Gavran Kombadi Masala (Rs 140), Mutton Lonche and Dum Biryani (Rs 130). Pure vegetarians, keep yourself at bay as the meaty aroma floats through every nook and corner of the place. That sure doesn’t mean that vegetarians are left hungry here, if they can bear the smell and drop in. The Veg Thali (Rs 60) is pretty good and comes with a Besan Puri and Papad as additions. The Solkadi (Rs 15) here, thankfully, has a balanced flavour and no overdose of garlic. Disadvantages may be felt by selective customers, because of the cramped family room, seating arrangement, ambience or delayed service. But if all you want is to try a fiery, rustic, homemade style Kolhapuri preparation and savour the aromatic rassa (or broth as the original English culinary term for it is) you know where to head now. Amongst the long list of overhyped Kolhapuri joints, the rassa at Rassa Mandal is just something else.

Shop no 30,Vijaya Chambers,

Hingne Khurd,

Opposite SBI,

Before Santosh Hall,

Sinhagad Road,

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

BIGHDEY NAWAB - DP road

When Quick Service Restaurants or QSRs started making their presence felt in India around the end of the last millennium, no one could have imagined how rapidly the phenomenon would spread. Western cuisine is always associated with QSRs and in the last decade, most international brands have established themselves in this field. So whether it is coffee, burgers, pizzas or sizzlers the average Indian has ample options and destinations to choose from. Bighdey Nawab on the other hand is probably an unusual entrant into this category, as an intrinsically Indian option that serves rich, creamy, nawabi cuisine in a highly stylish manner. This place I refer to in the category of QSRs, since it is evident from their interiors, menu card and exterior visibility. It has a takeaway option, delivery services as well as a dining area. There are combo meals which are very reasonably priced available here too. Shorbas, starters, saalan (referred to as a main course), biryanis, kathi rolls and dessert occupy the rest of the menu. I was quite surprised to see a huge variety being dished out from the small, yet well-planned kitchen, visible through a glass window. The menu is as good as a fine dining restaurant, while the kebabs, be it Kakori Kebab, Dahi ke Kebab or Nizami Fish Tikka, had an awesome taste and preparation. The Tomato Shorba, Paneer Kundan Qaliya and Murgh Kurchan were other equally good options. Another thing that definitely deserves a mention is the presence of khoya in the gravies they prepare. One may find the gravies served here similar to any other place, but the difference lies in the quality and the quantity of khoya being used. Khoya was used extensively in Lucknowi cuisine to augment its richness and is in recent times best used to thicken the gravy. The gravies you may savour here have no excessive masala in them, nor do you feel the presence of too much khoya. The ingredients are used aptly and cooked delicately too. The perfectly balanced gravies accompanied by a moist Subz Biryani make an excellent combination. Their Shahi Tukda and Phirni is greattoo! The prices are reasonable (the abovementioned preparations suffice for 4 people for Rs 1200). Apart from the dining, there are small combos for 'chotey nawabs' too. Daawat-e-lunch is a set meal for the executive clientele. So while this Nawab may not really be ‘Bighdey’, he sure does serve up some glorious cuisine from the past!

10, Dhole Patil Road,

Shop no. 7, Near Nalini

Co-operative Hou. Soc.

Opposite Kapila,

020-26058655/ 56, 9673273448

SIIIP- Prabhat Road

Pronounced ‘Seeeeep’ with 3 I’s, this is a hatke bar among many in the city. The coffee fever seems to mellow down as, this season demands fruits first. Firstly, the concept of juice started years ago, with senior citizens stopped to sip on unheard of ‘health juices outside parks early in the morning. Now, juices have become a ‘healthy’ trend and have found a place in small eateries with vibrant decor. Juice bars are slowly making their presence felt in the city, almost par with the many cafés. Allergic to hot beverages, Siiip is not only a juice bar, but a salad bar too. This makes it a new concept. However, it doesn’t have an option of helping oneself to a salad mix one would like, as done in bigger hotels, where we can make our own salads. Maybe, it’s in a testing phase as it wants to judge the mindset of the customers and how the themeis welcomed. That’s why included in the menu is this unique saviour, which safe bet to give them definite business — the grilled sandwiches! Then there are freshly squeezed juices with no addition of sugar, power boosters, shakes and freshly p u l p e d smoothies. Everything here is fresh. No pre-pulped bottles or squashes. You can see this as the kitchen is across the counter and almost fully visible. There are interesting combinations such as carrot and orange salad, walnut and fruit pasta salad, banana and jam sandwich, hot apple and cinnamon sandwich and mixed fruit grilled sandwich. The seating is low, compact but comfortable. The infusion of vibrant lighting and dark black upholstery gives the place a classy look. Finally, the critic’s verdict — the salads are the best. Among them, the crunchy sprouts and Caesar Salad is filling. Apart from the moist croutons (on top of the Caesar Salad) nothing was wrong. There is a good variety in the types of sandwiches, but as this is a salad bar, expect lettuce in every sandwich. Again, the desserts have fresh fruits accompanied bycream or ice-creams.Average prices for the health boosters which include aloe vera, tulsi, bitter/bottle gourd, is Rs 30, while the opther items are priced between Rs 60 and Rs 110. So, next time you think of having some salad, juice or fruits, try taking a siiip of this!

SIIIP

Ghodke Plaza

Near Prabhat Police Chowki

Off Prabhat road

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

AHOY! - Aundh

Ihave mentioned the number of small eateries sprouting up in every corner of the city, however I didn’t mention how patrons are generally hesitant to trying out these. In dialogues with the owners and the customers, I found out that in spite of a fabulous concept, it still takes a lot of time to raise the footfall. Initially, customers often think twice before a first time visit, but a glance at the menu should clear all doubts about a particular outlet. Ahoy impresses with the contents of its menu. Though the list of items on it may sound familiar, the preparation is not. For instance, the potato skins served here are house-made with a crisp outer layer; the smooth, sof f e e l of melted cheese and the smoky buttery flavour is a surprise. Rest of the starters which are all deep fried, excluding barbecued chicken wings. Then there are the salads, pasta salads, hot dog, steak burger and even a BLT (bacon lettuce tomato) sandwich. The specialty here seems to be the pasta, as the vegetable lasagne was delicious — its sauce had the perfect tang, an even consistency and the flavourful veggies delicately layered between sheets of pasta were very filling. However, the minced chicken in the Bolognaise pasta wasn’t evenly incorporated in the sauce. lacked the even incorporation of the minced chicken into sauce. If the the chicken was finely chopped with a pair of choppers, lumps of cooked chicken in the sauce would have vanished. There are exciting options to choose from their entrees — Chicken Stroganoff, Chilli Con Carne (spicy Mexican minced lamb stew), Chilli Sin Carne (vegetarian version of chilli con carne). However there are few other options for vegetarians. The Carrot Cake with cream-cheese icing spectacular. The softness of the cake, richness cream and crunchy flavor is awesome. Ahoy is definitely a place to visit for the taste of its food, you’d probably rave about the price as well. I say with conviction that a meal for two including a starter along with a beverage, salad, two pastas and dessert would cost less than Rs 500. And then you’d probably have to take home the leftovers!

AHOY!

Shop No. 1, Madhav Memory, Next to Deluxe

Laundry,Kotbagi Hospital Lane, Aundh,

Pune 77988 26203

YOLKSHIRE - Karishma society, kothrud

Restaurants dedicated to a single cuisine are in abundance in Pune. When ever you think of Italian, Chinese, Thai, Lebanese,Irani, or other such location-specific foods you’ll have at least couple of options. Now, things have gone even more specialised. This time in the case of ingredients. While there have been small joints that evolved around idli, momos, frankies, wraps and the like, Yolkshire is the first eatery which deals only with eggs. The trend of eating eggs only for breakfast has changed. There are and were places which specialised in all-throughthe- day egg preparations, but this place stands out, more appealing if only because of its name. The interiors are very well thought out with frames showing various egg-related monuments, landmarks and graffiti. The menu is divided into two — one for morning and the other for evenings. At the moment, they are serving 10 different styles of egg all day. Pastas, burgers and sandwiches join the array in the evening. Each preparation is accompanied by toasted bread slices, baked beans and potatoes. You have a choice of asking for your dish to be made with the entire egg or only egg whites. This time around I do not have much to criticize about the way the food was prepared. After all, I’ve been told that along with tea, eggs areamonst the first things that people learn as first-time cooks. It is easiest to cook a boiled egg, then a half fry, scrambled, masala and poached eggs. So, by visiting yourself, you can find out which taste suits you best. I would like to mention that a few mastered preparations such as a glazy crescent shaped folded omelet, puffed up frittata, a classic French toast, Scotch eggs or any variation of the egg-nog added to the list would definitely set the bar high and give the customers more exposure to the various preparation styles of eggs.

Maybe all of these are in the pipelines as it is an early stage for Yolkshire — their promotions read Beta testing chota pricing”. Visit this completely new concept café and see if it turns into a r‘egg’ular hangout!

Yolkshire

Karishma Society

Off Karve Road

Kothrud,

020-41308801

ANGELS and DEMONS - NIBM

The other day I had a discussion with a friend about the growing number of cafés in Pune and how each new one has the scope to flourish. It’s not just that new places are opening up so often, but also that these new joints come with newer, never-seenbefore (at least in Pune) themes. I have observed the menu is some what monotonous at most places — it’s the ambience or theme that makes these newer places memorable. The Angels and Demons cafe is one such place. The name itself (Angels and Demons) does not directly connect to the menu, but does leave a good impression. Every wall has superb art posters of angels and demons. This gives the ambience a

\ slightly different look, compared to other places in town. The upper level serves hookahs, while the lower level has a seating area with an open kitchen. Once there, you can also can also witness all the World Cup action on a large LCD screen. The menu has an allday list comprising of sandwiches, panini’s, appetizers, pizza-burgers, eggs to order, baked jacket potatoes, cakes and pastries, and lots of coolers and shakes. Getting rid of thirst seems to be their top priority here, mainly because they have more quenchers than fillers. The list is good and resembles an American deli. In particular, the Nachos and Barbecued Chicken Sandwich were quite filling. The most interesting dish on the menu is the Pizza-Burger. This is a huge bun with the patty placed on a bed of tomatoes and lots of mayonnaise gratinated with cheese. The name was good, but I found the proportion of the size of the bun to the patty rather odd. The coolers and shakes such as the Devilled Asmoday (a chocolate and coffee shake with lots of ice cubes) A&D Special (strawberry and blue curacao with soda) are nice and so are the desserts — Deviled Chocolate Brownie and the A&D Chilli Dessert. Each was different than what I have come across before, but in particular, the A&D Chilli Dessert something definitely unique. To round it off, the theme for me is a hit! I was curious about whether the theme was intended to reflect in the menu as well. When I enquired, I found that there was no such intention. However, I did find a relation possible though — the sweeter may resemble angelic tastes while the hotter spices gives way to a more demonic side. To know on which side you fall, make a visit!

Angels and Demons

Bhagyasheela Apts, Row houses no 18, 19

Off NIBM Road, Kondhwa

EATMOSPHERE

The cafés in Pune are now not anymore an orthodox one. It has started to evolve especially being concept driven. Though there wore big giants entering this leisure café segment almost a decade back, now we witness stand alone cafés run by young and dynamic entrepreneurs. Also the stuff served usually in star hotel’s 24 hour coffee shop now finds place in these cafés.

Eatmosphere is one such, with the atmosphere being very unique. The interiors are fabulous and have been done in homely way. Cane furniture, wooden sittings; make shift curtains, and cushions. The menu is sleek and westernized. They have a few on lists as for now, consisting of sandwiches, coolers, salads, soup for the day, crepes and new variety introduced in cafés, as baked jacket potatoes which qualifies as fillers. Those are skin on potatoes having various fillings inside topped up with normally cheese or creamy sauce and baked to perfection. Among sandwiches there is Cheese Factory sandwich having 2 swiss cheeses grilled in three breads and sticking to their name. Other varieties in sandwiches are turkey, chicken salami and tuna. Then there is lettuce wraps which has warm filling inside and crispy iceberg lettuce as wrapping. We have seen refined flour wraps or commonly denoted as roomali roti, as the covering till now. So these wraps are completely healthy.

This neighborhood already have handful of cafés. This one is a fresh entrant (a week old), seems promising due to its innovative menu content and atmosphere oh! Eatmosphere!

Eatmosphere

Shop No. 4 Ashwini Place, Kedari petrol pump lane, Next to Hite bar,9967514019

ABA CHA DHABA

This review was duly awaited. I was reluctant to visit the place which has made a revolution. A cuisine which existed in bottom list of a typical restaurant menu card which had mis-lead people to be the only spicy preparation they had to offer. I am talking of Kolhapuri cuisine. By far the famous purepur kolhapur, has already taken the cuisine to a next level and in a right direction, making me nervous to criticize. This place is its sister property, which has different preparation on the list. It has been re-vamped freshly a couple of months back. The interiors are minimal with maximum seating capacity provided. The menu is just the same as you get at a dhaba. Meaty things maximum on the block followed by variety of egg preparation and summing it up with vegetables and the specialty – the dum biryani! Solkadhi happened to be a strong one, with the zing of garlic almost killing the flavor of coconut and kokum. Moving forward with the chicken sukka and paneer butter masala I noticed that all the dhabas around India love one thing to add in its preparations – the color red!- When enquired here out of curiosity for why it is being used abundantly, the owner clarified that at this dhaba the color comes from the chillies which they use to make the ground masala. Any how you have your fingers colored any ways! The paneer was not so soft has it has to be. The chicken was good enough and also had some gravy which was more tasty. The style in which the dum biryani served here is something to go for. Firstly the rice is soft having the smoky flavor for they serve it in earthern pot with a live coal placed at the centre, the grounded masala being perfectly balanced in terms of flavor and texture and lastly the mutton being succulent and not chewy to disappoint you when you are having the last dish for the night. Also one thing is noted, the biryani is served as a biryani and not like a tri colored pulao served elsewhere and proclaimed as a dum biryani.

The meal at this urbanized dhaba (read urbanized for the hygiene) the meal for two would cost you less than 350/- which delightfully satisfies all your corners! Only drawback would be the waiting, as even on a Tuesday night, this 40 seater dhaba was packed!

MY OVERALL RATING: 7/10

Aba Cha Dhaba

Next to Kulkarni petrol pump

Near Alka Talkies chowk

Laxmi road, pune

(020) 32418877

9921735078 / 9552526347

GRUBSHUP

If I can possibly find out in advance, I try to find out the details of the place I’m going to visit. So, when I browsed through the menu on the website of Grubshup, I was impressed with their concept and the content of the menu. The place, a youth hangout, goes an extra mile to provide quality food at affordable prices. The ambience is like a semi-lounge, with wooden box-like seaters instead of cushy chairs or sofas, best suited for collegegoers, but could prove to be a pain in the wrong place to people of other age groups. My first impression was that the menu was very contemporarily compiled, which it actually is, the only drawback is actually understanding the mix and match of the food items. It serves mocktails, breakfast, set lunch, ala carte mains, snacks, finger foods, ‘pitawiches’ (sandwiches made with pita bread) and desserts. All served strictly by the clock! I ordered by matching the available timings in which they are served. A unique method is adapted here to make your own meals, from the given choices. It was confusing, initially, to get the right stuff. I failed to understand the category of “stuffings” served separately in a bowl, and why kathi roll was mentioned in the same section. There was a Vegetable Manchurian on the list but noodles were no where to be found. Neither were the desserts, as only a couple were available. I won’t comment too much about the service, as annoyingly, I was denied a table for four, when the entire hangout had merely three tables out of twenty occupied. As for the taste, Lemon Iced Tea, Paneer Kathi Roll and Chicken Saiboo were disappointing, as the description clearly mentioned dumplings, while we got shreds of chicken. The Kathi Roll was over doused with filling and a flavour of ajwain remained in the after taste. The Po Boy Chicken Pita was good, as it is a normal chicken mayo filling while the Mint Caiprioska was fantastic! And so was the Brownie. One particular element which is mandatory for a hangout place, a glass of chai, was next to perfect!

MY OVERALL RATING: 4.5/10

GRUBSHUP

Law College Road – Canal Road

Pune. 9552510426

SAHYADRI

Meals come in different forms, taste and prices. It is usually depends on what the need of the location or demand. In our leisure we go for something tried and tested. Out of curiosity, we check out new places and if we are hungry, we simply munch on fast food. But when it comes to everyday meals, we stick on to the conventional dal-roti stuff. Today’s place is exactly for this. The restaurant serves Maharashtrian specialties with some new entrants like Ravan Pithla or Sev Bhaji. These preparations are normally served in the eastern part of Maharashtra. The uniqueness of this place is that you get a variety in preparation styles in one thali, which costs you only Rs 45. In that you get Puneri style amti, one cerealbased gravy which is cooked the Khandeshi way, dosa bhaji which is a Mumbai preparation as well as the usual roti or bhakari and raita. The range of bhajis are also good with ample quantity too. Palak bhaji was one of them. And the sitaphal rabdi as desert was amazing, with actual pieces of sitaphal in it rather than essence. The menu is short with breakfast items, grilled sandwiches, veg main course namely vangi bharta, etc. There’s an option of limited thali and unlimited thali. This meal packs a punch and doesn’t let it pinch on pocket. That is why it drew huge crowd resulting in the only drawback of this economically tasty place — the seating capacity. A few tables occupied and you have to wait for as long as 20 mins to get an empty table. Having opened merely a month ago, it was seen that it is quite popular with female students. Recommended to all those who want to try a varied thali on a minimum budget!

MY OVERALL RATING: 6.5/10

Sahyadri

Opposite to

Omkareshwar

Temple

Shaniwar Peth

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

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

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

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