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 The initial reluctance that lasted for the first few days, has been replaced by people flocking to places serving seafood, reminding me of the commonly believed theory amongst non-Puneites, that seafood served here is not of exceptional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

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

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

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

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

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

IBIS - SPICE IT!

My relationship with Ibis Hotels is not new. I had been to one before, at one of their properties in Europe. I remember that it is a European budget hotel, which does not encourage valet parking or a bell boy service. If you wondered why I am talking about these things in a food review, it’s because as part of their ‘budget’ status, I remembered you have to prepare your own coffee, if having the breakfast buffet. It’s the same at this one. Even while entering the restaurant, you are welcomed by a sign board which says “take yourself a seat”. That, precisely says all. They serve an ala carte menu as well as a buffet spread. The latter is done only when the house count is more. On Sunday evening, the only option was the ala carte menu. The preparations are very few, comprising of appetizers, main course international, main course Indian and side orders. Both the non-veg and veg spread has the same pattern. We started off with the soup of the day, which was Tomato Soup. After tasting that, I thought it should have rather been served as chutney with any Indian snack. It was tangy and coarsely textured. The Five Spice Chicken with hot basil leaves and Insalata Mediterranean was pretty delightful with crispy iceberg lettuce topped with marinated mix vegetables. They also serve a combination meal comprising one vegetable, rice, dal, Indian bread and salad for Rs 249 which turned out to be worth ordering. The succulent paneer gets full marks. Macher Jhol was another individual order served for Rs 289 along with two rotis. It was bang on target for originality and preparation. However, just a small bowl with a few bite-sized pieces of fish concerned me for amount they charged. Chocolate brownie served with vanilla ice cream ended on a rightful sweet note. The service is not the most sophisticated and would normally have distressed me. That day, however, they tackled my table well enough. The thing which I liked the most is that you get the servings specifically fulfilled according to an individual’s need. Instead of paying for an entire dish, you get to choose from their preparations. It turns out to be pocket friendly for individual diners, I recommend this place to them. And if you’re not satisfied with the ala carte preparations, they are happy to cook for you according to your demands!

MY OVERALL RATING: 7/10

Spice It

IBIS,Viman Nagar,Nagar Road Pune - 14

(020) 65106200

Virgin

METROMIX

Cooking is like love, it should be entered into with abandon or not at all! That’s not originally by me, but has been quoted by legends. While digging into the menu at Metro Mix, you’ll find many more such gems. Seating is not much, still it’s neatly put up with a casual ambience and abundance in varieties of world cuisines served under one roof. More of a dining place, it’s a semilounge. The typical vegetables, roti and stuff is not all that is served here. Their passion for cooking reflects in the menu, for there is nothing fancy in it, it’s to the point and less confusing. All preparations have three options, vegetarian, chicken and fish. Starters are tempting, as was the Frosty Chicken in honey mustard marinade. The chicken was succulent while the crust was crispy. Thus, it made a very interesting preparation. The mustard and honey went well together. The main courses are also very good with additions from almost every country. Salads are also equally tempting. The caesar salad was crunchy and original. Pasta basics hits a bulls eye for its authenticity. Chicken Stroganoff, Thai Curries, Au Gratin, all find place in the menu. There is even a sizzler zone in which there are Mexican, Teriyaki, Italian and even Indian sizzlers (where your choice is served with Indian curry, jeera rice, French fries and vegetables served on a sizzler plate). For those looking for a sweet encounter, there’s Tiramisu, puddings, Banana split and Darsaan (thai delicacy of nest of honey noodles with vanilla ice cream) Such a type of restaurant was very much needed in this vicinity where cliched, monotonous eateries are in abundance. Though this place is nearing its first anniversary, we found only a few tables occupied on Sunday, but Metro Mix isn’t complaining. The simple reason being, it maintains a unique place and most importantly the taste justifies everything. A meal for two would cost around Rs 800. And considering the spread they offer, it is worthy enough. Recommended for all those who always wished to know how a meal in a five-star hotel tastes. Here, it’s not just the ambience, but the taste that matters!

MY OVERALL RATING: 8/10

Metro Mix, A Culinary Cruise

25/26 E Building, Kumar Parisar,

Near Mahesh Vdyalaya, Kothrud,

020-65004030

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

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

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