TURQUE - SAYAJI

Hospitality in Hinjewadi has boomed in the last five years. While only a few choices were available earlier, now, retaining guests seems to be the top agenda for ‘established’ establishments. In tune with this phenomenon, Sayaji Hotels has opened a poolside lounge bar for guests with a calm ambience and subtle lighting — for those who don’t want to shake a leg, but enjoy some music, with live bands that play jazz, retro, etc. It’s the kind of place you might want to catch up with your colleagues minus the office atmosphere. There is a wonderfully stocked bar here and the food is quite satisfactory. Given the nice décor and proven hospitality record, I had high expectations. The menu comprises of Oriental, Continental and Indian delicacies. There are plenty of one pot meals like Lasagna, Moroccan Wrap, Stir-fried Noodles and Rice etc. They also have some interesting options like the Tenderloin Medallions, Linguini pasta, Paneer Shashlik in gravy, Rum-flavored Lamb Barra kebab etc. All the Indian main courses are served with a Dal Makhani, naan, papad and salad. Amongst starters, I tried the Po Pia Thod (Rs 185), the Balinese Barbecue Fish (Rs 325), while for the main course we had Stir Fried Veggies (Rs 265) and Rum-flavoured Lamb Barra kebabs (Rs 325). The Po Pia Thod were similar to spring rolls, except for the addition of a tangy sauce — the only difference. The Balinese Barbecue Fish was not exactly barbecued, but coated and fried and then mounted on skewer sticks doused with a sauce resembling barbecue sauce. The Stir Fried Veggies had the addition of garden greens such as zucchini, broccoli etc. The Rum-flavored Lamb Barra kebabs were a major disappointment, for the overpoweringly pungent masala was not going down well with the rum marination. What was great was that this concern of ours was noted down fastidiously by the manager — a rare quality. Till date, in my experience, if a particular taste is not suitable for your palate and you notify the manager, he generally informs you ‘this is the way it is served here.’ But that’s something you won't have to experience here — the manager is a great listener. Desserts like brownies, Apple Strudle, gulab jamuns and rabri are available here. Apart from the food, the drinks are noticeably taxable. With the addition of some liquor to your meal, the overall cost easily crosses the 1k mark. Nevertheless, time spent in such a lovely ambience with colleagues, friends or family alike is unique and satisfying.

Turque,

Sayaji Hotel,

Mumbai-Bangalore

Bypass Highway,

Wakad,

Pune — 57

SPICE LOUNGE

Any good food needs ‘spice’ to enhance the flavor, aroma, taste and distinctiveness. There are terribly few foodsthat include no spice in any form. The use of the word as a theme point manages to attract a pretty extensive clientele, that succumbs to the exotic undertones in its usage. There is a quite a unique medley of Indian and Oriental cuisine at Spice Lounge. The ambience and the menu are completely contrasting, but the description of the food mentioned in the menu and actual food brought to the table are thankfully not. Though they have a well stocked lounge bar, their soups are even more inviting. Manila Sinegong is a soup with stir fried vegetables and diced chicken along with a poached egg. It comes in a nice coffee like mug and the taste is simply brilliant! It’s simplicity lies in the limited usage of unnecessary sauces and thickening agents. The tempura and chicken satay are true to their roots, while the mushroom cheese tikka is quite different and pretty appealing as well — the cheese is stuffed in the pocket of the mushroom and covered with a piece of capsicum, onion or tomato and spiked with spices. The Vegetable Saigon Hakka Noodles are flat noodles prepared similarly to the way normal hakka noodles are, with the only noticeable difference being the use of turmeric. Korean Star Anise Rice is another must try for — the rice is sautéed with star anise and cooked to give out a unique flavour, served with a sauce preparedfrom soy, chilli and oyster. I suggest you not try it with the prawn combination like I did, since they, along with the oyster sauce, overpowered the aroma of the star anise. Apart from the above, the Murtabak (veg stuffed pancakes), Kung Perrini salad, Peppercrusted Escabecha Pomfret, Mutton Stir-fry Bumbu and other Indian preparations also sound like some good options. Quantities served up are great, as is the price which shows no compromise on the quality. Inspite of it being averagely priced, one can find an ample use of exotic vegetables. Another suggestion would be to ask for your preparation to be made less oily, as you'd probably want the flavour of the spice to remain and not be inundated in grease. A four course mixed me al for two could amount to Rs 750.

SPICE LOUNGE

34, 35 Akshay Complex Off Dhole Patil

road, Pune-1

Tel no 020-26138941

ORGIA - Nal stop

Pubbing in Pune is no new phenomen o n now. And with newer and newer places opening up, the few that have been around for couple of years, are steadily scaling heights. Pulsating music is generally the only demand from such places, but Orgia manages to tickle the taste buds too. It has the usual suspects — a swanky bar stocked with domestic and foreign fluids, a DJ console, a dance area and ample seating space surrounding the dance floor and in the mezzanine as well — a good option for couples as the music is lower than at the main area near the bar. All this nestles comfortably in a cozy space, as a first glance at this place from the outside gives the impression that it is rather diminutive. Once you’re in, you’re in for a surprise. It is a common myth about pubs here that the food appears to be of a lesser priority. I had the same prejudice in mind. When asked, they provided me with two menus, one was an afternoon menu, while the other a regular, evening one — suggesting that the place not only a night-spot, but is open in the afternoons too. Instead of following the regular order from soup to dessert, I settled down with a couple of starters. Among these, the Korean Barbecue Chicken, Chicken in Plum sauce, Thai Chilli Chicken and Tandoori Garlic Bruschetta are definitely worth trying. Though all the sauces that are prepared in-house are appealing, the breast meat used in the tikka is a disappointment. The thigh meat they use, specially in the starters tended to be succulent and juicy. The Tandoori Garlic Bruschetta had been recommended by the establishment and I was told that it was an original invention that they had started three years ago. A large, roasted n a a n doused witha butter-coriander- garlic spread and topped and gratinated with processed cheese, it is a sure shot hit on the menu. Prices are marginally high but do not forget that there is also the ambience and music up on offer, as the place does not take any cover charge. When sports fever hits, the place changes from a lounge bar to a sports bar with live action displayed on a huge LCD screen next to the bar. I was happy to be proved wrong yet again for being judgmental about food served in pubs. For some time out to catch up with friends or relatives and to savour the gorgeous cocktails while enjoying lively music and finger-licking food, this is a great place to head.

ORGIA

Shop No-3, Soba Mansion

Mehendale Garage chowk, Erandwane,

Pune – 4. 099 60619477

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