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

The Great Kebab Factory

Kebabs are becoming more than just a starter. Ordering them is now a trend. After all, they fulfill the need for variety, taste and fill you up — everything you look forward to in a meal and The Great Kebab Factory is a place where the kebab rules. There is a fixed menu which comprises six kebabs, one vegetable, one biryani, dal makhani and desserts. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options are available. Once you are seated, waiters dressed in jumpsuits (to fit in with the theme of a factory) start off right away, serving you one piece of each starter at a time. That way once you’re served each starter, you can decide which ones you want refills of. However, the vegetarian options are very few. There was Veg Galouti Kebab, Adraki Kebab, Paneer Tikka, Creamed Broccoli, Aloo Tikki and Tandoori Fruit. However, none of them were memorable. As for the non-veg, the house specialty Lamb Galouti Kebab was the one to remember. Along with that were Grilled Fish Steak, Lamb Sheek Kebab, two types of Murg Tikka, and a Tangdi Kebab. The vegetable served that day was mushroom — tangy and tasty. The Dal Makhani was perfectly done. The biryani was not the way I had expected, the rice wasn’t soft enough for a Mughlai Biryani. Another house specialty — Sheermal (sweet naan) — was served along with the mains. In dessert there were options of Kulfi, Gulkand Gulab Jamun and Gajar Halwa. The kulfi on a stick was also one of the best I’ve eaten. All of this is available for Rs 699 + taxes per person. The style of service is different. The taste is good. The quality of meat used is also good, but the vegetarian options disappointed us that day as most of the kebabs were cooked in one particular way — minced and shallow fried. But if you’re a kebab lovers, the meal here is a steal, especially if you’ve arrived on an empty stomach!

MY OVERALL RATING: 5.5/10

The Great Kebab Factory
Radisson Hotel
Nagar Bypass Road,
Kharadi Pune 14.
Contact: 27060606

PREGO ITALIANO!!

A new day of a new year and a very new restaurant’s review to start it off with! What more could we ask for? The place reviewed today has definitely raised the bar, when it comes to Italian cuisine in Pune. Whenever I think of Italian cuisine, select ingredients, preparations and serving techniques come to mind. Where those thoughts stop; this particular menu kicks off! I was astounded after going through the menu available in both Italian and English. Apart from the wood-fired pizzas, the homemade pastas rule here. There is a wide variety of homemade pastas which I consider imperative to an Italian kitchen. Of them, the Cannelloni was what I tried. And it was the best I’ve ever eaten! I was unlucky that day because I couldn’t try the pizza. For some technical reasons with the oven, the pizza was not available, but I’m sure that a pizza will also be the right choice here, as they have a wide variety of sauces to choose from. For the main course, the Mix Seafood Risotto also turned out to be a good option. It had generous servings of prawns, clams and shell fish. The ambience is spectacular, spacious and lively. The service is classy and polite. The only reason to avoid this place would be if you have a particularly Indianised palate. For those who have one, will not agree with me, that it’s an experience to dine at such a place. Most of the food served here — olive oil, fresh herbs, lots of cheeses, truffle oil, homemade pastas, wine sauces and al dente ingredients — could be acquired tastes. However, don’t expect such a classy experience — with the use of these ingredients — to be light on the pocket. There is a price to pay! With the food and ambience of this place, a visit is an experience in itself. With the opening of Prego, Italians have surely arrived and in style!

MY OVERALL RATING: 7/10

The Westin Pune

36/3-B Koregaon Park Annexe

Mundhawa Road, Pune 1.

Contact: 67210000

YOKO

With the temperatures dropping gradually, we decided that some heart-warming food was the order of the day. And what could be a better than sizzlers? I wished to head straight for a sizzler place however, there are only a handful of places to choose from. I decided to mix business with pleasure...now, while the menus at all the places are similar, one place stands out in a unique way - quantity. That made me remember Yoko. Yoko sizzlers has been in Pune for over five years now. Apart from chicken, mutton, beef and fish sizzlers, they also have burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, soups and desserts in the menu. Initially I had thought of trying the starters, mains, a side dish and the dessert. But it seems my memory had failed me and I had forgoteen the amount of servings at Yoko. And I could not go beyond the main course. We had the seafod mix grill and mushroom, cheese and noodles. The dishes were sumptuous. The quantity of mushrooms and noodles was plentiful, so were the boneless pomfret pieces and prawns. While we are talking about sizzlers, I recall that many people have asked me the recipe for one. And the answer is there is none. Because of the simple reason that anything served on a sizzler plate qualifies as a sizzler! Originally, steaks would be served accompanied by vegetables or starchy preparations like rice or mashed potatoes. The food would be served on a plate and later doused with butter and sauces to give it the ‘sizzle’. Eventually, this took on a specific form and we have categorised it as a separate preparation. Coming back to Yoko’s, the taste lingers even after leaving the place. The service is efficient as two servers managed the 50-people outlet - filled to two-thirds of its capacity even on a Monday - with remarkable ease. For me, personally, I think Yoko has the best sizzlers to offer in Pune. P.S.: You need not worry about digesting the huge quantity of meals provided here. The sizzlers are piping hot and you need to take breaks between two bites. This makes a sizzler a great meal if you have skipped lunch and want a hearty dinner that warms up your heart.

MY OVERALL RATING: 8/10

Yoko Sizzlers,

G3, 5th Avenue, Dhole Patil Road,

Pune 411001. Call: 020-26111389/30521400

POST 91

Sunday is the most sought after day in the whole week. Plans are made for days in advance. So what happens when there are no plans, or if like the best-laid ones, your’s go downhill too? Simple! Get yourself pampered by indulging in a Sunday brunch. To experience the most unique and mouthwatering delicacies and unlimited drinks late on a Sunday afternoon seems like a dream come true. Many of the restaurants, that you can visit foe a Sunday brunch, also offer you a free dip in the pool. So what makes a Sunday brunch so special? Well apart from the fact that food and the drinks are unlimited, your kids can enjoy the afternoon in the company of cartoons or mimics, and the wives can look in on some or the other exhibition or fair, which is going on. All this while you soak up the sun,chill and relax till late afternoon! To indulge in at his experience first hand, we visited this place which offered food and unlimited wine @599 all inclusive. Well it was surely a steal. The starters were abundant and tasty - be it chicken nuggets, crispy vegetables, cheese balls, sheek kabab, paneer tikka or oriental fish. The food seems like it was just pouring in along with the wine for the first half-an-hour. Deciding to take a break, we checked out a jewellery exhibition, which was on at the hotel. After a few more intervals, we again dug into live counters of chaat and pastas. Though the chaat was not the better option, the pastas surely won hands down. Having asked the chef to prepare a customised pasta, we sat and enjoyed the live band. Our few suggestions were readily honoured too! And when it came, it was worth the wait. To give full justice to the plethora of food options available, we kept taking breaks in our gourmet journey. The array of main courses baffled us so and left us guessing as to which one to try out first. After having dealt with the main course, it was time to indulge the sweet tooth. The display of the desserts was so tempting and inviting, it was a ‘bitter’ choice to make indeed, as we decided on the ones to sample. After the whole experience was over, we thought that three hours were in fact less to embark on such an amazing culinary journey. The service was attentive, though there was a lot of running around the table to satisfy the wishes of those present. The ambience and weather were also good. Only thing to note - be sure to call and reserve a table as soon as you get up in the morning. With the hordes of people trying to get in on the Sunday brunch experience, be sure you are not left out. After all, Sunday comes only once in a week!

MY OVERALL RATING: 8.5/10

Post 91, Lane 6,

Koregaon Park