Pizza Hut.......R.I.P.

Yesterday we visited Pizza Hut at JM Road, Pune, after quite some days. Normally we prefer a home grown brand which is very good value for money and we generally opt for home delivery. However, once in couple of years or so, when my aunt from Nagpur is in town we head for the JM Road outlet of this reputed international chain to sample their latest offerings and yesterday was one of those days...

We walked in early for lunch, 12.20 pm to be precise and had placed our order by 12.35. It was chicken supreme and chicken handi pizzas for me and the boys, the veg crown pizza for my mother and her sister while my wife opted for the chicken lasagna. With garlic bread for starters. In line with his training the waiter informed us "10~15 minutes for the pizza" which was absolutely fine with us as we had come to enjoy a leisurely lunch.

Soon the place started filling up and we could see that our waiter who was the lone guy taking care of half the restaurant was soon going to be under some serious pressure. The pizzas started arriving one by one, no issues there, although it took us three reminders to get the mustard served on our table and by the time it finally arrived most of the pizza was already consumed. Tastewise they were fairly ok with the chicken handi being quite spicy as indicated in the menu and the toppings sparse as ever, in keeping with the usual Pizza Hut standard.

By 1.15 all of us were through with the pizzas while my wife was still waiting for her lasagna ! Of course we had been reminding the waiter every now and then and each time were assured that it was "on its way". Finally I decided to walk across to the kitchen counter to speak directly to the staff and was informed that lasagna usually "takes 10~15 mins". The fact that it was already 45 mins since we had first placed the order obviously didn't cut much ice with him. So I asked for the manager and was directed to the girl who was at the front desk, taking reservations and showing people to their tables.

This so called "manager" arrived at our table but having listened to our problem was at a complete loss for words or explanations. At just that moment the lasagna finally arrived allowing her to beat a hasty retreat. What followed then was the last straw. The lasagna which appeared undercooked to begin with turned out to be completely cold inside, so much for all the explanations regarding the baking time required. It appears that the restaurant was taking a short cut, had pulled out a frozen dish and without thawing it properly had done a cursory job of heating and served it. For a dish priced at Rs 439 + taxes !

While all this tamasha was going on we ordered couple of portions of tiramisu which arrived as frozen desserts, rock hard. Don't know why we took this risk, that too for an item which even several good restaurants find difficult to prepare. Anyway, the lasagna was sent back and we called for the bill which incidentally has service charge @ 10% included in it, paid and departed by 2 pm, bringing down the curtains on what is most certainly going to be our (my wife and I) last visit to Pizza Hut. A restaurant which opened with much fanfare over a decade ago and was famous for the large groups waiting outside (up to two hours) now deserves to be given a quiet burial. R.I.P.

Coconut Grove, coastal cuisine for the diehard

With the month of September, when fish eating commences as per tradition, already into its 4th week our family was yet to break its fast in this regard. So to celebrate my wife's birthday we headed to Coconut Grove for dinner couple of days ago. It is located in Mangalwar Peth, opposite the Ambedkar Bhavan in a building occupying 4 floors with ample seating, including an open air rooftop section for the serious tipplers. There is sufficient parking in the compound of the adjacent building, at least in the evenings when I have usually visited, very important considering the location.

As usual we were early, reaching before 8 pm and quickly got down to ordering. In seafood we opted for the Surmai Tawa masala and Prawns Sukha, accompanied by Chicken Gassi, Veg Stew and fresh Appams to go with them. All the items turned out to be excellent, the surmai coated with reddish spicy masala and the prawns were finger licking good while the stew and chicken gassi in coconut based curry were ideal for soaking up the appams. And to mop up the gravy we called for a portion of plain steamed rice which helped settle the meal.

The Solkadi as appetizer cum accompaniment was at the right temperature, spiced just to the right extent and serving its purpose as a coolant. Still, to end on the right note we went in for the chocolate ice cream, a truly satisfying end to a great meal.

The service was quietly efficient and reflects the effort and attention of the management towards sustaining the standards of this restaurant which otherwise maintains a low profile and is mainly frequented by the diehard fish eater.

Going by the usually (high) pricing of sea food eateries Coconut Grove appears reasonable and our meal for 5 cost us Rs 2200, inclusive of the desert and without alcohol. I definitely plan to visit this place at least once more during this season and the next time would probably be more adventurous on the fishy side of the menu !

Shivsagar, JM Road, something for everyone...

When in a group which cannot decide on the type of food, except that it be vegetarian, and looking for quick service on a working day, then head to Shivsagar. They have two outlets in Pune - on JM Road and in Aundh - and it was to the former that we headed last friday.

The range on the menu card is truly one of the longest - apart from pav bhaji and other street food it ranges from south Indian and north Indian to the local avatars of chinese, italian and mexican followed by a wide choice of juices, shakes and sundaes. Extremely popular with the family crowd in the evenings and all types during the day, the Shivsagar JM Road outlet has been around for two decades now (I think, maybe longer..?). Its still going strong and holding its own on what is now "eat street" in this part of town which sees stiff competition that has affected the fortunes of quite a few joints over the years.

On this occasion we decided to skip the traditional favourite - pav bhaji - and opted instead for the (north) Indian fare. A word of caution, if you have actually lived and eaten in the north then don't expect this to be anything similar. However, those used to eating the moghlai/north Indian stuff churned out by the Shetty promoted vegetarian joints in western India would have got used to their cooking and taste and Shivsagar scores well on this count.

We began with their veg spring rolls for starters followed by the paneer capsicum bhurjee and dal tadka accompanied by aloo parathas and tandoori roti, ending with jeera fried rice. Most of these were our regular favourite items and we were happy to see that the quality and taste had been maintained. However, the aloo parathas which we were ordering for the first time were a pleasant surprise with a nice homemade feel about them.

Service was prompt and efficient as ever and we were soon off to our respective engagements. Of course, we chose to reach the place early, before 1 pm on a friday and with the crowd yet to pick up the staff was not really stretched. But when the place really gets packed and sunday 9 pm being the most extreme situation, the waiting can be quite painful and if possible do try to avoid such days or time slots !
Unless ofcourse you are in a vegetarian group and can't agree on where to go...

Purepur Kolhapur....good but...

Purepur Kolhapur is a restaurant chain offering Maharashtrian/Kolhapuri cuisine at their various outlets in Pune and some in Mumbai. We have been frequenting the one at Erandwana, near Mehendale Garage, for some years now and generally coming away satisfied with their tasty thalis and efficient service.

My younger son is especially fond of their offerings and recently I had an opportunity to visit with both my sons, my wife being away on a business trip. We reached early and found the place all to ourselves despite being a sunday evening, probably the effect of shravan, the season when quite a few stop eating non-veg.

The popular items on the menu are the mutton fry thali, mutton masala thali, chicken fry thali and the chicken masal thali, priced in the range of Rs 210~240. Each thali comes with a portion of mutton or chicken, dry or with gravy depending on whether you opt for the fry or masala. The mutton thalis come with a small bowl of kheema curry while the chicken is accompanied by egg curry.

The standard accompaniments are the two rassas- pandhara (white) made using the meat stock and tambda (red), both with coconut base and they go well as soup/starter or as a thin curry with the rice pullao. The rassas are unlimited while all other items are limited. The rotis (or ghadichya polya) served hot and with ghee are a good change from the tandoori rotis that one is used to with moghlai food.

                                                          The Chicken Masala Thali

We ordered the chicken fry and masala thalis with a separate, additional plate of the mutton keema with extra rotis. For those not upto a full thali, all the items are also available on "plate basis" in the price range of Rs 80~150. The food arrived promptly and we tucked in with our usual gusto. There is a general impression that kolhapuri food must necessarily be spicy although thats not really so. The stuff we generally order at Purepur is reasonably mild, suits our palate and hence remains a popular choice in our family.

However, on this last visit I somehow felt that the place could do with a revamp. It's a functional eating joint and the decor is modest but the place now requires some maintenance, perhaps a fresh coat of paint and a bit more attention to hygiene. I haven't been to the other outlets of this chain so I'm not sure how they compare but the next time I visit Purepur Kolhapur near Mehendale Garage I am certainly hoping for improvements. Else there are other options for this cuisine, though it would be a challenge to convince my younger son to try something new !

Bipin Snacks & Juice Bar

If you are walking down Karve Rd, on the footpath just outside and near the entrance gate of the Sahyadri Hospital you will encounter a crowd of students, office goers and general junta which will compel you to step out on to the road to avoid this obstacle in your path. If you were to look closely you would see a "hole-in-the-wall" kind of outlet or tapri in local parlance, going by the name of Bipin Snacks & Juice Bar. Just for the record there is a board hanging at the counter saying "please do not block the foothpath for pedestrians" or something to that effect, though its obviously not having any effect.

Bipin happens to be our family's favourite go-to joint for a quick breakfast parcel and we have patronised it for over 6 years now. The menu is focused on the popular local snacks - kanda pohe, uppit (upma), sabudana khichdi, sheera, vada pav, idli chatni, pav pattice (bread pakoda) along with chai and 200 ml bottled water or lime juice. Priced in the range of Rs 10 to Rs 25 per serving, it's tremendous value for money resulting in it's huge popularity and turnover with fresh ingredients and several batches being prepared each day. Testimony to this being the fact that we have not experienced any adverse after effects in all these years.

Coming to the menu , the sabudana khichdi and the vada pav are the stand out items as far as our family is concerned. The khichdi has been certified by my wife, a self confessed connoisseur of this dish and what really impressed us is the consistency in taste which they have maintained over all these days. Its not too spicy which is how we like it though you have the option of sprinkling it with the batata chewda coated with red chilli powder. The vada pav comes with an interesting chutney spread on the inside of the pav and is the about best you can get in these parts. The first time we packed a big order for my younger son's birthday it was a big hit with all the guests young & old.

A portion of sabudana khichdi, minus the chewda.

With its strategic location and tasty offerings the popularity of Bipin Snacks is bound to keep growing and I do hope they continue to focus on their core menu and maintain the tapri format for quick service, all of which combine into a killer USP.
                                                        

Sigree, predictable fare...

The City Point complex at Dhole Patil Rd Pune has housed many restaurants over the years beginning with Bombay Brasserie which started the trend of the Sunday Buffet Brunch, to my knowledge one of the first such restaurants in Pune outside of the starred hotels to do so. Today of course there are many options though Sigree remains a favourite especially for those seeking consistency and predictability in the overall experience.

The weekend buffet is offered at an all inclusve price of Rs 558 for non-veg and Rs 499 for veg and comes with 5 types of starters for each selection followed by a relatively modest though quality range on the buffet counter. Along with complementary mocktails and breezer it represents good value for money.

Last sunday the NV starters included the usual selection of chicken, lamb, fish and prawn. The spicy chicken tikka was different and came out tops in our opinion. The lamb seekh kabab was also nice though the Afghani fish tikka was the standard "assembly-line" fare that one has got used to these days with the widespread use of the imported basa fish. The jhinga was coated in a thickish gravy and could have gone better with the main course perhaps.Veg starters included paneer, chaat samosa, aloo, mushroom and pineapple based offerings and were generally ok as per the feedback from the vegetarians in our group.

As usually happens in such cases, once you are through with the starters there isn't too much that you can do with the main course. So I focused on the dahi gosht which in my opinion was the best item of the day along with some bhindi masala and the biryani rice. The usual (black) dal sigree was absent this time, a disappointment of sorts as they do a pretty good version of it. However, it was the desert selection which could have been much better. Barring the ice cream whose consumption was somewhat curtailed by the weather there was nothing really worth trying, even the fresh fruits were yet to ripen.

Having been a regular at Sigree over the years I can see that some rationalisation is taking place with the opening of more outlets of the group (including Mainland China) across the city. For one, Oh Calcutta has been clubbed into a portion of the original Sigree area with the result that the buffet counter has been re-located to one end with lesser space. The live roti counter has gone back into the kitchen with the desserts squeezed in at one end of the buffet.

As I said earlier, one knows what to expect when eating at Sigree and hence its a safe option when going out in a group. However, if you are seeking something different and willing to spend more, then its time to look at other options which are coming up by the day in this fast growing city.

Dakshinayan, attempting the authentic...

For generations of folks who have lived in western Maharashtra, especially places like Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, the experience of "South Indian" food has been defined by the friendly neighbourhood Udipis. So whether it was a quick breakfast or a working lunch or an outing with the family in the evening, the standard fare of idli/vada sambar along with various types of dosas and uthapams could always be relied upon. Of late some of these places have evolved with the changing times and tastes to offer improvisations with noodles, cheese/pasta and other international add-ons.

Hence, its nice to come across a restaurant which sticks to the fundamentals and offers reasonably authentic vegetarian south Indian food to the local Puneite. Dakshinayan on JM Road near the Sai Service station is at the very same location which old timers would recall as Portico, an extremely popular "bar & restaurant" of the nineties. Its the same compact place with limited seating and the same vintage car placed outside the entrance, but of course with a very different menu.

The menu itself is not very elaborate, focussed on the key essentials and this I believe is the secret of how they manage their kitchen resources and ensure super fast service. They do a mean tomato pepper rasam which we opted for starters accompanied by the molgapudi idli, just the right combination for the chilly weather this monsoon in Pune.

For the main course we ordered more or less the usual favouries like masala dosa, myore masala dosa, veg and onion uthapam and medhu vada with the bisibelle bath being an exception of sorts. The mysore masala had just the right amount of chutney spread on it which allowed one to enjoy the taste of the dosa itself as well as the accompanying aloo bhaji which was excellent. The uthapams were up to standard and so also the bisibelle, though some more spice would have made it more interesting. Relatively speaking the medhu vada was a tad disappointing, though I would put it down to our conditioning over years of eating this item across various udipis which seem to have developed their own formula.

The accompanying chutneys add an interesting flavour and help to complement the main items resulting in an extremely satisfactory experience overall. A word on the sambar, which for my wife and mother constitute the yardstick for concluding on the authenticity of the place and which is one of the reasons that we never visit Pune's most famous Udipi located nearby on the parallel FC Road. The sambar at Dakshinayan met with approval and seems to have passed the acid test !

We concluded the meal with the rava kesari for dessert. Portion size was large and ideally should be shared by two people. Good to taste with the right level of sweetness leaving us satiated yet wanting more. Quite definitely a place that I will visit again, to try out other items on the menu including one of my personal favourites - lemon rice.