Verdict: Guess ice-creams preparations can’t get any better and more premium than this.
Rating: 4/5

Table for Two: Rs 800-1000
Address: Groud Floor, Amanora Town Centre, Magarpatta City, Pune (Now open at Phoenix High Street, Lower Parel, Mumbai also.)
Timing: 11am-11.30pm

Sometimes, teeny bits of trivia say a lot about a brand and the importance that’s given to the quality of product and service. While most ice-cream brands start with vanilla, chocolate and strawberry flavours, Häagen-Dazs started with coffee instead of the strawberry which only joined their growing stable of flavours after six years of operation.

Founded in 1961, in New York, Häagen-Dazs is now present in four cities in India – two in Delhi, and one each in Pune, Mumbai and Bangalore. They’ll be adding two more outlets in Mumbai in the next 60 days (at Phoenix Mills and Waterfield Road).

While their pint-sized retail packages were available at quite a few places in Pune, the brand’s not looking at just retailing their flavours but creating a new experience in the city when it comes ice-creams. You could as well refer to the lounge as a fine-dine experience for the dessert. Walk in, select your flavours, mention your choice of presentation and go take your seat. Then just sit back, relax, let your just finished dinner settle down and wait for the explicitly brilliant ice-creams to wrap up your day.

Starting at Rs 180 a scoop, the dessert’s can set you back anywhere between Rs 390 (for individual cups with choice of fruits and toppings) to Rs 1300 (for the chocolate fondue with eight mini-scoops, fruits and brownie).

We tried the Waffle Wonder, Fondue and the Cappuccino Truffle Ice (only takeaway).

The waffles, done just right – crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, were served with three scoops of ice-cream, sliced strawberries and banana, and some whipped cream.

For the fondue, the mini-scoops are served on a plate with dry ice in its base to keep them intact. As such, expect a brain freeze when you bite into that scoop after dipping it into the chocolate. Better, go at it slowly.

The cold cappuccino version’s topped with whipped cream and a scoop of chocolate truffle ice-cream. Mix it into the cappuccino for a creamy consistency. Wish we’d asked for some more whipped cream as it definitely could do with some more creaminess.

For those who’ve been to a Häagen-Dazs store abroad and are wondering if they serve the ‘ice-cream coffee’, yes they do. Though it’s not mentioned on the menu, just ask for it.

While most of us are used to paying not more than Rs 50 for a scoop at most ice-cream and gelato shops in the city, if you are spending a nice evening at say, Spaghetti Kitchen at the Amanora Town Centre itself, indulging yourself once in a while in the ‘Louis Vuitton’ of ice-creams as some call it is definitely worth it.