Verdict: With a laidback ambience, interactive chefs and pretty good food – you should try this place out once atleast. Repeating the task is up to you.

Rating: 3/5

Price: INR 150-200 (Meal for 2)

An unbelievably tempting smell of patties sizzling on the grill hits you as soon as you walk into The Burger Times. Viman Nagar’s ‘House of Homemade Burgers’ does live up to its name. The green Formica tables, yellow plastic chairs and unavoidable graffiti on the walls are in fact, very inviting. It took this little diner a mere 6 months to win over the hearts (cliché, we know) and the appetites (quite literally) of the student population. Although the clientele is in no way restricted to students, the laidback ambience and prices that seem to adore the pocket do tend to draw a certain crowd.

The endless scribbled comments in the worn out ‘Your thoughts about us’ notebook, the doodles on the walls and the very loyal customers who spend an abnormal amount of time hogging the burgers proudly proclaim their deep love for the place. The Burger Times has its very own TV, radio and the express freedom to browse the channels on either, or both. You can put up your photos on the walls, you can imagine that the blackboards with the colored chalk was meant to be your canvas and let your creativity (or lack of it, they don’t judge) run wild. You can do anything you want all the while gorging on the pretty awesome steak and hot dogs. As long as you don’t scare other customers away and offend Auntie, you’re all set.

Speaking of Auntie, the Burger Times’ USP, while giving full credit to the food, is the power couple that runs the joint. Toto and Sanjana are the life of Burger Times. These two people have succeeded in setting Burger Times apart from the regular indifferent restaurants. Their amiability, genuine delight in feeding people and creating a homely atmosphere has resulted in a strong brand loyalty. That, however, is only half the story. Food! Mashed potatoes and Hot Dog on a stick fight the battle for the top spot. Both are overrated – sadly. Move to the Burgers – homely, subtle, succulent and very filling. The Burger Times is a perfect breakfast place with sausages, eggs and toast that help start the day on a delectable note. Chocolate Milk Shake and Lemon Iced Tea top the charts when it comes to beverages, the former very satisfying and the latter extremely refreshing.

The joint caters to the health freaks with their exclusive ‘Healthy Menu- Eat right… Feel right’ consisting of wholegrain breads and all that organic stuff.  The Burger Times loyalists tend to rave a little too much about the food albeit it not being so amazing, but credit must be given to the place and its people to create such a love for itself with the customers. Through those rose tinted glasses, the food probably does look: Awesome! Unbelievable! Best Burgers Ever! (All comments can be found in the earlier mentioned Thoughts notebook, more often accompanied by graphic descriptions). We do admit, it is pretty good. With its multiple appeals, the Burger Times is a place you’d definitely like to try out.  And did we mention they make their own mayo, mustard and patty? Not likely to miss this place, are you?

Mannat Randhawa

Sit under the night sky; enjoy the Puneri breeze along with finger food and main course dishes from the Indian and Continental cuisine. And on Friday nights, don’t miss the live music session by Chris and Mike of Strange Brew.

Chef Ramesh brings years of experience to the menu at MoMo Alfresco, the open-air restaurant at Courtyard by Marriott at Hinjewadi. To keep the offerings fresh, the lineup is changed every six months, and to feed the never dying curiosity of its guests hosts food fests every three months.

Open from 7pm to 11.30pm, the menu serves kebabs, wood fire pizzas, pastas, seafood including imported meats like the New Zealand Lamb Chops in red wine stew.

Staying away from the Chef’s recommendation on the menu, we started with a Chicken Tikka wood fire pizza and a Margherita while we enjoyed songs being belted out by the duo musicians, requested by the other guests around us; and he usual Cranberry juice to keep the palate from loosing any flavor.

From the tandoor, we ordered the Dahi ke Kebabs and Ajwaini Machi Tikka. The Dahi ke Kebabs were soft and melted right away on the tongue and the fish tikka, which had a hint of being marinated in flavored yoghurt, was well done as well.

The Roast Chicken Quarter was unbelievably scrumptious. Tender, the meat was a bait of brilliance when had with the topped sauce and sweet paprika. Pasta Orecchiette, an Italian preparation, with nicely tucked in cherry tomatoes was passable though as it didn’t excite the taste buds. Probably with a touch of some black pepper, the pasta would have a more enjoyable presence on the table.

Though we didn’t dig in to the buffet, which a few foreigners staying the hotel confessed to having loved, especially the Chicken Stew and Dal Makhani, we did approach the very tempting desserts section. We picked up a helping of the Kiwi Tart and Strawberry Mousse. Do not, I repeat, do not miss the desserts. Not wrapping up the dinner in this manner would be gastronomic blasphemy.

And since it’s an open-air place, go there as soon as possible, in case you are planning to. Remember, the monsoons are fast approaching.

Sahil Khan

[image credits: Nikhil Kumar Verma]

What happens when one of the city’s best beef burgers becomes cheaper by a 100 rupees? You get the Happy Hours at Hard Rock Café.

Targeting young professionals, for end of the day meetings or even just to come and relax with this wee-bit pocket friendly offer, Hard Rock Café brings a selection of premium food and beverages to you from 4pm to 7pm every week from Monday to Friday.

With beers starting at 210 INR for three bottles, you can choose from various other alcohols based drinks, including a few imported drinks.

Although the chicken wings are missing from the selection for the Happy Hours, the Legendary 10 oz. Burger available at just 260 INR makes up for everything.

Click on the image below to check the menu offering available for this promotion.

Kebabs have become a rage these days in Pune. Past few months have seen a lot of them opening around the city. With Bighdey Nawab in Viman Nagar, Oudhiana in Model Colony and Sixth Floor on FC Road, which are a few favorites, comes Le Kebabiere at Stone Water Grill in Koregaon Park.

Though Le Kebabiere isn’t for the pocket friendly as it falls under the fine dining category, the place is definitely recommended. But beware; if you’re the one who likes the kebabs and biryanis at dhabas and from the street, this probably might not the place for you as Shailendra’s, the executive chef, signature style always tilts to a lighter palette.

With the right amount of spices and oils, a great taste is lent to the dishes, allowing you to savor the food and yet not sweat it out. Noteworthy were Ajwaini Jheenga (Prawn), Murgh Malai Kebab and Mushroom Galouti (yes, a vegetarian galaouti). On the vegetarian category, Dahi ke Kebabs have always been a favorite. And unlike the ones at Bigdhey Nawab, they are not crusty on the outside making them melt in your mouth the moment they touch the taste buds.

A long search comes to an end with the Kakori Kebab, not for the kebab itself but for the sheermal on which it is served. Sheermal is a sweet red-crusted bread consumed in Northern India along with Mughlai gravy preparations.

Dum ka Murgh

Though the curry tasted heavenly, the Lagan ki Boti and Dum ka Murg disappointed us, as we had to struggle with the meat portions. On enquiry, we were told that the missing tenderness was due to quality of the supplied meat. Sad.

But the Jheenga Kaffir, sautéed with garlic, lemongrass and fresh kaffir lime leaf was brilliant. The prawns were cooked well and the tangy tomato sauce in which they were prepared left a nice after taste. The Dal Makhani, a benchmark test of the chef, was well done. Shailendara piped “In our kitchen, we put the Dal Makhani on a low flame and forget about it for the next couple of hours lending its thick texture.”

Dal Makhani

Luckily the meat in the Hyderabadi Murgh Biryani was tender as expected. As mentioned earlier, the biryani wasn’t the way you’d get anywhere else and was light on the taste buds.

One thing I had learnt at Stone Water Grill a year ago was, never to consume water when you’re eating at such places. Since the food has very light spices and other flavoring, the water neutralizes the palette easily. Always order an alternate drink while eating.

Mille Feuille of Malpua

The Anarkali, or the custom version of the cranberry juice, went well with the food. Le Kebabiere has a wide selection of premium wines, both Indian and international. From the well-known varieties—Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, they also stock lesser known ones like Vernaccia, Trebbiano and Gamay. The servers are knowledgeable enough to suggest appropriate wine pairings with the food.

Badaam Kheer and Malpua are good choices to end your lunch or dinner. The silver foil screen on the kheer was a nice touch.

Sahil Khan

When looking for pocket friendly, accha Indian khana think – Chaitanya Paranthas. Close to 600 paranthas are made each day with mouth watering varieties ranging from aloo methi, paneer ke parathe, cheese, gobi, mushroom, corn and onions being the most preferred ones. Served with a dollop of butter on top, cold curd, pickle and refreshing chutney, it can’t get better at Rs. 75.

Amongst those 600 served everyday, also relished are plain Paranthas with appetizing paneer preparations, chhole masala, rajma and bhindi! For health freaks, these paranthas are offered oil free as well. Assorted varieties of steaming rice, pav bhaji at a separate counter; mutton, chicken, prawns and kebabs are also offered prepared in a distinct North Indian style. For the unquenchable hungry souls Chaitanya offers Punjabi, Hyderabad and Chinese dishes to choose from.

Chilled and creamy Patiala Lassi with delectable toppings of dried fruits and fresh khoya easily becomes the most favorite beverage. Punjabi, Hyderabadi and even Chinese dishes are served from 11 am to 11 pm but paranthas invariable remain an all-time colossal hit. Do not forget to try the Peshawari Paranthas (Aloo and Cheese) or the all time hit Paneer Amritsari.

Vegetarian and non-vegetarian platters are prepared and served in separate sections here (the non-veg section was earlier called Tawas and Tandoors); the vegetarian food section is cleaner, better maintained and relatively uncluttered. A small corner on F.C. Road, the ambience is average and the sitting arrangement rather crummy. The insides remind you of the old quick bite restaurants that your dad’s and mom’s would frequent after college hours. One feels the need for a fan in the sultry weather when seated outside. The service is consistently fast, taking not more than ten minutes but the waiters barely interact. However, hot and savory parathas make up for the average decor and noise.

Home delivery within a range of 2 kilometers on weekdays only, requires a minimum order of 150 rupees.

Tejal Johri

Pizza for 30 rupees. Yes. You read it right. It’s a tapri in Model Colony, and the guy sells them like hot cakes. So it ain’t one of those oh-road-side-Italian-is-worthless. Obviously it’s a heavily Indian-ized version, but what the heck! Anything topped on a flour base, tastes good and for that low a price, it’s good enough for me.

Vilas Nair spent two months doing his research for his first shop for the right spot. Today, with four employees at the Model Colony tapri, and nine months later, he has four joints dishing out 200+ pizzas on a daily basis, a number which goes up on weekends.

With the Veg. Classic and Veg. Crunch starting at a mere 30 INR, the price just goes up till 50 INR for their Special Chat-Pata Chat Paneer which is loaded with double cheese, sev and chat masala apart from the regular oneness of a pizza. What really intrigued me was the custom ready to go electrical oven they were using!

On being asked about starting home delivery, Vilas feels humbled about the response his pizzas have been getting and even shows us a clipping from a recent coverage in a newspaper, but politely rejects the idea saying he is happy with his turnout from the four shops.

So till the time he begins to bring the amazingly affordable bread with topping to your door step, you can go get a bite at the following points:

• Next to Coffee Stop, Near Om Super Market, Model Colony
• Next to Archies, Deccan Crossing
• Rastapeth
• Adinath Society, in front of Parvati Industrial Estate, Satara Road

Sahil Khan

[image courtesy: Nikhil Kumar Verma]

Mad House Grill

Location: Pingale Corner, Lane 6, North Main Road, Koregaon Park

Number: 020 2612 4779

Rating: 2.75/5

Tucked in a corner of Lane 6, right next to Silk Route, is Mad House Grill. The place easily seats 30 people with enough space to give each table its privacy. The interiors are well done but apart from the garden table and benches on the outside, there is nothing “mad house grill”-ish about it.

The menu is quite extensive with a nice mix of poultry, beef, fish and vegetarian dishes. Food guides, have recommended the Mutton Raan which, unfortunately, was out of stock when we went visiting. So it’s sensible to call before paying the visit.

The service was average and the wait, a minute too long.

We started off with Chilly Garlic Potatoes & Cheese, which saw only partially boiled. The delayed main course included Cheesy Chicken Breasts and Swiss Steak Mozarella. The poultry was tender, and one was in for a nice surprise with their mushroom and olive stuffing. A word of caution for those allergic to the latter – there appears no mention of it on the menu card.

More often than not, one stays away from beef and mutton for the sheer lack of ability of the chef to turn it into something palatable. The captain was told categorically that I wanted a well done steak. Now I really wonder what would’ve been served had I not highlighted my preferences to the man- despite the knife, I found myself struggling with the undercooked meat.

Yet, in contrast to the mixed feedback I’d received before I paid a visit, I didn’t find the experience as disappointing as had been anticipated. Yet, one is far from getting their money’s worth. For those with a ear for music, let your hopes not soar high; for James Blunt graced the speakers through the entire dinner.

All in all, “Mad House Grill” is a visit for those adventurous with their palate and wallet. Pay a visit for the novelty of the place.

Sweet Chariot

Location:  Lane E, North Main Road, Koregaon Park (also in the lane opposite to the petrol station on Fergusson College Road)

Rating: 3.5/5

They became an instant hit with their confectionary. But Sweet Chariot went a step further and introduced pocket-friendly continental cuisine the previous year with their second store off FC road.

While the Koregaon Park outlet seats around 30, the FC road one easily makes space for 40 to 50. Yet, for those finicky about the service, Sweet Chariot is a disappointment. Service is slow and needs to be spruced up.

Yet one tends to fall in line with the above, since the “bill” is worth the wait! Recommended are the Chicken Pot Pie, Chicken A la Kiev and Paneer Shaslik, all for 75 INR only. The A la Kiev is a favorite not just for the taste, but for the sinful sight of parsley butter oozing out of the mashed potatoes! I hope the diet conscious give their strict food regime a miss for a night and try this.

Try and stay away from the Chicken Cheese Crumbs and the Veg/Non Veg Portuguese.

A suggestion though – don’t miss the cheesecakes. They have one of the best cheesecakes that Pune has to offer.

Sahil Khan

[ratings]

Rating: 4/5

Verdict: A good spot for spending a late afternoon after lunch or for that matter, even starting the evening with a few starters in the lounge area beside the pool area. We definitely recommend the pasta.

Location: Opposite ONE, off North Main Road, Koregaon Park, Pune

Oakwood Business Hotels has a new property in Pune. Opened this May, the premier residential property on North Main Road, Koregaon Park has already been getting rave reviews for its property and the multi-cuisine in-house restaurant.

With a capacity of 148, Senses is open 24×7 and offers its guests an array of cuisines from Indian, Continental, Oriental, Italian, Lebanese and Fusion. The place is headed by the talented Executive Chef Rakesh Kumar.

With many people always wanting to find out good places for genuine Lebanese food, I left it up to Sous Chef Miraj who has worked for a few years in the Gulf, to tickle my taste buds. While he prepared our main course, we quickly ordered a plate of Veg Tempura and Roshan Kebab. The Tempura was well prepared and the perfect golden coating that was achieved was something I had seen after ages. The Roshan Kebab, though its taste didn’t linger for long for me to be reminded of Lucknow, was good enough to make me want more with very quick bites. So I definitely am surprised at this as no other plate of kebab has been able to that to me.

Do not, I repeat, do not drink water with any of the dishes being served here. You don’t want to lose out on the explicit flavour. If you’re not into spirits, a glass of cranberry juice will do. The spirits menu easily had at least 50 cocktails mentioned.

As we wrapped up with our starters, Miraj got us our main course. Penne with white sauce and mushroom and a Lebanese Pita bread roll with Hummus. The pasta was heart warming as soon as it touched the buds. The white sauce tasted different as it was made of fresh cream, which later Miraj disclosed. The pita bread roll was bland as the Arabs prefer it hence making it genuine, but I wish it could’ve been spruced up a bit to match the Indian palette. The hummus that was served along tasted perfect as long as I scooped it up with a spoon, but the moment I dipped my roll or the fries, the flavour wasn’t strong enough to hold out. But definitely a well blended serving.

With a serving of tiramasu and cheesecake, we called it a day. The tiramisu was delectable but I was hoping for a softer cheesecake.

Senses is conceptualized as a Resident’s Lounge giving the expat traveller a casual dining experience after the hectic formal work day schedule. The ambiance is warm and welcoming offering a casual atmosphere in a five star setting.

They have an unlimited buffet at 495 INR, which is very much within the comfort of our pockets especially for a five star hotel. The property shall be having a grand launch in October, along with the opening of an Italian fine dining restaurant.

Sahil Khan

[ratings]