BARBEQUE VILLE: Wakad can be fun too

09:46:00 Sudipti Singh 0 Comments

If you live in Wakad and want a fancy dinner out tonight, chances are you are heading to Baner or maybe Aundh? Being a resident of Wakad for quite a while now, I didn't really have big hopes from the new kid in the block, Barbeque Ville yet on a odd Wednesday night we turned up here with our blogger friends for dinner.



I was pleasantly surprised when we were ushered in to a fairly nice looking lobby then further into a swankier seating area and surprising still, to find a good number of tables taken up by people who seemed to be celebrating birthdays on the same day. We were informed that though the place had opened on Valentine's yet the footfall had been looking up. 

We chose a nice table by the bay windows. The decor, arrangement and lighting was at par with any self respecting restaurant worth their salt. There was a coal pit grill in the middle of the table for starters that you might have encountered before if you have been to Barbecue Nation or any similar restaurants. We were given skewers of marinated chicken, fish, prawns, mushrooms, paneer and pineapples to grill and for sometime we were a bunch of happy campers devouring the freshly sizzled pieces of yumminess. I personally liked the fish a lot and the pineapple as well. 

We were also served with the MARATHA TANGDI which were basically marinated and grilled chicken legs skewered on a mini-sword (you heard me right). It was delicious however we were served very asian-y dips that didn't really work for the beautiful Indian flavors. It was only after we called for the quintessential green chutney did we find a respite.





We were also served CHICKEN SIZZLER but it didn't rally make a mark for me. The sauces hardly did anything for the succulent chicken pieces and blanched veggies alongside, though delicious, didn't help.


CRISPY CORN was probably one of my favorite in the starters and we couldn't stop munching on this.

There was also a chaat cart which doled out DAHI PURI, SEV PURI, PANI PURI and the most intriguing PINEAPPLE PURI. The other chaats were good but the pineapple was a bit of a downer because it sounded like a promising dish, but was instead just puri filled with pineapple juice. It would have made for a good dish if there would have been actual pineapples, spiced up a bit. But overall the starters were a decent fare.



But the real winner was perhaps the mains. It was quite a spread with dishes ranging from THAI RED CURRY to BIRIYANI to MUTTON ROGAN JOSH. There was MALWANI FISH CURRY and CHICKEN KADHAI thrown into the mix.





I was already full from the starters hence I only sampled some of the dishes. The THAI RED CURRY and steamed rice for a light yet delicious eat. I was surprised by the care taken to prepare the curry because it tasted authentically of the coconut milk and the aromatic lemon grass. 

The CHICKEN KADHAI and BIRIYANI hit just the right spots even though I had just finished hogging on to a load of appetizers.



My fellow-diners seemed to bowled over by the MUSTARD CRAB and though I didn't try it I find compelled as a food blogger to inform all crab lovers to try it out.

I gave a lot of things a miss but if I just go by first look they all looked pretty amazing and I intend to go back to try it out. But at that point I had my eyes on the dessert bar that seemed to be calling my name. I loaded my plate with the piping hot GULAB JAMUNS which I might add were marvelous. Not very sweet, just the way I like it and so soft and pillowy. There was GAJAR KA HALWA too that I devoured.






There was also a bar of tiny, colorful pastries that were bite-sized and pretty good. But the CARAMEL CUSTARD would be the one I'd pick again if given a chance. I also liked the CHOCOLATE SALAMI that were squares of chocolatey goodness.



And all of this for Rs. 599 including taxes!  That is super value for money considering all that you are getting. We were mighty impressed by the fare which had a good quantity of meats as well as seafood at such nominal price. 

If you live around Wakad, you would want to come in for a dinner and have your birthday celebrated perhaps :)


Barbeque Ville Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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FLY HIGH: APACHE FLUID LOUNGE, VIMAN NAGAR

11:29:00 Sudipti Singh 1 Comments

Apache fluid lounge they call it. 'Fluid' being the operational word. It has something for everyone. When we were invited over for the launch of the place, the tagline read 'Fly high' and boy did they mean it!

The youngest Apache in town is chill place to be in right now. Brand new interiors and decor with that hint of Apach-quirk, unpretentious vibes where all you need to do is relax and unwind and then you head upstairs to the rooftop area and voila, it's swanky to boot!

Having been here for a launch as well as a tasting, we know how the place can transform from a laid-back pub to a romantic rooftop dinner-date option to a party place in full swing. The one time we were here was probably the best party we've had with friends. An amazing line-up of drinks, delicious finger food, music so great the rooftop was literally a dance-floor and us, throwing back these amazing shots without counting. Needless to say, if our friends clamour for a party,we know where to take them.





Next time we were here for dinner, we were taken back by how apache cleaned up so nice! We had a nice quiet corner at the rooftop with tea lights and soft music. Valentine's night dinner plans? Done.

My previous notion of Apache being a place to drink yourself  silly when our teetotaler friends enjoyed just as much. The drinks menu is the fun part here and should be considering it's a 'Fluid Lounge'. The food menu however can be hit and miss, but that's where we come in!

So here are our list of TKD RECOMMENDED dishes that you should try if you visit!

1. TANDOORI CHICKEN CHAAT: Please try this!! Like this is something you should taste atleast once! Soft, succulent pieces of tandoori chicken served like chaat with dahi, sev, chutney, the works! And boy, does it score.



2.CHILLY CHICKEN PIZZA: We love thin crust pizzas and this pizza was thin crust and with toppings so delish, we couldn't keep our hands off it. Totally yummy and great way to start the party. The vegetarians can opt for just as wonderful...



3. PEPPER PANEER PIZZA: Surprisingly, it's just as delectable as the non-veg variety.

4.TANDOORI CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD: If you are a salad fanatic like us, you will love this one. Though the quantity may seem a bit stingy but the dressing makes up for it. (Or we had stuffed on too many fries)

5.GREEN THAI CURRY: We already are really into thai curry these days and this satiated us quite nicely. A perfect accompaniment to your steaming plate of rice. Yum!




6. CHOCOLATE MOUSSE spiked with a good measure of old monk is just the thing to end your meals with.Flying high doesn't end with desserts!!




There were RASPBERRY MOUSSE CAKE and JAGERBOMBs for dessert but they weren't really hits for us. You can try it if you want. They sure look good though.





But when you are there, experiment with the drinks and cocktails and the quirky way of serving them! BANTA GOTI SODAs are my go to here. They are fun to pop, available in different flavors and so refreshing!






BLOODY VALENTINE are probably our partiality too when it comes to shots. Though it is fun ordering SWEET DISPOSITION for your friends andseeing them struggling with the tiny feeding bottles they are served in :D

If you are wondering where to hangout on weekends with friends, give this place a go. And make sure you FLY HIGH while you are at it!!


Apache Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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WYNKK

09:01:00 Sudipti Singh 0 Comments

This has taken a long time coming. And though it had taken me quite sometime to put up a post about this place but that has definitely not meant I forgot about it. On the contrary, this place has firmly been on our food map and seen its way on quite a lot of recommendations we have made to our friends. So here we are recommending it to you too.

The place is right off the University Road, in a quiet street. If you are looking for a jam-packed place with loud music and dancing and drunk people, you'd be disappointed. But if you are looking for a place to come back at the end of the day, lie back and unwind over bottles of beer and incredible food with a good helping of great company and friends, this is the place you should be at. The seating area is spread over two levels. The ground and the upper area and the whole place is done up with quirky posters and pictures and rock and roll memorabilia which comes from the owner's love of classic rock. Also, the fun part is, when you are done and leaving you'll be handed sketch pens so that you can scribble notes on the walls! See if you can find us there! :D

Last time I was there, I got to sit down with Mr. Shrikant, the owner of this delightful place and have a refreshing tête-à-tête over some amazing chicken. In fact, Shrikant challenged me to try the chicken at the place and promised the Kukkad Diaries would come back for more. I was a bit doubtful initially but the boy, did the place deliver to the promise.

We sat at the upper deck over looking the ground floor and bar. The chairs and couches are so comfy you can't help but relax right away. The drinks helped a ton too. Wynkk is always trying to come up with new mixes and concoctions.
We tried the POLLY's FOLLY which was a cocktail that came suggestively garnished with a long chilly and the punch it packed blew us away! If you are into all things spicy you should certainly try this. This promises to shake tired souls right up!




We also tried classics with a bit of twist like the ORANGE MARTINI and ARCHER'S ENVY (peach vodka with kiwi ). Make sure you ask for any new cocktails that you could try and you might be able to try an exclusive-out-of-the-menu mix.

The food though. It blows your mind. We started with appetizers like CAJUN FRIED ONION RINGS which kicked other onion rings out the park. Perfect while you are sitting with your bottle of beer.



Of all the amazing things on offer the ones you should definitely try are

TEQUILA PRAWNS: For someone who is not into sea food, I devoured quite a lot of these. Perfectly seasoned and cooked prawns with flaming tequila poured on top. Inspite of the theatrics, the taste will be your takeaway for this dish.






POPCORN CHICKEN: Another bar food favorite, these little nuggets were not at all dry like it gets at most places (and we despise) but were succulent and well spiced.



MATKA CHICKEN: If you are a chicken lover like us, you have to try this. The chicken was so tender, it was falling off the bones and the aroma that emanated when that matka (pot) was opened.... it's good enough to get your appetite clamoring for more. Mr. Shrikant promised great chicken and delivered this master-piece. I acquiesce.



KEEMA PAV: When we were certain we had had our fill, we were served with this beauty of a dish. I wish I had appetite so that I could do justice to this one. But even though I was bursting in the seams, I knew this Keema Pav was a winner.



The amazing food and ambiance makes it a perfect place to hangout on quiet evenings when you want no nonsense just good booze and grub. I will be dragging Mr. TKD here knowing he's big on the kukkad-shukkad and a classic rock man through and through.

Thank you Mr. Shrikant for having us over and sharing your inspiring stories while we ate your food (which is impeccable!. Can't wait to come back for more.



WYNKK The Lounge Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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INDIGO DELICATESSEN

10:23:00 Sudipti Singh 0 Comments



Delicatessan to me sounds so promising. Of good food, of really good food. Though they are not easy on the pocket but as long as the food is good, I could kill for it. When Indigo Deli came to Pune, I couldn't wait to go try it. The menu looked impeccable and so did the place.

Finally, thanks to the really rad Svetlana over at Carpe Diem, I found myself in the really swanky eatery in Phoenix Mall, Viman Nagar. It was a evening spent celebrating good food. And it did help that we had amazing company.

Chef Tushar kept us hogging through all the courses and yet we couldn't get enough even after the desserts were done.

The colossal menu is filled with amazing things and we plan to drop by breakfast which I hear is mind-blowing. In fact, we'd want you to recommend us things off their menu so that when we do go back we don't miss out on anything! ...and in return we'll recommend something we have tried.

1. COLD PRESSED JUICE: I loved the fact that you could mix and match the juices and things that go into them. I went all out with my favorite WATERMELON, CHIA SEEDS, BASIL and MINT and a hint of SWEET LIME. I can't wait to breakfast on these babies.

2. SMOKED TOMATO, HERBED CROUTON AND CHIVE SOUR CREAM: As fancy as this sounds, I still can't get over how amazing this bowl of soup was. The smokiness was downright heady and every spoonful was so flavorful and savory. We started on this and I fell in love (or soup). And guess what, I hate tomatoes and tomato soup at home which always ends up with me throwing a tantrum when my mother tries to force feed me. So Chef Tushar should be expecting flowers from my mother one of these days.

3. PIZZAs! Like if you feel guilty about eating pizza usually but you don't stop craving for the pie?! Try the pizzas at Indigo! So so light, it crumbles. It's like taking thin crust to another level. Those who love the bready base, steer clear. But for us, it was pizza of our dreams. Honestly, I could eat it whole. It was that light. But that doesn't mean it was stingy on the toppings! Loved the THREE PEPPER THREE CHEESE pizza and BARBEQUE CHICKEN PIZZA.


4. RISOTTO OF WILD MUSHROOMS: Oh damn! This risotto was like the risotto of my dreams. Cheesy, mushroomy and delicious. If you are craving Italian. Go for this!


5. TRUFFLE EGG DIVINITY: True to its name, this bowl of goodness tasted divine! We had small tasting portions and I kept wondering how blissful devouring the original portion size would be on a Sunday morning, right out of bed. Do not even miss it if you are in for a breakfast. Layers and layers of creamy, cheesy eggs and potatoes hiding an equally scrumptious layer of spinaches and truffles. Like why even talk about it, when you can eat it!


6. TERIYAKI GLAZED SALMON: This might have been my favorite in the mains. More because I was a bit let down by the DELI ROAST CHICKEN I was really looking forward too. I loved the crispy skin and flavor of the sauce but the chicken itself was dryer than I'd like. But this salmon though, was perfectly cooked and flavored. The bed of pilaf, roast vegetables and plum sauce just made it invincible.





7. SAFFRON PAPPARDELLE  WITH LAMB BOLOGNESE: Pappardelle are the bigger, flatter cousin of the pasta. I love it because I love pasta and the more the merrier. Thios served with a appetizing and savory mince lamb preparation, loaded with pesto, olives and cheese. What's not to like?


8. DESSERT. We recommend just that. Because we can't choose! Everything seemed like a piece of art. My favorite was probably the STRAWBERRY AND MASCARPONE TART. Loaded with fresh strawberries, cream cheese and the base so delicious!






Try WHISKEY PATE if you want to get drunk on desserts! It was probably more potent than if you'd had ordered a cocktail. The chocolate though made the dessert more sinful than it already was.


Also DO NOT forget to try their line of home-made ice-creams. They are prepared from scratch and much love right there in the deli. My favorites were DULCE DE LECHE, WHITE CHOCOLATE AND CHERRY and STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE.


If these are not reasons enough for you to visit Indigo, then one reason you should is that they take great care to prepare the food they serve. All ingredients are farm-fresh and every elements are made from scratch, right to the breads in the bread basket they serve complimentary.

Honestly, we could visit just for the bread basket too. :P 






Indigo Delicatessen Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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