Kathi Kebabs at Kapila @ Dhole Patil road

The best Kathi Kebabs(also known as Frankie) in Pune can be found at Kapila Kathi Kebabs on Dhole Patil road. They are simply divine. No other place can match the taste of the kathis at this joint.

Ambience is well... how do I put it...  not there! Kapila Kathi is a small shack on the corner of the road and the only seating arrangement there is the steps and low walls between the shack and the adjoining ATM, along side the foot path.

I will strictly refer to the chicken kathi kebabs and not the vegetarian ones. They have the following on offer:-

1. Chicken Kathi Kebab in a single or double filling. (Rs. 60/100)
2. Aloo-Paneer roll (potatoes and cottage cheese) with the option to have it with or without egg. (Rs. 45- 55)
3. Chicken tikka, which is a serving of the filling used in the kathi kebab directly on a plate.

The kathi roll is made of a thin maida/white flour roti , with a egg fried directly on top of it, with succulent chicken pieces, showered with raw onions and a little pudina chutney on it.
The pudina chutney is also given along side on the plate.

The outstanding taste of this roll is in the spicy masala that has been used, along with soft juicy pieces of chicken. A bottle of chilled coke/sprite to go with it and you are completely blissful. Very tasty!

I would suggest having a Kathi roll over here any day, anytime.

A word of CAUTION though.
I have found that the taste of the kathi is not always consistent. It is not completely off or different but varies slightly between visits. Sometimes the salt is too much or not enough. Sometimes it is way too oily. However, the overall taste is still worth visiting for.
For vegetarians, the Aloo Paneer roll is not really that great, and also very spicy. I have never liked or enjoyed their vegetarian offerings. Other have told me that the vegetarian there is not bad, I still recommend that it be avoided. Also, if you are a staunch vegetarian, then do not visit this place at all. The vegetarian and non-vegetarian is all made on the same tawa with only a scrape-down of the tawa done in between. Dharam brushed almost guaranteed.

Timings:
Kapila Kathi only opens at 5 in the evening and stays open till 11 PM. To avoid a large crowd and waiting, best time to go there is between 5 pm and 7:30 pm.

Other note-worthy Kathi joints.

1. Kathi Crossing in Korgaon park Lane #7 :-  A couple of good options of Kathis over here. I have had the Chicken tikka Kathi roll here, which is nothing but your chiken tikka in a chapati roll. Not unique, inventive or special in anyway, but not bad to taste either.
2. Kareem's :- At MG road and Dhole Patil road, Kareem's' Kathi is also worth trying once in a while for a nice change of taste.

Do remember, none of these come close to Kapila though.

Weight watchers, diabetics and cholesterol watchers beware, this one is not for you.

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Flags @ Metropole Next to Inox

There is no question in my mind that Flags is one of THE BEST restaurants in Pune. It is by far my favorite and top-most choice from all the multi-cuisine restaurants available in Pune, covering food from countries in all continents.
I have been visiting Flags for years now, and have NEVER been let down.
I went so often, with my cousin, that at one point I had to stop myself from going there from fear of going broke.
It is a tad bit expensive, but none the less, it is COMPLETE value for money.
Well after two years of ... well...er....deprivation, I finally mustered the courage to re-visit. I was completely amazed, as always. Even my friend who accompanied me, went back again, two days later.

Earlier Flags used to also have the largest menu in Pune, 21 pages long! Their menu has been reduced since then, down to 15 pages, however I think they still hold the title for the largest menu. With the reduction in pages, there were a few dishes which I loved there, that are no longer available. I wish they would re-introduce their Rosemary Chicken.

AMBIENCE:
Great place to go with family or if you want to impress your date on a romantic dinner. Not very noisy. A little dark inside but very comfortable none the less. It used to be very bright and well lit, but with global warming, who needs that anyway!

The waiters are also very courteous and well trained.

STARTERS
Buffalo Strips: Chicken wings coated in a thick red sauce. A little sour, tangy to taste. Nothing to sing about; a good change of taste from your regular tandoori and kebab but not something I would recommend.
It was served with a very small speck of a very strongly odoured cheese. I can't imagine what a bite into a larger piece would have been like!

Veg. Shorba: A brown veg. soup. Okay to taste. I would not recommend trying it. It did not stir anything inside me.

At Flags, it is recommended not to have too many starters, leave space for the delicious main course (and some money in  your wallet).

MAIN COURSE
Bangers and Mash (U.K) : British style strips of bacon with chicken sausages, an amazing barbeque sauce and to complete the ensemble, mashed potatoes and braised vegetables. Must try this! The brown sauce is out of this world. The original Bangers and mash is served only with sausages and fried onions on the side, but it was so good. you really don't care about the missing onions.

Massaman Veg curry(Thailand) : This curry served with rice, is another delight served at Flags. If you like manglorean style curries and the flavour of coconut milk in curries, then you will like this and this is a must have. Maybe a fish or a chicken version would have been better.

Paprikash (Hungary) : Pieces of chicken breast covered with a mildly spicy, paprika sauce, with mashed potatoes and braised vegetables. Another master piece.

Res El Hanout Chicken (Morocco) : Chicken breast pieces covered in a green Pudina (mint) sauce. This has probably got the be the most different type of gravy I have ever had. I am not a big fan of mint/mint sauces, but for mint lovers, I hear this is amazing.

Price:
Buffalo Strips : Rs. 250

Veg. Chorba : Rs. 125
Bangers and Mash: Rs. 350
Massaman Veg curry : Rs. 275
Paprikash : Rs. 275
Res El Hanout Chicken  : Rs. 275

Coke :  Rs. 100 (!!)(for a coke!)
KingFisher Ultra beer: Rs. 125
Virgin Caprioska  : Rs. 175

All prices excluding VAT and service tax.

Notable mentions and must tries:
Enchilada
Mushroom Stroganoff
Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna
Nachos and cheese
Roast chicken
Southern fried Chicken (the KFC kinda style)


What will I try there next time? Most likely the Chengdu Chicken.


I have never had the Indian food there and have heard it is also very good.


Flags is by no means cheap. So, if you must go (which I think you must) a bit of the cost can be mitigated by ordering the slightly cheaper, Rs. 275 + VAT dishes, skipping starters and drinks.
Even then, you will not be disappointed.

Well that's it for now, I am off to start a mutual fund and fixed deposit plan to afford my next visit.

Phone : +91 9765659079 

Address : Flag's Restaurant address

                G-2, Metropole,
                Near Inox Multiplex, Bund Garden Road, Pune
Timings : 12 Noon to 3 PM, 7 PM to 11:30 PM


Alternate reviews at:

Some random woman

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Kulfi

If you love Kulfi, there are two places in Pune that you have to try.

1. Shiv Kailash.

Located opposite Pune station, serves an awesome Malai kulfi.
Also available is their hot, dry fruits milk. I love this option because there are times when I cannot eat cold food and this gives me a good alternative.
Best way to visit is in your car. Not a great place to sit and eat.

Review at Burrp.com

2. Mohan Ice-cream
Located just off J.M road is Mohan Ice-cream. This is my new favorite kulfi joint in town.
Costs only Rs. 20. I have not tried anything else at this place, will post back once I do.
To get here, get onto Jangli Maharaj road and take right into the lane just before Shiv Sagar restaurant.
About 20 feet down the road, Mohan ice-cream is located on your right hand side.


Enjoy the Kulfi!

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Fishtro @ Mariplex Kalyani Nagar

If you like fish as fast food, then you must definitely try Fishtro.

Earlier christened as Fish 'N Chips, the new name and make over has been for the better.

Their Fish Pops and Shrimp Pops are small cheese-ball sized, deep fried balls which are very tasty with a nice flavour, kind of like your southern fried chicken with a little spice, all for a good, value for money price of Rs. 55. Must try!

They also serve a Fish burger and a classic English style Fish 'N Chips, referred to as Continental Fish and chips.
The Continental crumbed Fish 'N Chips are sized for one person to eat. If shared with another, you may still be a little hungry. Not comparable to what you get in England, but not bad none the less.
If you don't like the smell of fish (which I don't by the way) you may want to reconsider this option as there is a slight fish smell, unlike other fillet of fish which are odourless.


I have heard their Indian style Fish 'N chips are better, something I will try on my next visit.

All the fried fish are bit on the oily side but not too much to make you feel any discomfort while eating.

For now, the pops are definitely worth eating in large quantities.

Fish / Shrimp Pops :- Rs. 55
Continental crumbed Fish 'N Chips  : - Rs. 125

Other branches : - Dhole Patil road, opp. Hotel Kapila
                              Stellar Enclave, Aundh, Pune

Delivery phone no. : 020 41410000.

Their website is here (under construction at the time of this writing).
And they even have a Facebook Page!

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Koyla - The Hyderabad House @ Koregaon park

My first experience at a Koyla restaurant was at the Fergusson College road branch, on my birthday, 5 years ago. The bad food and experience (especially the gaping hole in my pocket), made me swear that I would never go back to Koyla ever again. However, many friends of mine highly recommended the Koregaon park outlet for it's great food. So, after much deliberation with my wife, I decided to give it another shot.

This time there again was something that left me with displeasure and a headache, however it was not related to the food. The restaurant is a completely enclosed one, and of course by government rule, smoking is not allowed. There was however one person chain smoking in the restaurant, blatantly disrespecting the law. On inquiring with the waiter, it turned out that the person smoking was the Owner/Manager of the restaurant. That is uber not cool. Why would he jeopardise his business like that?

Anyway, onwards to the review.

Ambience
On entering the restaurant, one is overwhelmed with the decor. Every inch, nook and cranny is decorated, Hyderabadi style. The look is complete right from the hanging chandeliers, decorated walls, brown silhouette like cut out of Golconda fort behind the bar, decorated upholstery on the chairs and sofas, and decorated tables. Even the menu's outer jacket is made of a purple velvet. It is very interesting to look at, and amazing to see new, novel ideas into menu decoration. The table has the same velvet cloth as the menu, running down the middle of the table from end to end, and the casseroles in which the preparations are served, are carefully placed on this velvet. To accommodate for this, the table is rather wide so the person opposite you may feel a little distant, however, not a problem. There is soft qawali style music playing in the background to add to the environment. Not for you if you are like me and like the rock/metal/heavy metal/thrash metal kind of music. All the waiters are also dressed up in costumes, including head gear, adding more to the novelty,
This is the kind of place you would want to go with family for an experience along with dinner. A good choice for a special dinner date also, but come prepared with increased credit limit on your credit card.  Even the finger bowl is a novel idea; shaped like a copper pot with a cover. It comes with hot water and a Rudraksh (at least that is what I thought it was). Really different.

Dinner
Not being very hungry that night, we skipped starters and went straight to main course with Murgh Bhuna, Kadak rotis, followed by Murgh Qubooli Biryani, and a glass of coke to wash things down. Alcohol is served but I had none that night.
The Murgh Bhuna was very very nice. My wife particularly loved it. Recommended.

The Kadak Roti was a regular Tandoori Roti, which is a good thing  but is a bit of a misnomer, which may throw you off and set you thinking that you may receive a roti which is crispy like a papad.

The Qubooli Biryani, was a biryani with Chicken Kheema. Simply put, a Chicken Kheema preparation layered with Basmati rice. A nice tasty dish, but the taste was all of the Kheema, so nothing new or novel here. Very nice none the less.
This is the first restaurant I have been to that serves only mineral water! Good thing is that they did not charge for it. I wonder how many bottles later would they start charging...hmmm.


Pricing
Oh my god! expensive. Costs an arm and a leg, and your left testicle (left ovary for you ladies). This place is very, very expensive. That brings down the value for money.

Coke :- Rs. 50 per glass
Bhuna Murgh :- Rs. 370
Roti :- Rs. 30 each (this is the cheapest type of roti too!)
Qubooli Biryani  :- Rs. 300
Each dish serves quantity enough for two.
All prices EXCLUDING VAT.


It really annoys me when restaurants' menus quote prices excluding Vat/taxes. Why do they do that? Do they think it is cool? I think it is a way to rip off people. All 5 star restaurants do this!

Total bill Rs. 911(with the tax included) for two without even having starters and alcohol!!
 
Final thoughts
Try this place only if you are really feeling rich and have a good credit limit. DO NOT go to the Fergusson College road branch, that one is pathetic.
I would probably re-visit, to try the starters and some other dishes, but not anytime soon. I think I would like to keep my other testicle for a while.


Oddly enough, I could not find the restaurants website! So, no linky link.

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McDonalds Breakfast @ Adlabs, Kalyani Nagar

McDonalds recently launched their breakfast menu, served between 7 AM and 11AM everyday.
A friend and colleague recommended it.

The big blow up photos on placards of the breakfast did look very appealing and I thought it was worth checking out.

Breakfast Options.
The options are pancakes with maple syrup, Veg. McMuffin, Sausage McMuffin, Sausage McMuffin with egg, Hash browns and lastly Egg and Cheese McMuffin. The first two are the only options for vegetarians.

I tried the the McMuffin Sausage with egg meal combo and a side order of the pancakes with maple syrup.

The meal combos include a McMuffin as above, 1 piece Hash brown and a cup of Georgia coffee.

If I have to describe a McMuffin burger, it is basically  a chicken/veg patty, sitting on top of a patty shaped fried egg, both sandwiched between two regular McDonalds burger buns.

McMuffin
A first bite into the Sausage McMuffin with egg and ...it ... was ... (chewing)... (chewing)...(chewing)


 ... BLAND AND TASTELESS.


I really was expecting much more from the breakfast. Maybe a herb or two in the egg, maybe even a dash of salt. I could taste nothing. I needed to add a huge helping of ketchup on top of the burger with every bite to get some taste. Maybe liking masaledaar food and being Indian are a bit of a bias against it.

Hash Browns
My comparison of the Hash Browns are with the Hash Browns that I have had in the U.K. The Hash Browns served in McDonalds are one large chunk, roughly 2 inches long and one inch wide, unlike in the U.K. where you get a few chunks of small bite size. I was expecting... nay, hoping ...that the Hash browns be close to 90% the way the U.K. ones were. Sadly, I was grossly disappointed.
The Hash Browns were way too oily. It tasted of the oil rather than any flavouring of the Hash Browns, which is really bad because Hash Browns have a very subtle taste in the first place and when that taste is overwhelmed by the taste of the oil, it leaves you unhappy. Another struggle to finish, due to the oily nature. Weight watchers, people with cholesterol and heart issues, best avoid the Hash  Browns.

Georgia Coffee
Honestly, I am more of a tea person than a coffee person, however, I do enjoy coffee also. My favourite has to be Nescafe coffee. The Georgia coffee at McDonalds never did catch my fancy, ever.
Some how I just never like them.
A coffee lover could better judge the coffee.


Pancakes
The saving grace of the breakfast were the pancakes with maple syrup. Not that they were extraordinary, but after being disappointed earlier, this was a welcome change.
The Pancakes were soft, also tasteless on their own, but applying a nice layer of butter on it  and then another layer of maple syrup on top of that, then biting into it was close to heaven.
The maple syrup quality was also very good and reminded me of Aunt Jemima's maple syrup.


Overall, I will not recommend or go back for this breakfast menu. If I feel a REALLY STRONG craving for the pancakes and maple syrup, I may just re-visit, not otherwise.

Pricing
Sausage McMuffin without egg, meal combo :- Rs. 84
Sausage McMuffin with egg, meal combo :- Rs. 94
Pancakes with maple syrup :- Rs. 59.
All prices inclusive of taxes.

Timings:7 AM to 11AM.


More info and Menu at McDonalds Breakfast Menu website.

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