Veggie Nook:Punjabi Rasoi

The taste of Punjab

SUBHA VARANASI
 

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The Hindu A Punjabi thaali. Photo: K. Ramesh Babu

VEGGIE NOOK—Gachibowli

Huge lettering proclaiming ‘Punjabi Rasoi' at Gachibowli cross roads invites you to try out its taste. Punjabi Rasoi has two restaurants: the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian. The vegetarian one is on the ground floor. As you step in, the ambience is not too inviting. A 50-seater, the place seems a bit confining. A few window ACs take care of the cooling inside. Past 2 p.m., the crowd thickens and there are quite a handful of people waiting to be seated.

The menu consists of North Indian fare with the usual Chinese thrown in. There is a strong Punjabi flavour in all the dishes. Care is taken to avoid overt use of oil and spices. It is a relief to find mildly spiced food. What's perhaps a unique preparation amongst the starters is the paneer-baby corn lollipop. The baby corn is swathed at its broader end with paneer to which garlic-ginger and coriander is added. This preparation is then coated with corn flour and deep fried. Despite being deep-fried, it is surprising to find that the preparation is not oily. You get six such pieces per dish.

Another starter is the sheekh kabab priced at Rs. 115: a preparation of whole wheat flour mixed with paneer, bits of carrot, shreds of cabbage, garlic, bits of cashew, coriander and onion rolled in bread crumbs and skewered. It comes with 8 pieces per plate and is served with mint chutney.

The biryani is awesome in taste. The very long and thin rice grains are perhaps specially chosen to enhance the flavours of the spices. Mildly flavoured and prepared with very little oil, the biryani is accompanied with raita of cucumber, onion and tomato.

Try out the Amritsari naan here. The naan is soft and stuffed with grated paneer, thinly chopped vegetables and studded with paneer and cherry bits. Order for the lassi to enjoy the authentic Punjabi flavour. It is very thick and topped with crushed dry fruits, and slightly sweetened.

One cannot come away from a Punjabi Rasoi without tasting the indispensable ‘makai-ki-roti and sarso-ka-saag'. The makai ki roti is made out of dough of corn meal and whole wheat flour. It contains a few shreds of radish as well and served hot with little oil. The sarso ka saag is a preparation of mustard leaves, mixed with bit of spinach, and cooked with onion tomato, garlic and tomatoes, and also cooked in very little oil.

There are also mocktails on offer which run contrary to the prevalent Punjabi flavor in the menu.

Punjabi Rasoi finds many takers for its thaali priced at Rs. 65 for an ordinary thaali and Rs. 105 for the special one.

The busiest times are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and one needs to wait quite a bit before being seated. However, ample servings and the taste of the food make it worth the wait. Home delivery is done for a radius of 5km with a minimum order of Rs. 300.

A meal for two comes to around Rs. 300.The restaurant runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Ample parking space is earmarked for the restaurant.

Punjabi Rasoi

Located at Gachibowli cross roads.

Pluses: Value for money

Minuses: Crowds

Food: 4/5

Ambience: 2/5

This article was published HERE.

Veggie Nook: Santosh Castle

Santosh Castle in Abids, started quite recently on the 20th February is a pleasure to dine in. The subtly-lit interiors with instrumental music playing in the background, well-spaced tables and chairs, impeccable washrooms—all these add to the mood. The 80 seater air-conditioned restaurant situated on the first floor above Santosh Dhaba, caters to pure vegetarian fare.
The thickly-bound menu overwhelms you with the copiousness of pages to go through. Every section of food contains many selections and narrowing your choice is a tough challenge. The soups range from Rs 50 to 70 and have about 18 in all to select from. The appetizers, a total of 32 in number, vary from Rs. 80-120.
Amongst the starters, Paneer Majestic priced at Rs. 110 is a dry preparation of thin 2” long paneer sticks. This is lightly coated with maida and corn flour and deep-fried. This is tossed with sesame and cumin, curry leaves, thinly sliced fried onion, dry chillies, green chillies and some white pepper. It is a relatively oil-free preparation and the added ingredients add to its delectibitly.
Another entrée Paneer Malai Tikka priced at Rs.120 is quite delectable too. Plain one-inch square paneer pieces smeared with gram flour are pierced along with thin onion and tomato pieces and barbequed. The Malai Tikka derives its name from the paste of ginger- garlic and fresh cream that is alternately layered with the paneer, onion and tomato pieces. Once barbequed, the stacks are sautéed with cashew powder, green chili paste, pepper powder and cardamom powder. What also make these paneer preparations special is the fact that all paneer used is very soft and freshly-prepared.
The curries again offer a mind boggling selection of 70 curries. Amongst the curries, Dum Aloo priced at Rs.90 consists of large potato pieces deep-fried and mixed with a gravy of onion paste to which these condiments are added: red chilli powder, cumin powder, paste of ginger-garlic, cashew, sesame, watermelon seeds, chironji, poppy seeds and crushed coconut. Kajal Kofta a specialty claimed by Santosh consists of koftas prepared with boiled carrot, beans, potato, which are bound with corn flour and deep-fried. These are served with a gravy similar to Dum Aloo to which copious amount of fried cashew is added.
Another curry Haveli Paneer has the condiments of cashew, watermelon seeds, chironji, garlic- ginger paste and red chili powder added to tomato-onion based white gravy. This is quite delectable too.
16 varieties of Indian breads priced between Rs.10 to 40 are on offer. Some special ones are mentioned below: Garlic Nan, at Rs. 30 is the usual nan but with tiny garlic flecks which lend it a pungent taste. Baby Nan, another specialty is smeared with butter, grated paneer and grated carrots. Chatpata Nan is probably unique to this restaurant. It consist of nan covered with grated paneer, chilli powder and chat masala. This has a crunchy feel as you bite through. Stuffed kulcha at Rs.40 is something you find in any other restaurant and is stuffed with boiled potatoes, carrot and beans. Yet, what lends a unique taste to this preparation is the way it is thinly rolled out and is studded with plenty of cashews.
Amongst the 19 varities of rice, Shahi biryani stands out.

Pluses: All food is tasty
Minuses: Food is smothered in oil
Food: 3.5/5; Ambience: 3.5/5
Located in the lane to the right of Big Bazaar, Abids

Veggie Nook: Swaad

Situated beside Gharonda, Swaad, started just about a year ago, is barely visible from behind the bus shelter on the main road of Padmarao Nagar. This ambiguity is quickly cleared as you step into the pleasant ambience of the spacious foyer with its comfortable waiting chairs.
Inside the restaurant, you find well-spaced wooden tables and chairs in an air conditioned room that can hold 72 people. The long buffet table in the center facilitates easy maneuverability. The windows all around are tastefully covered with bamboo chiks. The stark white walls exhibit bronze figurines each posing with an Indian musical instrument. Various lighting fixtures further accentuate the effect. Every effort is made to coalesce food and music— both complementing one another.
As soon as you seat yourself, you are served a refreshing fruit juice made of fresh fruits.
Swaad serves only vegetarian buffet at both lunch and dinner times. The buffet has as many as 44 items in all. On this day the menu is as following:

1. Three types of soups— Tomato, Sweet Corn Veg and plain Sweet Corn for the more bland palate.
2. Salads: thinly sliced raw vegetables like tomato, cucumber, beetroot, carrot and onion all arranged separately
3. Three kinds of chaat preparations: boiled peas tossed with finely chopped tomato and onion; chana chaat of soft-boiled chick peas; third, Kachumer chaat made of thinly shredded capsicum, tomato cucumber and onion. One common ingredient in all three is the lemon juice.
4. The starters consist of vegetarian Manchuria and ginger paneer. Both these are prepared with well balanced spices.
5. Rounding off the snacks section is the Indian favorite— the ‘paani puri’.
6. Two dry curries consist of Gobi and Bhendi fry
7. Four curries with gravy: Guthi vankayi koora, mixed vegetable curry, Aloo kurma and Paneer mutter
8. Curd items: Plain curd, curd rice, raita and dahi wada
9. Chinese: soft noodles and Gobi Manchurian wet
10. Rice items: Biryani and Jeera rice
11. Dal items: Dosakayi pappu, rasam. sambar
12. Desserts: Fruits, fruit custard, beetroot halwa, saboodanaa kheer ice cream and gulab jamun.
13. Three varieties of Indian breads: roti, naan and phulka
14. Accompaniments like paapads, ghee karampodi and pickles thus completing the South Indian menu

All food is presented in steel casseroles with uniquely designed hydraulic lids which shut quietly on release. Most of the food is prepared with mild spices and little oil and is easy on the stomach.
And to round up this Indian meal experience is the paan on offer too. All the necessary components are kept at the end of the buffet table. You need to pick them and roll out the paan for yourself.
The buffet is priced at Rs. 150 for an adult and Rs. 100 for a child. The restaurant timings are 12 to 3: 30 pm and 6:30 to 10:30 pm. Ample parking in cellar available

Pluses: Good selection of health foods
Minuses: No special items that you don’t find elsewhere
Food: 3/5; Ambience: 4/5
Located near Gharonda food court, Main road, Padmarao Nagar.

Veggie Nook: Pizza point

Let's meet at pizza point

SUBHA VARANASI

Photos: Nagara Gopal

Pizza time People enjoying a pizza meal at Pizza Point
T he tiny Pizza Point located in the basement of State Bank of India at Karkhana makes you feel sceptical of the possible quality of food on offer. The place has just about ten tables and a blaring TV in addition.
Everything from orders to the cash counter is managed by Pratap, the owner. The menu consists of 14 pizzas with different veg toppings. It also offers three kinds of sandwiches: veg grilled, cheese grilled and chilli cheese grilled sandwiches. The pizzas which are all six inches are priced between Rs. 70 to 90 and the sandwiches are offered at Rs. 30. An order for the Hot ‘n' Spicy Mexican priced at Rs. 80 brings you a pizza with onion, capsicum, cheese and chilli flakes. The chilli flakes are home-prepared and bring with it the taste of Indian dish. A generous topping of Mozzarella lends a uniquely delectable taste to the pizza. The Veg Exotica priced at Rs. 90 consists of jalapenos and olives in addition. An additional layer of cheese on top of this pizza makes it quite yummy. The Veg-Pineapple also has an abundance of cheese and onion with tiny pieces of pineapple on it. This is a slightly bland preparation.
The Hot ‘n' Spicy Mexican isn't really very hot — only spiced and can be safely had by the kids too. What's amazing is that every pizza has a unique taste to it. Equally amazing is the fact no spices are added to any of the pizzas. Despite this, just by adding different toppings, this outlet succeeds in lending a unique taste to every pizza that it offers. This tiny pizza outlet also surprises you with the offer of a great base, a centimetre in thickness — crisp and soft at the right places. There is no contention on the restaurateur's claim that every pizza is equally tasty.


No less enticing are the sandwiches. The sandwiches are grilled grilled with plenty of butter, the edges sealed, and with every bite, the cheeses — again Mozzarella spill out .
The restaurant runs from 4 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. The small pizzas give you the advantage of choosing more than one kind of topping. Two people can share four pizzas easily. Special Jain preparation with only capsicum, tomato and cheese topping is also prepared.
Though no parking space is specifically marked, yet the outlet does have plenty of parking space. A meal for two would cost around Rs. 400. Home delivery is offered within a 2 km radius.

This article was published HERE.

Veggie Nook: Rajdhani

This 10 Janpath serves good food

SUBHA VARANASI


PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

The thali It will satiate your hunger 10 Janpath, Rajdhani Hotel
Plus: Cordiality of the staff
Minus: Poorly-maintained washroom
Food: 3/5
Ambience: 3.5/5
Located close to Masjid, Main Road, Siddiamber Bazar
Inside Hotel Rajadhani in Siddiamber Bazar is 10 Janpath–– a restaurant. This 75-seater AC restaurant, which began in 1977, serves pure vegetarian food and is counted amongst the oldest restaurants in the twin cities. The well-spaced wooden tables and chairs and the accent lighting add to the aesthetics.

 
The menu consists of a tiffin section which runs from 7.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The tiffins range from Rs. 25 for a plate of idli to Rs. 48 for a paper dosa. Amongst the beverages and juices, the selection varies from tea at Rs.16 to the milkshakes at Rs. 55. Blue Crusco must be tasted here. Prepared from a cocktail of litchis, Sprite and sugar syrup, this is slightly over-sweetened drink tastes mostly like a litchi drink. There is the fruit punch too, prepared with orange and pineapple juices with mango ice-cream, which has a slightly sour taste.
All the soups are priced at Rs. 55. Amongst these, the lemon coriander soup is quite delectable. The soup in this restaurant is made in a corn flour base unlike the conventionally prepared clear soup base. Two unusual but tasty combinations here are the Amiritsari chole paneer and the corn 65. Amritsari chole paneer though unusual in combination isn't unusual in taste. It has the usual red onion and tomato paste gravy. The corn 65 is crisply fried and served with pudina (mint) chutney. The pudina chutney is yummy and the combination of the starter with the chutney tickles one's taste buds to no end. The curries are priced between Rs.75 and Rs.120. Amongst them, methi chaman hariyali is highly recommendable. Made of fenugreek leaves and spinach paste, it has an onion-tomato paste, spices and is garnished with grated panneer. The fenugreek and chopped garlic makes the dish slightly pungent but the experience is enjoyable.
The dal makhani too is a specialty here. Thick in consistency and cooked in a good amount of butter, this dish has almost a home-made touch with sparingly-used Indian spices. Amongst the rotis, priced between Rs. 15 for a roti to Rs. 30 for the masala kulcha, the masala kulcha is quite tasty because it is rolled out very thin and stuffed with boiled vegetables like carrots, beans, potato and grated paneer. The South Indian thaali with about 12 items is priced at Rs. 74 and is served both for lunch and dinner.
A meal of soup-starter-roti-curries-rice-dessert comes to around Rs. 600. Ample parking space is available.

This article was published HERE.

Veggie Nook: Shyam's

Started 3 years back, Shyam enjoys the status of being the sole caterer of pure vegetarian fare in the vicinity of Lingampally. The entrance to the hotel is not too inviting. Yet, once you step into the restaurant situated on the first floor, the ambience is quite pleasant with neatly laid out tables and chairs. The absence of an air-conditioned environment might be annoying in the summer though.
The restaurant claims to serve a multicuisine fare but actually specializes in North Indian food. Most in demand is the North Indian Thaali. Priced at Rs 50, it offers a range of dishes consisting of two curries, dal, chutney, curd, papad, six phulkas and rice. Every section of the menu has a wide range to choose from.
The soups ranging from Rs 35-40 have amongst them a forgettable taste in the tomato soup. Abundant use of color deters you from trying more. After the rather tame beginning, the tasty paneer Tikka comes as a pleasant surprise. There are just about 8 pieces to a plate. The paneer cut into one- inch square pieces are cooked in very little oil. Though not much masala is used to spice it up, it does carry its own distinctive taste—slightly sour, slightly pungent.
Amongst the main dishes ranging from Rs. 40 to Rs.100, the restaurant claims the Marwadi Veg as its specialization. It consists of very finely chopped carrots, cabbage, spinach and cauliflower cooked in gravy of cashew, watermelon seeds and poppy seeds. The gravy used in the preparation of all curries seems to carry the same taste.
The dum aloo kashmiri is quite enjoyable. The potato scooped out and stuffed with paneer is not cooked too soft and only one potato is served in a dish. The capsicum also served one to a dish, is stuffed with potato and masalas. Not using the normally used paneer to stuff it, lends it a quite a discernible taste
The rotis are priced as cheap as Rs 4 for a Phulka to Rs 25 for a Gobi paratha. Shyam is one of the few restaurants in the twin cities which offer you a phulka made of wheat flour and cooked on the coals. The puffed- up hot phulka is then offered to you after having it smeared with ghee. A must try!
Amongst the cool beverages, the lassi is quite filling as it has an abundance of lightly crushed dry fruits within. Shyam also offers Rajasthani fare of dal-bhati-churma on Sundays. To one’s surprise, the ubiquitous biryani is offered only on Saturdays and Sundays. Shyam draws its clientele mostly from the business class people around Lingampally
The restaurant timings are 11 am to 4 pm and again 7 pm to 11 pm. A meal for two is Rs 200. Ample parking space is available.

Plus: Judicious use of oil in preparation

Minus:  Small quantities per dish

Food: 3/5; Ambience: 3/5

Located near Balaji Jodhapur Sweet House, BHEL, Lingampally

Veggie Nook: Grabz

Grabz for a quick bite

SUBHA VARANASI

Grabz is a fast-food outlet that sells continental food. Grabz is a daring effort to bring affordable continental food, specifically Italian, to the discerning Hyderabadi palate. Started a year ago at Himayatnagar, it has now branched out to outlets at Sindhi Colony, Abids and Sainikpuri. The outlets offer only vegetarian fare and are designed on the lines of ‘eat-on-the move' . The outlets at Sainikpuri and Sindhi colony can seat 20 people at a time.
The menu card is concise and one go through it in about 3 minutes flat. In all, you have 6 segments to choose from: thebreads, the salads, the fries, pastas, wraps and sandwiches. Each segment offers 2-3 selections. The limited offer allows the restaurant to focus on quality. Another smart move is that for every dish on offer has a desiversion . Most of the dishes carry authentic Italian flavour. Only the ubiquitous olive oil is not as used generously.
The garlic bread is slightly over priced . The Grabz special is a 2-inch round grilled bread, lightly smeared with mayonnaise-garlic spread and sprinkled with very finely chopped bell-peppers and celery. The Caesar salad consisting of iceberg lettuce, chopped red and yellow bell pepper, mayonnaise, garlic and garted parmesan cheese is a delight.
Pasta tower salad is penne pasta tossed with mayonnaise cheese, corn, jalapenos red and yellow peppers and Italian herbs. The taste resembles that of Caesar Salad but isn't as rich and doesn't carry the pungent garlic flavour that the former does.
The pasta come in arabiatta sauce and the parmesan white sauce. Grabz has three varieties of wraps—the tortilla wrap, the katti roll and the Shawarma wrap. The katti roll with its Indian masalas is one that would appeal to the spicier palate and consists of onion, capsicum and paneer. The tortilla wrap carries a strong taste of beans along with other veggies like capsicum, corn, onion and jalapenos. But the king of the wraps is the Shawarma wrap stuffed with paneer, baby corn, capsicum, tomato, onion and lettuce.
Lastly, the sandwiches priced at Rs. 50 for two comes with a number of options : Spinach corn and Club sandwich of bread slices, raw or lightly toasted as per your choice. The Spinach Corn sandwich smothered with Italian white sauce, spinach, garlic, corn and chilly flakes tastes awesome.
Everything is prepared on live counters and served hygienically in disposable containers. The eateries are open from 11 am to 10:30 pm. The fare comes to about Rs. 250 to 300 for two people.

This article was published HERE.