Encounter the finest dining experience in this side of Hyderabad - whether it's a formal full-course spread, a quick bite on-the-go or a few lounge-about moments.
Minerva Grand hotel at Sarojini Devi Road offers a lot of variety meals which can be enjoyed by visiting any of its dining outlets, such as The Blue Fox; a multi-cuisine dining outlet, Fiesta; a coffee shop and Enigmaa; a lounge, which offer theme nights.
At the Minerva Grand, you're more than just a guest. Whether you're there on business, or on pleasure, you will realise that the combination of a sun-splashed atrium and cheerful décor makes for the perfect sanctuary to come home, in this bustling IT hub. It has 140 luxurious suites and offers exotic dining experience with the best entertainment facilities at your disposal.
Fiesta: The Coffee Shop
It offers anything your heart desires at any time of the day, A la Carte or a buffet that's reminiscent of a king's feast. An unending banquet of irresistible South Indian, Indian and Continental cuisine. And once you're satiated, they do recommend a cup of freshly-brewed coffee - ground from their specialised famed coffee beans.
Blue Fox: Multi-cuisine Fine Dining
Here you will find maximum types of dishes from Indian, Oriental, and Continental and not to forget the best of the local culinary specially whipped up by their experienced chefs from various parts of country who have a passion in them to serve the best to you.
Enigmaa: The Bar and lounge
It goes without saying that good food needs to be accompanied by good wine. And our Engimaa will not disappoint you. And to spice things up a bit, they got special and dedicated theme nights.
Ladies Night Out on Thursdays, Lounge Bars on Fridays, Enigmaa Specials on Saturdays and the most happening among the city crowd the Retroscapes on Sunday.
Also, if you'd prefer your privacy, choose to dine in any of their exquisitely laid-out private dining rooms. Ideal for a business luncheon, a formal dinner and even the special family treat.
Lounge, sip, tap your foot, shake a leg, sip some more or sink lower into your soft leather couch. Alternatively, you could perch atop a bar-stool and swap stories with their bartender, while he expertly shakes up your cocktail.
At the Minerva Grand, there's no compromising on anything. No matter what may be your choice of accommodation? Whatever your request, they promise that it shall be granted.
—Anubha K Singh
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Have a royal Mughal-era feel at Mehfil
Concept: Mehfil has been quite favourite in the Secunderabad food scene for many years. More than just any restuarant, Mehfil presents a traditional royal ambience where melliflus ghazals enchant its guests every evening. Offering a wide range of delectable Indian, Mughlai, Hyderabadi, Chinese and Continental cuisine, it provides an eclectic mix in an endearing environment.
Ambience: Part of Hotel Baseraa, Mehfil has a very old-world look with heavy furnishings and lots of wood and brass. There is a large central area for live performances. Mehfil is a multi-cuisine restaurant serves a wide range of traditional dishes. The ambience is definitely dated and the ghazal renditions something from the 70's make this place a great value for money.
Food: This multi-cuisine restaurant serves delightful Indian, Chinese and Continental dishes and has been delivering consistently for a long time. At lunch, they serve up a buffet for office-goers. Their specialities include Kandhari Chicken, Talwar Kebab, Murgh Pakijah, Murgh Mussallam, Andhra Chicken Curry, Chicken Chettinad and Rogan Josh. Ghazal evening with Haandi Biryani and drinks goes very well as night progresses.
The drinks and food are very reasonably priced. Service is good with many of the waiters being here for many years. This place does have a good food and don't let the run down dated look fool you. Try any of the dishes specially the old favourites and you can't go wrong. Tourists can enjoy Continental, Mughlai and Hyderabadi cuisines at Mehfil.
Centrally located at Basera Hotel, Secunderabad, the restaurant offers a comfortable change to those who may need a good dose of the good old days. Their highlighted certain signature dishes are murgh mughlai, chicken stew, gosht badam pasanda, nargisi kofta, shahi paneer, rotis, parathas, rehmani paratha, malai wargi paratha, bagarkhani.
Mehfil strives to recreate the past splendors of India with the distinctive flavour and aroma to offer you an experience of Mughal-era which you find in northern parts of country.
—Anubha K Singh
Ambience: Part of Hotel Baseraa, Mehfil has a very old-world look with heavy furnishings and lots of wood and brass. There is a large central area for live performances. Mehfil is a multi-cuisine restaurant serves a wide range of traditional dishes. The ambience is definitely dated and the ghazal renditions something from the 70's make this place a great value for money.
Food: This multi-cuisine restaurant serves delightful Indian, Chinese and Continental dishes and has been delivering consistently for a long time. At lunch, they serve up a buffet for office-goers. Their specialities include Kandhari Chicken, Talwar Kebab, Murgh Pakijah, Murgh Mussallam, Andhra Chicken Curry, Chicken Chettinad and Rogan Josh. Ghazal evening with Haandi Biryani and drinks goes very well as night progresses.
The drinks and food are very reasonably priced. Service is good with many of the waiters being here for many years. This place does have a good food and don't let the run down dated look fool you. Try any of the dishes specially the old favourites and you can't go wrong. Tourists can enjoy Continental, Mughlai and Hyderabadi cuisines at Mehfil.
Centrally located at Basera Hotel, Secunderabad, the restaurant offers a comfortable change to those who may need a good dose of the good old days. Their highlighted certain signature dishes are murgh mughlai, chicken stew, gosht badam pasanda, nargisi kofta, shahi paneer, rotis, parathas, rehmani paratha, malai wargi paratha, bagarkhani.
Mehfil strives to recreate the past splendors of India with the distinctive flavour and aroma to offer you an experience of Mughal-era which you find in northern parts of country.
—Anubha K Singh
Dakshina Mandapa, a place that will enthrall you
Concept: This is a buffet joint and a weekday buffet features about 40 items from salads, pickles and soups to a range of desserts, with Chinese, South Indian, North Indian, chaat and continental fare all pitching in for the main course.
The restaurant boasts multiple chefs for each cuisine, and the effort and care shows on your taste buds. Some truly authentic South-Indian and exotic dishes make up the menu, and you are unlikely to be complaining for variety. The reception however has South-Indian written all over it. In terms of space, Dakshina Mandapa feels like the executive summary of Galaxy, a good block at the centre of this cozy buffet-only restaurant is occupied by the spread of items you can help yourself to. 90 people can be accommodated at any given day in the restaurant.
Ambience: Dakshina Mandapa lives up to its name. Inspired by the medieval wooden temples of south Kannada, the ambience is very traditional and awe-inspiring. The place is decorated with wooden furniture, brass artifacts and colorful silk upholstery. And with an all-encompassing fervour, it offers Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines served for lunch and dinner buffets. Dakshina Mandapa is a multi-cuisine restaurant at Taj Tri Star.
Good food in a fairly professional ambience makes Dakshina Mandapa a good place for a family outing. As the restaurant is at the Paradise/Patny hub, and on a crowded day, the cramped main roads can make even Dakshina Mandapa feel like Buckingham Palace.
Turn on: If you know what Dakshina Mandapa means, you don't really need to say, "What's in a name?" after checking here. The restaurants truly leaves up to its name with the authentic food served here.
Price: Weekends boost that up even further, with up to 50 to 60 items to choose from. Lunch buffet costs Rs 155 (Rs 175 on weekends), and dinner buffet costs Rs 175. Dakshina Mandapa also offers a Sunday morning brunch for Rs 115, with about 20 items including bread/butter, cornflakes, a variety of South-Indian items, paratha with curd, and fruits and juices.
—Anubha K. Singh
The restaurant boasts multiple chefs for each cuisine, and the effort and care shows on your taste buds. Some truly authentic South-Indian and exotic dishes make up the menu, and you are unlikely to be complaining for variety. The reception however has South-Indian written all over it. In terms of space, Dakshina Mandapa feels like the executive summary of Galaxy, a good block at the centre of this cozy buffet-only restaurant is occupied by the spread of items you can help yourself to. 90 people can be accommodated at any given day in the restaurant.
Ambience: Dakshina Mandapa lives up to its name. Inspired by the medieval wooden temples of south Kannada, the ambience is very traditional and awe-inspiring. The place is decorated with wooden furniture, brass artifacts and colorful silk upholstery. And with an all-encompassing fervour, it offers Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines served for lunch and dinner buffets. Dakshina Mandapa is a multi-cuisine restaurant at Taj Tri Star.
Good food in a fairly professional ambience makes Dakshina Mandapa a good place for a family outing. As the restaurant is at the Paradise/Patny hub, and on a crowded day, the cramped main roads can make even Dakshina Mandapa feel like Buckingham Palace.
Turn on: If you know what Dakshina Mandapa means, you don't really need to say, "What's in a name?" after checking here. The restaurants truly leaves up to its name with the authentic food served here.
Price: Weekends boost that up even further, with up to 50 to 60 items to choose from. Lunch buffet costs Rs 155 (Rs 175 on weekends), and dinner buffet costs Rs 175. Dakshina Mandapa also offers a Sunday morning brunch for Rs 115, with about 20 items including bread/butter, cornflakes, a variety of South-Indian items, paratha with curd, and fruits and juices.
—Anubha K. Singh
Mozzarella boasts of a wide spread
Concept:Mexican, Continental, Italian, Thai, Indian, and Chinese. They all make one's mouth watering so picking which one to go with is rarely a snap decision. Have it all at Mozzarella, let your plate play diplomat to the multinational dishes.
Ambience: Simplicity is at the best that is what the decoration and interiors of the restaurant displays. It's always soothing to enjoy the food with light music and fewer crowds. The ambience at Mozzarella is definitely unparalleled in twin city.
Food: While we tried different foods there, the portobello mushrooms is highly recommended. So is the blue cheese steak and of course, it's a great place to chill either with cocktails. Allow the Bruschetta to converse with the Amritsari Chhole Kulcha, encourage the Almond Broccoli soup to mingle with a lightly dressed Fattoush salad while your Strawberry Rise Mocktail awaits a sip. Don't forget to try the barman's signature Paan Martini. The Indian food here is particularly good but don't hesitate to try some of the more unfamiliar items like the Charcoal Roasted Mushrooms drizzled with Parmesan.
The dessert section is not less than an icing on the cake to name a few their moist chocolate mousse cannelloni is a godsend and the crisp, flaky Baklava instantly transports you to Turkey.
Service: The staff here is very friendly and always alert at their service to serve you the best. The quick service of the restaurant doesn't allow one to wait too long to get the order on table unlike other big restaurants in city.
Value: Comparing the prices to nearby eating places, they are similar. When one takes food quality, service and ambience into account, one will realize what kind of value one is getting.
Turn-on: Wonderful service, always with a smile. One would not find anything that is not delicious. It has remarkable lunch combos. Prices are reasonable.
—Anubha K Singh
Ambience: Simplicity is at the best that is what the decoration and interiors of the restaurant displays. It's always soothing to enjoy the food with light music and fewer crowds. The ambience at Mozzarella is definitely unparalleled in twin city.
Food: While we tried different foods there, the portobello mushrooms is highly recommended. So is the blue cheese steak and of course, it's a great place to chill either with cocktails. Allow the Bruschetta to converse with the Amritsari Chhole Kulcha, encourage the Almond Broccoli soup to mingle with a lightly dressed Fattoush salad while your Strawberry Rise Mocktail awaits a sip. Don't forget to try the barman's signature Paan Martini. The Indian food here is particularly good but don't hesitate to try some of the more unfamiliar items like the Charcoal Roasted Mushrooms drizzled with Parmesan.
The dessert section is not less than an icing on the cake to name a few their moist chocolate mousse cannelloni is a godsend and the crisp, flaky Baklava instantly transports you to Turkey.
Service: The staff here is very friendly and always alert at their service to serve you the best. The quick service of the restaurant doesn't allow one to wait too long to get the order on table unlike other big restaurants in city.
Value: Comparing the prices to nearby eating places, they are similar. When one takes food quality, service and ambience into account, one will realize what kind of value one is getting.
Turn-on: Wonderful service, always with a smile. One would not find anything that is not delicious. It has remarkable lunch combos. Prices are reasonable.
—Anubha K Singh
Grand Solitaire: A grand place to feel an emperor
The name itself defines a lot about the place. Grand Solitaire is definitely a place for those who want to live like an emperor. Poised with unmatched panache in the bustling economic hub between the twin cities is this fine business hotel in Hyderabad that exalts grandeur like none other. With a host of food and beverage opportunities, this place is simply the best and a visit to this place will surely be memorable and can be described in just one word, WOW!!
Flavour, the coffee shop: Flavour, a coffee shop is quite different from other coffee shops in city of pearls. It also offers an array of cuisines so that there is abundant to choose from for everyone and one can enjoy the buffet in breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's a place where tea is not limited to just chai in the evenings but also includes pastries, etc. A 24 x 7 outlet. It's great place for those looking for a round of business talk, or a quite evening dinner.
V3 lounge Bar: A real classy watering hole, something Secunderabad has missed for quite long. With theme nights on most days of the week, they have the most well equipped lounge with the most exquisite variety of alcohol. A place where you consume your drink exclusively the way you want to with your kind of music being played in the background.
Chit Chaat: With a location to die for and the age-old chaat to kill for, the counter would also serve as a soft beverage area to beat the heat and pollution of twin city. The place would reinstate the fact that "Tikha" and "Saunt" are not limited just to 'chaat' but chat as well. Chit Chaat can be a perfect place to hang out with friends, a perfect place to gossip or kitty party and a perfect place to relax and have some good time out from your office schedule. After all choice is yours.
Occasions: Occasion is the perfect place for any of your occasions. It has five banquet halls that offer exquisite space for gatherings. One has the capacity of around 300 persons, two can house more than 50 persons each and two state-of-the-art board rooms that aim at giving food and beverages a big boost causing a bulk of the local clientele to utilise the hotel facilities. It is a place to make an important occasion more memorable. One can host here parties, wedding, conventions, or whatever anyone wishes to.
—Anubha K Singh
Flavour, the coffee shop: Flavour, a coffee shop is quite different from other coffee shops in city of pearls. It also offers an array of cuisines so that there is abundant to choose from for everyone and one can enjoy the buffet in breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's a place where tea is not limited to just chai in the evenings but also includes pastries, etc. A 24 x 7 outlet. It's great place for those looking for a round of business talk, or a quite evening dinner.
V3 lounge Bar: A real classy watering hole, something Secunderabad has missed for quite long. With theme nights on most days of the week, they have the most well equipped lounge with the most exquisite variety of alcohol. A place where you consume your drink exclusively the way you want to with your kind of music being played in the background.
Chit Chaat: With a location to die for and the age-old chaat to kill for, the counter would also serve as a soft beverage area to beat the heat and pollution of twin city. The place would reinstate the fact that "Tikha" and "Saunt" are not limited just to 'chaat' but chat as well. Chit Chaat can be a perfect place to hang out with friends, a perfect place to gossip or kitty party and a perfect place to relax and have some good time out from your office schedule. After all choice is yours.
Occasions: Occasion is the perfect place for any of your occasions. It has five banquet halls that offer exquisite space for gatherings. One has the capacity of around 300 persons, two can house more than 50 persons each and two state-of-the-art board rooms that aim at giving food and beverages a big boost causing a bulk of the local clientele to utilise the hotel facilities. It is a place to make an important occasion more memorable. One can host here parties, wedding, conventions, or whatever anyone wishes to.
—Anubha K Singh
Sahib Sindh Sultan, where history comes to life
Concept: Sahib Sindh Sultan, situated on the top floor of the City Centre Mall, is a different kind of theme restaurant which is becoming popular these days. The setting in this case is like an old pre-independence train with the waiters all dressed up as railway personnel.
Ambience: The restaurant is a tribute to a bygone era and everything from the interiors to the culinary experience is reminiscent of a mix of the traditions of Indian royalty and the British Raj. The restaurant will take you to 1853, when the first Indian train made its run from Bori Bunder to Thane. Much care has been taken to recreate the feeling, with the beautifully done décor, silk tapestry and exquisite silverware. From one end of the wall to the other, there is a Pullman-style carriageway which makes you feel like you're dining inside an actual train.
Food: If you want to eat like a king or be treated like a queen, then this is the right place for a unique dining experience. Sahib Sindh Sultan is one of twin city's finest north Indian restaurants. The food too reflects this rich past and is an interesting mélange of the cuisines of several States, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab. It also serves a great variety of Anglo-Indian dishes. For starters, try the vegetarian Lady Canning reshmi paneer tikka or makai mothia seekh (corn seekh kebab). For non-vegetarians, there are roti ki boti (mutton-based), murgh ka soola (boneless chicken) and Lord Mountbatten lobsters.
The main course ushers in bread or rice with keema meat a-la-rara (Punjabi), murgh peshawari (Kashmiri), Rajputana lalmaas (Rajasthani), Havelock fish mussalom (Kolkata) and such other delicious items. You might consider teaming your meal with some fresh sugarcane juice or sweet lassi. Make sure you save some appetite for Sahib Sindh Sultan's fabled desserts-gulab jamun with brandy, litchi ki tehri and apple walnut phirni to name a few. The desserts are as exotic as the rest of the meal. Tuck into a litchi ki tehri or a flambéed gulab jamun or a pineapple halwa, and end your experience on a sweet note. Wash down your meal with a fairly exhaustive wine list or opt for favourite cocktails such as margaritas, mojito or the caiprioska.
Choose to dine at the platform (smoking zone) or walk into the ornate carriage (non-smoking zone) to get transported to a period you have only read about in your history books.
Turn on:The restaurant remains open from 12 noon - 3.15pm (lunch) and 7 pm - 11.15 pm and has valet parking facility. Two can have this exotic dining experience for just Rs 1000 - Rs 1500.
As you walk out, don't forget to tug on the station master's copper bell which will help you to remind that you are still at the City Centre Mall in Hyderabad. Enjoy the experience! An ideal place for, maybe, a first date!!!
—Anubha K Singh
Ambience: The restaurant is a tribute to a bygone era and everything from the interiors to the culinary experience is reminiscent of a mix of the traditions of Indian royalty and the British Raj. The restaurant will take you to 1853, when the first Indian train made its run from Bori Bunder to Thane. Much care has been taken to recreate the feeling, with the beautifully done décor, silk tapestry and exquisite silverware. From one end of the wall to the other, there is a Pullman-style carriageway which makes you feel like you're dining inside an actual train.
Food: If you want to eat like a king or be treated like a queen, then this is the right place for a unique dining experience. Sahib Sindh Sultan is one of twin city's finest north Indian restaurants. The food too reflects this rich past and is an interesting mélange of the cuisines of several States, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab. It also serves a great variety of Anglo-Indian dishes. For starters, try the vegetarian Lady Canning reshmi paneer tikka or makai mothia seekh (corn seekh kebab). For non-vegetarians, there are roti ki boti (mutton-based), murgh ka soola (boneless chicken) and Lord Mountbatten lobsters.
The main course ushers in bread or rice with keema meat a-la-rara (Punjabi), murgh peshawari (Kashmiri), Rajputana lalmaas (Rajasthani), Havelock fish mussalom (Kolkata) and such other delicious items. You might consider teaming your meal with some fresh sugarcane juice or sweet lassi. Make sure you save some appetite for Sahib Sindh Sultan's fabled desserts-gulab jamun with brandy, litchi ki tehri and apple walnut phirni to name a few. The desserts are as exotic as the rest of the meal. Tuck into a litchi ki tehri or a flambéed gulab jamun or a pineapple halwa, and end your experience on a sweet note. Wash down your meal with a fairly exhaustive wine list or opt for favourite cocktails such as margaritas, mojito or the caiprioska.
Choose to dine at the platform (smoking zone) or walk into the ornate carriage (non-smoking zone) to get transported to a period you have only read about in your history books.
Turn on:The restaurant remains open from 12 noon - 3.15pm (lunch) and 7 pm - 11.15 pm and has valet parking facility. Two can have this exotic dining experience for just Rs 1000 - Rs 1500.
As you walk out, don't forget to tug on the station master's copper bell which will help you to remind that you are still at the City Centre Mall in Hyderabad. Enjoy the experience! An ideal place for, maybe, a first date!!!
—Anubha K Singh
The Grand Wok for a delectable delight
Concept: The Grand Wok guarantees to appeal to those with finer tastes, with a menu that has a collection of dishes that are exquisite, authentic, with distinctive and subtle flavours. The Grand Wok offers the all new, prefix menu and dining experience for the Chinese cuisine, right on your table.
Food: The Grand Wok serves you the most delectable Chinese and Thai cuisines to suit the Indian palate. Experience the unforgettable cuisine, attentive service and classic mocktails all served in the stylish, high-energy bistro. The menu is interesting and exhaustive with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Green lettuce wraps and chicken lettuce wraps as a starter is a must try. The Hunan tofu green chili stick, the dim sums, tai-pei chicken, honey chili chicken are variety of starters.
The lamb, seafood, noodles and rice varieties are foodies' delight. The delectable items include Buddha's feast, supreme vegetable in deKung pao chicken, Asian chicken, double pan fried noodles, lamb with green and red pepper, oriental lamb, moo goo gai pan amongst others. In dessert section, relish fried ice-cream (the ice cream just melts in your mouth as the cashew nuts give that crunchy feeling), date wontons and coconut rolls.
The restaurant also boasts of an impressive a la Carte menu, offering exquisite dishes. The favourites include chicken Taipei, drums of heaven, crabmeat soup, bamboo rice, fried ice cream and an exotic wok seared lamb.
Ambience: The interior of the restaurant is a visual treat, fusing modern design with strong Chinese overtones. The ceiling of the private dining rooms done up in gold leaf in addition to the hand-painted paintings. One oversized aquarium, three huge chandeliers and a couple of ancient Chinese art works add to the magical ambience.
Turn on: Unique aspect of the restaurant is its cosy private dining rooms, which can seat 6-8 people. The rooms are cosy with tower ACs, Chinese art works (depicting a Cantonese market) and ensure privacy. The rooms also include small bells, which also functions as a buzzer to call the stewards.
—Anubha k. Singh
Food: The Grand Wok serves you the most delectable Chinese and Thai cuisines to suit the Indian palate. Experience the unforgettable cuisine, attentive service and classic mocktails all served in the stylish, high-energy bistro. The menu is interesting and exhaustive with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Green lettuce wraps and chicken lettuce wraps as a starter is a must try. The Hunan tofu green chili stick, the dim sums, tai-pei chicken, honey chili chicken are variety of starters.
The lamb, seafood, noodles and rice varieties are foodies' delight. The delectable items include Buddha's feast, supreme vegetable in deKung pao chicken, Asian chicken, double pan fried noodles, lamb with green and red pepper, oriental lamb, moo goo gai pan amongst others. In dessert section, relish fried ice-cream (the ice cream just melts in your mouth as the cashew nuts give that crunchy feeling), date wontons and coconut rolls.
The restaurant also boasts of an impressive a la Carte menu, offering exquisite dishes. The favourites include chicken Taipei, drums of heaven, crabmeat soup, bamboo rice, fried ice cream and an exotic wok seared lamb.
Ambience: The interior of the restaurant is a visual treat, fusing modern design with strong Chinese overtones. The ceiling of the private dining rooms done up in gold leaf in addition to the hand-painted paintings. One oversized aquarium, three huge chandeliers and a couple of ancient Chinese art works add to the magical ambience.
Turn on: Unique aspect of the restaurant is its cosy private dining rooms, which can seat 6-8 people. The rooms are cosy with tower ACs, Chinese art works (depicting a Cantonese market) and ensure privacy. The rooms also include small bells, which also functions as a buzzer to call the stewards.
—Anubha k. Singh
Thai Express, simply Thai
Concept: The concept is inspired by the needs of customers who want to dine amidst a relaxed yet contemporary ambience with no strict rules on decorum, still enjoy fantastically authentic Thai cuisine and at very reasonable prices. Best of all, they can enjoy whether in a group or alone, kudos to their unique serving style of individual portions.
Food: Head to Thai express located on road No.3 Banjara Hills for the authentic Thai style of experience. You will get a rare feeling that entire Thai land is on your table. It takes a minute or two to get over the fact that the palatable bouquet of flavour and texture on your sleek plate is actually and really authentic ribbon noodles shipped in from Singapore.
Sink your teeth into some Kanom Pang Na Kung and leave behind the formalities of posh dining and get your fingers sticky courtesy the red chilli riddled plum sauce that escorts it. Fight it out over the Drunken Fire Noodles or one of the Bangkok Street favourites. Give your taste buds a good working with the green curry Laksa.
Don't forget to tickle your taste buds with Thai mango salad. Enjoy the bites of crisp and crunchy moneybags along with tangy tom yum soup. Relish the sumptuous yellow curry with piping hot steamed rice. Soothe your stomach from the flames of spicy main course with chilling Thai chendol (juice made with jack fruits) and red ruby coconut flavoured ice cream.
If you are a vegetarian you can go for Thai Iced Tea, Yellow Curry (and Jasmine Rice), Pad Thai. Moderately priced and instantly brought out of the kitchen, the food is bound to be a favourite with the belly.
Turn on: Visitors are greeted in traditional Thai style at the entrance. The service is just fantastic, the servers know the menu inside out as they suggest dishes, which you will end up ordering.
Food: Head to Thai express located on road No.3 Banjara Hills for the authentic Thai style of experience. You will get a rare feeling that entire Thai land is on your table. It takes a minute or two to get over the fact that the palatable bouquet of flavour and texture on your sleek plate is actually and really authentic ribbon noodles shipped in from Singapore.
Sink your teeth into some Kanom Pang Na Kung and leave behind the formalities of posh dining and get your fingers sticky courtesy the red chilli riddled plum sauce that escorts it. Fight it out over the Drunken Fire Noodles or one of the Bangkok Street favourites. Give your taste buds a good working with the green curry Laksa.
Don't forget to tickle your taste buds with Thai mango salad. Enjoy the bites of crisp and crunchy moneybags along with tangy tom yum soup. Relish the sumptuous yellow curry with piping hot steamed rice. Soothe your stomach from the flames of spicy main course with chilling Thai chendol (juice made with jack fruits) and red ruby coconut flavoured ice cream.
If you are a vegetarian you can go for Thai Iced Tea, Yellow Curry (and Jasmine Rice), Pad Thai. Moderately priced and instantly brought out of the kitchen, the food is bound to be a favourite with the belly.
Turn on: Visitors are greeted in traditional Thai style at the entrance. The service is just fantastic, the servers know the menu inside out as they suggest dishes, which you will end up ordering.
Orchids:For 24/7 delicious delights
Concept: You can grab a bite at anytime at the 24-hour restaurant, Orchids, the multi cuisine restaurant serving a varied selection from Indian, English Pies and Stews, Chinese to Italian. If you're looking for a private setting, they also have a PDR that seat up to 20 people.
Food: If the last time you had your food served to you on a trolley was in a dream about being a millionaire, then it's time to dine at the Orchids. Orchids is a multi-cuisine restaurant situated right in the heart of city at Banjara Hills.
Expect a menu eager to please, with the cuisine spanning across Mexican, Italian, Hyderabadi Andhra and Chinese. There are the regular names, and the ambitiously exotic ones as well. Breakfast is a basic yet cosmopolitan spread, right from French toast and pancakes, to the quintessential Indian idlis and poori-bhajis.
The rest of the menu begins with a generic collection of starters, soups and salads - with a continental touch. Then, there's the Andhra section populated mostly with non-vegetarian favourites, including Chapa Pulusu, Gongura Mamsam and Royyala Iguru. The basics are here, too - Tomato Pappu rasam, sambar and curd rice.
The Nawabi menu, ambitious in intent, is filled with mutton specialities. The Bagare Baingan and the Khatti Dal seem to sit ever so meekly in a list laden with the Dum Ka Murgh, Lagan Ki Boti and Nawabi Jhinga. Plans are afoot to infuse a heavy Lucknowi flavour into the menu.
Then, there's the Chinese list of choices, with the regulars. Features not found in other restaurants are the sandwiches and burgers section; a lean menu for fitness buffs, with clear soups and salads; and a "Nostalgia Sixties" segment consisting of stews, bakes, grills and pies.
Get a fajita or creamy pasta cooked right in front of you, depending on what the chef's special for the day is or you could hit the tangier chaat counter. Whether you're looking for a great spot to talk business or a spot where the desserts are enough to get your money's worth, The Orchids can suit almost any budget and any palette.
Turn On: Fortune Park Vallabha's in-house multi-cuisine restaurant spins a delicious culinary web (live trolley service included) catering to hunger pangs 24/7 and at unbelievably affordable rates.
Orchids is hosting a Punjabi food festival this month where you can give your taste buds a true Punjabi taste.
Food: If the last time you had your food served to you on a trolley was in a dream about being a millionaire, then it's time to dine at the Orchids. Orchids is a multi-cuisine restaurant situated right in the heart of city at Banjara Hills.
Expect a menu eager to please, with the cuisine spanning across Mexican, Italian, Hyderabadi Andhra and Chinese. There are the regular names, and the ambitiously exotic ones as well. Breakfast is a basic yet cosmopolitan spread, right from French toast and pancakes, to the quintessential Indian idlis and poori-bhajis.
The rest of the menu begins with a generic collection of starters, soups and salads - with a continental touch. Then, there's the Andhra section populated mostly with non-vegetarian favourites, including Chapa Pulusu, Gongura Mamsam and Royyala Iguru. The basics are here, too - Tomato Pappu rasam, sambar and curd rice.
The Nawabi menu, ambitious in intent, is filled with mutton specialities. The Bagare Baingan and the Khatti Dal seem to sit ever so meekly in a list laden with the Dum Ka Murgh, Lagan Ki Boti and Nawabi Jhinga. Plans are afoot to infuse a heavy Lucknowi flavour into the menu.
Then, there's the Chinese list of choices, with the regulars. Features not found in other restaurants are the sandwiches and burgers section; a lean menu for fitness buffs, with clear soups and salads; and a "Nostalgia Sixties" segment consisting of stews, bakes, grills and pies.
Get a fajita or creamy pasta cooked right in front of you, depending on what the chef's special for the day is or you could hit the tangier chaat counter. Whether you're looking for a great spot to talk business or a spot where the desserts are enough to get your money's worth, The Orchids can suit almost any budget and any palette.
Turn On: Fortune Park Vallabha's in-house multi-cuisine restaurant spins a delicious culinary web (live trolley service included) catering to hunger pangs 24/7 and at unbelievably affordable rates.
Orchids is hosting a Punjabi food festival this month where you can give your taste buds a true Punjabi taste.
A big place for Veg cuisine lovers
Concept: It is a vegetarian restaurant. If you are the regular non-vegetarian Italiano, then this is not the place for you. But if you want to taste the real food of Italy minus the non-veg stuff then this is just the right place for you.
Ambience: A fairly spacious indoor/outdoor eatery with smoking and non-smoking sections, this expensive restaurant is characterised by plush seating, and constant loud chatter if you go on a day when some company in the vicinity is celebrating something here (and that could be just the weekend). Located at Film Nagar, the place also has its share of Tollywood stars as its clientele. A distinctive décor with glass and heavy wood with an outdoor bit of water running over rocks marks out the place.
Food: If you are one of those who think Italian meant bland mayonnaise, cheese and pasta then think twice as Little Italy will deliver a knockout punch. Many customers would delightfully opine that the pizzas are better than any Domino's or Pizza Hut whip up, and hyperactively recommend the Sicilian Pizza. There's no shortage of spicy dishes - you just have to hint it to the headwaiter, and he'll gleefully perform a fox trot.
The menu has about 25 "Antipasti Starters", with all the popular Italian ingredients like mozzarella, avocado, aubergines, capers, parsley, farmer's bread, olive oil, oregano, mayonnaise, crostini, artichokes, asparagus, olives, mushrooms, capsicum, garlic and, of course, cheese in it.17 salads and 10 soups, you can go for a 2-tiered main course menu, consisting of pastas (lasagnas) with a range of sauces, and brown rice dishes (risottas), Tagliatelle, Spaghetti, Penne, Fusilli, Gnocchi and Ravioli form the pasta core, and 38 sauces form the wardrobe. There's a Mexican sub-menu too, with all the staples - nachos, tacos, salads, onion and capsicum rings, baby corn longs, enchiladas, quesadillas and mashed potato-based dishes.
Tiramusu is the only exotic dessert - the rest are chocolate brownies and ice creams. Several liquor-based ice creams dot the dessert section. Plus, you have an elaborate wine list, and 30+ juices, to choose from if you are looking for something to wash it all down.
Turn On: With its food, Little Italy is a class act. Pardon them the long waiting time and rather sloppy service at peak times -- they've earned.
Price: A meal for two at Little Italy can cost Rs. 1,000 -- without alcohol -- and for most, is well worth as customer service is warm and friendly.
—Anubha K. Singh
Ambience: A fairly spacious indoor/outdoor eatery with smoking and non-smoking sections, this expensive restaurant is characterised by plush seating, and constant loud chatter if you go on a day when some company in the vicinity is celebrating something here (and that could be just the weekend). Located at Film Nagar, the place also has its share of Tollywood stars as its clientele. A distinctive décor with glass and heavy wood with an outdoor bit of water running over rocks marks out the place.
Food: If you are one of those who think Italian meant bland mayonnaise, cheese and pasta then think twice as Little Italy will deliver a knockout punch. Many customers would delightfully opine that the pizzas are better than any Domino's or Pizza Hut whip up, and hyperactively recommend the Sicilian Pizza. There's no shortage of spicy dishes - you just have to hint it to the headwaiter, and he'll gleefully perform a fox trot.
The menu has about 25 "Antipasti Starters", with all the popular Italian ingredients like mozzarella, avocado, aubergines, capers, parsley, farmer's bread, olive oil, oregano, mayonnaise, crostini, artichokes, asparagus, olives, mushrooms, capsicum, garlic and, of course, cheese in it.17 salads and 10 soups, you can go for a 2-tiered main course menu, consisting of pastas (lasagnas) with a range of sauces, and brown rice dishes (risottas), Tagliatelle, Spaghetti, Penne, Fusilli, Gnocchi and Ravioli form the pasta core, and 38 sauces form the wardrobe. There's a Mexican sub-menu too, with all the staples - nachos, tacos, salads, onion and capsicum rings, baby corn longs, enchiladas, quesadillas and mashed potato-based dishes.
Tiramusu is the only exotic dessert - the rest are chocolate brownies and ice creams. Several liquor-based ice creams dot the dessert section. Plus, you have an elaborate wine list, and 30+ juices, to choose from if you are looking for something to wash it all down.
Turn On: With its food, Little Italy is a class act. Pardon them the long waiting time and rather sloppy service at peak times -- they've earned.
Price: A meal for two at Little Italy can cost Rs. 1,000 -- without alcohol -- and for most, is well worth as customer service is warm and friendly.
—Anubha K. Singh
Barbeque Nation
Concept: A vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian restaurant, drawn from Mediterranean, American, Oriental and Asian origin. Barbeque Nation brings the concept of a live grill to India for the first time. An international concept, the restaurant offers an option where customers can make their food on their personal grills, which are embedded in each table.
Ambience: The décor has been inspired from a European country dining experience, with a lot of wood and exposed brick walls. The variety in the starters and the main course is rotated every day.
The interiors are quite brightly lit, and there is a bar at the centre with very reasonably priced cocktails.
Food: The all new menu and dining experience which comes with a live grill, right on your table gives a different experience. It allows you to grill your dishes, exactly your way. Experience cooking that has your contribution in making the food with your favourite marinade, and gives that finishing touch that you prefer. A range of sumptuous buffet is followed by scrumptious dessert.
Barbeque Nation's USP is the unlimited quantities of grilled stuff. The kebabs are all good, the fish and prawns make your meal or dinner the perfect choice for the day. The best part is of course that it's unlimited, and the skewers keep coming and coming, until you are bloated beyond redemption and lift a tired limb to indicate the staff to wait as you need a break.
There is a wide range of salads, more meat and vegetables, biryani, and so on. It's not often that a crab curry shows up in a buffet in this landlocked burg, but it does. At the end, there is a wide selection of dessert delectable's (phirni, gulab jamun, cakes, ice cream, to name a few), all above par.
Turn on: The best dish of the restaurant is the kebab which is cooked on your table and you get a chance to prepare your own kebab with add-ons.
Anubha K. Singh
Ambience: The décor has been inspired from a European country dining experience, with a lot of wood and exposed brick walls. The variety in the starters and the main course is rotated every day.
The interiors are quite brightly lit, and there is a bar at the centre with very reasonably priced cocktails.
Food: The all new menu and dining experience which comes with a live grill, right on your table gives a different experience. It allows you to grill your dishes, exactly your way. Experience cooking that has your contribution in making the food with your favourite marinade, and gives that finishing touch that you prefer. A range of sumptuous buffet is followed by scrumptious dessert.
Barbeque Nation's USP is the unlimited quantities of grilled stuff. The kebabs are all good, the fish and prawns make your meal or dinner the perfect choice for the day. The best part is of course that it's unlimited, and the skewers keep coming and coming, until you are bloated beyond redemption and lift a tired limb to indicate the staff to wait as you need a break.
There is a wide range of salads, more meat and vegetables, biryani, and so on. It's not often that a crab curry shows up in a buffet in this landlocked burg, but it does. At the end, there is a wide selection of dessert delectable's (phirni, gulab jamun, cakes, ice cream, to name a few), all above par.
Turn on: The best dish of the restaurant is the kebab which is cooked on your table and you get a chance to prepare your own kebab with add-ons.
Anubha K. Singh
For delicious South Indian dishes trust only Southern Spice
Sited in the heart of Banjara Hills is Southern Spice, a nice cosy Andhra joint. Southern Spice is one of the multi-cuisine restaurants. While the biryanis are not the only thing to speak about, it is their thalis that they are really known for. Much of the food is prepared in traditional Andhra style. They offer an exotic collection of dosas, iddlies, utthampams, rotis, biriyanis and curries that are typical in South Indian cuisine.
The restaurant is well known for its authentic tradition and superb quality of food and service. Southern Spice is a big hit among the Andhraites for two reasons: first, it confines its exploration of South Indian cuisine almost exclusively to the Andhra belt and its palate-scorchers. This, the natives would agree, is the only sensible way to go about it. And second, it does such a great job of bringing authentic regional flavours to your table that a full-course meal feels like a little whirlwind tour of the state we call home.
Getting to the point directly, Southern Spice does have a thumb up in terms of the food. The ambience is good, but it isn't the creme de la creme. The cuisine rightly matches the name and the taste sure does catch those really traditional taste buds.
Done up to invoke a rustic mood, the restaurant's entrance is complete with mud pillars and little rangoli patterns on the walls. Inside, however, you won't have to waste too much time to appreciate the decor. Service is fairly quick, once you've made up your mind.
The raagi sangati and jonne rotte are firm favourites for the main course. As are the chicken chettinad, the gongura mamsam and the absolutely delicious chaapa vepudu (fish fry). All of these dishes go great with the classic perugannam (wonderfully spiced curd rice) or steaming ghee-rice with karam podi. Try the Andhra non-veg dishes too, which though on the spicier side, are quite popular too.
As the name specifies Southern Spice, all the items are spicy. This restaurant is for the people who are really hungry. The only area that SS disappoints is with its desserts. They haven't, unfortunately, gotten much more creative than trifle pudding and caramel custard.
The service is quick, hence it's a perfect place on any day when you are not in a mood to cook and you are looking for variety. You can blindly trust on this restaurant and you will not be disappointed and it will leave you craving for more. You can expect to see a lot of families at this joint out for a very traditional dinner.
—Anubha k. Singh
The restaurant is well known for its authentic tradition and superb quality of food and service. Southern Spice is a big hit among the Andhraites for two reasons: first, it confines its exploration of South Indian cuisine almost exclusively to the Andhra belt and its palate-scorchers. This, the natives would agree, is the only sensible way to go about it. And second, it does such a great job of bringing authentic regional flavours to your table that a full-course meal feels like a little whirlwind tour of the state we call home.
Getting to the point directly, Southern Spice does have a thumb up in terms of the food. The ambience is good, but it isn't the creme de la creme. The cuisine rightly matches the name and the taste sure does catch those really traditional taste buds.
Done up to invoke a rustic mood, the restaurant's entrance is complete with mud pillars and little rangoli patterns on the walls. Inside, however, you won't have to waste too much time to appreciate the decor. Service is fairly quick, once you've made up your mind.
The raagi sangati and jonne rotte are firm favourites for the main course. As are the chicken chettinad, the gongura mamsam and the absolutely delicious chaapa vepudu (fish fry). All of these dishes go great with the classic perugannam (wonderfully spiced curd rice) or steaming ghee-rice with karam podi. Try the Andhra non-veg dishes too, which though on the spicier side, are quite popular too.
As the name specifies Southern Spice, all the items are spicy. This restaurant is for the people who are really hungry. The only area that SS disappoints is with its desserts. They haven't, unfortunately, gotten much more creative than trifle pudding and caramel custard.
The service is quick, hence it's a perfect place on any day when you are not in a mood to cook and you are looking for variety. You can blindly trust on this restaurant and you will not be disappointed and it will leave you craving for more. You can expect to see a lot of families at this joint out for a very traditional dinner.
—Anubha k. Singh
Ista, only place where food is taken seriously
"One of the nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating."
—Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright
At Ista, they take food very seriously, they know that food breaks are what make life goes around...quite literally! So whether it's just a hurried snack in between an important meeting, selected from their mouth watering menu at Collage, or a melting moment from their selection of desserts or serious food fit for a king's banquet from their fine dining restaurants, you can be assured that you're looking at an eclectic, well planned and carefully selected fare made by the finest, for the finest.
At Ista they take care to ensure that they meet our expectations and significations of good food. Their all day dining takes you on an international culinary tour. The wood fired oven, live Teppanyaki and Tempura section, elegant outdoor patio and pavilion, 'Collage' is truly happening all day and night. An expansive buffet spread at breakfast and lunch, it offers a world-class interactive dining experience.
With a majestic backdrop of the lobby waterfall, the Lobby Lounge epitomizes the elegance and grandeur that is Ista. An ideal place for informal tête-à-tête, a sumptuous afternoon tea a favourite for pre and post dinner drinks, and a live piano kick starts an evening of relaxation and high spirits.
A personal voyage with elements of traditional Andhra cuisine and the age-old Nizami gharana food, all presented to you in a contemporary setting not just in ambience but also on your 'plate'. With live stage performances get ready for a true 'Nawaabi' experience.Whenever you step in Ista you will find one or the other food festival going on.
Recently Ista organised the Urban Desi Fest, which brought in the food and culture of the migrant Punjabis from the boroughs of London and Vancouver downtown, at its speciality Indian restaurant, Deori.
The fest, conceptualised by Ista's executive chef Amit Wadhawan, saw variety of dishes like chicken tikka masala, hara masala wala kukad, Amritsari wadi aloo, kala channa tari wala, rara meat phool makhana, aloo moolyan ka saag, Patiyala shahi gosht, makki roti saag and chili vodka golguppas.
"Padharo Marhe Des" was another royal Rajasthani food fest which brought in large number of visitors to the restaurant. The fest saw a unique collection of recipes from the royal region of Rajasthan that features very prominently on the food map of India. Marwari food is known to be primarily vegetarian and is prepared in ghee and other milk products. Ista Hyderabad has also brought in some exciting non-vegetarian dishes from the gharanas of the Rajputs of the region to cater to the liking of the meat lovers.
Each of the dishes at the festival was prepared keeping in mind the sentiments of the Marwari patrons (separate cooking sections for Veg and Non Veg food) with emphasis on authenticity of the tastes.
Mawa Kachori from Jodhpur, Alwar ka mawa, malpuas from Pushkar, rasogullas from Bikaner, ghevar from Jaipur were some of the other popular sweet dishes that were served at the food festival.
—Anubha K. Singh
—Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright
At Ista, they take food very seriously, they know that food breaks are what make life goes around...quite literally! So whether it's just a hurried snack in between an important meeting, selected from their mouth watering menu at Collage, or a melting moment from their selection of desserts or serious food fit for a king's banquet from their fine dining restaurants, you can be assured that you're looking at an eclectic, well planned and carefully selected fare made by the finest, for the finest.
At Ista they take care to ensure that they meet our expectations and significations of good food. Their all day dining takes you on an international culinary tour. The wood fired oven, live Teppanyaki and Tempura section, elegant outdoor patio and pavilion, 'Collage' is truly happening all day and night. An expansive buffet spread at breakfast and lunch, it offers a world-class interactive dining experience.
With a majestic backdrop of the lobby waterfall, the Lobby Lounge epitomizes the elegance and grandeur that is Ista. An ideal place for informal tête-à-tête, a sumptuous afternoon tea a favourite for pre and post dinner drinks, and a live piano kick starts an evening of relaxation and high spirits.
A personal voyage with elements of traditional Andhra cuisine and the age-old Nizami gharana food, all presented to you in a contemporary setting not just in ambience but also on your 'plate'. With live stage performances get ready for a true 'Nawaabi' experience.Whenever you step in Ista you will find one or the other food festival going on.
Recently Ista organised the Urban Desi Fest, which brought in the food and culture of the migrant Punjabis from the boroughs of London and Vancouver downtown, at its speciality Indian restaurant, Deori.
The fest, conceptualised by Ista's executive chef Amit Wadhawan, saw variety of dishes like chicken tikka masala, hara masala wala kukad, Amritsari wadi aloo, kala channa tari wala, rara meat phool makhana, aloo moolyan ka saag, Patiyala shahi gosht, makki roti saag and chili vodka golguppas.
"Padharo Marhe Des" was another royal Rajasthani food fest which brought in large number of visitors to the restaurant. The fest saw a unique collection of recipes from the royal region of Rajasthan that features very prominently on the food map of India. Marwari food is known to be primarily vegetarian and is prepared in ghee and other milk products. Ista Hyderabad has also brought in some exciting non-vegetarian dishes from the gharanas of the Rajputs of the region to cater to the liking of the meat lovers.
Each of the dishes at the festival was prepared keeping in mind the sentiments of the Marwari patrons (separate cooking sections for Veg and Non Veg food) with emphasis on authenticity of the tastes.
Mawa Kachori from Jodhpur, Alwar ka mawa, malpuas from Pushkar, rasogullas from Bikaner, ghevar from Jaipur were some of the other popular sweet dishes that were served at the food festival.
—Anubha K. Singh
Pulusu: for South Indian food lovers
On this weekend, I was in mood to have a nice vegetable fry (south Indian style) or a steaming hot rasam, sambhar for dinner. So, I was pleasantly surprised when upon visiting pulusu, I came to know that unlike some of the other south Indian restaurants in the city, Pulusu had a south Indian a la carte section with a reasonably good spread.
So, let's begin this review with a look at the ambience. I thought it was pretty run of the mill. It's a fine dining restaurant, nothing extraordinary. The service was pretty decent, neither mind blowing nor disappointing. Alright, now that service and ambience are out of the way, let's take a look at the food.
Pulusu's menu pre-dominantly contains south Indian delicacies with a smattering of Chinese and North Indian dishes. It's a family styled restaurant which serves vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies from North Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines along with flavorsome and refreshing soft drinks. It does such a great job of bringing authentic regional flavours to your table that a full-course meal feels like a little whirlwind tour of the state we call home. As are the chicken chettinad, the gongura mamsam and the absolutely delish chaapa vepudu (fish fry).
All of these dishes go great with the classic perugannam (wonderfully spiced curd rice) or steaming ghee-rice with karam podi.
There's a lot of traditional Andhra non-vegetarian stuff nevertheless, mouth-watering names like Natu Kodi Iguru, Chapala Pulusu, Kodiguddu Ulli Iguru, Ulavacharu and Mamsam Pulusu. There's a pretty elaborate North Indian or Chinese menu otherwise too, with all the standard soups, starters, rice items, noodles and curries. Pulusu expectedly is big on home delivery, given its location in an up market residential neighbourhood.
Housed at Sri Nagar Colony in Hyderabad, the restaurant provides seating for over 60 people. Pulusu's prices surprised me, I was expecting them to be a lot higher than they ultimately turned out to be, and that was a pleasant surprise for sure. Nominally, the average expense at the restaurant ranges in between Rs 250 to Rs 500 which can be paid in cash or through credit card. Few of the customer convenience services at Pulusu comprise of waiter service, reservation, valet parking and take away.
All in all, if you are a fan of south Indian food, Pulusu, I think, is worth a visit.
—Anubha K. Singh
So, let's begin this review with a look at the ambience. I thought it was pretty run of the mill. It's a fine dining restaurant, nothing extraordinary. The service was pretty decent, neither mind blowing nor disappointing. Alright, now that service and ambience are out of the way, let's take a look at the food.
Pulusu's menu pre-dominantly contains south Indian delicacies with a smattering of Chinese and North Indian dishes. It's a family styled restaurant which serves vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies from North Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines along with flavorsome and refreshing soft drinks. It does such a great job of bringing authentic regional flavours to your table that a full-course meal feels like a little whirlwind tour of the state we call home. As are the chicken chettinad, the gongura mamsam and the absolutely delish chaapa vepudu (fish fry).
All of these dishes go great with the classic perugannam (wonderfully spiced curd rice) or steaming ghee-rice with karam podi.
There's a lot of traditional Andhra non-vegetarian stuff nevertheless, mouth-watering names like Natu Kodi Iguru, Chapala Pulusu, Kodiguddu Ulli Iguru, Ulavacharu and Mamsam Pulusu. There's a pretty elaborate North Indian or Chinese menu otherwise too, with all the standard soups, starters, rice items, noodles and curries. Pulusu expectedly is big on home delivery, given its location in an up market residential neighbourhood.
Housed at Sri Nagar Colony in Hyderabad, the restaurant provides seating for over 60 people. Pulusu's prices surprised me, I was expecting them to be a lot higher than they ultimately turned out to be, and that was a pleasant surprise for sure. Nominally, the average expense at the restaurant ranges in between Rs 250 to Rs 500 which can be paid in cash or through credit card. Few of the customer convenience services at Pulusu comprise of waiter service, reservation, valet parking and take away.
All in all, if you are a fan of south Indian food, Pulusu, I think, is worth a visit.
—Anubha K. Singh
Lounge where you can 'Unwind' yourself
Pubs are passé, night clubs with their jaded hip-hop and electro beats are facing mid-life crisis. The new chill-out zone of the jet-setting city slickers now happens to be the lounge bars. Make your way to Unwind, the RestoBar at NKM's Grand; the latest happening destination at NKM Grand, and feel the difference.
Patronised by the city's swish set, this Oriental lounge bar has successfully managed to snitch the fancy of the classy bunch with its unique décor and offers the perfect lounging experience.
Compelling interiors, an island-style LED-lit bar, and semi-private booths with plush over-sized armchairs provide the ideal setting for the cosy twosome. The interiors are also subtle with comfortable couches sit back and nurse single malt or a mocktail as soft music pipes at the background. Lip-smacking delicacies add a wholesome flavour to the evening.
Unwind, would be a good choice of place to plant yourself at as well. Hiply done with a well-stocked bar and leather seating, the resto part of the lounge offers a la carte menu while the adjoining bar part offers good music and a wide array of drinks.
Unwind, RestoBar is one stop to refresh and windup, serves to various spirit's cocktails & moctails to relax. The food served is Italian and continental, and offers a rich array of both veg and non-veg dishes. Unwind boasts of one of the best lounge in city and teases your taste buds with exotic herb-flavoured vodkas and such other cocktails. Throw in a few hammocks to lounge on, straw umbrella shades, and no place can be more fun!
One can re-vitalise by checking into the cool ambiance of the Unwind - a lounge resto-bar…..Its succinct byline, 'Stay Smart', adequately sums up the tenor of the hotel. Compact, well-located, well-furnished, bright and cheerful, NKM's offers all the facilities to cater to the traveller's many needs.
So where are you lounging in tonight?
Patronised by the city's swish set, this Oriental lounge bar has successfully managed to snitch the fancy of the classy bunch with its unique décor and offers the perfect lounging experience.
Compelling interiors, an island-style LED-lit bar, and semi-private booths with plush over-sized armchairs provide the ideal setting for the cosy twosome. The interiors are also subtle with comfortable couches sit back and nurse single malt or a mocktail as soft music pipes at the background. Lip-smacking delicacies add a wholesome flavour to the evening.
Unwind, would be a good choice of place to plant yourself at as well. Hiply done with a well-stocked bar and leather seating, the resto part of the lounge offers a la carte menu while the adjoining bar part offers good music and a wide array of drinks.
Unwind, RestoBar is one stop to refresh and windup, serves to various spirit's cocktails & moctails to relax. The food served is Italian and continental, and offers a rich array of both veg and non-veg dishes. Unwind boasts of one of the best lounge in city and teases your taste buds with exotic herb-flavoured vodkas and such other cocktails. Throw in a few hammocks to lounge on, straw umbrella shades, and no place can be more fun!
One can re-vitalise by checking into the cool ambiance of the Unwind - a lounge resto-bar…..Its succinct byline, 'Stay Smart', adequately sums up the tenor of the hotel. Compact, well-located, well-furnished, bright and cheerful, NKM's offers all the facilities to cater to the traveller's many needs.
So where are you lounging in tonight?
Coco's for an evening of good food with music
Coco's is the place to be with a group of friends to chill out and have a relaxed dinner. Along with TexMex Mexican restaurant and Sundowner pub, Coco's Bar and grill are housed in the same building.
This open terrace restaurant is divided into two parts, one is for couples and another for families. As you make your way up the stairs, the cane-panelled doorway and resonance of soft music being played in the restaurant prepare you for what's to come. The thatch-and-bamboo open-air theme looks impressive. The elevated portico with low-seated divans and cane lampshades seem ideal.
As you settle down with a pint of beer, smoking the hookah and munching starters, the ambience takes precedence. Cocktails like the white-rum-based Costa de Sol, or the gin-based Tango Woo Woo are good bets. For the mocktail clientele, Coco's Lucida di Lemon and Apple Shiner are recommended.
Coco's serves scrumptious Continental, Indian and Chinese cuisine as well. In the continental menu the fish finger in Tartar sauce and the Lamb Toronto gel well with the drinks. Team it with Lamb Chomps or the Barbeque Chicken, both served with mashed potatoes and garlic bread. You can even mix and match with kebab platter, or delights from the tandoor as starters and noodles for the main course. The dessert section, however, lacks temptations.
The ambience of the restaurant is pretty decent, but the place is right next to the road linking TDP office with Jubilee Hills check post, so be prepared to hear the din of traffic. Customer service is decent. Orders are taken promptly and you do not have to wait too long for the order to arrive.
Prices are not heavy on the pocket. A beer here will cost you 125 bucks.
All in all, the place is a decent for eating out and I recommend it for a change.
—Anubha K. Singh
This open terrace restaurant is divided into two parts, one is for couples and another for families. As you make your way up the stairs, the cane-panelled doorway and resonance of soft music being played in the restaurant prepare you for what's to come. The thatch-and-bamboo open-air theme looks impressive. The elevated portico with low-seated divans and cane lampshades seem ideal.
As you settle down with a pint of beer, smoking the hookah and munching starters, the ambience takes precedence. Cocktails like the white-rum-based Costa de Sol, or the gin-based Tango Woo Woo are good bets. For the mocktail clientele, Coco's Lucida di Lemon and Apple Shiner are recommended.
Coco's serves scrumptious Continental, Indian and Chinese cuisine as well. In the continental menu the fish finger in Tartar sauce and the Lamb Toronto gel well with the drinks. Team it with Lamb Chomps or the Barbeque Chicken, both served with mashed potatoes and garlic bread. You can even mix and match with kebab platter, or delights from the tandoor as starters and noodles for the main course. The dessert section, however, lacks temptations.
The ambience of the restaurant is pretty decent, but the place is right next to the road linking TDP office with Jubilee Hills check post, so be prepared to hear the din of traffic. Customer service is decent. Orders are taken promptly and you do not have to wait too long for the order to arrive.
Prices are not heavy on the pocket. A beer here will cost you 125 bucks.
All in all, the place is a decent for eating out and I recommend it for a change.
—Anubha K. Singh
Fusion9: Impressive mix of good food, lovely ambience
Trendy, upmarket...call it what you like, Fusion9 is all that and much more. It is a place where I feel very much at home. I've been there with friends, colleagues and family. The ambience is just great, the food sinfully good and the service decent.
At F9, the city's first lounge bar and restaurant, you will find the most 'happening' crowd dining with you and believe me you won't be bored watching them. Instead, you'll be perfectly content sitting in your pool of candlelight watching the lovely reflections it casts on the long-stemmed jar of olive oil on the table. A lot of effort and thought have gone into giving F9 laid-back but undeniably intimate charm. This is a place for conversation, sips of your favourite drink and, above all, for good food.
The drinks served here are out of this world. Some combinations are very unusual. The Long Island Iced Tea served here is truly amazing as is their Lemon Iced Tea. I've had almost all the vegetarian starters listed on the menu and none has failed to impress. F9 has 9 different cuisines on its menu at any given point - Indian, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, Italian, American, Middle-Eastern, Vietnamese and European.
The best way to go about is to try something from each cuisine so you won't feel you're missing out something. For starters, you must try the Arabic Kafta Kebab, a mincemeat cutlet served with pudina chutney. Superbly moist and fragrant, as are the Chicken Satay and Reshmi Kebab. Falafel Kebab and the antipasta salad are good as vegetarian appetizers.
If you like Italian then do try the cheese-filled, olive-sprinkled Veg Calzone, the tomato-based Penne Nerone, or the Ravioli Ricotta E Spinachi. The restuarant is most popular for its steaks, with fillet of fish, grilled and topped with lemon sauce. Breast of chicken and tenderloin are the other options for steaks, which are served with herbed rice, potatoes, buttered vegetables.
But no meal is complete without dessert. One of F9's specialities is the dessert menu... of yummy stuff and F9's own bundles of pancakes, crepes filled with chocolate and a generous pouring of chocolate sauce and nuts.
F9 has a few weekly themes like the Sunday Champagne Brunch, Arabian Thursdays and Random Access Mondays, when IT and BPO professionals get a discount on food and drinks.
The one thing about F9 is that it remains crowded all the time. So you're better off making reservations beforehand. A meal for two with drinks could set you back by 800-1000 bucks.
I'd heard about this restaurant much before I even started writing restaurant reviews. Believe me, this is the best restaurant I have ever visited! So why don't you give a try?
—Anubha K. Singh
At F9, the city's first lounge bar and restaurant, you will find the most 'happening' crowd dining with you and believe me you won't be bored watching them. Instead, you'll be perfectly content sitting in your pool of candlelight watching the lovely reflections it casts on the long-stemmed jar of olive oil on the table. A lot of effort and thought have gone into giving F9 laid-back but undeniably intimate charm. This is a place for conversation, sips of your favourite drink and, above all, for good food.
The drinks served here are out of this world. Some combinations are very unusual. The Long Island Iced Tea served here is truly amazing as is their Lemon Iced Tea. I've had almost all the vegetarian starters listed on the menu and none has failed to impress. F9 has 9 different cuisines on its menu at any given point - Indian, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, Italian, American, Middle-Eastern, Vietnamese and European.
The best way to go about is to try something from each cuisine so you won't feel you're missing out something. For starters, you must try the Arabic Kafta Kebab, a mincemeat cutlet served with pudina chutney. Superbly moist and fragrant, as are the Chicken Satay and Reshmi Kebab. Falafel Kebab and the antipasta salad are good as vegetarian appetizers.
If you like Italian then do try the cheese-filled, olive-sprinkled Veg Calzone, the tomato-based Penne Nerone, or the Ravioli Ricotta E Spinachi. The restuarant is most popular for its steaks, with fillet of fish, grilled and topped with lemon sauce. Breast of chicken and tenderloin are the other options for steaks, which are served with herbed rice, potatoes, buttered vegetables.
But no meal is complete without dessert. One of F9's specialities is the dessert menu... of yummy stuff and F9's own bundles of pancakes, crepes filled with chocolate and a generous pouring of chocolate sauce and nuts.
F9 has a few weekly themes like the Sunday Champagne Brunch, Arabian Thursdays and Random Access Mondays, when IT and BPO professionals get a discount on food and drinks.
The one thing about F9 is that it remains crowded all the time. So you're better off making reservations beforehand. A meal for two with drinks could set you back by 800-1000 bucks.
I'd heard about this restaurant much before I even started writing restaurant reviews. Believe me, this is the best restaurant I have ever visited! So why don't you give a try?
—Anubha K. Singh
Indulge in temptation @ Syn!
With a name like Syn whatever I write about this place should be less. But when I just stopped over for some quick bite the impression it left me with was fabulous. This place has got to be one of the best in terms of the concept and quality of food that is served in any of star hotels.
Located in Taj Hotel, Syn is so energetic and so well made. Unlike most of the other restaurants in city where one does not complement the other, here the food, service and ambience all go hand in hand.
At Syn, indulgence is desirable and even encouraged and temptation is a way of life. Let the ambience have its way with you, as it flows from the open teppanyaki bar into the minimalistic dining area and island bar, hitting the plush couches of the lounge until it finally reveals the synergy of the tranquil lawns.
Syn is a confluence of Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese flavours in a magical setting. The interactive Sushi and Teppanyaki kitchen, a multi-faceted menu, a high-energy island bar, and, Synfresco - the adjoining al fresco dining area set against a stunning rock garden, make for a never before dining experience in a city known for its culinary traditions.
The teppanyaki counter whips up your favourites in scallops, lobster, sea bass, oyster, tofu, and a variety of exotic vegetables, the sushi menu offers a feast in tempuras, nigiri sushi and maki rolls. The rest of the menu includes treasures such as the pan seared scallops, duck liver foie gras, Thai style roast duck, Vietnamese rice-paper rolls, and of course, the ever popular Thai curries. Creative concoctions in artichoke, water chestnut, winged beans, silky bean curd, and palm hearts will win over the vegetarians.
You will be forced to wrap your tongue around the delicately wrapped sashimi moriawase (seafood platter) and try to retain its flavour as you sip on a Wasatini (Wasabi Martini).
At the Island Bar you can enjoy cocktails made with champagne and fresh-fruit purees. An array of detox cocktails, innovatively dubbed mocktails and fun elements like the super-sized drinking glasses big enough for ten, make for a lively evening. The variety of wines, aperitifs, spirits, single-malts and vodkas will surely make your visit to this unique place rocking!
The adding charm to recipes is the Vietnamese spring rolls, which make way for the Teriyaki garlic noodles tossed onto a plate as you gaze longingly at the live teppanyaki counter.
Vegetarians need not throw up at the thought of raw fish. Show moderation the door and try some Lotus Stem and crispy Water Chestnuts heavily doused in honey chilly and plum sauce.
At the end I was sinful enough to be criminal, and ended the night with the aptly named Synfull chocolate and Makroot cream. Though the prices are a bit on the higher side, I wasn't surprised as that is the thing you expect at a restro in star hotel. Ready for Syn!
—Anubha K. Singh
Located in Taj Hotel, Syn is so energetic and so well made. Unlike most of the other restaurants in city where one does not complement the other, here the food, service and ambience all go hand in hand.
At Syn, indulgence is desirable and even encouraged and temptation is a way of life. Let the ambience have its way with you, as it flows from the open teppanyaki bar into the minimalistic dining area and island bar, hitting the plush couches of the lounge until it finally reveals the synergy of the tranquil lawns.
Syn is a confluence of Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese flavours in a magical setting. The interactive Sushi and Teppanyaki kitchen, a multi-faceted menu, a high-energy island bar, and, Synfresco - the adjoining al fresco dining area set against a stunning rock garden, make for a never before dining experience in a city known for its culinary traditions.
The teppanyaki counter whips up your favourites in scallops, lobster, sea bass, oyster, tofu, and a variety of exotic vegetables, the sushi menu offers a feast in tempuras, nigiri sushi and maki rolls. The rest of the menu includes treasures such as the pan seared scallops, duck liver foie gras, Thai style roast duck, Vietnamese rice-paper rolls, and of course, the ever popular Thai curries. Creative concoctions in artichoke, water chestnut, winged beans, silky bean curd, and palm hearts will win over the vegetarians.
You will be forced to wrap your tongue around the delicately wrapped sashimi moriawase (seafood platter) and try to retain its flavour as you sip on a Wasatini (Wasabi Martini).
At the Island Bar you can enjoy cocktails made with champagne and fresh-fruit purees. An array of detox cocktails, innovatively dubbed mocktails and fun elements like the super-sized drinking glasses big enough for ten, make for a lively evening. The variety of wines, aperitifs, spirits, single-malts and vodkas will surely make your visit to this unique place rocking!
The adding charm to recipes is the Vietnamese spring rolls, which make way for the Teriyaki garlic noodles tossed onto a plate as you gaze longingly at the live teppanyaki counter.
Vegetarians need not throw up at the thought of raw fish. Show moderation the door and try some Lotus Stem and crispy Water Chestnuts heavily doused in honey chilly and plum sauce.
At the end I was sinful enough to be criminal, and ended the night with the aptly named Synfull chocolate and Makroot cream. Though the prices are a bit on the higher side, I wasn't surprised as that is the thing you expect at a restro in star hotel. Ready for Syn!
—Anubha K. Singh
Enjoy your coffee at Cascade
For a lot of people KBR Park is an inspiration enough to get up early and go for a walk. For some of us, it takes a little more than that to get us moving.
Here's your new inspiration. Ebony, the boutique hotel at Road No. 2, Banjara Hills overlooking the park has a cozy coffee shop, Cascade. You're served not just the usual breakfast spread of continental and Indian dishes, but an array of melt-in-your-mouth baked goodies.
Into its fourth month, Ebony is definitely one of its kinds. This exclusive hotel offers top of the line service in their wine and dine section, other than the Cascade Coffee, you can raise a toast at Finz, the rooftop bar.
Cascade the exclusive coffee shop, offers an excellent buffet spread for breakfast as well as lunch. Other than that they also provide a la carte lunches and dinners with a wide range of light as well as wholesome meals. If you are in a mood to enjoy a coffee with different taste and aromatic flavours then Casacade Coffee is the best place to opt for, what more you are waiting for enjoy our wide range of aromatic teas and coffees, to complete the Cascade experience.
How about dining under a starry sky then enjoy a dinner under the stars at Finz, the exclusive rooftop restaurant and bar at Ebony. Try out their distinctive menu, and experience impeccable service. Their open air grill is sure to tantalize your taste buds. Enjoy rare, delectable Indian recipes, sure to set your gastric juices flowing. Their multi cuisine menu is designed to satisfy all your gastronomic cravings.
Mommies in town, here's a new spot where your young your guns can dazzle in their best on birthdays and other celebrations, reserve the coffee room and you've got yourself a cozy do. Even the youngsters who are in mood of partying or reunion celebration can reserve the place in advance.
The hotel's rooftop bar and grill are also open to bookings and can accommodate a good hundred and fifty! If it's chic and stylish you want, and value for money, this is where you'll find it.
Weekend Offer
Lavish weekend buffet spread for lunch/ dinner with unlimited spirits @ just Rs. 450*
Here's your new inspiration. Ebony, the boutique hotel at Road No. 2, Banjara Hills overlooking the park has a cozy coffee shop, Cascade. You're served not just the usual breakfast spread of continental and Indian dishes, but an array of melt-in-your-mouth baked goodies.
Into its fourth month, Ebony is definitely one of its kinds. This exclusive hotel offers top of the line service in their wine and dine section, other than the Cascade Coffee, you can raise a toast at Finz, the rooftop bar.
Cascade the exclusive coffee shop, offers an excellent buffet spread for breakfast as well as lunch. Other than that they also provide a la carte lunches and dinners with a wide range of light as well as wholesome meals. If you are in a mood to enjoy a coffee with different taste and aromatic flavours then Casacade Coffee is the best place to opt for, what more you are waiting for enjoy our wide range of aromatic teas and coffees, to complete the Cascade experience.
How about dining under a starry sky then enjoy a dinner under the stars at Finz, the exclusive rooftop restaurant and bar at Ebony. Try out their distinctive menu, and experience impeccable service. Their open air grill is sure to tantalize your taste buds. Enjoy rare, delectable Indian recipes, sure to set your gastric juices flowing. Their multi cuisine menu is designed to satisfy all your gastronomic cravings.
Mommies in town, here's a new spot where your young your guns can dazzle in their best on birthdays and other celebrations, reserve the coffee room and you've got yourself a cozy do. Even the youngsters who are in mood of partying or reunion celebration can reserve the place in advance.
The hotel's rooftop bar and grill are also open to bookings and can accommodate a good hundred and fifty! If it's chic and stylish you want, and value for money, this is where you'll find it.
Weekend Offer
Lavish weekend buffet spread for lunch/ dinner with unlimited spirits @ just Rs. 450*
Frankly, it won't be wrong to call it Frankie-licious!
If you are hungry and want something in a jiffy, grab a Frankie…available at every corner in the city.Frankie is something, which can be had as a quick bite or even as a small meal. Quite a few will claim that frankie is akin to the kathi roll. For the uninitiated a frankie is a naan or roti with a yummy filling - veg and non-veg. It is ideal for a takeaway.
Frankies have come in your city thanks to Tum Yum Innovisions.
Ravi Khandelwal of Tum Yum says, "We have plans to expand and bring in more outlets in the course of time". This product by nature comes under a take away concept and probably could also classify as a convenience food mainly because of the quickness of preparation and easy-to-carry packing.
"Tibbs Frankies" is a product from Mumbai from the Tibbs Group and have been tickling the palate of food connoisseurs for over thirty-five years, from over 100 counters in Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune, Mysore, Chennai and Vishakhapatnam. Ravi Khandelwal's Tum Yum Innovisions is the master franchisee for this product in the state.
The company has already established fifteen outlets in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, including outlets at malls, software companies, clubs and supermarkets.
"We have also participated in various fests, weddings, college fetes and programmes like IPL 20-Twenty Cricket tournament in Hyderabad," he adds.
Frankies have become a rage with the Hyderabadi palate and has been widely appreciated.
A space of 4 feet X 3 feet is required to set up a Frankie facility at any premise. The cart has two electric hot plates (or hot plates operated by gas), one serving Veg. Frankies and the other Non Veg. The Frankie's are only heated on the hot plate and is wrapped around the stuffing and served to the customer in a butter paper wrapping. The average time required to serve a customer is less than a minute.
Among Hot favourites are the Veg Cheese Frankie, Tangy Paneer Frankie, Veg. Schezwan Frankie, Chicken Tikka Frankie and the Chettinad Frankie Frankies made in a central kitchen are finished and served in this small outlet. The varieties served are veg, veg cheese, paneer and cheese in the veg section and egg, tawa chicken, chicken tikka and mutton in the non-veg section.
What is more exciting is the price. While the veg and egg frankie are priced at Rs. 20, the other three veg ones and tawa chicken cost Rs. 25 and the chicken tikka and mutton costs Rs. 30.
Foodies Corner
The Saturday night BBQ at The Square
What: The Saturday night BBQ at The Square. Welcome to the greatest Buffet under the moon.
When: February 20, 6:30 pm onwards
Where: 1101, Novotel & HICC Complex, Izzatnagar, Kondapur.
The Lost Cuisine of Nizams
What: A food fest to celebrate the princely legacy of Nizams. The royal menu includes a variety of biryanis, kebabs such as boti jhammi, kalmi, shikampur, sheek, lagan-ke-kababs, dum-ke-kababs; pathar ke gosht; khormas and lukhmi, haleem. The pick from the deserts would be from double-ka-meetha; qubani-ka-meetha; badam-ki-jhab and dil-e-firdaus.
When: Till February 21
Where: Plot No 7, IT Park, Nanakramguda, Gachibowli
Sea Delights
What: The restaurant has introduced sea food platters. The menu has exotic dishes like shrimp olive ki seekh, wasabi mahi tikka, til tinka jhinga, tandoori trout and tawe ke chatpatey anari lobster, along with traditional dishes like-, Khas-Khas ki tali pomfret, Kuti mirch ke mahi pasandey, Tali til ki machhi, Bharwan pomfret and Pomfret Gulnar.
When: On Till February 28,11am to 10:30 pm
Where: The Great Kebab Factory, Behind KBR Park Hyderabad Street Food Festival
What: Hyderabad Street Food Festival at Municipal Ground - Organised by Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad in collaboration with Sannihita Center for Women and Girl Children Society.
When: February 18 to 23, 3 pm to 9 pm
Where: Municipal Ground, Near municipal swimming pool
—Anubha K. Singh
Frankies have come in your city thanks to Tum Yum Innovisions.
Ravi Khandelwal of Tum Yum says, "We have plans to expand and bring in more outlets in the course of time". This product by nature comes under a take away concept and probably could also classify as a convenience food mainly because of the quickness of preparation and easy-to-carry packing.
"Tibbs Frankies" is a product from Mumbai from the Tibbs Group and have been tickling the palate of food connoisseurs for over thirty-five years, from over 100 counters in Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune, Mysore, Chennai and Vishakhapatnam. Ravi Khandelwal's Tum Yum Innovisions is the master franchisee for this product in the state.
The company has already established fifteen outlets in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, including outlets at malls, software companies, clubs and supermarkets.
"We have also participated in various fests, weddings, college fetes and programmes like IPL 20-Twenty Cricket tournament in Hyderabad," he adds.
Frankies have become a rage with the Hyderabadi palate and has been widely appreciated.
A space of 4 feet X 3 feet is required to set up a Frankie facility at any premise. The cart has two electric hot plates (or hot plates operated by gas), one serving Veg. Frankies and the other Non Veg. The Frankie's are only heated on the hot plate and is wrapped around the stuffing and served to the customer in a butter paper wrapping. The average time required to serve a customer is less than a minute.
Among Hot favourites are the Veg Cheese Frankie, Tangy Paneer Frankie, Veg. Schezwan Frankie, Chicken Tikka Frankie and the Chettinad Frankie Frankies made in a central kitchen are finished and served in this small outlet. The varieties served are veg, veg cheese, paneer and cheese in the veg section and egg, tawa chicken, chicken tikka and mutton in the non-veg section.
What is more exciting is the price. While the veg and egg frankie are priced at Rs. 20, the other three veg ones and tawa chicken cost Rs. 25 and the chicken tikka and mutton costs Rs. 30.
Foodies Corner
The Saturday night BBQ at The Square
What: The Saturday night BBQ at The Square. Welcome to the greatest Buffet under the moon.
When: February 20, 6:30 pm onwards
Where: 1101, Novotel & HICC Complex, Izzatnagar, Kondapur.
The Lost Cuisine of Nizams
What: A food fest to celebrate the princely legacy of Nizams. The royal menu includes a variety of biryanis, kebabs such as boti jhammi, kalmi, shikampur, sheek, lagan-ke-kababs, dum-ke-kababs; pathar ke gosht; khormas and lukhmi, haleem. The pick from the deserts would be from double-ka-meetha; qubani-ka-meetha; badam-ki-jhab and dil-e-firdaus.
When: Till February 21
Where: Plot No 7, IT Park, Nanakramguda, Gachibowli
Sea Delights
What: The restaurant has introduced sea food platters. The menu has exotic dishes like shrimp olive ki seekh, wasabi mahi tikka, til tinka jhinga, tandoori trout and tawe ke chatpatey anari lobster, along with traditional dishes like-, Khas-Khas ki tali pomfret, Kuti mirch ke mahi pasandey, Tali til ki machhi, Bharwan pomfret and Pomfret Gulnar.
When: On Till February 28,11am to 10:30 pm
Where: The Great Kebab Factory, Behind KBR Park Hyderabad Street Food Festival
What: Hyderabad Street Food Festival at Municipal Ground - Organised by Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad in collaboration with Sannihita Center for Women and Girl Children Society.
When: February 18 to 23, 3 pm to 9 pm
Where: Municipal Ground, Near municipal swimming pool
—Anubha K. Singh
A world of veggie cuisines at Inner Circle
Inner Circle, a multi-cuisine restaurant offers pure vegetarian delicacies from a variety of world cuisines. Located in Somajiguda, the 150-seater restaurant is a veggie's delight.
The choice of cuisines here includes Indian, Continental, Mughlai and Chinese. "Most of the standard vegetarian specialty restaurants dish out routine stuff from Indian cuisine ignoring other cuisines. There's a world of delicacies waiting to be explored in other global cuisines and that's what we enable our customers to do," says Pradeep Dutt, Vice President of Inner circle.
The place which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner offers a wide mix of world cuisines dished out by experienced chefs. While the typical corporate crowd converges here for lunch, it is mostly families, couples and even expatriates during dinner time. The décor is very contemporary yet pleasant. The lighting is mostly indirect and soft.
Talking about the almost two year old eatery's quick rise to popularity amongst city foodies, Ramesh Chandra, Executive Chef at Inner Circle says, "Variety, especially from several cuisines is our biggest strength. Customers can actually discover a whole new world in vegetarian food. Through Inner Circle we want to challenge the notion that vegetarian food offers a limited variety".
Paneer Dhania Kalimirch, Shahi Sabzi, Lucknowi Sabji are some of the best signature recipes made by the chef. The buffet offers you a huge variety of dishes.
The restaurant doesn't offer bar facility. It is favourite food stop for many Tollywood stars and Prachi Desai from Bollywood is a regular visitor to this restaurant whenever she is in city.
About the success mantra of Inner Circle, the chef smiles and says, "The dessert section at this multi-cuisine restaurant ensures that all our customers not just start with a delicious meal, but also end it in style. Couple all this with unmatched taste and therein lies the recipe of our success."
Breakfast
Rs 100 plus taxes on weekdays and on weekends Rs 125 plus taxes.
Lunch
Rs 170 plus taxes on weekdays and on weekends Rs 195 plus taxes.
High tea
Rs 120 plus taxes only on weekends.
Dinner
Rs 250 plus taxes only on weekends.
The choice of cuisines here includes Indian, Continental, Mughlai and Chinese. "Most of the standard vegetarian specialty restaurants dish out routine stuff from Indian cuisine ignoring other cuisines. There's a world of delicacies waiting to be explored in other global cuisines and that's what we enable our customers to do," says Pradeep Dutt, Vice President of Inner circle.
The place which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner offers a wide mix of world cuisines dished out by experienced chefs. While the typical corporate crowd converges here for lunch, it is mostly families, couples and even expatriates during dinner time. The décor is very contemporary yet pleasant. The lighting is mostly indirect and soft.
Talking about the almost two year old eatery's quick rise to popularity amongst city foodies, Ramesh Chandra, Executive Chef at Inner Circle says, "Variety, especially from several cuisines is our biggest strength. Customers can actually discover a whole new world in vegetarian food. Through Inner Circle we want to challenge the notion that vegetarian food offers a limited variety".
Paneer Dhania Kalimirch, Shahi Sabzi, Lucknowi Sabji are some of the best signature recipes made by the chef. The buffet offers you a huge variety of dishes.
The restaurant doesn't offer bar facility. It is favourite food stop for many Tollywood stars and Prachi Desai from Bollywood is a regular visitor to this restaurant whenever she is in city.
About the success mantra of Inner Circle, the chef smiles and says, "The dessert section at this multi-cuisine restaurant ensures that all our customers not just start with a delicious meal, but also end it in style. Couple all this with unmatched taste and therein lies the recipe of our success."
Breakfast
Rs 100 plus taxes on weekdays and on weekends Rs 125 plus taxes.
Lunch
Rs 170 plus taxes on weekdays and on weekends Rs 195 plus taxes.
High tea
Rs 120 plus taxes only on weekends.
Dinner
Rs 250 plus taxes only on weekends.
At TGKF, kababs work up a gastronomic delight
The Great Kabab Factory brings you the best of seafood delicacies from the coast of Bengal, Tamil Nadu to Kerala and Goa along with scrumptious preparations from north. Preparations using exotic spices and made with authentic recipes will ensure you are swept off by a culinary wave. For vegetarians too there are kababs such as Dohra Khumb and Makkai matar ki seekh, which are unique to the TGKF dining experience.
The master chef and his team of experienced chefs at TGKF have prepared Indian seafood specialities with a menu that is a perfect blend of the traditional with the avant garde, guaranteed to satisfy every taste bud.
The kitchen presents dishes such as the exotic Shrimp Olive ki seekh, Wasabi Mahi tikka, Til tinka jhinga, Tandoori trout and Tawe ke chatpatey Anari lobster, along with traditional dishes like Khas-Khas ki tali pomfret, Kuti mirch ke mahi pasandey, Tali til ki machhi, Bharwan pomfret and Pomfret Gulnar
The meals incidentally lay emphasis on kebabs as the entree rather than as starters. The Shahi Gilaawat or Galouti Kebab is the in-house speciality. The meat is minced at least five times to give it the required fineness, before adding raw papaya and spices. It is then shallow-fried on a tawa. There is an option to order for mild or spicy varieties. Patthar Kebabs, grilled on stone, are worth a try too. You can also try saffron-flavoured Sheermil, which has a mild sweet taste to it and Bakherkhani Roti, flavoured with nuts and fennel. In Dals, Panchmahal (Benaras style) is a speciality.
A separate tandoor is used to cook kebabs of potato, mushroom, cottage cheese and green peas. The restaurant does not offer a la carte, so your meal is entirely in the hands of the chef and his special recipes. In terms of ambience, the whole set up has a very calm, relaxed and welcoming feel to it. Another striking fact is that every dish while being served is explained to you. This adds a nice personal touch to the service.
Some of the other dishes that generate interest are the spicy Murgh Khada Masala, crisp and crunchy batter coated Amritsari Machi Tikka, juicy Bharwan zucchini, a stuffed and grilled zucchini preparation, as well as the velvety Murg Tikka Kali Mirch. The food is served with four tangy dips and onion slivers. In desserts try the interesting paan ice cream, which has vanilla ice cream and sweet paan chunks in a fragrant blend. The Tilla Kulfi is a must try too, and the Jalebis, shaped like flowers and served hot with creamy Rabri, are extremely delicious
The simple and minimalist décor is striking. Waiters in blue uniforms, resembling factory gear greet you with a warm smile as you enjoy the soft light of the restaurant. There is also a waiting lounge on the side with a seating capacity for 8-10 people. Here you can enjoy a few drinks and starters in case the tables are occupied.
—Anubha K. Singh
The master chef and his team of experienced chefs at TGKF have prepared Indian seafood specialities with a menu that is a perfect blend of the traditional with the avant garde, guaranteed to satisfy every taste bud.
The kitchen presents dishes such as the exotic Shrimp Olive ki seekh, Wasabi Mahi tikka, Til tinka jhinga, Tandoori trout and Tawe ke chatpatey Anari lobster, along with traditional dishes like Khas-Khas ki tali pomfret, Kuti mirch ke mahi pasandey, Tali til ki machhi, Bharwan pomfret and Pomfret Gulnar
The meals incidentally lay emphasis on kebabs as the entree rather than as starters. The Shahi Gilaawat or Galouti Kebab is the in-house speciality. The meat is minced at least five times to give it the required fineness, before adding raw papaya and spices. It is then shallow-fried on a tawa. There is an option to order for mild or spicy varieties. Patthar Kebabs, grilled on stone, are worth a try too. You can also try saffron-flavoured Sheermil, which has a mild sweet taste to it and Bakherkhani Roti, flavoured with nuts and fennel. In Dals, Panchmahal (Benaras style) is a speciality.
A separate tandoor is used to cook kebabs of potato, mushroom, cottage cheese and green peas. The restaurant does not offer a la carte, so your meal is entirely in the hands of the chef and his special recipes. In terms of ambience, the whole set up has a very calm, relaxed and welcoming feel to it. Another striking fact is that every dish while being served is explained to you. This adds a nice personal touch to the service.
Some of the other dishes that generate interest are the spicy Murgh Khada Masala, crisp and crunchy batter coated Amritsari Machi Tikka, juicy Bharwan zucchini, a stuffed and grilled zucchini preparation, as well as the velvety Murg Tikka Kali Mirch. The food is served with four tangy dips and onion slivers. In desserts try the interesting paan ice cream, which has vanilla ice cream and sweet paan chunks in a fragrant blend. The Tilla Kulfi is a must try too, and the Jalebis, shaped like flowers and served hot with creamy Rabri, are extremely delicious
The simple and minimalist décor is striking. Waiters in blue uniforms, resembling factory gear greet you with a warm smile as you enjoy the soft light of the restaurant. There is also a waiting lounge on the side with a seating capacity for 8-10 people. Here you can enjoy a few drinks and starters in case the tables are occupied.
—Anubha K. Singh
Thai under the sky at ISDA
How about dining under a starry sky? If the idea clicks, ISDA Thai, a new speciality restaurant at Road No. 92, Jubilee Hills (above Volkswagen showroom) is the place to be. A Thai woman will greet you at the entrance with a Sawadeeka' ('welcome' in Thai if you are a woman and if you are a man you will be greeted with 'Sawakrap').
The Thai magic begins to unfold as brightly-dressed Thai women in their traditional attire can be seen playing Khin, a Thai instrument and showcasing their skills on vegetable carvings.
'ISDA Thai' is one of a kind endeavour to bring authentic Thai food to Hyderabad, claims general manager Mayur Madhuri. Fresh herbs which form an integral part of Thai cuisine are flown in directly from farmlands of Thailand to ISDA's kitchen. The cutlery used at ISDA Thai is of Celadon, a lead free ceramic variant which represents Thai choice enforced by religion and maintaining an eco-friendly environment.
ISDA Thai is the first restaurant in India to bring to food lovers the taste of 'vegetarian meat' which is also known as 'Mock meat' in addition to an extensive offering of truly delicious and healthy vegetarian Thai food. As regards the décor, ISDA sports an intermingling of contemporary Thai and urbane designs. The restaurant premises are etched with detailed artwork, Thai artifacts, hand woven flooring, landscaping and a lavishly decorated open area.
As far as the food is concerned, the variety is wide and serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian (Green and white glasses are served for the veggies and non-veggies respectively). The range includes traditional Thai Tom Yum soup with lemongrass, galanga, kaffir lime, lemon and chili, with options of soya protein/tofu/mock chicken/chicken/fish/prawn. One can also relish a range of stir-fries, curries, rice and noodles.
Another interesting feature is that starters and the main course are served together. "The shelf life is less for Thai food and the items cannot be re-heated. The Thais like to eat all the dishes together," says Mayur.
The best is saved for the last. The desserts include roasted pumpkin in coconut milk, 'Sorbet Takhrai' (ice crush with lemon grass syrup), crushed ice topped with lemon grass syrup or 'Tub Tim Krop' (fruity milky crunchy - 'imitation' pomegranates in evaporated milk and ice crush topped with syrup.)
—Anubha K. Singh
The Thai magic begins to unfold as brightly-dressed Thai women in their traditional attire can be seen playing Khin, a Thai instrument and showcasing their skills on vegetable carvings.
'ISDA Thai' is one of a kind endeavour to bring authentic Thai food to Hyderabad, claims general manager Mayur Madhuri. Fresh herbs which form an integral part of Thai cuisine are flown in directly from farmlands of Thailand to ISDA's kitchen. The cutlery used at ISDA Thai is of Celadon, a lead free ceramic variant which represents Thai choice enforced by religion and maintaining an eco-friendly environment.
ISDA Thai is the first restaurant in India to bring to food lovers the taste of 'vegetarian meat' which is also known as 'Mock meat' in addition to an extensive offering of truly delicious and healthy vegetarian Thai food. As regards the décor, ISDA sports an intermingling of contemporary Thai and urbane designs. The restaurant premises are etched with detailed artwork, Thai artifacts, hand woven flooring, landscaping and a lavishly decorated open area.
As far as the food is concerned, the variety is wide and serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian (Green and white glasses are served for the veggies and non-veggies respectively). The range includes traditional Thai Tom Yum soup with lemongrass, galanga, kaffir lime, lemon and chili, with options of soya protein/tofu/mock chicken/chicken/fish/prawn. One can also relish a range of stir-fries, curries, rice and noodles.
Another interesting feature is that starters and the main course are served together. "The shelf life is less for Thai food and the items cannot be re-heated. The Thais like to eat all the dishes together," says Mayur.
The best is saved for the last. The desserts include roasted pumpkin in coconut milk, 'Sorbet Takhrai' (ice crush with lemon grass syrup), crushed ice topped with lemon grass syrup or 'Tub Tim Krop' (fruity milky crunchy - 'imitation' pomegranates in evaporated milk and ice crush topped with syrup.)
—Anubha K. Singh
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