burrp! Stats
- 6 Reviews
- 3 First to review
- Been to 6 Places
- Burrping since Dec 21, 2007
- Burrping fromViman Nagar, Pune
Personal Stuff
- Occupation
- Founder and Director
saurabhj's Lists
Reviews by saurabhj
Aug 12, 2008
Le Meridien, R.B.M. Road, Camp Cantonment, Pune
Average
Excellent ambience, food not so ...
I ended up at this restaurant for a special evening because I read in the Times Food Guide that this place has one of the finest (read: most romantic) ambiences in Pune.
On that front, it does not disappoint at all.
The reservations that I made on a Sunday evening to this place seemed stupid as we were the only other people there. The entire place was empty - save for another table - on a Sunday evening. This did seem strange.
The restaurant has a lovely decor with dim lights and candles burning on cute little candle stands. There is also a couple playing delightful live music. I don't remember their names but there is a woman who sings and the guy plays the synthesizer. They both are pretty good.
You could even request a song to be played (though the first two songs that we requested - they didn't know), they played a nice rendition of "Thank You" by Dido for us.
However, this is where all the good stuff ends.
The food wasn't great at all.
We had ordered chinese - some noodles and vegetable dumplings and I really did not like it.
The food paled in comparison to Mainland Chinas' ...
However, we did enjoy ourselves and had a memorable evening. If only the food was better, we'd have a terrific time.
But yeah, do try this place out - on a special evening and when money is not the criteria (cos this is indeed one of the most expensive places I've been to).
Aug 12, 2008
City Point, Ground Floor, Near Boat Club, Dhole Patil Road, Koregaon Park, Pune
Good
Brilliant every time!
I must admit - this place has been excellent every time I've been to it. I've been to the Dhole Patil road branch about 3 times and have never been to the other one (which I think is in Aundh) - so this review is about the DP Road one only.
Also, please note that I have never been here for dinner - only lunches.
The ambience of Mainland China is what hits you when you first enter the doors of this fine restaurant. It is very chinese - with the decor, the music and the waiters dressed up in black.
All the times I have been here, it was noisy - with most of the people having business lunches - but at the same time, not so noisy that you cannot have a decent conversation without yelling.
They have a fabulous fixed lunch for about 300 bucks inclusive of taxes which I've had once - and the other two times, we've gone a la carte'. (we missed the fixed lunch because they serve it only till 2 pm I think)
The food is exceptional and made with such finesse that you wonder what food you have been having all this while in the name of chinese food.
You can taste the delicate aroma and the spices in the food - but it has been done so subtly - that it brings a whole new meaning to it.
The service is pretty good too - and the waiters were polite and pleasant all the times we've been there.
Ask for the green tea when you go there - it is extremely soothing.
As for the food, you can close your eyes and pick out anything on the menu - and I guarantee it will taste good. Unlike some people who mention that this is "authentic" Chinese food - it is not. The taste is very much Indian Chinese and something which you'd probably be used to all these years when you've been having Chinese food.
However, it is the finesse and the quality of the food for which you should go here. Truly remarkable.
Aug 12, 2008
City Point Bldg, Dhole Patil Road, Koregaon Park, Pune
Average
Flatters to deceive ...
I have been to this place three times in the recent past.
The first time I was here - was when I treated my friends to their buffet lunch on my birthday.
The lunch was brilliant! (to put it mildly)
It was one of the best buffets I have ever had and everybody loved the food. FYI, the lunch is an unlimited buffet and costs around 300 bucks inclusive of taxes - with a drink included (only beer in alcoholic drinks)
After this, we went here for a dinner party that I threw for my folk's 25th wedding anniversary. This was however, a la carte'. Though the food was decent, the service left something to be desired.
The waiter recommended all the wrong dishes and suggested wrong quantities too - which caused some stuff to be over ordered and some food ran out quickly. However, the overall experience was decent and not really bad.
The third time, I was invited by a friend for dinner.
This time, we went for the night barbecue buffet. I was excited because it really sounds tempting.
They have a sigree burning at each table and they serve starters - 80% cooked which you can barbecue yourself completely.
This is accompanied by an unlimited buffet and costs around 450 bucks inclusive of taxes - but without any drinks.
This however, did not end up as well as the lunch buffet.
The service at night was horrible and we had to wait a long time to get served. The barbecue, I felt, was over hyped.
The entire experience was gauche with us fumbling half the time and add to that the slow service.
Food again was mediocre at best.
Overall, the food is a lot better than most of the places around Pune - but the quality varies so much that I wonder whether I was lucky the first time I went for lunch.
I wouldn't recommend the dinner barbecue as I felt it was over hyped and painful.
The lunch buffet though is excellent and terrific value for money.
May 19, 2008
Metro Traders Compound, Next to Bishop's School, Kalyani Nagar, Yerawada, Pune
Awful
Utterly Crappy Service
Before I begin, I must admit that Soho has an extremely pleasant, airy ambiance which I truly like.
Even with people smoking all around, it feels clean and airy.
Unfortunately, this is where all the good things end.
Went to Soho for the second time today and it was worse than the first time I had been there some months ago.
We went there because one of my friends wanted to catch the IPL match and Soho was airing the matches.
The food was decent - but was served so late that the vegetables were only mildly warm and the nans had become rubbery.
Earlier, the first of the four starters that we had ordered, took over 35 minutes to arrive (though our drinks were served in 10 minutes)
And this was at 8:30 - when the restaurant wasn't even filled to 25% of its capacity.
The portions were a touch below average.
As for the service, it was horrendous.
All the waiters and managers were more interested in watching the match and we had to yell on occasions to get their attention.
Orders were missed - we didn't get served chutney with our starter and as a result - it sucked.
The guy actually brought a bowl of it *AFTER* we were done with the starter. It was unbelievable.
Glasses were not filled with water when empty, etc.
We had to order all the food in one shot flat (including the two rounds of rotis to be delivered at the same time) as we were afraid that they would take an eternity to arrive mid meal.
They also took a good 20 minutes to get the bill.
Again, as expected the waiter brought only 5 out of 7 finger bowls and conveniently forgot the other two.
Even on reminding, he failed to get them.
I've had such a terrible experience at this place that it would be the last time I'm probably going there.
Information:
- There is ample parking space inside - though they charge you 10 bucks to park a bike and more for a car.
- A meal for two with drinks should be around 800 bucks.
May 18, 2008
PT Gera Centre, Opposite Wadia College, Bund Garden Road, Pune Railway Station, Pune
Good
Something different
I really liked this place -- but there have been others who didn't find any difference between this and other pizza places.
The decor of the place is decent - though the space is pretty limited and it does feel crowded at times.
This place is a very welcome change from the many Pizza Huts or Smokin Joes.
The rates are slightly higher than the former - but their fare is really good.
The pizzas are made out of fresh dough and you can make out the difference. I also noticed that their toppings were generous.
Parking though can be a royal pain in the rear -- as there is virtually no parking provided and you'll probably have to put your car behind the adjacent Petrol pump somewhere.
The location of the place - just off Wadia College with the high glass walls makes for an interesting view. (Sitting comfortably in the air conditioning watching the world pass by on a hot Sunday afternoon ...)
A meal for two would be approximately Rs. 450 - Rs. 500