Tag: Restaurant Review

Boombox Brewstreet is back with a lot of Boom and Bang..!!

Boombox Brewstreet located in the hustling bustling market of sector 29, Gurgaon is definitely your next go to bar and casual dining space. Music is in the air, on the walls and everywhere here, because that is the central theme of this lively place. The place opened some 4-5 months back and then temporarily shut for renovation and now its back with a bang. I was recently invited by Mukul Verma, co-owner of the place for a wonderful food tasting session.

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My foodie experience began by a mind blowing gastronomic Amuse Bouche, which was melt in a mouth version of our traditional dahi bhallas, served like a dollop of curd on spoons emitting smoke, it was sheer delight to watch it.

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Something is Fishy and Yeh Reshmi Zulfein were served first. Something is Fishy was a tangy and lemony fish tikka and served with big chunks of aloo chaat, which gave it a real twist and a pleasant one indeed. I loved it. Yeh Reshmi Zulfien was a nicely done Reshmi Chicken Tikka marinated with creamy pesto sauce and tandoori mayo, I loved it.

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Up next were the Chemical Brothers, a trio of Jhalmuri, which had one original style, one fennel flavoured and one achari, well Jhalmuri has never been something that I am keen for and hence I did taste, but didn’t like it much. I find the flavours of oil too strong for my liking.

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Aye Mere Pyaare Mutton, Punjab Se Lekar Delhi Via Spain and Mr. Gulati Kebab were served next. Aye Mere Pyaare Mutton was a sure shot winner for me, tender and saucy meat balls served with cucumber and basil yogurt and tomato chutney. This is not to be missed. Mr. Gulati Kebab, served with chutney droppers and mini paranthas were delectable too, the kebabs were really soft and delicious. Punjab Se Lekar Delhi Via Spain was also an interesting dish, where Rajma Chawal were fried like a croquette in Amritsari Papad Crust.

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Teri Meri Kahani, Kool-Cha and Main Toh Raste Se Jaa Raha The found space on our tables next. Teri Mere Kahani was an interesting version of Caesar Salad with Vegetable Croquette, it was really nice. Kool-Cha was an amazing take on a stuffed kulcha with a tasteful filling of Chettinad mushrooms, I really loved the taste of it. Main Toh Rasta Se Jaa Raha Tha was Boombox way of presenting Dahi Puris, they were nice and tangy, but one should have them immediately because they tend to turn soggy sooner than you imagine.

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Hothon Pe Bas Tera Naam Hai, PB&J and Imly Ka Buta Berry Ka Pulao were the final dishes served, Chicken Tikka done the Chettinad way with some molecular gastronomy on display with coconut bubbles is what made Hothon Pe Bas Tera Naam Hai. A Parsi influenced dish, Imly Ka Buta Berry Ka Pulao was basically rice cakes with pulled khatu meethu chicken and tasted really well. PB&J was also an interesting concept of bread spheres with paneer filling, fried like pakodas with salli crust and served with a berry jam, no.. the jam wasn’t sweet, it was salty and spicy and delicious.

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This brought our culinary journey to.. no not an end, but a break, which was followed by desserts to finally bring it to an end. There was I Love My India, Rabdi & Boondi Cheesecake with Kiwi and Blueberry, I really loved this one and got inspired to try making it at home(you know I am a baker and a cook who loves to experiment with food..isnt it). The other dessert was called Khaike Paan Italy Wala, a paan flavoured Tiramisu. I did taste it and it was nice, but I basically don’t enjoy paan flavoured desserts so didn’t have much of it.

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Overall I loved my experience at Boombox, the ambience, the food, the presentation of food and the molecular gastronomy was really commendable. Even the drinks were amazing, I tried the Orange Mojito and Slushy Margarita, my son tried the Oreo Shake and all the drinks were superlative.

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I highly recommend visiting this place where you can enjoy some great music, quirkiness and amazing food that looks equally interesting.


Boombox Brewstreet Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Fusion Bistro- A true fusion of global cuisine!

With restaurants creating more confusion in the name of FUSION, its very hard to find a place which actually remains true to the word, but better late than never, I actually came across this wonderful restaurant that boasts of a fusion of cuisines under one roof rather than fusion of ingredients. Welcome to FUSION BISTRO, which is an amalgamation of cuisines from across the globe maintaining their authenticity in every way.

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This place is loveable from the word GO, the moment you enter, and you fall in love with the ambience and simplicity of the place. Minimalistic, comfortable yet impactful décor, ample lighting and a huge space spread across 2 floors, is what makes this place different right from the start. These days we see an overload of theme decoration, concept restraunts, cluttered spaces and hence a lot of times the focus shifts from the most important thing FOOD to making the place stand out in terms of decoration only, but thankfully Fusion Bistro is truly different.

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Now coming to the main thing Food, we started our culinary journey with Thailand and opted for Chicken Tom Kha Soup, it was a creamy coconut milk based soup spiced with ginger and lemon grass. Though I am not too fond of Thai, but I loved this one. To go along with the soup, we ordered Warm Chicken, Avocado and Fresh Leaves Salad and it was wonderful too. Loved the combination of chicken and avocado with garlic dressing and crunchy fresh leaves.

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For drinks we tried Fruit Punch and Watermelon Lychee Punch and both of them were nice and refreshing.

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Next on our table was Penne Pasta with Mixed Sauce and Marinated Stuffed Chicken Breast, a continental combination worth exploring. The pasta was just perfect and getting the tanginess of tomatoes along with creaminess of cheese was a culinary delight for me. The stuffed chicken with mushroom sauce and goat cheese along with mashed potatoes..mmm.. something I love completely. My mouth waters even while writing about it, it was yumminess overloaded. This is surely a must try.

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Next we moved to trying some authentic oriental food and ordered Chicken in Soy Garlic Sauce and Chicken Hakka Noodles and I can say that they were easily the best hakka noodles I have eaten in a long time. The Chicken was delicious as well.

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Settling for Indian in the last we ordered, Non Veg Kebab Platter, which comes with a generous serving of Dal Makhani and Raita as well, the Hyderabadi Biryani and Awadhi Chicken. The platter was simply amazing, it had chicken malai tikka, seekh kebab and fish tikka and all of them were succulent, tender and full of taste, and the dal was awesome too. I loved the way biryani was served covered with a hot tandoori roti; it just looked irresistible even though it was covered. After lifting the roti away, the biryani looked even more scrumptious and so it was. The flavours were perfect, it was served with a salan and raita and salan was the only thing which I didn’t quite like, rest everything was fabulous. Chicken Awadhi had rich gravy, which was similar to butter chicken in texture, but the taste was very distinct.

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Now coming to my favourite part of the meal, desserts, they have a decent variety to choose from, but it’s my suggestion that they include some Indian Desserts in the menu and also more options of non-chocolaty desserts for those who don’t like chocolate much. Nevertheless I love chocolate, so for me it was good enough, we ordered a Tiramisu and Death by Chocolate. The tiramisu was extremely delicious and death by chocolate was true to its name, I can really die for it, it was so so so delicious. I loved it.

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I overall had a lot of fun visiting this place and I highly recommend it, you must give it a shot and I am sure you will love it.

A special mention for the entire staff of Fusion Bistro, they were very friendly, warm and hospitable and knew their menu and recommendations very well. I also happened to meet Mr Arvind, owner of the place and he too came across as a very warm person.

I am definitely visiting them soon for another culinary journey and make sure you do it as well. Cheers !!


Fusion Bistro Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Add Some Raftaar To Your Food Scene…!!

Raftaar Lounge and Bar located at Club Road, Punjabi Bagh held a Blogger’s meet over lunch recently and I was glad to be a part of it.

First things first, its a huge property spread across three floors and ample parking space, and you don’t even have to bother for parking your car as they offer valet service as well. As the name suggests, the whole concept of the lounge and bar relies on speed. It has a high on energy and power packed ambience, the place is a complete gear of fine dining and clubbing with family and friends. The place is meant to indulge you into delicious food and drinks and makes you party all night with electronic dance music.

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This luxury lounge and bar is designed for an evolved nightlife experience. From the very boulevard it looks like an edifice of energy. Eerie from the first step and it gets a whole lot interesting as you walk up the stairway of the Raftaar, a nightclub/lounge that’s not just on the fringe, it’s completely detached from the real world, bringing back the treasured world of dance and entertainment with lifestyle experience.

With the expanse at three levels, each with different experience of its own like Sophisticated Car lounge, Rustic Bikers Place and first ever Private Pool Dining at Open Terrace, this place is just worth the visit.

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Raftaar has exactly what you need for a bull blown party and it comes bigger, bolder and stronger with its state of the art sound walls, fantastic lighting and sound system reverberating with gut – busting music ranging from national and international top charts, house, electronic and percussion. The staple entertainment also boasts of Live Acts – concerts and live bands that are edgy, raw and play with bone – jarring enthusiasm promising a night that’s erotic and high profile.

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The food menu is set as per the tastes and preferences of the Delhiites. With wide varieties serving the customers with their vegetarian as well as non – vegetarian menu, it has something to suit every taste bud. To start with they have Caesar Cardin Salad, Hawaiian Boat, and Oia Greek Salad with Feta en-routing with Dahi ke Kebabs, Malai Soya Chaap, Murg Tikka and Amritsari fish with Prawn Recheado and Finding Nemo. On your way to final destination with NH – 1 burger get fuelled up with energizing appetizers and drinks. Paneer Bemisaal, Dil Khush Malai Kofta, Pindi Chana, Murg Lahori with Amritsari Kulcha and Pesto Naan will be greeting you at the table. Special appearances of Parmesan Chicken, Kerala Prawn Curry and Grilled Chimichurri Fish will make the journey more lip smacking. Highway Glory and Alive by Brownie Sundae will be waiting for you at the finishing line before you get indulged into a sweet affair.

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Our culinary journey started with Nachos Crusted Fish Fingers, which were nice but slightly overcooked, they could have been crispier.
The Mogewala Tangri Kebab was a real treat. It was really properly cooked with meat melting in your mouth.
The Nimbu Adraki Murgi was another delicious dish made to perfection.The flavours of Nimbu and Adrak blending perfectly.
Their chilly chicken was yet another well made preparation nice n soft with the right amount of chillies.
The cocktails n mocktails to go along were equally presentable and mouthwatering.

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The main course had the Dal Makhni,Gosht Nihari and Methi Murg Lahori n must mention all three dishes were simply superb, easy on the palate with very subtle flavours.

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To round up this mouth watering journey of a scrumptious spread was the Dessert Sunday. It was like heaven for chocolate lovers, don’t miss it.

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All in all a great place to spend some cool time with your friends and family.Strongly recommended.


Raftaar - The High Speed Lounge & Bar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Hyatt Place, Gurgaon Celebrates 2nd Anniversary with a Lavish Sunday Brunch..!

Brunches to me are celebration of food, you get to explore so many tastes, cuisines and flavours under one roof, and what would you call a brunch that was organised to mark completion of 2 years of a modern essential business hotel, double celebration! Yes, Hyatt Place, a modern business hotel, strategically located in Udyog Vihar, the heart of Gurgaon recently completed two years and a grand celebration took place with an exclusive buffet laid out at their Gallery Cafe. Hyatt Place in association with CrazeMag and Saddi Dilli, two very successful online publications, invited a selected few bloggers to be a part of this celebration, and I was privileged to be one amongst them. A sweet gesture of sending a personalised invite made me look forward to the event even more.

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It was a warm Sunday afternoon and I headed to Hyatt Place with lots of excitement in my heart, I was looking forward to the lavish celebration brunch and also meeting fellow bloggers. A very warm welcome by the entire staff including the hotel General Manager, Ms. Maulina Gupta and Head Chef Gaurav started the event at the right note. While entering the gallery cafe, the dessert lay out caught my attention right away and I was already eyeing it. an array of cocktails and mocktails were being served and, a special Hoegaarden Beer counter was set. I tried the Mango Marry and this mango version on the likes of Virgin Marry was awesome. I really loved it. I also tried a orange mocktail and it too was made perfectly.

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Chef Gaurav, briefly explained about the menu of the day, highlighting the fact that it has got something for everyone, even preferences of children were kept in mind while designing the menu. After this brief introduction and welcome address by Ms. Maulina Gupta, we were all set to explore this culinary journey.

There was a wide range of breads like French Baguette, Multigrain Loaf, Pitta Bread, Soft Rolls, Focaccia Breads, Puffs etc.to choose from along with a plethora of dips, Roasted Vegetable & Parmesan Dip, Marinated Olives, Mustard Vinaigrette, Flavoured Butter, to name a few.

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Antipasto, which is an Italian word for ‘before the meal’, also had a lot of options to choose from, soups, salads, cold cuts and some traditional snacks were a part of this section. I tried Roasted Pear, Baby Spinach & Walnut Salad and it was amazing, I also tried Pineapple Carpaccio, Smoked Chicken with Arugula & Quinoa and Peppered Fish. There were other dishes like Squids, Khandvi, Dhokla etc as well and the spread had a wonderful balance for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. For me it was a very satisfying experience, I loved each item, and now my expectations from the main course and live counters was raised very much.

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Eggs to order and Pastas as per choice were being made tirelessly by the chefs at the live kitchen. For starters there was Murg Malai Tikka, Fish Fingers, Chilli Paneer and Corn & Cheese Poppers. Being a non-vegetarian I opted for Murg Malai Tikka and Fish Fingers, the tikka was melt in a mouth kind of an experience, the chicken was so tender and mildly spiced, and the marination made it very very delectable. The Fish Fingers were crispy outside and soft inside, just the way they should be.

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My next halt was the TEX MEX Live Station, which was serving Burritos, Quesadillas, Enchiladas, Nachos and Various type of salsa and refried beans. I tried the Chicken Quesadillas and they were out of this world, I could not resist a second helping and enjoyed every bite of it. I even propagated it to the fellow foodies.

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The next Live Station was of Barbecue and Grill, and the sheer aromas of meats getting grilled pulled me to this counter. I opted for some Lamb Kibbeh and Paneer Shashlik, as my son who was accompanying me is very fond of Paneer.

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This entire area where the Live Stations were placed was a gastronomic as well as a visual treat. The lawns with lots of greenery, cane furniture and wooden sheds made it an idle spot to sit back and enjoy tasteful meals. With approaching winters I am sure this place will be a favourite for many.

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Coming to the main course, it had Indian, Asian and Western items. My tummy was filling, but I had no intentions to miss the main course and hence I tasted a bit from every cuisine. The Indian section consisted of Murgh Musallam, Paneer Laung Lata, Methi Chana, Aloo Gobhi, Mirch Baigan ka Salan, Dal Makhani and Mutton Biriyani.

I picked the Mutton Biryani and my son settled for Dal Makhani and Murg Mussalam. The Biryani was undoubtedly the best I have tasted in recent times, the mutton was tender and juicy, the spices perfect and loved the fried onions that topped it. I started by taking only a spoonful of it, but after tasting it, I had to help myself with a better serving. The Dal and Murg Mussalam as per my son were equally outstanding, he being a blogger and a foodie has become an expert in Dal Makhani over a period of time, and he generously and willingly gave it a 5/5.

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The Asian Section had Vegetable Hakka Noodles, Seasonal Vegetable with Hot Garlic Sauce, Fish in Lemon Sauce and Chicken in Soya Ginger Sauce and I tried the Hakka Noodles with Fish and they were good too. By now I was already convinced with the quality of food at Hyatt Place, because I didn’t come across a single food item which was disappointing or below my expectations.

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The Western Section had Poached Fish in Tomato and Saffron Broth, Bouquet Erie of Vegetable, Double Baked Potato and Roasted Chicken. I tried the roasted chicken and the double baked potato, the chicken was nice and juicy, the potato too had a perfect taste, just that the outer shell of potato was slightly hard making it little difficult to cut through.

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Now coming to the best part of the brunch, the desserts, the spread was so beautiful and lavish that it was hard to choose on what to pick and what to leave.

But being a chocoholic, I am a little biased towards chocolate desserts and hence tried Chocolate Orange Dacquoise, it was dense and flavoursome, I quite liked it. The next I tried Burnt Chocolate Gateaux and I can again say that this was the best I have ever eaten, it was so moist and delicious that I ended up helping myself with two generous servings. There were drool worthy Indian Desserts as well, but I guess I gave my all to the Chocolate Gateaux but I am sure the other desserts would be as delectable as the ones I tried.

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There was a special counter for kids which served interesting pan cakes, assorted cupcakes, chocolate dumplings and more.

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Then there was a small cake cutting ceremony lead by Ms. Maulina Gupta and the entire Hyatt staff and it brought my pleasant day to an end.

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The experience at Hyatt was soulfully satisfying in both culinary and overall way. I really look forward to visiting the place again sometime soon. Here is to the fond memories of the day..!

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Enjoy your Sunday at Hyatt Place Gurgaon with SOCIAL SUNDAY BRUNCH at GALLERY CAFÉ where you choose from an elaborate buffet spread serving a wide selection of Indian, Asian and Western delicacies. Get spoilt for choice and select from an expansive range of salads, Antipasti, Live Counters and Desserts.Spend the day with us and we will make sure to make it a memorable one.


Hyatt Place Gurgaon Hosts SOCIAL SUNDAY


Timings: 12:00 Noon – 1600 Hours


Rates:


INR 1199/- plus taxes per person for non-alcoholic


INR 1699/- plus taxes per person for the beer buffet


INR 1899/- plus taxes per person for unlimited IMFL


 

Gallery Café - Hyatt Place Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Reasons Why I Look Forward to Next Season of Asian Hawkers Already..!!

There are many food festivals, then there is Asian Hawkers, probably the best thing ever happened to the category called food festivals. I have been hooked to it ever since I went the last time and this season was bigger and better. With many more restaurants and food chains finding their way into Asian Hawkers, it had all the elements to become nothing but the best food festival ever.

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With acclaimed names like Fatty Bao, Dimcha, The Grand, Le Meridian, Pa Pa Ya, Burma Burma, Bercos, Carls Juniors, and many more, this is a perfect place to find them all under one roof and make it a foodies paradise.

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Here are my top picks from the season


Pa Pa Ya- From the house of Massive Restaurants that includes big names like Masala Library by Jiggs Kalra and Farzi Cafe, this Asian Kitchen is something to watch out for. Pa Pa Ya hosted a preview of their menu at Asian Hawkers as they are yet to open their restaurant in Delhi and now I am sure it will be one of the most awaited ones. Pa Pa Ya redefines your imagination of Asian Cuisine, it takes you on a gastronomic experience that is superlative in all regards. The Butayakitori Apple and Betel Leaf Tartare, which was pork belly skewers chargrilled with sichimi, mirin and soyal was delectable. The flavours that were infused in the tender pork belly were mind-blowing. The Hoisin Chilli Duck Pa Pa Ya Dog was one of the most talked about dishes at Asian Hawkers. Words alone can’t describe this delicacy.. you have to try this out once the restaurant opens and just do mmm..mmm..mmm.. its that orgasmic. Yak Udon was great to taste, it had a bowl of steamed Sudan noodles topped with tossed chicken. Worth trying. Even the vegetarians had a delightful time at Pa Pa Ya, Red Curry Infused Wild Mushroom Rangoons were a popular pick, these were deep fried Burmese dumplings that were stuffed with mushrooms and cream cheese. The presentation was just awesome, the best and the most unique things about these dumplings was that they were open from the top, unlike the all sides closed dumplings that we are used to seeing. Edamame and Chick Pea Sliders were another hit. Lotus flour buns with chick pea and edamame patties were drool worthy.

Tuna Pizza
Tuna Pizza
Pa Pa Ya Dog
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Pork Belly
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Chik Pea Sliders
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Mushroom Rangoons
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Wok Tok by the Grand– Wok Tok by The Grand, was my next halt and I can say that I was extremely happy to have chosen it. I ordered Sarawak Pepper Chicken, tender chicken pieces tossed in pepper sauce, this was an amazing dish and made for a perfect starter. I next ordered Sichuan Dumplings, and going by the popular belief, I was expecting dumplings as in like dim sums, but this was different, It was a dry chicken tossed in Sichuan sauce, but nevertheless it was very tasty and hence I wasn’t complaining. For the main course I ordered Sliced Chicken in Black Pepper Sauce with Noodles and this too was very very tasty. Wok Tok carries the legacy of the grand and hence you can expect nothing but the best from here. I was really satisfied with my culinary experience at Wok Tok.

Chicken in Black Bean Sauce + Noodles
Chicken in Black Bean Sauce + Noodles
Sichuan Dimsums
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Bombaykery– Ok now being a baker myself, this comes difficult to me, but also most naturally, I don’t have enough words to praise this amazing bakery. They are just too good, extremely addictive I must say. I normally don’t but bakery stuff from outside, but just a look at their stall and I could not resist and I ended up buying not just one but quite a few things. Their travel cakes are to die for and you have to order to believe. You should check out their Zomato page and place an order as soon as you can, you will love it. And while you are placing order for travel cakes, don’t forget to add some chocolate fudge. I tried the milk chocolate fudge and I polished away all 6 pieces by myself within a day, they are so damn addictive. Their cupcakes, macaroons and dessert jars should also not be missed. All I can say is order anything and everything and you will enjoy for sure.

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Milk Chocolate Fudge
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Milk Chocolate Fudge
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Nutty Chocolate Travel Cake
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Nutty Chocolate Travel Cake

So if you have missed the excitement this time, watch out for the next Asian Hawkers to be held in February and enjoy feasting..Till then try these yummy outlets individually and have a merry time..!!

Parsi Food Festival at Made In India Restaurant by Radisson Blu, Noida

A Parsi Food Festival is going on at the Made in India restaurant of Radisson Blu Hotel, Noida and a special bloggers meet was organised for the launch of the same.

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The menu for this ten day long culinary festival has been specially curated by Master Chef Kaizad Patel, with some of the most authentic and traditional signature dishes from the Parsi kitchen, including a great mix of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian delights, like Bhujeli Kaleji, Kid Gosht and Chapat, amongst many others mouth-watering delicacies. Parsi food has its roots in Persian and Gujarati cuisines and much of the food is a meat-lover’s dream come true.

Commenting on the Parsi cuisine and the special menu for the Parsi Food Festival, Master Chef Kaizad Patel said, “Parsi cuisine is a mélange of different flavors and has an eclectic mix of hot and sweet, sour and spice. This delectable cuisine is deeply influenced by various parts of the country that the community has travelled to and its soul lies in the ingredients used to make the mouth-watering delicacies. We are delighted to bring back the traditional recipes and recreate the authentic flavors at the Parsi Food Festival at the Made In India restaurant in Radisson Blu MBD Hotel Noida”.

Chef Kaizad Patel held a Parsi cuisine Masterclass also at the event, where he shared his experiences and also the recipes for mouth watering Parsi Dishes. Chicken Farcha made in a tomato based gravy with special Parsi masalas and the ever popular Patra nu Paneer or Paneer cooked in Banana leaves were the highlights.

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Being brought up in a Parsi Caterers family, Chef Kaizad says he always knew someday he would always take up this family business. He have always had a different approach on views and always wanted to exceed expectations. This has been his drive and what keeps him going.

Upon completing catering college, He joined the Ratan Tata Institute, Mumbai, as he wanted to broaden his horizon on Parsi food. He came across interesting people who shared their views on Parsi food. After completing almost a year; He joined the Oberoi Hotel’s, Mumbai and worked his way up the hierarchy. After his 3 ½ year employment with the Oberoi Hotel’s, he decided to go and study further in Culinary Arts. He joined the Scottsdale Culinary Institute, which is affiliated with “ Le Cordon Bleu”. He joined the Ritz Carlton, San Francisco as an intern and upon completing his internship, he was hired and trained by the Ritz Carlton values, which changed his life, truly.

On his return to India he decided to take over his family business as he felt the need to revamp the image of the business without changing the core values of the community and the business, which were instilled into him. He always looks at a glass full and not the other way around. He has just begun his journey as a Caterer (for the last 10 years) and has a long way to go…..

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After the masterclass, the journey of exploring Parsi Cuisine started with Murghi Na Farcha, really crisp outer with succulent chicken within, this was an absolute winner.

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The next on the menu was Bhujeli Kaleji absolutely soft and delicious. The Makai Cheese Na Pattice, a cutlet made from cheese and corn was an absolute delight as was the Kera nu Cutlets, made from banana.Both very crisp and absolutely delicious.
The main course consisted of Tarapori Prawn Patio, shrimps in a gravy.
Salli Jardaloo Murghi was another delightful chicken creation garnished with crisp n thin slices of Jardaloo.
Then there was Wafer per Eedu, an egg dish made with wafers, coriander and green chilles fried till golden brown and it turned out to be a really delicious dish.
To accompany this was the ever so delicious Patra nu Paneer an absolute delightful dish.

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Then there was the Bhindi Sambhariya, crisp thin Bhindi deep fried and made with special Parsi sambhar spice.
The almost mashed brinjals in a light gravy was another mouth watering dish.
The above were accompanied with some crisp breads.
There was also the Vegetable Pulao Dal for the rice eaters.
The food all in all was good but slightly on the sweeter side to my liking.
For dessert there was the Chapat with Parsi Peg Ice Cream which was really out of this world. Then there was the Lagan nu Custard another winner.

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All in all a very satisfying experience and strongly recommended. Really worth a visit. To indulge in an eclectic mix of hot and sweet, nice and spice, which sums up the Parsi cuisine, make sure you head to ‘Made In India’ restaurant, the home grown name popular for being the pioneers of traditional cuisines and reviving cultural heritage through the medium of culinary art.


What: Parsi Food Festival


Where: Made in India, Radisson Blu Hotel, Noida


When: 14th-23rd October


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Made In India - Radisson Blu Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Flavothon at Cha Bar, Head Straight There For A Surreal Experience..!!

Cha Bar, Delhi’s favourite tea cafe organized “Flavothon” a food lovers meet with Executive Chef Abhishek Basu from The Park sharing tips on multi-dimensional cuisines complemented with some exclusive teas from the extensive Cha Bar menu. Flavathon introduced some mouth watering dishes in their new menu.
Cha Bar, a brain child of Ms Priti Paul, backed by the decades of experience of the Apeejay Group. Cha Bar was created as an integral part of the 90 year old Oxford Bookstore.
Cha Bar provides its customers the experience of browsing through the wide selection of books at leisure, sipping a cup of tea of your choice with some savory snacks being served.

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There was the Erachi Pathri which was really delicious. The Turkish Sigara was another crisp one with both veg n non veg variety. The Cocktail Sausage Roll was a delight.
Absolutely wonderful was the Dahi Bhalla, very soft and the curd was really refreshingly delicious.
They also had the Spinach and Feta Cheese Quiche and Some delicious Chicken n Cheese Toasties which were absolutely mouth watering.

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There was a wide range of desserts like Gulabjamun Cheese Cake, Flurry’s Heritage Chocolate Boat, Pineapple Colada Muffin, Coconut Cookies and Chocolate Rum Balls to name a few paired with some exotic teas like Arabic Spice, Bollywood mix, Cha Bar Blend, Moroccan Mint and a host of other varities to choose from.
A special mention here for there Filter Coffee which was really superb.
From desserts, for me the most delectable was the Gulabjamun Cheese Cake,really worth dying for followed by Rum Balls which were a real treat.
The quite ambience and the mouth watering snacks provided a great sense of tranquility. Highly recommended for a really surreal experience.

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About Cha Bar:


Cha Bar is the first of its kind urban contemporary space that created a rage in Kolkata in year 2000, turning tea from a dry page in history to a lifestyle drink! Ms Priti Paul’s brain child backed by generations of Apeejay Surrendra group’s experience in tea plantation business, Cha Bar was created as an integral part of more than 90 years old iconic Oxford Bookstore in city centre Park Street. The concept was expanded pan India integrated into Oxford Bookstores and customers loved the experience of being able to browse at leisure, leafing through the books of their choice, over a cup of tea from the wide selection available at the Cha Bar or simply unwinding with friends sipping the rejuvenating beverage, iced or piping hot!


Whether one prefers a rich, full-bodied, strong flavor, or a light fragrant taste, the Cha Bar offers a wide and enviable choice. Cha Bar believes that there is indeed nothing quite like a good cup of tea so every cup of blend we serve has journeyed, be it from the dhabas in India or from across the Globe from other cultures. Today, Cha Bar offers this experience at Oxford Bookstores across multiple stores in Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi.


From the Flowering Teas, Organic Teas, Herbal Teas, Diet Teas, Fruit Teas, to an exclusive range of Darjeeling, Nilgiri, Sikkim and Oolong, complimented by the best in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Moroccan, Russian, Sri Lankan, South African and Thai Teas – make up more than 150 varieties on offer to create pure joy for our customers as they browse through a book by their favourite author. Cha Bar’s Menu boasts of exotic and cultural blends like the Moroccan Mint, South African Rooibos, Decaf Teas, Green Teas and Ayurvedic Teas with healing powers and all of them are popular amongst our patrons. Special category of ‘Chai Hindustani’ and the Cutting Cha has been reinvented here at Cha Bar. Single Estate Virginal Teas from our Plantations in Upper Assam are also served here in a truly contemporary setting delivering an experience that has made Cha Bar a preferred destination. It was in April 2007 that we first brought Bollywood Masala Mix Cha, Truck Drivers 100 Mile Ki Cha, Katakali, Formosa Oolong, Yellow Tea, Emerald Green, Vervain Blue, Jasmine Pearl, Chinese Lapsang Souchoung, Verbena Tea, Licorice Tea, Fruit Melange, and Japanese Genmaicha to our Menu.


To complement the collection of Teas, Cha Bar offers a wide selection of Ala Carte savories such as fresh wholesome salads like the Mediterranean salad, classic Caesar salads with a choice of dressings that are perfect for a nutritious meal. Scrumptious finger foods like muddled nachos, chilli cheese toasties, keema samosas, onion pakoras, sev tikki pav are the ideal appetizers to share with friends and family. Other tit bits include the classic English tea sandwiches, pita wraps and rolls, house special soft centered muffins, freshly baked cookies and cupcakes, home-style special cakes and pies like the carrot and walnut apple and cinnamon pie is perfect to round off tea-time or take away. Other delightful savories include Falafel Hummus in pita pockets, Lebanese Choley Frankie in spiced pita wrap, vada chutney, chicken and vegetable pot pie, potato fry basket, Chocolate Croissant Roll, Muesli and Parmesan cookie and Seasonal Fruit Tart.


The stylish and relaxing ambience of Cha Bar can make hours go by browsing through our huge collection of books while one is spoilt for choice with an assortment of Teas blended and prepared with precision, and after exhaustive research, with personalized and informed service. The space dedicated to the Cha Bar adds to the experience. The natural colors of all material generate a serene, placid, refreshing and a comforting environment. The unique design and concept incorporates the original textures of wood, steel, glass, aluminum, onyx which are uncoated and exist in their original beauty and contours. The predominating color white used in our latest Cha Bar in Connaught Place offsets the brilliant mélange of hues of the Oxford Bookstore Connaught Place – the active space brimming with energy.


A unique feature of the environmental graphics across all Cha Bars is the Tea-Pot wall which displays the different traditional tea-pots from across the world. This not only creates awareness about the tradition of tea-serving across different continents but also adds an interesting design element adding to the ambience of the space. It also showcases how different Teas in our menus are served and promotes the dying truck art of Pakistan and the Bollywood poster art of India, for which special artists are commissioned by, Ms Priti Paul, Director, Apeejay Surrendra Group and herself an art aficionado.


Oxford Bookstores which houses Cha Bar is fiercely passionate towards raising funds, raising public consciousness and sharing responsibility towards one horned rhino conservation in India’s North Eastern state of Assam. Oxford Bookstores and WWF-India Partnership seeks to enroll customers of Oxford Bookstores and Cha Bar in the cause of conservation. When customers of Cha Bar choose our Single Estate Assam Teas, a portion of sales of every cup they sip, matched by Oxford Bookstores, helps preserve the life of one-horned rhino and their habitat in Assam as part of one horned rhino conservation efforts by WWF- India. Every time they buy a book, they directly but voluntarily donate towards ‘Give Back to Nature ‘programme of WWF-India, specifically supporting the Wild Wisdom quiz, India’s only national level quiz to sensitize and generate awareness among children by fostering a sense of competition, pride and knowledge of Indian biodiversity.


Cha Bar Menu is refreshed regularly with additional varieties of exotic Teas and scrumptious snacks with in-house experts at Apeejay Tea Group with experience of nurturing tea in our plantations dating back more than a 100 years and renowned Chefs of the Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels with nearly 5 decades of experience in fine hospitality and award winning Food & Beverage offerings.


About Apeejay Tea Group:


Apeejay Tea Group is amongst the largest producers of tea in the country with 17 estates spread over 50000 acres in Upper Assam producing 25 million kilograms (approx.) of tea. It is a matter of great pride for us that Harrods, London has appointed Apeejay Tea as its sole India partner for sourcing Indian Teas. An exclusive collection of our single-estate teas, Sessa, Khobong and Pengaree, are on Harrods’ prestigious shelves. Typhoo, our FMCG brand is UK’s third largest tea brand and an over 100-year-old iconic British brand retailing in nearly 50 countries globally including India. London Fruit & Herb, Heath & Heather, Melroses and Ridgeways are some of our other International brands.


About Oxford Bookstores


Established in 1919 Oxford Bookstore is the best equipped ‘base-camp’ for journeys of the mind offering its customers the widest range of outstanding titles and consistently courteous and informed service for close to a century. Today, with India’s first dedicated Children’s bookstore, Oxford Junior, India’s first of its kind tea boutique, Cha Bar, India’s only literary festival created by a bookstore, Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival, Oxford Bookstore offers booklovers access to the very best in publishing enhanced by a variety of events which salute books, visual & performing arts and celebrate the word. Oxford Bookstore measures its success by the smiles on millions of happy customers that the brand has served over the last 9 decades. There are a few treats as sumptuous as a visit to Oxford Bookstore in India. Each time you walk into our iconic store in Calcutta where the brand started in 1919, its charm leaves you wanting for more. Our fleet of 200 happy to help expert booksellers and informed hosts work day and night to bring to customers world class reading experience be it through our books or our fine teas and live by the brand’s motto – Much more than a bookstore – at every store, be it Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore or Bhubaneswar. In December 2012 Oxford Bookstore took a chapter from its growth story in India by launching, Katakali, its first overseas bookstore in the luxurious Taj Palace Hotel at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in the exclusive palm-filled oasis of the Palmeraie, Marakkech. In April 2013, with the opening of its most architecturally crafted retail store in a stunning new destination in Delhi’s historic centre, Connaught Place, Oxford Bookstore carved out yet another incredible space for quiet browsing, reading and contemplation. Its growth story continues…


For more information, please also log on to:

www.oxfordbookstore.com


http://www.apeejaytea.com/

 

Cha Bar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Junglee Billee Launches Sunday Brunch and Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Not Miss It..!!

Junglee Billee has been one of our most favorite places since its inception, we have always loved the food there and with Chef Pawan being a close friend, we can never really get enough of this place. We love the fact that they keep doing really interesting stuff at Junglee Billee, from Ladies Nights, to Special Movie Screenings, From Sundowners to Fusion Cooking Sessions, they are always up to something. And yet again, Junglee Billee comes up with the launch of their special Sunday Brunch and this is something we could not miss at all.

Specially curated by Chef Pawan, the brunch menu at Junglee Billee boasts of a delicious 6-course spread that includes Soup, Salads, Main Course, Live Pasta Station, Grill Section and Desserts.

 

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The vibrant ambience and great food at Junglee Billee always lifts up the mood and hence calls for a visit any time of the week, but here are top 5 reasons why you should not miss the Sunday Brunch at Junglee Billee:

One


If you love seafood, you cannot afford to miss it, there is a wide variety of fish, prawns and other seafood dishes to choose from, all of them that look so tempting and are equally delectable. Fish Roulade, Shrimp Cocktail, Fish Terrine, Seafood Salad, were some of the highlights.

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Two


The Cold Cut Platter and Cheese Platter will surely make your mouth water. Pepperonis, Ham, Bacon, Salami, and Sausages with different varieties of cheese are completely drool worthy.

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Three


The Mumbaiya Food that Junglee Billee is famous for is hard to ignore. You just can’t have enough of it. The Keema Pao, The Kurmure Bhel and everything else on the menu are all worth your attention. I vouch for the authenticity of this Mumbai cuisine. Having lived in Mumbai for so many years, I haven’t found any place in Delhi been able to replicate the same essence, but Junglee Billee and Chef Pawan’s efforts have truly changed the scene. The live music playing some Bollywood numbers will definitely take you to the lanes of Mumbai and you will enjoy it as much as I did.

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Four


The grill section at the terrace is perfect for the on setting winters. The aroma of meats and veggies on barbeque is surely a turn on. Chicken Breasts, Herb Sole, Cottage Cheese, Sausages, all spiced and grilled to perfection. Enjoy this scrumptious meal with a huge selection of cocktails and mocktails. Pan Martini and Sangria are my personal favourites.

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Five


Have a sweet tooth..? Don’t worry you can satiate your cravings at this Sunday Brunch. Mava Cheese Cake, Crème Brulee, Baked Yogurt, Chocolate Cake, Raspberry Brownie Mousse, you name it and you have it. This section is pure sin and totally worth the indulgence.

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What: Sunday Brunch


Where: Junglee Billee, M Block Market, GK I


When: Every Sunday, 12PM- 4PM


Price: INR 900+ Taxes for Food, INR 1399+ Taxes for Food+IMFL, INR 1699+ Taxes for Food + Imported Liquor


 

Junglee Billee Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Factory by Sutra, a perfect amalgmation of great food, great ambience and good music..!

I have eaten alone a lot of times when I am traveling and enjoyed my own company, but being in my own city, this kind of an occasion is very rare. Recently I experienced enjoying some good food, great live music and perfect ambience, all by myself, and this was a place which now tops my list of favorites, it was Factory by Sutra at Sector 29, Gurgaon.

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I chose the balcony area to be seated, with cool breeze and some amazing sufi songs playing in the background, this appeared to be the perfect place to enjoy a relaxed evening. My foodie experience began with tasting from the Chandni Chowk Section of the menu. Delhi 6, which were golgappas stuffed with bhel, topped with aaloo tikki and chutney and some Kurkuri Bhindi Nachos, which was crispy fried masala bhindi served with some mint yogurt. Chef Abhinav, who is the man behind all tasteful food that Factory has to offer, suggested both the dishes and I loved them. The Golgappas were nice and tangy and the fried bhindi was just too good. The way bhindi was fried and the spices along with chopped onions and tomatoes, took my experience to the next level, it gave me an instant idea of what I am gonna serve my guests next when they turn up at my house. This is a must try, from a boring vegetable to an interesting snack, its totally worth it.

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Leaving myself in safe hands of Chef Abhinav, I relied on him for my next set of appetizers. This time chef suggested Crispy Calamari and Lemon Garlic Fish from the Little Munchies Section. Personally I am not very fond of Calamari, but this was good, perfectly fried and spiced, but the show stealer was the Lemon Garlic Fish. It was truly amazing; I polished off a full fillet in minutes. The taste of garlic, the freshness of lemon grass and the tender fish, made it completely drool worthy. The best thing I loved about it was that the lemon grass didn’t over power the taste; normally lemon grass is put in such a way that after two bites, you start feeling as if you are eating an aroma candle, but this one was just perfect. I highly recommend trying this one out, you will love it. I enjoyed my set of starters with a refreshing Mojito.

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As I prepared myself to explore the culinary delights from the main course, a live sufi performance also began in the lounge area. The night looked much more vibrant now.

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For main course, chef delighted me with Butter Chicken Khichri, Lahori Mutton Curry and Khamiri Roti. I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely dinner plate of mine, as the band played one of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s creation. The butter chicken khichri was something I have never tried and is hugely recommended. The Lahori Mutton Curry was simple but flavorsome; I relished it with the khamiri rotis, chutney and onions.

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The best thing about Factory and Chef Abhinav’s preparations is that, they are simple and very very flavorsome. The menu isn’t very elaborate, but has all the basics and best dishes from across the cuisines. Factory not only offers great food, but is a brewery, co-working space and boasts of different genres of live music most days of the week. This place is definitely worth a visit.

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For dessert I had a choco lava cake and it was delicious.

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I am looking forward to visit Factory again, and this time with my family. I got a couple of things packed back for my family, the non-veg platter was simply amazing, it has chicken tikka, seekh kebab and fish. I also brought back Chilly Chicken Pita Bao, and I loved it. It was spicy and juicy; it’s a perfect snack to just grab on the go.

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Drop in to Factory and I am sure you will love it as much as I did. Also follow their page on Facebook for latest updates on their events.

Factory By Sutra Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Rabbit Invades North India with First Playboy Cafe at Gurgaon!

Bringing in the essence of playboy bunny embellishments and its vibe in your everyday bar and café is how Playboy Café has been thought through. After successfully launching Playboy Club, Hyderabad and Playboy Beer Garden in Pune, PB has now expanded its wings to North India with its first outlet in Gurgaon Sector 53. Quirky interiors with walls adorning Playboy posters, a world class bar, with a huge seating area spread across 3 floors, Playboy Café is nothing short of being a feather in Gurgaon’s Food & Night Life Cap.

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I recently visited the place for a specially curated event for food bloggers organized by Foodmaniacs (Vickhram Vicky).

I loved the ambience and vibes of the place right from the time when I set my foot in. I was welcomed by one of the most fascinating drinks, Playboy Vodka Chai, which is Tea mixed with Vodka, fresh Mint, Cranberry Juice, Orange Juice and Honey. I loved both the presentation and taste of this drink. It should definitely be tried.

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In starters we had Nachos Topped with Garbanzo and Blue Cheese Yogurt Kababs, to begin with. The Nachos were nice and loaded with beans, feta and pomegranate seeds. I personally didn’t like the Blue Cheese Yogurt Kababs much, as one I found them to be on the sweeter side.

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Up next were Fritto Misto and Cajun Fish Tikka. Fritto Misto was a sea food platter consisting of Squid, Prawns and Fish dusted in Chef’s special flour served with sweet chilli sauce and garlic aioli. I loved this platter, the fish, the prawns and the squid were fried to perfection, were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The Cajun tikka too was perfectly spiced and roasted; I simply adored this dish and highly recommend it.

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For drinks I tried the Playboy LIIT, mother of all liits, it had 11 spirits juiced up, and the presentation was killer. It came in a big red telephone booth and looked awesome.

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Next we tried Green Eggs Benedict, a signature Playboy preparation, and Pudina Lamb. Poached eggs on a steamed bun with cheese and creamy green colour is what comprised of this signature dish. The taste was mild, as one cut through the half boiled eggs and the yolk oozes out with cheese and softens the bun, it becomes one mouth melting experience. Though the dish was good, but I was not able to place it well as an appetizer, for me it will be heavenly if served for breakfast, but nevertheless, one should try, its different.

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The Pudina Lamb tasted good and was nicely spiced, but the lam could have been tenderer, it was slightly stretchy. I am sure the chef will take my feedback in a constructive way and there wont be an issue next time around.

We also tried Keema Ghotala, Southern Style Mushrooms, Cheese & Green Peas Maggi, Chicken Sumai, Thai Rice & Chicken Dumpling and American Poutine. Keema Ghotala is Playboy’s version of Keema Pao and is a must try. Southern Style Mushrooms were good too, crispy and tasteful. You can give Cheese and Green Peas Maggi a skip, because somethings are better without experiments, American Poutine was a little put off, as the fries had dollops of wine sauce which was too sweet and it killed the taste of fries. Order fries without the sauce and you will be better off. Chicken Sumai and Thai Rice & Chicken Dumplings were definitely the show stealers, they not only looked good, but tasted yumm too, do try them out and thank me later!

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Though I was already full with the starters, but yet excited to try the main course. So together as a group of foodies, we ordered Grilled Fish, Chicken Duo and Spaghetti Bolognese. The grilled fish on a bed on rice was totally a scrumptious indulgence. The chicken duo was worth ordering too, you should definitely try it. Spaghetti was the only weak link, it wasn’t bad, but could have been a little better.

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Now coming to desserts, we tried the Tiramisu, which was simply mind blowing, creamy coffee taste, and a sinful indulgence that’s totally worth every bite. Then there was a Red Velvet Jar, which too was amazing.We also tried Chocolate Decadence and all I can say is that it’s a must try for all chocolate lovers. You will fall in love with it, at least I did, so much that I got so engrossed in relishing it that I even missed out on taking its picture, but the indulgence was a bliss. Never mind the pic. Do remember me when you try it, and come back and thank me for sharing it with you all J

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All in all this Rabbit is worth catching, so please head straight to Playboy and just sit back, relax and enjoy great food and drinks. They have a fully loaded bar which is meant to be explored, and the bar tenders there come up with some breathtaking tricks that you will have fun watching.. so enjoy!

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I had great fun with my foodie friends and I am sure you will love it too.

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Image Courtesy- Playboy Cafe
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Image Courtesy- Playboy Cafe
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Image Courtesy- Playboy Cafe

Playboy Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato