Home Depot Cafe

Home Depot Cafe: Sunnyvale, CA

This is probably the closest you will get to a roadside shack in the valley. It doesn't even have a proper name .. just says 'Cafe' on the front. Located right outside the Home Depot on Kifer, its a small shack serving great sandwiches, coffee, smoothies etc. You pay cash, eat standing on the pavement and leave happy.

The girl behind the counter is always smiling, and serves up a mean fried-egg sandwich if there ever was one. Probably meant for the contractors visiting the Home Depot, I go to this place when I want a good fried egg, grilled cheese .. or simply even want to just get the feel of a roadside shack.

Must visit on nippy winter weekends.

Food: **** Ambiance: * Price: $
Last visited: late-2007

Oberweis Dairy

Oberweis Dairy - Chicago, IL

If you love ice-cream like I do (and you better if you are reading this) then the very mention of Oberweis creates a pang in your stomach and makes you drool. I have been to this place in the brilliant Chicago summers, in the chilly spring and in the dead of the life-sapping winter. I used to frequent their Arlington Heights (Dundee Rd) and Chicago (Milwaukee Ave) locations. This is definitely my number one choice for ice-cream. And yes, nostalgia does count. Plus Oberweis is family owned and seems to have retained that 'family-owned' feel about them.

The ice-cream at Oberweis is probably fresher and creamier than even Marble Slab or Cold Stone. The flavors, though not as many are definitely top notch. The sundaes, brownies, shakes, milk .. its all good. The chocolate-peanut butter ice-cream is good, so is the eggnog flavored one. Oh and the raspberry-chocolate and the Apple Strudel and .. well .. you get the picture.

The stores can be packed on weekends .. with whole families coming in to have ice-cream. Plus service can be a tad slow, making the wait for your order all the more excruciating. I also love their milk.. comes in quaint glass bottles .. tastes delicious.

I wish they had a store in California.

Food: *****

Hot Wok Village

Hot Wok Village - Schaumburg, IL

This is where Schaumburg kicks Bay Area ass. Despite having probably a hundredth of desi style restaurants, Schuamburg offers Indian-Chinese cuisine in the form of Hot Wok Village, which Silicon Valley sadly lacks.

Owned and operated by a chef who worked in Bombay before, the food is not an issue at this place. Authentic Indian-Chinese food means .. American Chopsuey, Veg Manchurian, Hakka Noodles, Hong Kong Chicken, Chilli Chicken etc. Yes, American Chopsuey is a dish in Indo-Chinese cuisine. It tickled me to death when I found out that the Chinese restaurants in America do not have any dish called 'American Chopsuey'.

The decor is ... weird .. never really liked it. Its as if there used to be a Hawaiian restaurant over here and then suddenly everyone decided to cook Indo-Chinese cuisine instead. The menu showers praise upon the owner slash chef and assures us that is we have any Indo-Chinese food emergencies hes da person to come to.

The food is good .. obviously not as good as you would get in India .. but still better than what you would hope to get anywhere else in the US. Theres plenty of choice in appetizers and main dishes, with vegetarians being able to make their own dish with a combination of veggies, and a selection of sauces. The spring rolls are good, though not entirely desi-style. And good news for desi szechwan sauce fans... this is the real stuff!

Food: *** Ambiance: *** Price: $$$
Last Visited: mid-2006

Bombay Brasserie a.k.a Kabab Factory

Bombay Brasserie a.k.a Kabab Factory - Dhole Patil Road, Pune

If you are a fan of kababs (and who isn't?) a visit to the Kabab Factory is a *must*. Kabab Factory is the outdoor portion of Bombay Brasserie where they serviced kabab buffets at nights. Unlimited Kababs, food and dessert Rs 360 per head.

Now for the actual review.

Bombay Brasserie is located in the City Point complex on Dhole Patil Road, Pune. They are generally considered an upscale sort of place and are known for their lunch buffets and the kabab buffets which they serve in the evenings. Lunch buffets are goodish, drinks are fairly priced and the overall experience is pleasant. Lunch is usually crowded as you will find large parties from the nearby IT companies thronging for their buffet and not leaving quickly enough.

Kabab Factory, as I have already explained above, is open in the evenings when they have seating outside. They serve around 10 types of kababs .. and the servers keep bringing them where you can taste and decide which ones you want to eat more of. Then order those. Repeat. Kabab Factory serves the best minced mutton kabab ever. Thats the seekh kabab I think .. its perfect. The right mix of spice, tang and texture in delicate minced mutton is just irresistible. Goes well with chilled KingFisher beer. The food is also quite good as are the desserts. I generally stuff myself so full of kababs that I can barely have the delicious daal and rice and can just manage a bowl of their kheer, gulabjamun or yummy rabdi.

Tip: Try not to overeat.


Food: **** Ambiance: *** Price: $$$
Last visited: mid-2007

Sarjaa

Sarjaa - Aundh, Pune

Sarjaa has been around for years. Located on ITI road in Aundh, it probably became famous as being co-owned or something by Lata Mangeshkar. It started off very well .. then fell out of favour for some time (probably people just got bored) and now looks to be back and running well. I have visited it numerous times over the years and had visited recently after a large gap of a few years.

The seating is spacious and quite good, looks recently renovated. Sarjaa serves Indian (Punjabi) and Chinese food .. with a few dishes of continental type stuff thrown in for good measure. The Punjabi stuff is pretty up to the mark, haven't tried any of their Chinese offerings. Service is prompt and seem to have a knowledge of the menu.. helpful when the menu is quite exhaustive and enigmatic. Names like Murg Banjara, Chicken Jaipuri, Veg ZilMil do not really describe what the dish would be like. I particularly liked one dish .. Baked Methi Chaman ..which they seem to have invented .. sort of a fusion between continental and typical punjabi. Soups are good too. Desserts seem average.

Food: **** Ambiance: *** Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2007

Malaka Spice

Malaka Spice - Koregaon Park, Pune

This place has been there for a considerable amount of time, but somehow I never visited it until recently. And if anything, it exceeded all expectations I had for it .. and believe me one gets to hear a lot about it over the years. Malaka Spice serves Asian cuisine .. Thai, Vietnamese, Malay, Indonesian .. you get the drift. Its located off North Main Road in Koregaon Park. The seating area is quite limited indoors, but they also have some tables outside in the patio. Going to Malaka Spice for lunch is quite different from going there for dinner .. its like the place complete transforms itself! During the daytime it looks like any ordinary restaurant .. somewhat informal .. where you can wander in, seat yourself and do your stuff. In the evenings .. voila! .. it becomes a well decorated, upscale dining experience .. complete with candle-lit tables. Sort of Clark Kent in the daytime and Superman at night .. kind of thing. Except Superman used to roam around in the daytime too .. so maybe not as much :-P

Malaka Spice features a full menu with a decent wine list. The staff knows their part well and are gracious and helpful with the menu. The cane-skewers are something new and good as is the Malaysian wild herb rice (or something similar). The Thai and Penang curries are also worth a mention. Oh what the heck .. almost everything here is good .. so no particular recommendations as such.

Overall a definite A+ place .. quite a nice experience in the evenings .. nice place for a date with the candle-lit tables (and its dark elsewhere), good food and good wine. Obviously its packed in the evenings so come early, call ahead and reserve or be prepared to wait. I particularly like the day-night transformation as you can just go with friends for a good lunch without all the frills.


Food: ***** Ambiance: **** Price: $$$
Last visited: mid-2007

German Bakery

German Bakery - Koregaon Park, Pune

The German Bakery on North Main Road at Koregaon Park is the (hippiest) original and most popular go-to place for exotic, healthy, organic type of food. Its usually packed and chock-full of all types of people .. young wanna-bes who have just discovered Koregaon Park, college kids with KP as their regular hang out place, foreign tourists staying at the Osho Ashram, clustered groups of people who want to sit and chat for long periods of time while enjoying inexpensive good food and people who just want to enjoy the various healthy eating options that the German Bakery offers. Many patrons are from the nearby Osho Ashram .. people from various (mostly western) countries .. who were too young in the 70s and thus missed out on their hippy dream.

Its more of a sit-down place than any other .. a sort of makeshift restaurant .. which you feel .. someday will get converted into a proper one .. but it has stayed that way for a long time .. and perhaps its better that way. The German Bakery offers a lazy sort of atmosphere .. where you really want to take a drag on your marijuana cigarette stare out in nothingness and sip your masala chai .. and I dare say many people would be doing just that.. and thats why smoking is prohibited.

Food is good .. a lot of fresh juices are on offer with some very interesting combinations [ABC - Apple Beet Carrot, Papaya lassi]. Also on the menu are different types of herbal teas, also their famous masala chai, a few appetizing omelettes, sandwiches and a good variety of pies, desserts and sundry treats. This is the place where I had my first avocado .. long back when I was a little kid .. and thats what I always remember it for.

Food: *** Ambiance: ** Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2007

Green Mill

Green Mill - Lake Ave, Duluth, MN

How can I ever think of making a list of restaurants and leave out Green Mill? It was a mecca for us for 2 years. I and my friends have consistently eaten, drank, hung out, had parties, celebrated birthdays [and enjoyed half price appetizers and drinks after 10pm] at Green Mills .. for close to two years. We would brave the Duluth cold winters and make the trip to Green Mills every Friday. Being the students that we were .. we would inevitable reach at 10pm .. to order our half price appetizers and drinks! Many a meals here constituted of just that .. obviously along with large quantities of their mind-numbingly delicious and addictive cucumber sauce. In fact we ourselves, and our orders were so regular that the waitresses would include a large bowl of the cucumber sauce by default. Sigh .. of the days gone by .. groups of 10 and more .. friends showing up without planning.. invented desserts (we often had them make a special dessert for us as the kitchen used to close after 10:45).

I have almost no recollection of the restaurant itself .. as we always sat at the bar. The appetizers are delicious. I highly recommend the Chicken Quesadillas (with the cucumber sauce), the crab cakes and the spinach dip. Sandwiches and pizzas are quite good (and popular) too. The service is good .. all the servers are quite friendly and accommodative to special requests. Overall a fun place to hang out.

Food: *** Ambiance: **** Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2004

Purepur Kolhapur

Purepur Kolhapur - Pune

Situated opposite Abhishek restaurant near Mehendale Garage, Purepur Kolhapur is a small place .. almost of shop-like dimensions .. converted into a restaurant. I must say the name had me intrigued (and salivating). [Also .. the milestone .. with "Kolhapur - 0" is an innovative touch].

My office was walking distance from this place .. so whenever me and my colleagues had an urge for a spicy Kolhapuri style meal .. we would land up here. Beats the office catering any day. [Also a couple of cold beers from Abhishek opposite helps tremendously.. perfect for hot, sweltering afternoon lunches] We had decided to try and lug the beers across the road to Purepur Kolhapur itself .. but our company changed offices before we could put that plan in action.

Anyways .. back to Kolhapur. The menu is simple .. gives only a few choices. There are some 3-4 types of thaalis [they call it taaT .. ताट.. meaning thaali] .. and a few more chicken/mutton dishes. I always opt for the mutton ताट ..with suka (dry) mutton. Service is ... instant. a large plate is placed before you .. raita, onions, lemon wedges instantly appear on it . as if out of thin air. The smell of the mutton has already made my tongue water .. so I start spooning the cool raita in my mouth .. waiting until I can get started on the mutton sukha. Also... the suka-mutton taat comes with a non-descript item .. which I dont like .. and dont care to describe. I opt for the mutton kheema in its place instead. The chapatis are piping hot .. and grabbing a chunk of the mutton, dipping it in the tambda [red] rassa [curry] and devouring it hot is just too satisfying. Kolhapuri (non-veg) food has two types of rassas. Tambda [red] and Pandhra [white] .. made from different spices and mutton stock. I actually like the Pandra rassa more .. but Purepur Kolhapur doesnt know how to make a mean pandhra rassa which can really make your mouth water. They come up with a version which has a lot more coconut milk in it than God intended. So here, I go for the red one. The meal is over as quick as they serve it. The kolhapuri flavour is retained in most of the dishes .. its mainly simple chicken and mutton .. with none of the punjabi style heavy gravies, made with basic spices with thin curries. Its not supposed to be very hot or very spicy as most people think. And Purepur Kolhapur just about gets it right.

Food: *** Ambiance: * Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2007

Lovely Sweets

Lovely Sweets - Sunnyvale, CA

Lovely sweets is a small dhaba-like place on El Camino Real .. near the intersection of El Camino and Wolfe. It compares easily to the dhabas back in India .. earlier more so .. with old plastic chairs, a dirty (and overflowing) trash can, and yummy food. I would have said its the Bay Area version of Punjabi Tandoor from San Diego .. but I am not going to say it .. as Lovely Sweets is pure vegetarian.

As far as I know .. its family owned. They have simple fare on offer .. a couple of thaali varieties, a choice of parathas, chaat and sweets. The rasmalai is probably the best you will get in the Bay Area .. or even in the States. Recently they have added a pani-puri wallah outside .. kinda reminiscent of the chaat wallahs back in India .. and the pani-puri was pretty good. More on the spicy side than sweet, which was good. Else most of the chaat available in the US tends to be on the sweeter side. Also recommended is their paneer-tikka sizzler, available with a paratha on the side.

Lovely Sweets also have sweets and namkeen for sale. Prices are decent.

Food: *** Ambiance: $ Price: $$
Last visited: late 2007

Trials Pub

Trials Pub - N 1st St, San Jose

English pub atmosphere, friendly banter, tables which beg you to play cards on them, good selection of beer, typical British food .. mash n bangers, fish n chips, shepherd's pie, curry chicken .. the cajun chicken s/w is highly recommended as is the Banger plate. It comes with 2-3 different types of sausages cut up in slices .. a perfect accompaniment to some good old Newcastle or Harp. Great atmosphere to come in with friends .. sit down and just while away the time. The beers on tap are pretty much standard .. what you may expect from an english pub .. Guinness, Bass, Harp, Boddingtons, Stella, Newcastle .. (not as exhaustive as O'Briens).

I have a reason to like this place .. I'll just say it has to do with their quality of service. The bartenders are nice enough, so are the waitresses. The food, though good .. comes in portions I wish were larger. And it closes at midnight.

Overall a great pub with laid back atmosphere, decor to match, and good beer, food and service. What more do you want?

Food: *** Ambiance: **** Price: $$
Last visited: mid 2008

Rannoosh

Rannoosh - Hillcrest, San Diego

Searching for some good mid eastern cuisine one weekend night, we came upon Rannoosh. Its made up to give off an exotic feel, with rich vibrant fabrics decorating the walls, small artifacts and hookahs reminiscent of the arab world placed here and
there. They have a limited wine selection (try the Lebanese wine), and a exotic sounding drinks like Lebanese coffee and Mint tea. I liked the Rannoosh cocktail .. a mixture of milk, bananas and honey (3 of my favourite substances to eat).

The menu is similar to what you'd find in any other Lebanese / Mediterranean restaurant .. hummus, pita, baba ganoosh, kababs, falafel, shawarma and gyros. The food might take some time to arrive and all of it is worth the wait. The Chicken Shawarma plate and the Mjadara (rice mixed with lentils and sauteed onions) are worth a mention, so are the lamb kababs that come with some kind of garlic sauce. Rannoosh also offers a well sized selection for people preferring vegetarian stuff, and which it turns out is quite delicious too.

The prices are okayish .. not too expensive, but not on the cheap side either. Overall a very pleasing experience.

Food: **** Ambiance: *** Price: $$$

Glass Window

Glass Window - Deccan, Pune

Glass Window is an upscale dining restaurant in the Deccan Rendezvous hotel, off Apte Road, Pune. Deccan Rendezvous is the new name of the erstwhile Hotel Surya. Its back with a bang with new ownership and classy new restaurants.

I had heard a lot about this place .. namely that the food and ambiance is good and that its expensive. The restaurant is on the ground floor .. which rather disappointed me .. somehow I was expecting it to be on the top floor .. or at least ground+. Its bang in front of you as you enter the hotel. Not too good a place for an upscale dining experience. Anyways, the seating area is well spaced and has simplistic but tasteful decor. They have managed to pull off an upscale sort of ambiance, though not on the romantic side. The service is courteous, and the crowd is almost dressed for the occasion. Weekends should be packed.

The menu is good, with selected contents. They do try to offer something from everywhere (Indian, continental, Asian) .. something I am not a big fan of ... but they haven't gone overboard with the culinary breadth of their chefs unlike other places. (read Flags). Each item is explained which is essential, considering they are serving European and East Asian cuisine in Pune. Wine and cocktail prices are outrageous.

We settled for a soup and some vegetarian Ravioli. Service was surprisingly quick, and our soup arrived in minutes. The French Onion soup was one of the best I have ever tasted. I used to think the coffee shop from The Blue Diamond had the best French Onion soup .. but I probably have to revise that ranking now. The ravioli was excellent .. though I had hoped for a larger quantity. For dessert we had the peach-chocolate pie .. which was just perfect. And apparently so is the cointreau sorbet.

A delightful experience, definitely recommended for the special occasion.

Food: ***** Ambiance: **** Price: $$$$

Red Rock Coffee

Red Rock Coffee - Castro St, Mountain View

There are some places which you love even before you have eaten there. You just know that they are going to have great food and time spent there is going to be worth it. Red Rock is such a place.

Its a small place .. a locally owned cafe .. not expensive .. on Castro Street in downtown Mountain View. I always .. always like locally owned shops more than the chains. It looks pretty inviting and once you go there .. you feel the laid back .. do your own thing .. kind of positive atmosphere. Space is not their forté, and as a corollary - neither is ample (or comfy) seating. But if you find an empty table .. do grab it, order something from the counter and relish it .. soaking in the friendly atmosphere and taking advantage of the free WiFi.

Thankfully the menu is not exhaustive (the big menus always have me wanting more than one thing) and offers a sane choice in coffee. The fruit smoothies are offered wither yogurt or ice-cream based (go for the ice-cream ones) and you can combine whatever flavours you want .. mango-banana-raspberry etc. The desserts look and are scrumptious. Intelligently they are not too big .. so having one doesn't invoke pangs of guilt .. in other people that is. I never get pangs of guilt.

And heres the best part. Red Rock is a non-profit coffee shop! What more can one want?

Warning: closes at 10pm on weekdays and super early - 5pm (!!?) on Sundays.

Food: **** Ambiance: **** Price: $$
Last visited: late-2007

Kayani Bakery

Kayani Bakery - East Street (Camp), Pune

Kayani Bakery is a landmark in Pune. Its a bakery started in the 50s by a family emigrated from Iran. They make select products, in select quantities (and so the products are routinely sold out long before the customers stop asking about them), are closed during the afternoon and are also closed on Sundays. On top of it buying something at Kayani is not one of the pleasanter experiences in life. [Prime culprits - crowd, customer service]. So I must say the Iranian owners have completely adjusted into the Puneri style of shopkeeping. [why make an attempt at improving customer service when the food we prepare is so good that the customers line up outside our door even before we open for the day?]

Everything apart, Kayani consistently offers baked goods of outstanding quality and taste. They offer delectable Shrewsbury, Nankhatai, Cheese papdi, Ginger biscuits, Butter biscuits, Wine biscuits, Mawa cake, Plain cake, Sponge cake, Choco-Walnut cake and a whole range of breads. The best way to eat the famous Shrewsbury is to heat them up a bit and just dampen them with a sprinkling milk and take large bites, savoring the taste, texture and smell. The cocolate-walnut cake is pretty good too .. with ample pieces of walnut .. I love dunking it in a cup of strong coffee.

Customers queue outside (before they open for the day) to get the fresh warm batch of Shrewsbury in the morning. The rest of the day witnesses complete chaos in Kayani .. with the hassled workers taking orders from a crowd of customers bordering on rowdiness. You have to jostle forward, making good use of your elbows, grab the attention of the dour Kayani employees - it helps if you are a strikingly beautiful lady, filthy rich (and looking it) or the Shah of Iran. Then - know your order .. if you hesitate they will move on to someone else who knows what they want. While they swiftly pack and box your order .. have the money ready .. pay and move out much to the consternation of others who think they were there before you and should have been taken care of first.

Enjoy.
Sigh. Now I feel like having a Shrewsbury.

Food: ***** Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2007

ShivSagar

ShivSagar - JM Rd, Pune

I remember when ShivSagar started on J.M. Road in Pune .. quite a loong time back. They were all the rage back then .. and the place used to be packed .. even in those days. Back in the time .. they had the absolute best Cream of Mushroom soup ever. That, and all the kids used to love watching their clock on the wall where the little guy comes out and strikes the bell with his hammer every hour. Then slowly it grew out of favour and flavour .. and melted into memory as one of those 'also ran' restaurants.

Then they spruced up their interiors, opened up a branch in Aundh .. and then near Fatimanagar. I guess the overall appeal of these restaurants is better than the of the original one on JM Road.

It was also probably the first place to start serving Mexican food in Pune. Although by no way authentic, the enchiladas are delicious. So I started visiting it again around the time I was in college. That time ShivSagar meant enchiladas and awesome desserts. They have a dessert list which just goes on and on! Irritatingly, the names give no clue as to the contents of the dessert. Also .. the chaat items are good too .. the Sev Dahi Puri was really good and ever since I have had it recently .. I've always wanted to go again for the same.

Food: **** Ambiance: * Price: $$
Last visited: mid 2007

Amici's East Coast Pizzeria

Amici's East Coast Pizzeria - Castro St, Mountain View

Amici's wanted to build an upscale pizza place and they have been very successful at it. Pizza by nature is not considered upscale .. so credit to Amici's for pulling it off. Obviously they need great decor, atmosphere and food .. which they have.

One of the best places to have thin crust pizza. I just wish it were a bit cheaper.. as I don't care much for the upscale feel anyways. Pizza is pizza. The eggplant pizza is pretty good and there are ample vegetarian options available. All I have tried was good so everything should be a safe bet. The pastas are supposed to be good too but I have never tried them.

Food: **** Ambiance: **** Price: $$$
Last visited: early-2007

Giovanni's Pizzeria

Giovanni's Pizzeria - Lawrence Expy, Sunnyvale

I have been to this place quite a few times .. what with living and working very close to it and all, but truth be told .. I am prepared to drive a bit for it too. Giovanni's offers pizza, pasta and sandwiches with a different .. I am assuming authentic .. flavour, which just makes me drool.

The place is in a strip mall on Lawrence Expy .. just behind the Shell gas station at the 101-Lawrence intersection. So the location could have been a bit better .. but then it wouldn't have been so close to work would it? Its packed during lunch hour .. so better go a bit late in the afternoon .. and it closes earlier than I would like .. about 9:30 I think .. so dinner has always been a problem there.

In pizzas .. they have good options .. though limited vegetarian ones. You can always choose to make your own pizza .. even a simple margherita is awesome here. They have one with chicken and garlic .. thats pretty good. Among the sandwiches the cheesesteak is pretty good .. have the one that comes with onions and peppers. They have beer too.

Food: **** Ambiance: * Price: $$
Last visited: early 2007

Zamu's

Zamu's - DP Road, Pune

Zamu's is one of the few places in Pune known exclusively for it's sizzlers. Its comparable in quality with Yana's and The Place (or should I say the Place from a few years back). It has a decent sitting area .. but no A/C and somewhat strangely .. I have never understood this .. starts filling out later than most restaurants. At lunch the crowd peaks around 2pm and for dinner its around 10. I find that most comfortable as both lunch and dinner for me are about an hour earlier.

Theres a good choice of beverages .. with pitchers of Beer .. but don't be surprised if the waiter tells you draught beer is not available as their supplier didn't deliver that week. The wines are decent too. For appetizers the garlic mushrooms/shrimp are good .. they come with some type of garlic mayo which also makes good seasoning for your sizzler later if you so desire. (so save some). I prefer going straight for the sizzlers. The portions here are not as generous as Yana's or at The Place .. so a sizzler is good for 1 person. The paneer masala sashlik, Chicken Shashlik, Drunken pork and Chicken Gregory sizzlers are worth checking out.

For dessert the caramel custard is good .. or just walk across to Just Baked ;-)

Food: **** Ambiance: *** Price: $$$
Last visited: mid-2007

Durga

Durga - Paud Rd, Pune

Durga is more about nostalgia and college days than about food. Its a tiny place near MIT college on Paud Road. Almost all engineering students from Pune (more so if you are in MIT) make it a point to have coffee at Durga at late nights during the PLs. Once you go there after a "well deserved" break from studying .. be it 10, 11 or past.. you will surely meet a few acquaintances, have the delicious cold coffee (or two) .. sitting on your bike parked at the road as theres no space to sit inside .. and maybe even a double-bhurji if you are hungry. The point is you hang out with friends who are all more or less in the same boat as you .. thinking about which chapters to put for 'option'. lol. Durga is fun.

Its hard to find a place to sit at nights .. especially if the engineering PLs are going on. If you go in the morning you can enjoy some decent upma or pohe. Or better still .. the tried and tested cold coffee and bhurji. The cold coffee at Durga is the most popular item here .. its a mix of many things .. the coffee itself is very good, plus the atmosphere you enjoy it in .. friends .. late nights .. add to it .. and then theres the unquestionable benefit of the price. Durga serves cold coffee at prices other coffee places (CCD, Barista) spend on their electricity bill in the time you spend there. But I shouldnt compare .. Durga has its moments as does Barista.

A must visit if you are a student in Pune.

Food: *** Ambiance: ** Price: $/2
Last visited: mid-2007

Big Bowl

Big Bowl - Schaumburg, Chicago

Big Bowl is an upscale Asian [chicnese/thai] restaurant in Chicago. They have a few locations across Chicago and I have been to the downtown and Schaumburg locations. Its the sort of place you would visit to celebrate something. The food is impeccable, the oriental yet contemporary decor suits the upscale feel and the service is polite and helpful. Needless to say its always crowded during lunch hour and weekends.

The restaurant has a bar which also serves food along with delightful and refreshing drinks. Its not unusual to find large groups waiting nearby to get seated. They have a nice pomegranate cocktail and pomegranate ginger ale. Also of note are the hibiscus iced teas.

The food at Big Bowl has never been a source of disappointment. And its more impressive as I have visited it both when its crowded and otherwise. Restaurants sometimes fail to retain their usual quality of food and/or service during peak hours when the kitchen and staff are stretched to capacity. Thankfully, Big Bowl is not one of them. The Kung Pao chicken is delicious and flavoured to perfection and the chicken fried rice is just heavenly. You can request off-the-menu items and they will gladly serve the same. I had once asked for a selection of stir-fried vegetables and was entirely satisfied with the result. You also have the option of choosing from the stir-fry bar which houses a wide selection of vegetables, meat and sauces.

Recommended: Kung Pao chicken, Spicy sichuan chicken, chicken fried rice, hibiscus lemon tea.

Food: ***** Ambiance: **** Price: $$$
Last visited: mid-2006

O'Brien's

O'Brien's - Convoy St, San Diego

Having heard a lot about O'Briens, I and a friend decided to check it out one night. Finding the place was a bit difficult .. who would have thought of looking for an Irish pub in the midst of a korean neighbourhood and car dealerships (and in a strip mall no less)?? But find it we did .. and once you step in .. its like entering a different world an Irish pub. The old-world furniture, the dim lighting, the constant soccer playing on the projection TV, the old leather seating .. it all somehow feels like an Irish pub. And I have never even been to Ireland.

O'Briens sort of grows on you. Firstly, they have a terrific beer selection with plenty of foreign AND domestic/local brews. Next the food is great .. though doesn't offer a large choice. And finally the unassuming atmosphere is conducive for lazing around - eating, drinking and discussing the world's problems (or yours - for that matter) with friends. Or you can just down a few beers and watch the latest soccer action.

O'Brien's has a bigg list of bottled beers and quite a good selection on tap. This choice keeps on changing as they juggle around with the local brewery selections. My only gripe is that they close early (10pm on weekdays, 10:30 on weekends).

Recommended: Garlic Fries, Chicken Pesto Wrap

Food: **** Ambiance: **** Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2006

The Great Punjab

The Great Punjab - Koregaon Park, Pune

If ever you wish to be utterly satisfied in every aspect of a meal .. do pay a visit to the Great Punjab, off North Main Rd in Koregaon Park. And if you are not satisfied .. I will refund your money with a smile happily. [i.e. I will give you a smile in return].

The place itself is not a big thing .. but the decor is inviting and the service is courteous. Theres not much parking for the restaurant itself, but we didn't have any problems finding space in the adjoining lane. The valet seemed disappointed that we chose to park it ourselves.

Its pretty expensive, but well worth it. I am having a hard time these days figuring out what is expensive and whats not. Everybody around me seems to be spending hundreds of rupees per head on meals and finding it quite okay. Nowadays I generally draw the line at Rs 200/head for a good meal .. anything beyond that is 'expensive'. Or maybe I am just out of touch with todays prices.

The Great Punjab gets it right in every aspect. The ambiance of the place is great .. suitable for families as well as couples, and probably professionals too. Being situated in Koregaon Park has its advantages .. namely that you get a varied clientèle, which nearly always appreciates upscale places. They promptly serve you with .. this is what I liked most .. jaggery and molten ghee! It was a delight eating the tup-gul [ghee-jagerry] with their warm rotis. And they gladly refilled it again and again. Quite a refreshing concept and very Indian to boot.

We had some fenugreek-chicken kakabs, butter-chicken, sarso ka saag (with the waiter heaping spoonfuls of ghee on top of it), and a variety of naan/parathas followed by rice and daal tadka. Every dish was excellent, but I particularly remember the kababs and the ghee with jaggery. The kababs were perfect .. succulent, tasty and hot with just the right amount of spice.

Overall the pinch came to about Rs 300+/head (no desserts, we were 4). A price .. I realize.. one wouldn't hesitate to pay these days for a very satisfying meal.

Food: ***** Ambiance: **** Price: $$$
Last visited: mid-2007

Rutuja

Rutuja - Prabhat Rd, Pune

Rutuja is an inconspicuous little (and I mean little) place on Prabhat Road. Its actually the garden of a bunglow which they have converted into a restaurant. I am not sure how long its been there .. I have been eating there since my Fergusson days, and I distinctly remember having ice-cream there in the 80s. The location is pretty good .. since its very close to Karve Rd, Garware college and on the way to Fergusson. I suspect they are only open in the evenings.

Rutuja offers limited seating space (and that too plastic tables and chairs) so you might have to wait in the evenings. This popularity seems to be new as I don't really remember a rush during my college days. I have not seen the staff hurry anyone despite the place being full - so one can enjoy an idyllic evening seated underneath the trees, chatting, eating and having coffee. The service is good. Strangely they had 2 kids around 10 and 15 yrs of age working there when I was in Fergusson (more than 10 yrs back) and they seem to have another pair of the same age currently. But they are competent and aware of the menu.

The food is good .. and I always have two orders of their chicken frankie. Its inexpensive and tasty. They also have a good chicken club s/w if I remember right. I used to like the chicken salami s/w but didn't quite like it as much during my last visit. Veggies have a lot of options too [veg club, veg frankie, etc] .. but I haven't tried any .. though all my friends appear content with it. ;-) Coffee is good too.

Overall a good place to hangout, have coffee and chat aaram-se with friends. Only thing I wish would change is their closing time .. as far as I remember - they close around 9:30.

Food: **** Price: $
Last visited: mid-2007

1000 Oaks

1000 Oaks - East St, Pune

Thousand Oaks is one of the best places you can go to in Pune to hang out, eat, drink and be merry. Located on East Street - it has everything - good food, a rocking ambiance and a location one can't beat. Its a pub slash restaurant .. and I often wish they had just kept it a pub which served food, but I guess they need to cater to the restaurant-patrons as well if they wish to do the kind of roaring business they do. Thus Thousand Oaks is divided into 2 parts .. the garden restaurant .. which is meant for a quiet night out .. serves food and drink .. and the pub inside which has a good collection of loud rock music playing, couches to sit on and drinks flowing freely. Actually theres another third section .. the kind of outside-inside .. where you can sit on the tables and have dinner if you wish.

The barman's pitcher is the most popular drink here (though not necessarily the best) .. which is a combination of beer, rose water, vodka and whatnot .. but I find it a tad mild. I recommend adding a large vodka to it and then enjoying the same. The food is all good - with melt-in-the mouth kababs and a good selection of dishes. The paneer lasuni kabab or some-such is pretty good, so are most of the other veggie dishes.

You can't beat this place if you want to hang out with friends, drink a few, eat good food and let your hair down. Best of all .. you can relax in the pub if you want or move outside to the restaurant if you prefer chatting undisturbed with your friends.

I used to think of T-Oaks as expensive a few years back .. but considering the prices in most good restaurants nowadays .. it seems quite at par.


Food: **** Ambiance: **** Price: $$$
Last visited: late-2006

Ghareeb Nawaz

Ghareeb Nawaz - Devon Ave, Chicago.

If you are a desi and have ever been to Chicago - then Ghareeb Nawaz needs no introduction. Its the mecca for desi students in Chicago, the place which seems to serve tasty, filling, desi food at unbelievable prices. Ghareeb Nawaz roughly translates into "poor man's shelter" and it certainly serves its purpose.

Theres not going to be an 'ambiance' rating for this place .. as there is none. You order at the counter .. waiting in line to do so .. while looking at the menu printed on the wall. The man taking the orders is extremely busy and hassled. Make sure to request enough plastic spoons and paper napkins for everyone. Meanwhile the phone will be ringing constantly .. and I have never seen it being answered. The tables are dirty and you'd like the overall experience a lot more if you are any of the following - poor, drunk, sleepy, hungry. I have been there a number of times when I was 'all of the above'.

Whatever impression that has given you .. the place is a must visit. The prices are ridiculous .. one can have a full meal there for under $3!! No dish is above $5! The chicken boti is tasty .. the chicken biryani costs just 3 bucks .. and naans are 50 cents a piece! I am going delirious just thinking about it!

I have probably been there at all possible ungodly hours .. so it seems its open 24 hrs. Good luck finding parking nearby.

Food: *** Price: $/2
Last visited: mid-2004

El Burrito Loco

El Burrito Loco - Wheeling

Right opposite the Pita Inn .. lies another blessing for broke young guys .. serving yet again delicious and cheap authentic Mexican food. Its a tiny place in a run-down strip mall at the intersection of Dundee and Elmherst St. Once seated, you are immediately served with warm tortilla chips and 3 types of salsa [all of them amazingly lip-smacking] .. on the house. Any place which serves 3 salsas on the house has to rock!!

El Burrito Loco has quite a big menu with most items being in the $3-5 range! I particularly remember the Chicken Torta as being delicious. The tacos are all in the $1.x range and are worth a try. Oh and the waitresses are cute.

All in all .. one can have a good eat here for under $5

Food: *** Ambiance: * Price: $
Last visited: mid-2004

Punjabi Tandoor

Punjabi Tandoor - Mira Mesa, San Diego

Punjabi Tandoor is a typical family-owned restaurant serving the desi working class of San Diego [read - Qualcomm employees]. Its located in a boring-kind-of office/industrial area .. where you wouldn’t imagine a restaurant existing at all. If I have to draw similarities - then its like a roadside dhaba in India. With similar cheap plastic chairs and tables.. which probably havent been cleaned ever since they were bought, the similar tiny kitchen, a fridge which houses the cold-drinks which you open and help yourselves, and amazing, lip-smacking food. The place is owned by a sardar and his family .. and everyone seems to help out. The sardar and this wife are the main cooks and their two children help with the order-taking and table-cleaning.

I have probably eaten at this place more than a hundred times. This place is open till 10pm .. whereas most desi restaurants close by 9 or 9:30. We would so often reach there by 9:55 which would piss of the owner a bit. He would always tell us to call in advance and order .. which we somehow never did. One of my friends in San diego used to insist on eating here and here alone. If we wanted to eat elsewhere he would insist on ordering something from Punjabi Tandoor for him first. And strangely he would also eat the very same thing day in and day out. The prawns-masala and 2 naans. It is undoubtedly very weird for a person to eat the same thing for dinner every day .. but I have to admit that the prawns-masala kicks ass. The gravy is to die for. And with the richness that I recall .. I wouldnt be surprised if the prawns coupled with the gravy would make it a literal reality some day.

The prices are cheap but the quantity is less too.. so its kind of deceptive. A dish is enough for one person as opposed to it usually serving 2 people in normal Indian restaurants. The ambience is nurturing for bachelors who want to laze around just enjoying their meals and having a good time. The food is served on disposable plates and the trash can is always full .. so you have to skillfully balance your dirty plate without upsetting the whole mountain and not getting your hands dirty in the process.

Recommended: Prawns-masala, Chicken tikka masala, Baingan Bharta, plain paratha.

Food: **** Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2006

Sunrise Cafe

Sunrise Cafe - Mira Mesa, San Diego

Sunrise Cafe is a small cafe located in a strip mall very near the Qualcomm offices in Mira Mesa. They serve coffee, bagels, sandwiches etc. The main draw is without doubt their Gyro. I kept dreaming about having Gyros from Sunrise cafe months after I had left San Diego. They are that good. The meat - even though I am sure they order it and don’t prepare it themselves - is amazing, the pita is darn good and the cucumber sauce that comes with it is among the best.

The cafe has limited seating .. probably just enough for 10-12 people, but theres additional seating outside - and being San Diego you can sit out all year through. The coffees are good and they offer some good flavourful concoctions. Among pizza - theres a limited variety but somehow it appears healthy (though pizza and healthy don’t really go together). There are other items available but I used to have the Gyros every time I would visit the place .. so I have no idea how they taste. But other patrons always seemed happy so I guess they must be good too. I have spent a few long lunches there .. chatting with friends or reading the magazines which are surprisingly current and also include Time and Newsweek.

Go on Tuesdays - thats when the Gyros are for 5 bucks in the lunch special.

Food: **** Ambiance: * (its a cafe after all) Price: $
Last visited: mid-2006

Kapila Kathi Kabab

Kapila Kathi Kabab - Dhole Patil Road, Pune

Kapila Kabab is a small tapri at the roadside opposite Kapila bar on Dhole Patil Road. Its legendary (along with Olympia on East Street) for its frankie-like kathi kabab rolls. The menu has some 4-5 items, but the main one is of course the chicken kathi kabab roll .. which is a chicken frankie. It consists of a maida roti shallow fried in egg - which is rolled around the chicken-onion stuffing. Tastes better if you don’t watch him prepare it. Other items are chicken tikka, paneer roll etc. Not for the strict veg people.

Its open from 5pm onwards .. so don’t go there for lunch.

Food: *** Price: $
Last visited: mid-2007

Just Baked

Just Baked - D P Road, Pune

Just Baked offers baked goods of incomparable quality. Its located right opposite Madhuban on Dhole Patil Road. Desserts dominate the scene here, and I always have trouble choosing what I want. Everything just seems so delicious. They also offer various breads - multigrain, garlic, croissants etc. and a range of sandwiches. Mostly anything with chocolate in it is good. I find the butterscotch too sweet for my taste, but the Pineapple pastry is just right. The pastries and desserts are on the pricier side with most desserts hovering around the Rs 90 - 95 range. Seating is upstairs and is comfortable, albeit with a ridiculously low ceiling.
I hate it that they don’t offer any water for free. Are these kind of places - where you have to buy water increasing in Pune? If you want water - you have to buy a bottle. I find this practice very inconsiderate, rude and snobbish.

Recommended: Death by chocolate, Choco Mocha pie, frappuccino.

Food: ***** Ambiance: **** Price: $$$
Last visited: mid-2007

Frangipani

Frangipani - SB Road, Pune

Frangipani is a little joint off Senapati Bapat Road, very near the Symbiosis campus. They have a varied menu which is usually a good thing, but in this case I think its a case of trying to please everyone. Punjabi, Italian, continental .. without offering a big choice in either .. makes it a tad odd. Maybe its because with a name like Frangipani, I did’nt expect them to offer any Punjabi cuisine. The menu is structured in a very innovative way though. They quote a price at the top of the page - and all the dishes listed on that page cost the same. I found its a lot easier than the normal method. (yes - I do watch the price).

On to the food. The appetizers are good and promising. They have tried to make a fusion of tastes .. and it works out well in most cases. The kebabs are average, the punjabi main course slightly above. What people seem to like - is the pasta. They have totally made a desi version of pasta with a lot of masala added on.. and honestly I didn’t like it much. Haven’t tried all that is offered though. But looks like it works for most people. The desserts are good and worth a try. Now heres the kicker. I had the absolute best dal-tadka at this place. Bar none. Its been years since I had any dal this good, and I hope its how they always serve it, rather than being a one time thing.

Overall I rather like the place. The food is good and the general satisfaction of dining is high. Though I suspect it may be because I enjoyed a rather memorable meal with delectable company there, which because of a power failure ended up being a nice candle-lit one.

Food: **** Ambiance: **** Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2007

Thai Tom

Thai Tom - Seattle

I have been to Seattle just once and I loved the city. I was there for 4 days or so and my most memorable dinner was at Thai Tom. Its a very small place tucked away in a wall - located in Seattle’s U district. Its so small that I think all the tables were just big enough to accommodate 2 people. Alternatively you can sit at the ‘bar’ which is a long wooden table that runs along the open kitchen.

My friend had insisted we meet there and I immediately realized why. The smell coming from the open kitchen was terrific. In fact he was so insistent that when our 3rd friend - being hopelessly drunk fell smack down on the pavement right in front of Thai Tom - we dropped him home and came back for the food!

I forgot what I had but rest assured .. everything there has to be terrific. The food somehow ‘feels’ authentic Thai. The small cramped seating, the dark weathered appearance, and the fiery, awesome food - it all adds up. Or should I say - it feels like being in a small bylane in Bangkok.

Cash only. Be prepared to wait - outside. Don’t come expecting an idyllic romantic dinner. Wait, sit, order, eat, pay, get out. Relish forever.

Food: ***** Ambiance: * Price: $
Last visited: late-2005

Cafe Zia

Cafe Zia - San Diego

Cafe Zia is a small cafe on El Cajon Blvd, very near SDSU. And I’ll be damned if they don’t serve the best wraps ever!! The food is great tasting and healthy, the waitresses and the owner are friendly and on top of it the prices are very reasonable. Zia is located at the intersection of Montezuma and El Cajon .. almost opposite The Daily Grind Cafe.

Like i said .. they have the best wraps .. which are served with a combination of chutneys. The owner is from Afganistan and thus the ‘chutney’ part. The wraps are either chicken or tofu in combination with potatoes/peppers. The chicken is terrific. The filling is stuffed straight off the grill so its real hot and tastes delicious in combination with the cooling pineapple/papaya/yoghurt chutneys.

I have eaten at this place quite a few times and have always left satisfied.
Recommended: The Big Kahuna

Food: ***** Ambiance: ** Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2006

The Daily Grind Cafe

Daily Grind Cafe - San Diego

The Daily Grind Cafe is a nice family-owned, inexpensive place located on El Cajon Blvd, in San Diego close to the SDSU campus - almost at the intersection of Montezuma and El Cajon. It was one of my favourite places to eat when I was staying in the area. Even after I moved a bit north, I used to frequent the Daily Grind on lazy Sunday mornings afternoons for a hearty breakfast brunch. Quite a few times I have spent hours at the cafe chatting with friends and gorging on waffles, omelettes and fresh fruit. This was probably the time when a visit to the Daily Grind would be the only occasion I would have any fruit!

They have very good combos offering a variety of omelettes, toast, coffee and sides (especially the home-style potatoes and fresh fruit). Do try the spinach-mushroom omelette or the Eggs Benedict. Even the coffees and smoothies are pretty good. All in all you wont be spending anything over $10 for a nice meal at this place.

The only problem is that - it closes at 4pm!! (opens at 4am apparently). I asked the owner why this ridiculous 4pm closing time and she said that otherwise SDSU students take up all the tables in the evenings and sit for hours .. thus the turnover for the evenings is very low. Oh and they only take cash. (an ATM is on the premises).

Food: **** Ambiance: ** Price: $
Last Visited: Mid-2006

George Restaurant

George Restaurant - East St, Pune

Ever since I was a kid .. the sight of chicken roasting at the rotisserie inside George Restaurant in Camp always made me want to visit it. I think so once we even ate there .. and I was surprised to find that I didn't really care for the roasted chicken. That was a long time back.

George Restaurant is probably one of the oldest standing restaurants in Pune .. definitely pre-independence .. and they changed the decor probably a decade back. Anyways .. its one of the better dressed Irani joints in the city. [Though I confess the experience at these Irani places wont be as enjoyable without their typical 'look']. But what George lacks in ambience .. it makes up in food. The place is always busy .. always a good sign .. and the service is fast.

So Today George stands for a quick, filling meal .. necessarily non-veg and decidedly including tandoori chicken, chicken biryani and caramel custard. [I know .. biryani ~ mutton .. but you get better mutton biryani elsewhere in Pune]. The tandoori chicken is always good, the caramel custard .. depends from day to day .. but its worth a shot and people swear by its rotisserie chicken. The sizzlers are supposed to be great too.

Food: *** Ambiance: ** Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2007

Erik's Deli

Erik’s Deli - Sunnyvale

Erik’s Deli has more than a few locations across the Bay Area and yet it manages to give you that ‘family-owned’ kind of atmosphere. First up - this Deli is all about sandwiches. They are sumptuous! I was introduced to this gem by a colleague on the first day of my job in the Bay Area. I have been a fan since. Needless to say its packed during lunchhour.

They offer a variety of sandwiches [$5 - 6] - veg, chicken, turkey, beef. My personal favourites are the ‘Turkey walnut pesto’ and the Thanksgiving special .. with cranberry sauce. A very memorable evening spent in the Muir woods with a bag of Thanksgiving special sandwiches and a bottle of wine comes to mind. The salads and soups are worth trying. Erik also offers combos - the half s/w combo and the square meal .. pretty good stuff for the money.

Erik’s Deli
Food: **** Ambiance: *** Price: $$
Last Visited: Early 2007.

Dish Dash

Dish Dash: Sunnyvale Downtown

I absolutely, totally love mediterranean / middle-eastern food. I love the kebabs, falafels, shwarmas and the baklavas.

There. Now that that little disclaimer is out of the way. I can harp about Dish-Dash at will.

DishDash is located on Murphy Ave in Sunnyvale. Now, Sunnyvale itself lacks a bit in the good-restaurant department; but DishDash more than makes up for it. DishDash is almost always packed. Thats always a good sign - though it also means crazy waiting times in some cases. The place itself is tastefully decorated and the seating area is comfortable and welcoming. The crowd is mostly young and varied and I have always found the restaurant itself in good cheer.

Being slightly on the expensive side [$16 - 25] for regular dinner [not an occasion], I generally opt directly for the sumptuous main course; but the appetizers are pretty decent too. The Babaghanouge is good but I remember not liking the Grape leaves much. For dinner I recommend the Shish Taouk with the house yogurt drink. Shish Taouk is marinated and diced chicken served with vegetables and rice. Ah - a whole meal if there is one. I didn’t care much for the Beriani. For vegetarians there are plenty of options available - theres a dish with some kind of tomato-yogurt sauce - be sure to try it.

The entrees are cheaper [$10-14] during lunch hours - haven’t noticed if the portions are smaller too. Alternatively, they have some good wraps available for lunch [$8-10].

For dessert they have an assortment of Middle-Eastern desserts - which I suggest you have some other time. Go for the Turkish Coffee. You will not be disappointed.

DishDash
Cuisine: Middle-Eastern
Food: ***** Ambiance: **** Price: $$$
Last Visited: mid 2008

Pita Inn

Pita Inn - Wheeling

Pita Inn invokes memories of a time long gone .. when I was looking for a job and money was sparse. Pita Inn played its part by serving lip-smacking, healthy and inexpensive food. Its a mediterranean place and we used to frequent the one in Wheeling .. right on Elmhurst St. The place is freaking packed during lunch .. and you will see all kinds of vehicles in the parking lot .. right from old dirty pickups, to swanky new Mercedes. Which is why I used to go in the late afternoons, park my rickety GrandAm in the emptying lot and enjoy a delicious, filling lunch with my friends.

The falafel is amongst the best I have tasted .. its crispy on the outside and moist and grainy on the inside. The hummus is good too and comes with warm Pita. Quite a lot of vegetarian options keep the veggie-ppl happy and succulent shish and lamb kababs keep the rest fully satisfied. The portions are huge and the combos make a good meal.

Food: **** Ambiance: ** Price: $
Last visited: Mid-2004

Vaishali

Vaishali - Pune

How can I start the Pune category with any restaurant other than Vaishali? This is actually not because its my favourite or anything .. but I heed to social pressures. Puneites living outside of Pune always have Vaishali in their list of things they miss - It has a cult status in Pune. However, don’t expect out-of-this-world food or an elitist kind of place. Its more like a mix of nostalgia, atmosphere and food that makes it what it is. Vaishali is for the masses. From the young children with their parents, the college crowd of hip youngsters, to the busy office-goers stopping for a bite and the elderly reminiscing over old times. Its a place to come, eat and enjoy.

The food is undoubtedly good - simple fare - Udipi types - but its also the location (bang on FC road), atmosphere(youthful, relaxing) that makes it such a revered restaurant in Pune. Whats interesting is that it is a very popular hang-out place for a variety of people throughout the day. The tekdi-goers and badminton/tennis players in the mornings, the college crowd in the afternoons and whole families in the late evenings. When in college in Fergusson - right across the road from Vaishali - we have spent many an afternoon at the place sharing a few teacups amongst friends.

Avoid the evenings (especially weekends) if you want to sit at leisure though. There’ll be a considerable wait and you will constantly be under pressure to eat, pay and leave.

On to the food. Being largely an Udipi affair .. its mostly dosa-uttappa-wada that dominates the menu. The sambhar at Vaishali is the best I have ever eaten. Its always piping hot with the right mix of spice, vegetables and tang to it. Have a bit of wada with the spicy, hot sambhar and then soothe your palate with the perfect coconut chutney. Excellent. The SPDP (sev potato dahi puri) is what really made Vaishali famous. But I don’t think its really the best dish there. My personal favourite is the veg cutlet. The cutlet itself is a mix of beetroot and potato and who knows what else, and the green chutney and ketchup that accompany it make for a great combination.

All in all, a visit to Vaishali is always satisfactory.

Recommended: Wada-Sambhar, Veg Cutlet, Mysore Masala Dosa.

Vaishali
Cuisine: Udipi
Food: **** Ambiance Atmosphere: **** Price: $$
Last Visited: Mid 2007