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

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

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

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