Dec 06, 2009 02:10 PM
4628 Views
The story starts like this.. I had committed my team for a lunch if they met some targets and my team being the team that it is, ended up meeting the target (as expected)... So I was looking for a place to take them out for a lunch.. Last time, we had been to Zafran on Somajiguda and it was pretty good and easy on pocket also.. buffet for 190 bucks plus taxes....
At this time when I was looking for a nice place, I got this advt message from Punjabi by Nature on my mobile (they are doing that aggressively now I guess) stating that a buffet lunch costs Rs. 250/- and a buffet dinner costs Rs. 395/- (including drinks). I just kept that venue in mind and was looking for other choices and my team could not come up with other choices.
Meanwhile, therez another msg. from PBN on my mobile.. I thought okay let me check on mouthshut and I find one review stating it is too costly. When I google'd this, I got their website ID. The website is really well done and the list of items (specialities) is too mouthwatery. So, I thought I will give them a call...the buffet lunch with taxes comes to Rs. 306/- I am told. I decided to go there though it was slightly higher than my budget (225 to 250 per head). I asked them if any of their specialties are served on the buffet and he said, no, those come only with a la carte, but "I can assure you that you will have a good variety on buffet too."
I called the restaurant on the day at 11 a.m. and booked buffet lunch for 18. We went there around 1:30. Our table was reserved. There was a "complimentary" drink - choices being lassi, butter milk, jalzeera, or a "glass of beer" (everytime the waiter repeated this, he ensured he added the "glass of" in the front.. maybe they have had some bad experiences). Then, we went for the starters section..pretty extensive starters starting with soup, salads, sprouts, murgh haryali, chicken shanghai, a couple of veg. starters, and delhi chat. All these side dishes definitely go well with the glass of beer!
Next to the main course. There was fish tikka, chilli chicken, dal makhni, tawa vegetable, and mutter masala I guess. Assorted bread (naans, kulcha, roti, etc) with fish tikka was really delicious. Then, there was chicken fried rice and veg. biriyani. I indulged on rotis and fish tikka and did not taste chicken as I had chicken for starters..
Then came the dessert section. There were these tasty jalebis which I could not have enough of. Even though I am basically a sweet lover, this jalebi was really tasty. There was this besan burfi too, but it did not impress me much. Jalebi with icecream also tasted good. Also available on the dessert section was fruit salad.
Then came the bill. All was okay with buffet cost, as was expected, but the shock came in the form of kinley water. Believe me, a bottle of Kinley (standard 1 liter) cost 75/- bucks. Atrocious, to say the least. Of course, the waiter had asked me in the start, bottled water or normal water, but did not mention the cost.
When in, I did have a look at their menu card and all items are too costly. I would strictly discourage anyone going their for an a la carte as it is going to burn your pocket. Buffet lunch is certainly good and worth the cost, sans the water bottle of course. Not sure what they are going to add in their dinner (unlimited drinks???).
Happy eating and do post your comments.
