Rated: Good
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« Back to 11 East Street Cafe
May 20, 2008
London, Baby!!
Reminiscing nostalgia you enter, and transformative imagery occurs almost immediately - from the dusty streets of Pune to, well, a street of British regalia or at least portrays the vanity it seems to exuberate - when you enter 11, East Street Cafe. Designed to replicate a sidewalk in England (flanked by props of shop windows like Marks n Spencer, Posh Spice etc), a life-size Red Bus greets you. A thorough selection of delicious pastries and breads are ensconced within this air conditioned bus. Walk further past, and a dumb woman - the maitre de refuses to seat you on a table of 6 if you are a group of 3 (irrespective of the how less the number of inhabitants currently occupy the tables!).
A widely elaborate menu consumes most of your time - prompts you to scavenge through the rummage of alphabets to pick your options, in that it houses a medley of English food, Italian food, Lebanese food, and Indian food.
From bangers and mash to the colloquial fish and chips to portions of chicken served up in a wide array of sauces and accompaniments, to the routine shawarma and grilled chicken, to pizzas, pastas, Indian punjabi food and dal, its comprehensively thought about and indulged in.
#1 - the pizza (Rs. 170/- for 10") was decent, but then again, you cannot go wrong with cheese sitting atop bread!
#2 - English chicken in barbeque sauce (Rs. 195/-)
Experience no. 1 - served in 5 mins flat - was raw, had to spit it in a tissue!!! - called the manager - took it back - came back after 5 mins - said that I was right - the chicken was undercooked!! - the acceptance was a first for me outside of a 5 star hotel!! - that bit of honesty definitely earns some stars.
Experience no. 2 - served the same dish - properly cooked - but nothing to write home about - served with the measliest portion of fries and garlic bread - ordered more garlic bread (Rs. 28/- for 6 tiny portions) - was served plain toast instead!!
#3 - cheesey pasta with mushrooms (Rs. 165/-) was severely cheesy and sticky!!
The too many exclamation marks on the negative note referenced above rather sums up a negative food rating.
The irony of my tryst with this destination lies in the fact, that I long to go back for more - coz I am almost sure that my 'pickings' were wrong; maybe because I refuse to believe that such a good place can be undone by such un-alluring food. I rest the benefit of doubt with them.
The marriage between the east and west in a by-lane in Pune seems most enthralling and immediately attracts attention - to devour its offerings.
Puneietes have a thing to brag about on this one. Alas!, its not food on this count.
Interesting Trivia: Check out their huge glasses in which they serve water - must be a kilo in weight, to say the least!