Reviews by ameya.manohar
Feb 04, 2008
Lane No, 5 North Main Road, Opp, Oxford Properties, Koregaon, Koregaon Park, Pune
Poor
Mauve is just a dhaba trying to be a lounge
Well... In case you are thinking its a typo... Let me tell you, its not. Athena is now Mauve.
But my first trip to this place was a complete disaster.
The ambience is something not to my taste, the seating arrangment needs drastic changes and its too dimly lit. I mean I appreciate the managements efforts to create a romantic atmosphere by having dark corners, but a restaurant so dark that I have to strain my eyes to read the menu... not my idea of a perfect date setting....
The food was ok... The chicken was nice and tender, Thai curry was delectable, and the rotis crisp as a biscuit. But then, when they are charging 200 bucks for 6 pieces of chicken, then it ought to be good.
However, the service was a complete turnoff. The management made me change tables twice just because they could not get somebody to level the tables correctly. The waiters/captains are adept at doing a vanishing act even when you are halfway through placing your order. They even have their own names for dishes. For instance, I ordered for Murg Pudina Kabab, which the captain noted down as Murg Pahadi Tikka. And on the bill, it was named as Kalami Kabab.... Now I really dont know what was the dish that I was finally served... And I didnt care much, coz all three were priced the same on their menu. It seems they are serving the same dish with multiple names just to make their menu look impressive.
Anyways, finally for a restaurant which boasts of a international menu, a lounge and an art gallery setting, they could offer only ice creams as dessert... and that too only butterscotch and vanilla.
All in all, it was a complete mood off for me. I would have enjoyed trhe evening far better, had I gone to some Tony Da dhaba instead of this not-as-hip-as-the-name-suggests junk house.
Dec 06, 2007
361/5 Bund Garden Road, Opp. Pune Central Shopping Mall, Bund Garden Road, Pune Railway Station, Pune
Excellent
Italy Comes Down to Pune
La Pizzeria with its cosy ambience, customer friendly service and above all mouth watering food (that is what a restaurant should concentrate on, isn't it?) happens to be Punes best bet for authentic Italian food. So if you happen to be a connoisseur of fine dining in general and Italian cuisine in particular, who you probably are else, why would you be here, then read on. A word of caution though… This place happens to be a pure Vegetarian eatery. Meat lovers... Sorry!!!
Ambience:
The decor is tastefully done, with clean tablecloths, shining cutlery and general hygiene. Miniature paintings, general paraphernalia, and dry ingredients encased in wooden frames... all transfer you from the bustling city of Pune to the quaint olive orchards of Italy. The bar is well kept and well stocked. The wine list is quite impressive and must be tasting good too... I am not too much of a wine drinker.
However, make sure to make your reservations in advance lest it’s a weekday. The place can be very crowded on weekends and the waiting time on weekends can range from anywhere between 30 minutes to 1 hour, unless you are ready to sit in the garden section.
Service:
The service here is the best as compared to any other restaurant in Pune. The stewards and waiters are courteous and well informed about the menu. This is one place where you can really depend on the captain to select your food and I bet you won’t have room for complaint. The names of the dishes are difficult to pronounce, they are in Italian, but the short description is a good guide. And don’t worry, you can always order using the code (say B29) if you don’t feel like twisting you tongues to read out the order to the captain.
Food:
Now this is one area where a restaurant needs to be at its best. And La Pizzeria is...
The pizza here is as crisp as a biscuit, and remains like that till the last bite. The toppings are fresh, piping hot and don’t go limp by the time the pizza completes its journey from the oven to your table.
But then, why would you visit an Italian restaurant if you only wanted to have a pizza and nothing else. So have a look into their soups and starters section. The French Onion soup happens to be the best of the lot although I must admit; I have never had any other soup here. For those who want to, there is wide selection of spirits, mocktails and cocktails to indulge in. The Bruschetta (warm bread pieces topped with tomato, garlic and cilantro and served with olive oil) and the Spinachi Salsa (Farmers Bread with a creamy spinach and cheese dipping) happen to be my choice of starters.
The main course is divided into 2 sections. The first section has out of this world pasta dishes. The best of the lot happen to be Pasta Del Barone (a creamy sauce with cheese and béchamel sauce), Al Pasta Genovese (cheese sauce with pine nuts and basil) and Primavera. The second section mostly contains dishes such as Crocchette's and Rice Balls. Crocchette Ai Spinachi Ricotto, which has cheese and spinach mixed with mashed potatoes and deep fried, never fails to satisfy. A similar dish is Gnocco, which is home made pasta tubes stuffed with spinach and ricotta cheese and baked to perfection.
That finally brings you to the last section on the menu, the deserts. There is a whole range of deserts on the menu with the ubiquitous Tiramisu and Chocolate Mousse as well as lots of gelato flavours to choose from. But my suggestion would always be Panna Cotta, a creamy pudding with a slice of Kiwi fruit. The sour taste of Kiwi compliments the mild sweetness of the creamy pudding and that makes it a dish hard to resist.
The restaurant also serves a good number of Mexican dishes such as Nachos, Enchiladas and Quesadillas.
The portions are quite decent and each dish can be shared between two people, with the exception of the pizza. The pizzas come in a standard size of 10 inches and are sufficient for three.
Cost:
A meal for two with drinks can make you poorer by 1500 bucks. But then, every penny spent would be worth it.
Overall Verdict:
This definitely is a place you would love going again and again. Atleast I do… So all you foodies out there – INDULGE.