Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

The busy road of Sadar is dotted with shops and restaurants serving various cuisines which have emerged to be well known all around Nagpur. Tuli International, next to Smruti Cinema has been one such contributor to the list of restaurants. Tuli International is a hotel with 2 restaurants and one pub that goes by the name of Rhythm nBlues. The pub promises to “Cater to all kinds of guests, from youngsters who like to party hard on their weekends, to corporates who like to enjoy their beer or a glass of wine with soothing music.” The pub is open on all days from 11:00 AM to 11:30 PM, with Karaoke nights during the week. On weekends, it turns into a party zone with the speakers blaring songs and the big screen being replaced with shiny lights!

Ambience (8/10)

The place is modelled to look like an English pub and does a very good job of it, from the stained glass panels, to the uncannily real statue of a rhythm/soul band, to display of imported cigars and the British flag added for a flair, it is a visual treat for people who enjoy the dark interiors of a pub. It is a small place and is a good spot to watch matches on and support your favourite team during IPL or Football matches on a big screen. If it is a lunch/dinner on a weekday, then you’ll be able to savour the beauty of this place. On a weekend, however, be prepared to have your fancy shoes stamped. There is no dance floor! The walking area is the make- shift dance-floor.

Service (7/10)

After the Initial order getting placed, the waiters disappear, which is a bother if you have to modify your order. A bowl of fried appetizers are served while you wait for your food to come. The orders are dished out pretty fast but if going on a weekend, service is slow and a few goof-ups are bound to happen. A very good point is that the waiters are quick to correct or replace something that is of bad quality, you won’t see any arguments regarding the quality of food over here!

Food (9/10)

The food is the best part of a visit to RnB! Everything, from the Mughlai “Parluft Kabab” to the Indian “Butter Chicken” or “Shahi Paneer” and the Continental “Pasta Alfredo” or “Chicken Satay” are absolutely amazing!! For all who love Dal, the “Dal Makhani” is to die
for! The snacks are again full of flavour and enjoyable!

Drinks (8/10)

The bar is well equipped with bartenders and they are capable of whipping up all sorts of exotic cocktails and shots. They also have a good variety of wines and other spirits, for those who like no-nonsense drinks. The bartender keeps displaying antics with fire to keep the people amused.

Music (6.5/10)

To rate a pub is to rate it’s music. The music here really disappoints, which was a series of Hindi tracks, as it does not match the wonderful decor. Saturdays and Sundays are the best times to enjoy the music. The DJ does play on request and starts off with nice songs but as the party progresses, a lot of old-ish Hindi remixes are played on loop. The best time to visit would be when a DJ from out of town visits.

Verdict (7/10)

The place is good to look at and the food is scrumptious! But that describes a good restaurant, not a pub. On Saturdays, the place gets crowded beyond its capacity and many a times some spirits are not available. Do not visit if you cannot handle extremely loud music and the closed space ends up making everyone a passive smoker. Though credits must be given to R n B for constantly trying to keep up with the youth by organising events every week or so with special offers like free entry for ladies, it’s still not the best pub in town. If you have a group of friends who are looking for a fun night of dancing, this is the place to be!

Rhythm N Blues- for a fun night of dancing

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

In the thick of evening, the tempting food served out in the simplicity at its best, and the ambiance that strike a deep connection with the onlooker, join together to make the place perfect for an evening delight.

Welcome to Vishnuji ki Rasoi a multicuisine veg themed restaurant near Bajaj Nagar square in Nagpur.

Around 6:30 people start coming to this purely vegetarian restaurant. It has branches in Aurangabad, Pune and Thane as well. As one enters, the brisk aromas of Indian delicacies tempt the visitor then and there. Further the simplest seating arrangements help people get themselves comfortable. An amount of Rs 250 per person, 200 per child is charged, after which a visitor gets to enjoy unlimited servings of every food item till the end of one’s appetite and contentment.

Vishnu Manohar, owner was of the view that people usually have to travel to outskirts of the city to enjoy the food and feel of a ‘dhaaba’. Through ‘Vishnuji ki Rasoi’ he made an attempt to bring both these things in the city, as an inhouse roadside dhaaba, so that people won’t have to travel a long distance. But Nagpur people sure need a variety. Hence separate sections of Marathi and Punjabi food as well are added.

An estimate of 200 customers are said to visit this place every day. Each food item is prepared at the same place in front of everyone, and hence the visitors need not get worried about the filthy kitchens and improper hygiene.

Entertainment

Games like carrom, badminton, and even rides on the ‘Bail Bandi’ are availed.

Raw vegetables are also displayed so that if desirous of, people can choose their choice of vegetable and get it freshly cooked right before them.

Starters

As a starter, the vegetable soup is served that is ought to increase a person appetite, as quoted by the owner. In addition to this Batata wada with chutney, Cheela and Dirda are served as well.

A variety of Chutneys

Let it be the shengdana chutney, khobra chutney, panchamrit, or the freshly prepared achaar, every khatti meethi preparation from this section adds flavor and spice to the food.

Sweet dishes

A sweet dish is prepared every day from amongst jalebi, malpua, gulab jamun, etc. A separate paid section for the preparation of ‘puran poli’ is mouth watering.

The Punjab da dhaba:

Jeera rice, dal fry, the aalu at sukkhi, lachha paneer and changing variety of Punjabi dishes give a feel of dhaaba. Although the food is moderately spicy unlike the Punjabi food, it is enjoyed by all.

Punjabi food!

Marathi Handi food

Marathi tadka

The dishes from a regular Marathi thali are served, and yet one is totally contend with its taste. Dal khichdi, soft rotis, dal fry, the delicious kadi, Jhunka, Patad bhaji, etc includes the delicious serving.

Some people, like the ones from Jain samaj prefer food without onions and garlic. Special arrangement and preparations are also done for them.

Critics

Smoky air due to the onspot food preparation becomes a bit irritating. It might be enjoyable for those who like an outdoor environment. Food is good for those who are away from their homes, or aren’t natives of Nagpur, they get to enjoy the typical Maharashtra style food. But for those who are seeking a quiet ambiance and wish to enjoy proper spicy food, might find it difficult to appreciate the place.

If a housewife doesn’t feel like cooking dinner, if you have a bunch of friends who gave you a surprise visit, if your grandpa or grandma wish to enjoy home-like outdoor food, this is where your search ends. Visit the ‘Vishnuji Ki Rasoi’!

Punjabi Tadk

The visitors

The Team

-Ritu Walia

Vishnuji Ki Rasoi : Food, feelings and rustic ambience join together to boost appetite

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

What does a person really expect when he visits a restaurant? Good food, pleasant ambiance or even the lowest price are secondary I feel! One prime thing that one seeks would definitely be a pleasant and blissful time with self or dear ones! If you wish to return home with a smile and contentment on face, here we suggest you one of those places in Nagpur that greets and treats its customers with nothing but intense warmth, in most ways possible be it the welcome, respect or most importantly the taste of food.

Great Indian Vegetarian Dishes

Started an year back, ‘Anand Veg Treat’ is a vegetarian restaurant that intends to glorify the fragrance of Indian vegetarian dishes, through its uniquely picked innovative dishes. However, even if the food item isn’t unique, it’ll taste good! One can enjoy Indian, Chinese and Tandoor food in here.

One and Only…

Situated in an area that has preferred veg-non-vegetarian restaurants in its vicinity, and numerous mini food outlets as well, this place may serve as one of the top preferences for vegetarians. Also, the nearby is a commercial place, hence it might also be a good option or the working class to drop by and grab their brunch and Anand.

The owner, Anand Agrawal himself being a veggie, seems to understand the concept of moulding vegetarian Indian dishes into something new and different, that may give the visitor a feel of Chinese or continental food. Being into the family business of food industry since long, owner understands the importance of his presence himself is present at the restaurant most of the times, to interact with the customers and get their demands served adequately.

High on food

The ‘quality’ of food item (if I put it this way) is worth appreciating (meaning high quality raw material has evidently been used.) From amongst a variety of starters and soups, I was served the ‘Malaysian Soup’, ‘Khichya Papad Churi’ and ‘Disco Shank Gawar’. Crispy, simple, delicious and unique combo! Dishes like the ‘Paneer Royal Roll Tikka’ and ‘Schezwan Fingers’ might prove to be the best amongst starters. The juicy and sour Salad was perfect and should be preferred with the meal every time you visit this place to enhance the flavor of main course. The main course consists of almost every dish. The brisk fragrance of Rice, Pulao or even Biryani is enough to tempt your taste buds. Varieties of Sabji and Dal are availed. Sabzi Mumtaz out of which can be a good choice to order. The commendable part here is that not a single drop of oil drills out from the corners when vegetable or dal is served. Desi ghee and pure butter is evidently used.

Sweets and post dinner delicacies include Lassi, Ice-cream, Fruit Salad, varieties of Falooda and milkshakes.

The part of menu card worth appreciating is the ratings of most food items as ‘Spicy’, ‘Medium Spicy’ and ‘Very Spicy’, so that preferences are clearly chosen by the customer.

Low on drinks

Coming to drinks, basic Mocktails are available, that are mostly cold drink blended with ice-cream. In addition, lemon juice and Jaljeera are as well in the menu.

Special Jain food as well is prepared. Here, they customize a food item without onions and garlic and the same dish is served, depending on what demand is made.

Tempting Top up

The Utensils and Dishes used to serve the food were found to be interesting, specially selected in a way that appropriate ant beautiful garnishing can be done. The presentation of food lacks no-where, but scope of improvement always exists. Hygiene and public demands are aptly taken care of. The Nanwoon tissues used for cleansing of hands and pout highlights the idea of innovation.

Pricey, but worth the quality of food

When it comes to shelling out money, it’s more than reasonable, but the quality matches that much price.

Zero entertainment

No mode of entertainment is present, but you can spend a serene time with your dear ones!

Location

Civil Lines, Nagpur.

Type of Food

Vegetarian Indian, Chinese and Tandoor food

Beverages

Non-Alcoholic, Indian delicacies

Owners’ Blog-

Straight from Aanand Agrawal, owner, Aanand Veg Treat-

“The Nagpur people generally prefer Sundays, especially dinner time. This habit of people here should be worked upon. Nagpur People should get out for dinner on weekdays for a change as well. In fact, they should comparatively prefer lunch time more.

Our family is in food Industry since 1945. This makes me say that in Nagpur, the trend of having food outdoors is worth appreciating. However we people in Nagpur do not compare the cost and prices much, but tend to compare the discounts and offers more, which is not correct. One should be aware of the differences in terms of costing, and should analyze the service and quality of food as well. Thereby one should be able to make conclusions about the worth of money and food.

I would conclude by adding that trust the ‘word of mouth’ more than the extent of marketing and advertising while choosing a place to be at, since the ‘word of mouth’ proves to be genuine mostly!”

Rating :

-PICS BY: Vinay Thorat

Anand Veg Treat : Cool ambiance, veggies’, pricey, but worth the quality of food!

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Now if you are a Nagpur Local and love to explore and keep visiting places to have good food with pleasurable ambience, this place surely will be a prominent part of your list! Ten Downing Street, abbreviated as ‘TDS’, is one of India’s iconic chains of Pubs. TDS, Nagpur is a Family Dining and Restro Bar that attends to most components of a good dining experience offering a convivial ambience, sophisticated interiors and authentic cuisines. Started six years back, TDS in Nagpur has gained certain appreciations from the locals by now. Its motive as the owner, Varun Sapkal quotes is to flow with trends but never follow them.

The person pursuing the menu for the first time will be drawn to interesting titles given to various dishes, be it the starters, soups or the main course, the continental food consisting of best ones. But when it comes to choosing a dish, Indian and Chinese food is mostly preferred.

I was served my choice of continental food, starting with ‘Lemon Grass Chicken’ and ‘Satay’, served with spicy seasonings. Juicy, lemony and admirable! The main course included ‘Stroganoff’ and ‘Chicken Stake’ that tasted good. Unlike what I expect from joints in Nagpur, the continental food here dint have an Indian touch, which was appetizing. Accompanying with it was Red Apple Suset, a sugary Mocktail.

TDS Bar Counter

‘Lemon Grass Chicken’ and ‘Satay’

‘Stroganoff’

Starters like ‘Hari Patti Murg’, ‘Chicken Lemon Grass’ and Thai style mushroom ‘Head Thod’ are as well suggestable. For vegetarians, dishes like ‘Vegetable Tiranga’ and ‘Mushroom Masala’ should be opted for.

Ambience is more than pleasant, refined and youthful as well. With dim yellow lights, the place gives a retro feel. However, the medium volume Hollywood music played as background keeps feel of the ambience peppy.

Overall, food is comparatively less spicy making its palate suitable for kids as well. The taste of the food is up to the mark (One may barely get disappointed). The service is good, wherein the confused heads are suggested their choice of meals accordingly.

A variety of Cocktails and Mocktails in the menu are presentably served, arousing temptation to have them. The bar menu is quite condensed. Keeping a regular check over the drinks that are in demand, the bar menu is engineered. Hence, just those on a higher side of demand are mostly available.

Entertainment and Extras:

All commercial music mostly English tracks are played. Once in atleast two months, events like the Theme nights, Ladies Night, etc are conducted to introduce a change. Different offers are availed on particular days of a week. Like at ‘Wednesday Candle nights’, as those are termed, offers on cocktails on are prevailed. Similarly, on Tuesdays, discounts equal to a person’s age are given.

Varun Sapkal

Owner’s Blog: We’ve recently re-engineered the menu and introduced on-board skilled and better chefs. We constantly thrive to provide with something different to our visitors. Be it either through innovations in the menu, or by organizing interesting events so that our brand just keeps on rocking!

A Glance at Restro

Cuisine          : Indian, Chinese, Tandoor, Continental and Thai

Location       : Ramdaspeth, Nagpur

Timings         : 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm

7:30 pm- 11:30 pm

Price              : Above Average

Beverages    : Alcoholic/ Non-Alcoholic, Cocktails and Mocktails

The Dining Place

Rating:

– RITU WALIA

–PICS BY : Vinay Thorat

10 Downing Street : Peps up your party mood, quality ambience sums up to tasty food

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Every classic place to eat is a platform for stories to be born. Nagpur has many such places like Indian Coffee House which allows its patrons to seat hours together and have heated discussions on what not. While it is loved by earlier generation more, CCD took over the fancy of current generation with cool music, air-cooled comforts, upmarket interiors. Then mocha took lead in bringing more class to casual eating joints more concentrating on empowering communication between the visitors. Majorly, these are all coffee shops. Nagpur was truly lacking a place which will offer a kind of cosy cocoon for the food lovers to spend leisurely time having an affair with food. More over, it lacked a place where one can get a feel of English Breakfast places with unique breakfast food items they have to offer. But not anymore.

Thanks to Mukul Kulkarni, a pioneer and veteran in modular furniture, who along with his son Kaivalya Kulkarni and family, started this classic english kind of breakfast bistro “The Breakfast Story”. Located between Apana Bhandar and Raisoni Vidya Niketan School on Hingana Road, TBS offers this opportunity for Nagpur Food Lovers to get a glimpse of what is generally a trend in UK, Europe and other parts of the world, a laid back place to have nice breakfast with news papers or books to read or surf on your gadget using free wifi.

So, here’s the story of my breakfast at the newly opened “The Breakfast Story”

Interior and Ambience :

You will feel the distinguished look and feel from the logo and the entrance itself. The entry passage is decorated with flowers and has a nice little garden on left. Once you enter, you will be impressed by its emphasis on creatively designed interiors, engaging furniture with common games like tic tac toe and snakes and ladder engraved on it. If you do not want to play then you can choose another tables in quiet corners beaming in sunlight from windows, or just select place with right height as per your preference. You also get an option to seat outside in open air at the back of the restaurant.

There is a lot of thought gone behind designing this space and every utility is created using some or other creative idea. For example magazine holder is created by having cycle careers on the wall, News Paper basket is made up of shopping cart trolly. Then there is use of old time gadgets like Radio, Camera, typewriter, etc which ads to the overall classic feel of the design. Though it relies on the old world charm, it offers modern day facilities like free wifi too.
Concept:

Owners say that they wanted to create feel as if you are visiting their home and seating in the living room with accessibility to book rack, wifi, newspapers, etc. A place where you can walk-in, pick a newspaper or magazine and seat on a table of your choice and order at your own convenience. Then while your order is getting freshly prepared, you can check out the book rack for any books to pick and read or just surf using free wifi on your gadget. Then once you get our order, you can relish the marvels of the food presented to you and again spend as much time as you want. And I can say they succeeded in creating that environment. It is a place you will enter in the morning and leave after spending few hrs.

Menu:

The restaurant works on a unique “surprise me” menu concept so everyday the main menu will be changing except the standard egg dishes, side dishes and beverages. They even allow you to prepare your own dish by using the kitchen. So you will always have your regular egg breakfast options, hot and cold beverages and side dishes like salami, bacon, etc., but the menu of the day will always be written on the black board above the counter (and in the print out on your table). Again the blackboard concept is there in such places abroad. Saturdays and Sundays will have specials like Veg/Non-veg English Breakfast.

In future, I wish they add some juicy and saucy steak dishes too. A fixed price (sub Rs.200?) breakfast buffet will also be a welcome and affordable idea.

 Taste:

I ordered baked vegetables which was served with bread and a spicy dry spinach on the side. It is the first place where I found bacon in the menu so I tried it but I did not like it much (may be due to first time encounter). Another time I tried pork salami which was good for my choice. So bacon lovers, you have a place in Nagpur where you can get it. Baked vegetables was tasty having a sheet of cheese and melted cheese. I loved the hot dry crushed spinach dish on the side as it satisfied the Nagpuri Tastebuds. Coffee was served with nice sweet cookies. Another time it was served with salty cumin cookies.

As weekends have specials, I tried it on Saturday and could relish the Veg and Non Veg English Breakfast. English breakfast is basically a complete platter with multiple food items on it with bread. If non-vegetarian, you get different types of meats in different forms like sausages, salami. It also has eggs made as per your preparation. I chose sunny side up and pork in salami style. I liked it this time. Veg English Breakfast had baked beans, veggie mayonnaise salad. Both veg and non veg options have mashed potatoes, sun dried tomatoes and chopped mushrooms in common and they all taste good. The preparations aren’t culinary miracles but gives a nice satiating feel which lingers for hours.
Ticket Size:

If you order main breakfast, a side dish and a beverage, the per person cost would be around Rs.200/- to Rs.300/-

Rating:

While I loved the way TBS allows you to enter your feedback on the vintage typewriter, now is the time for summing it all in short. TBS is something which Nagpur needed badly and if you want to have lavish breakfast in leisure, this is the place to be. As Kaivalya said, “There is no wrong time to have breakfast.” However, you can come here to spend time as a different kind of coffee shop too. It has the potential to be the next hotspot abuzz with up market crowd. After all, it is the only place in town which asks “How would you like your eggs?”

:: Prashen Kyawal

The Breakfast Story : In-sync with the western world

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Lounge is a concept in hospitality industry where people are expected to enjoy the wine and dine experience in a relaxed manner with chit chat and camaraderie with friends. Ambience, Lighting and Music are integral part of lounge experience apart from good food and great wine. Nagpur has few such place and one of them is “Elements”

Location:

Elements is a pure veg restaurant and lounge situated at the ground floor of Poonam Mall (Inox), Wardhaman Nagar. It’s hard to miss as the entire facade of the restro lounge is exuberantly decorated and attractive. The attention to design is visible from the entrance itself. The elegant logo of “elements” catches the eye easily.

Lounge Interior and Ambience:

Against to the counter you see a lavishly decorated entrance to the lounge. When you enter, you are welcomed in a exquisitely designed passage area through which you can enter the lovely lounge. The passage area hosts an Emperor style chair may be to take selfies with an attitude or may be a group photo with crazy friends going cuckoo with the click of the camera button.

As you enter the lounge, you admire its spaciousness and vibrant ambience. There’s space to host around 100+ people in comfort of cosy sofas. Major part of the interior is lights. You can see different types of lighting in every nook and corner.

Overall both the restaurant and lounge interior and ambience is upmarket, lavish and exuberant.

Menu:

Though it is a fully vegetarian restaurant, it offers full range of cuisines including Tandoor, North Indian, Chinese, Italian and Continental.

The menu is quiet comprehensive and everyone can find something of their choice in it. It in fact also has Street food (11am to 7pm), Saoji and Jain options too. A vast range of vegetarian food for sure.

Taste:

Though I would have loved to report on the western cuisines in detail, I was served more with Indian and Chinese Dishes. First of all I was greeted with a fruit juice which I liked. Then a variety of starter were presented. I loved the soft and moist cheese seekh kebabs served it tasty mint chutney. I also tried Fusilli in Red Sauce which I found too sour and did not like it. Then came the unique dish named Kurkure Potato. With a crispy coating on outside and soft insides, it had a different texture and lovely taste. It also came with a good mint chutney.

Next on the table was Chinese Platter with chilly paneer, crispy veg and crispy american corn in it. I liked the chilly paneer a lot, but found the other two of average taste. Next time, I would rather go for a full portion of chilly panner.

In main course, we were shown curry dishes of 3 colours i.e. Paneer Butter Masala in Red Gravy, Lahasooni Corn Palak in Green Gravy and Nargisi Kofta in Orangish Yellow Gravy. Though we could not taste these dishes, I would definitely try the Nargisi Kofta as the presentation looks intriguing.

Talking about presentation, I must mention that Elements Restro Lounge gets top marks in Food presentation or dish decoration. Each dish is uniquely presented which makes you eager to eat it.

Coming back to taste of food, I got was served with Veg Pulav, Veg Biryani with raita and Daal Tadaka. While I found the Veg Biryani to be of average taste and the raita unbearably tangy and sour, I loved the Daal and Veg Pulav. These two are my most loved dishes of all the dishes offered for tasting. I would strongly recommend you to end your meal with these two dishes. I was satiated and happy at the end of the meal and as they say “All is well that ends well”

Service:

Though the staff is quickly at your service when called, I think being a food critic, I was not looked after as customer. That some times resulted in presenting dishes without fork, spoon and knife. Some times plates were not provided. All was sorted immediately after calling the waiter however, I did not get a chance to review the service as it is offered to a general customer. So based on my experience, I would say there is a huge scope of improvement in this aspect.

Party Venue:

Though most customers of “elements” prefer seat in the lounge for its decor, it is a great venue for party. With the best sound installation, best acoustics and unique light controls, this can be a great place for private parties. As the bar offers any kind and class of beverage, it is a great boon for the party lovers.

Ticket Size:
Considering a family/group of 3 or 4, the per person cost can be in the range of 450-850.

To sum it up, Elements is a good option for vegetarian food lovers with great choice of beverages. Also it offers one of the best private party place. Overall, a nice Fine Dine and Wine place.

Rating :

Owner’s Blog:

Beaming with pride, the owner of Elements, Mr. Manish Agrawal, said, “I always wanted to give Nagpur a world class lounge and restaurant with best quality ambience, music and light for fine dining and special party experience. My lounge space can be lit in 256 different colours depending on the customer preference. The music system in my lounge is the 3rd best installation in India by OHM and my lounge has India’s best acoustic. So you can expect world class sound quality when you host your party here. Not only sound, your party will be remembered for best light effect including lasers and other lights. DJs can be arranged as per demand.”

“Apart from Party experience”, he continued,”I also pay special attention to the quality of food. I try to procure most of the ingredients from my own organic farms and I get my own custom masala created for all the dishes on the menu. I pay special attention to hygiene and cleanliness.”

Manish said his family comes from garment and real estate business but he always had a dream to from childhood to own a food business. He himself loves to cook and serve family and friends. No expense was spared while developing this project and no compromise is made with quality in any aspect.

“We also offer free home delivery anywhere in Nagpur if the bill is above Rs.1000/-”, Manish said, “And for this IPL season we have a special offer Buy 2, get 1 Free on beverages as well as food.”

Elements Lounge & Restaurant : Fine Dine and Wine with high end party venue

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur has one decent place to hang out and to have great food prominently known as the “Bollywood” of Nagpur- Bollywood Centre Point, Sakkardara. Centre Point Group of Hotels have come up with a huge unit on NIT property in which they serve the best food with lots of entertainment.

Nagpur today reviewed one of their Indian Desi restaurants that serves the typical ‘desi’ food. Thali which has everything. Their desi food restaurant is called Bollywood Tadka. Just like the name, the place too has a lot of things to talk about.

Ambiance (8/10)
Ambiance of Bollywood Tadka is  fantastic. It has everything, from greenery  to wooden classy construction, to clean & tidy environment. The music played in the background suits the environment well. The walls of this restaurant have pictures of the Kapoors, the Bachchans, the Kumars & Dev Anand which give you a Bollywood feel.

Service (9/10)
They say service plays a vital role in hospitality industry. For some, if the service is good, nothing else matters. Carrying the legacy of the Centre Point Group, the staff here too tries their hard to keep the customer happy with the best service in the town. F&B Manager Shiva said, “Our management keeps a regular check on our staff regarding mannerisms, ways of service and customer feedback. This keeps us on toes also and with the motto of customer is God, mistakes are out of chance.”

Food (9/10)
Bollywood Tadka is a Thali Restaurant which serves the BEST Thali in Nagpur and when I say the best I mean the two types of Thalis they serve has everything what a one wants to eat .
The Indian Thali has two types of vegetable dishes, one Paneer dish, a Dal, two types of rice, Roti, curd, pickle, Papad, salad and two type of sweet dishes .
Living in a state of art, culture and great food Bollywood Tadka also offers their special “Maharashtrain Thali “ which has three types of vegetables, two types of rice, 2 types of Roti (Roti & Bhakar), Dal, pickle, Thecha, Papad & two type of sweets.
The cherry on the cake is that after the meal, if someone wants to have “Nagpuri Meetha Paan” you have to just pay few rupees extra.
The food is absolutely delicious and the best thing is it just costs Rs.175 for this UNLIMITED*.

Verdict: (9/10)
Bollywood Tadka is a decent restaurant that has great food, good service and great offers for groups ,corporate and above all families that love eating good food in a place where there is peace. Bollywood Tadka is open from 12 pm to night 11 pm ,So it’s time to see great life of food in just a “Thali”.

Yash Raj Trivedi

This Thali is tasty, affordable and worth your money

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Famous Sukha Chiken

Food lovers have their  affection towards different cuisines like Indian, Continental, Chinese,Thai, Italian French , Mughlai etc but among them also every cuisines has a sub option like in Indian we have a cultural food of “Saoji “Saoji food is traditional food of Nagpur, Maharashtra. The cuisine also called Saoji Waradi and it is famous for its spicy taste and is highly recommended to all the spicy food lovers. The special spices, which are used in making the gravy of Saoji food, include black pepper, dry coriander, bay leaves, grey cardamom, cinnamon, cloves etc. Saoji Gravy is characterized by its spicy flavor and ample use of poppy seeds (Khus-Khus) and powdered coconut.

Nagpur today reviewed one of the most famous Saoji joint for families who love to eat and travel far from Nagpur to just get the right taste when they can get it at Bollywood Center point’s “Machhan”

Ambiance (9/10)

The best thing about this section of Bollywood Center point is its ambiance, one it’s on a great height and then you have a lake view, in the evening it looks like “WOW” . Late evenings when you are with your family you will feel the breeze, wooden furniture , wooden Machhan, the classy cutlery & crockery gives you this “Elite feeling of having Saoji in the city ” said F&B Manager Shiva.

Service (9/10)

Carrying the legacy of the Centre Point Group, the staff here too tries their hard to keep the customer happy with the best service in the town. F&B Manager Shiva said, “Our management keeps a regular check on our staff regarding mannerisms, ways of service and customer feedback. This keeps us on toes also and with the motto of customer is God, mistakes are out of chance.”Though Saoji food needs constant service for gravy & garam chappati’s the service play an important role.  “I come here with my family because this place has class, taste, service and it is really affordable” said a regular visitor Sandeep Patil, banker.

Food (9/10)

Matka Roti

Nothing can work without perfect gravy and well cooked meat or vegetables for someone who understands the authentic Saoji food. “We use the authentic way of cooking Saoji here , the spices we use are hand made no artificial powders or colors are used in fact  till now food lovers had got a wrong impression of Saoji being red spicy but it is hot and yum too.” Chef Upendra Kumar Das

From Left to Right Chef Upendra Kumar Das ,F&B Manager Shiva

“Being from Orissa I have been cooking authentic Maharashtrain food since 20 years and the best thing about the food is it has be cooked well ,the Matka Roti we give with it is exclusively for Saoji lovers “.said the chef .

Chicken, mutton, khur, baigan, patodi, preparations are value for money.

Verdict (9/10): Why to go  Umred when you get something better here at Bollywood Centre Point. The Machhan is one good place where every penny spent gives a memory to take home.

: Yash Raj Trivedi

Saoji @ Machhan. Value for money

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

An S.P Enterprise The Great Punjab “Bablu Da Dhaba “ is cities most classy Dhaba , well as we all know the Dhaba culture in Nagpur is been loved still there are a very few of them who have made their names in ones heart to visit. However Wardha Road has a name with a class, elegance, taste & ambience.

Nagpur Today‘s review on Airport Centre point’s “Bablu Da Dhaba”.

Ambiance (8/10)

As you go by the name “Bablu Da Dhaba “ gives you a feel of a 5 star Dhaba , basically Airport Centre Point is been famous for its Classy way and keeping the legacy Dhaba manager Rupesh Raut said “We are a Dhaba ,but with a class “. Sections are been kept for smokers & non smokers , like in Dhaba you have the radio or the tape on here it’s a live band, renowned city Singer Vijay Gill is there every evening with his best of Hindi songs & ghazals.

After three years of renovation too the place looks young & tidy. As Bablu Da Dhaba expects more families and loves serving them the arrangement for kids are also been taken care with a gaming zone. However the classiest thing is you will never feel hot here. Open air feeling with fans & blowers giving cool breeze gives you a feeling to eat more& more. It also has a separate counter for Bar & pan.

Service (9/10)

“Feed your customers as your mother Feeds you “is our motto said Disha Yadav, CEO, Airport Centre Point. Good Serving dishes, great cutlery, great crockery, clean napkins & the serving team’s courtesy makes the customer feel at home or even better.

Food (10/10)

Lotts of spices in Dal or Chicken , slices of onion , papad ,pickle , Lassi , tandoori Roti , is all we expect when we visit a Dhaba but here at “Bablu Da Dhaba “ you get all where in their Punjabi Indian is a specialty their Chinese , Mughlai , Continental , is yum !!!

Speaking to Executive Chef& Vice President of Airport Centre Point Sanjeev Pasricha we learnt that “The management trusts me and where there is trust there is a lot of responsibility”. To be the best you have to make the best, use the best and we work real hard to be the best.”

Starters like Chicken Lazeez , Paneer Lazeez , Veg Tacos , jafrani Murg , Neeza Kabab, Alu Sikam Puri etc.

Dhaba Chicken , Dal makhani , Sesonal veggies , sarson Da Saag , Desi Chicken Saoji , Paneer makhani and many more dishes can be ordered and been loved in the main course .

Delicious food forces me to give this rating.

.Verdict (9/10):

Week days have become really tiring, however in the evening in this season you need a place with breeze, feel good food, something which does not hurt your wallet. No lazy long drives.

Bablu Da Dhaba is for someone who wants to save Petrol & have great Food.

Maza aa gaya!!!

: Yash Raj Trivedi

Feel of Dhaba, Food of Dhaba – The Great Punjab “Bablu Da Dhaba”

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

23^rd March 2012 was Gudipadwa, a new year for Maharashtrains and was also a new beginning for someone who was not from the industry of Food & service .Nagpur today will give you a review about a Pure Vegetarian restaurant in the west of Nagpur called “Anandam”and introduce you to the entrepreneur Anand Jain.

Ambiance (9/10)

Anandam is one place you can take someone to impress because of several reasons and one of them is the ambience. Great comfortable furniture, cool temperature, privacy between two tables, and above all small dining areas for small parties. About the interior when asked to Anand Jain he said “I did interiors myself keeping in mind that what will a family like in the ambience.”Anandam is a Fine dining restaurant “so everything should have some exclusivity “.

Service (10/10)

Well mannered staff, great crockery, great cutlery, clean napkins and above all the service criteria’s force me to give these ratings. From the Darban to the General Manager everyone has one concern “Customer should feel home”.Anand Jain said “Personalized service is what I promote and my customers come for that, when I was opening Anandam someone asked me why this part of the city “Puliya ke iss par kyu”So I answered that “Puliya ke uss paar ke log iss paar ache khaana kee talash mai aatey hai “. So customer satisfaction is our motto and by the end what does Anandam means Satisfaction.

Food (9/10)

Anandam has great food taste and and it offers Indian , Cbhinese , Continental food .Specialities like in starters Potli Kabab , paneer Parda , Chilli Mili Kabab, are very popular .In the main course Veg Raja Rani , Veg Begum Bahar ,Karishma Paneer (No Kapoor stakes) with their simple Dal Tadka with choice of Bread gives you a perfect meal .In the deserts like Matka Kulfi ,Honey Noodles with Ice cream or Mango shake with ice cream will force you and the word will come from deep stomach is “Anandam”.

On food delicacies Anand jain a B.Com Graduate said “I started this venture because I love food, and I have been eating out since like my childhood and when I was young and use to get bad experiences with big brand restaurants in the city I use to think I can do better than them and now people congratulate and appreciate me”.

On the expensive menu Anand said “ I know it is expensive but then in Fine dining there are a lot of costs ,when I am giving good Ambience ,Good Service , Good Quality Food , Good Quantity and I charge for it and people do not complain as they are happy with their experience.”

Verdict (9/10):

Fine dining and satisfaction to the core is all about “Anandam”.

Yash Raj Trivedi

Nagpur Vegetarian Paradise – Anandam

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

With proliferation of IT companies and angel investors, the concept of Start up companies started many years ago. Entrepreneurship has become glamorous and youngsters are thronging behind finding “the next big idea”. They open companies which are fondly called startups and try to pursue their dream idea. Now, this trend has break the barrier of IT industry and other business ideas are also being supported by incubators, initiators and anger investors.One such idea by the young entrepreneurs Manish Khanchandani and Sagar Bhajani was mentored and supported by Nagpur’s own “Lemon Ideas” and brought to life as “Khichdiwala”, an Indian Fast Food restaurant which has massive potential of Horizontal scalability.Having given this background, let’s get back to reviewing the restaurant and the food.

Location:

“Khichadiwala” is a “Khichadi” only restaurant situated at G-14, Gayatri Nagar, Near IT park, Nagpur – 440022. If you take the the road between Infotech Tower and STPI office which is opposite VNIIT gate, you will find this restaurant on right side. The location is good and parking is available on the road.
Ambience:

The concept outlet is uniquely designed keeping earthen and local flavour in mind. It uses Warali painting on the wall and a creatively designed hanging piece using Matakas. It is a small outlet with 3-4 tables but can be extended upstairs in future. The feel is nice and casual. However, they need to install cooling systems like AC or air coolers soon as Nagpur summer can make the experience in day time to be unbearable.

Menu:

Khichadiwala offers a short and sweet menu which is offers different variety of Khichadi’s like Masala Khichadi, Garlic Khichadi, Mix Veg and Daal Khichadi. In their quest for re-inventing the khichadi, they also have created their own unique Italian Khichadi and Saoji Khichadi variety. Apart from these, they also have Sabudana Khichadi and Curd Rice.

The Menu has Mini Meal, Meal Pack, and combos for each type of Khichadi. Few add ons like Garlic Tadka and beverages like Wellness shot are also on the menu along with others.

Taste:

The khichadi is served in a biodegradable bowl and comes with a piece of papad and pickle. The pickle was hard to pick and use. I would like to see more convenient way to serve it and would request for at least 1 full papad or 2 along with the Khichadi as the given piece does not last through the whole quantity of Khichadi. But then may be they want us to order it as add on.

Taste of the various Khichadi’s is satiating. I tried any types but liked the Italian Khichadi and Garlic Khichadi more. There are many outlets in Nagpur which are famous for their Khichadi offering and many may feel that these Khichadi needs to catch up with them in taste. Having said that, I will recommend it because even if it is not great, it is good.

Service:

It took a long time for them to serve my order. I was surprised because they are positioning it as a fast food. When asked about it, the owners gave reasons of absent man power, etc. Still they tried to attend us with full earnestness. But I did not get the experience of “Fast Food”.
Ticket Size:

It is a very well priced healthy fast food outlet where you can eat for as low as 40 rs to 150 rs per head. It is a very good option to have light meal.
Overall, I recommend this unique concept Indian Fast Food outlet for its tasty and healthy “Khichadis”. Before going, make up your mind that you are going specially to Khichadi Only restaurant and you can enjoy it more.

Rating 

Interior and Ambience

70%

Location

70%

Service

60%

Menu

60%

Taste

85%

Ticket Size

100%

Owner’s Blog:

Sagar Bhajani – A creative mind, enjoys travelling and his never ending passion for entrepreneurship made KhichadiwalaTM possible. Worked in IT industry for almost three years and quit due to monotonous lifestyle. An engineer and a freelance graphics designer loves trance and is a huge car enthusiast.

Manish Khanchandani – A cheerful young gun who possesses great business skills. Presently, pursuing his MBA, he has courageously rejected many placement opportunities to follow his heart. All the delicious dishes are a resultant of his research, formulation and perfection of the multitude of flavors he has discovered during his gastronomical experiments and adventures.

Khichadiwala the concept originated from a medical brain, our friend Juhi Mallick. Due to her professional engagements she could not join us in this fascinating entrepreneur journey.

Khichadiwala envisages on becoming a popular name in the fast food industry with its unique taste and health benefits. We at Khichadiwala strive to serve the customer delicious food prepared with fresh ingredients under hygienic conditions. We aim to make khichadi a prevalent fast food as it has no harmful preservatives unlike other options available in the market.

:: Prashen H Kyawal 

:: Picture by Sudarshan Kshirsagar

Khichadiwala : Nagpur’s own Indian Fast Food Startup

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur craves for global fast food giants like mcDonalds, KFC, Burger King, etc. Though I personally do not agree with it, but people feel it is a sign of development of the city when such brands open outlets. Whatever is the reason, but the delay by such brands has given opportunity to local entrepreneurs to come up with their own fast food brands and chains. Leading this phenomenon is “Pestro’s Shack”.

Location : 

Pestro’s Shack is situated at the current hotspot of Nagpur i.e. Futala. It is the one with full glass frontage through which you can see red/pink coloured images on its inside walls. As the location is frequently visited by Nagpurians, it can be said easily accessible. Parking is available easily except weekends.

Interior and Ambience :

Pestro’s Shack has done its interior with its customer base in mind which is mostly youngsters.The choice to go with vibrant red colour combined with off-white works for it. It uses huge images which are of happy faces (mostly of foreigners) and inviting Burgers, Pizza and hot dogs. This helps in projecting an upmarket, international, young and happy image. You may feel like it is a franchisee of some international brand. That means they succeeded in the desired projection of image.

While seating inside, you get to see the view of futala from the full glass frontage, which instantly changes the mood to “pleasant”.

Menu :

Pestro’s Shack is simple in its basic format. They have Burgers, Pizzas, Hotdogs, Steaks, Wraps, Sandwiches and Salads, each in 3 categories i.e. Veg, Paneer and Chicken. Burgers are further divided into 6 types (Red Hot Burgers, Dobules Burgers, Supreme Burgers, Challenger Burgers, Single Layer Burgers and Fiery Burgers). So that makes it a huge menu to choose from with options for everyone who loves fast food.

Taste:

The owner Rajiv Jindal, who is a CA by profession, offered a very wide variety from his vast menu to taste. It includes the lowest priced offerings to top of the line dishes too.

The tasting session started with “Garlic breads with Cheese” and “Barbecue hot pasta”. Both these dishes complements with each other and can be had separately too. The pasta is authentic and tasty and breads are rightly crispy. Cheese in the pasta does not have the chalky taste which I always have a problem with at other places. It’s smooth and… well… cheesy.

Next on the table was 3 types of burgers i.e. Veg Single Layer Burger, Chicken Salami Burger and Chicken Red Hot Burger. Each burger has different sauce or seasoning or size. Each of the burger has different tastes and you would want to try all of their burgers one by one and choose the best one you like. Owner never fails to repeat that all his sauces and seasonings are his own creations and recipes and that the ingredients are specially imported from various places. In fact, not only the breads are made to order, but the mustard sauce too is custom made. All this creates a custom taste which cannot be found in any big brands mentioned earlier which run on the assembly line concept.

Then I was offered with Spicy Veg and Chicken Sheekh Tortila Wraps. We have a lot of places which offers rolls. However, Pestro’s rolls are actually Tortila Wraps. With crunchy fresh lettuce and the custom seasoning/sauces and veg/non-veg fillings inside and crunchy wraps, it opens up the tastes buds and makes them crave for more. The Sheekh in the Chicken Sheekh Tortila Wrap is real Sheekh kebab and not a chicken sausage. That accentuates the experience further.

My next trial was on Pestro’s Shack Pizza. I tasted “Veg Pizza Small” and “Chicken Pizza Small”. These are all fresh pan pizzas and the dough is custom made by Pestro’s Shack. These tastes good but I must say I personally will like to stick with Burgers, HotDogs and Steaks when at Pestro’s Shack.

Even when I was having a small portion of each dish, I was getting full and satiated but the dishes did not start coming to our table. Soon I had “Chicken Fills” , “Veg Sinful Sandwich” , both of which are creations by the owner. While the “Fills” offer a crunchy and saucy experience, “Sinful” offers crispy soft and saucy experience. I will recommend you to try these both in one of your visits (as you may like to take multiple visits to try everything in the menu)

Pestro’s Shack recently introduced “Steaks” on its menu which is rare in Nagpur barring Star Hotels. Steaks are grilled meat preparations though Pestro’s Shack offers its veg alternative in Paneer along with the main Chicken Steaks. This one is unique and must have dish at Pestro’s Shack if you love grilled, succulent Chicken. It is a complete meal served with mashed potatoes, fresh fries and 3 different sauces.

Apart from these custom creations, there are our good old sandwiches too. I got to taste Garlic Cheese Sandwich which is simple and basic sandwich with great taste. I can say the bread is one of the best in town. Again because they get it done made to order. Along with that, I tried “Chicken Hot Dog with Steamed Onions”. I must point out that whatever Pestro’s Shack does with their salami, sausages and patties is incredible. It makes them taste like nowhere else. I bet that you cannot forget the aroma and taste of the sausage in the Hot Dog once you eat it. I am not a fan of Hot Dog but I happen to order is often when I am at Pestro’s Shack.

On the beverage side, I tried Creamy Thick Shakes in Butterscotch and Kiwi flavours. I loved the Kiwi one while other was nice too. These are made fully using ice cream. Pestro’s Shack also offers Yogurt Shakes for the Yogurt lovers.

I finished my “Hardwork” of tasting so many dishes on the last but not the least offering, “Chocolate Sandwich”. I had Chocolate Sandwich at many other places, but I can tell this one is best. The chocolate is melted so deeply inside the awesome bread which I already appreciated above that it tastes like chocolate pastry. I would also recommend “Chocolate Shots” as a must have desert.

Service :

Pestro’s Shack is basically a self service restaurant where you have to order and pick your order from the counter. However, most of the time you are served on the table. Serving time can vary based on the crowd. The staff is helpful and quick. Many times, you will find the owner seating besides yourself making you feel more comfortable. So even after being a self service outlet, they go out of their way to make sure you are given the best service.

Ticket Size:

Pestro’s Shack has something for everyone’s budget. You can have quick stomach fill at 60-80 Rs or can have multiple dishes not crossing more than 400 Rs per head. On an average, it is around 150-200 Rs per head which is perfect for anyone looking for tasty fast food which offers authentic international flavours.

Also I do not think you can get full meal like Chicken Steak in below 200 Rs anywhere in Nagpur. So I would say Pestro’s Shack is perfectly priced.

Verdict: While aiming to be authentic international in their approach, Pestro’s Shack has taken care of the “Nagpuri” tastebuds. It offers many products which are unique to this outlet only.

Rating :

Rajiv Jindal

Pestro’s Shack is the brain child of Rajiv Jindal. Rajiv Jindal is a Ca from Kolkatta who has worked with the L. N. Mittal group for many years managing the take over of steel plants across the globe. He was always had a passion for cooking and dreamed of starting a fast food chain since is college days.

Pestro’s Shack is a unit of Diva Fastfoods Ltd a company founded by Rajiv jindal along with like minded people of Nagpur. Pestro’s Shack serves authentic Pizzas. Burgers. Tortilla wraps. Hotdogs. Sandwiches along with salads. Thick shakes and garlic breads.

Something special about Pestro’s Shack. All the sauces and seasonings are made inhouse by Rajiv Jindal.

Rajiv Jindal is a big foodie who loves to innovate and create new dishes.

:: By Prashen H Kyawal

Pestro’s Shack : Food innovation at its best

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Pros: Clean, Spacious, Service oriented and Quick.
Cons: None really.
The Bottom Line: Keep going. You won’t get fed up trying a new sizzler each time you visit.

There is a wonderful feeling of openness. The restaurant is large enough to accommodate many guests, so you don’t have to gobble your food so the next party can take your spot. The tables are spaced nicely. Quite a lot of leg room.

Here the seating is aligned with the wall. Good Thing! People don’t hover around you. Because of the Power Lunch offer currently on at YOKO, the restaurant is mostly packed to its capacity. In spite of that, the orders are quickly delivered to your table. People at YOKO don’t keep you waiting.

The Power Lunch came in three stages. Soup, Sizzler and Soft Drink.

Honestly, I don’t remember what we paid. The lunch doesn’t burn your pocket at all.

If you don’t opt for the Power Lunch, you have a variety of Sizzlers to select. The price ranges from 70 to 700. You can select a variety to suit your palate. Starters and pretty basic as the main idea of the restaurant is Sizzlers. Chicken, Meat, Fish and yes quite a good assortment of vegetarian variables are available. The waiters are very friendly. No irritation seen around. I saw 4 to 5 of them serving a packed capacity of more than 40 guests. The service was quick. It practically took us more time to decide than the service.

Parking is not a problem. The ambience is very good. It is very neat. Clean tables, cutlery, floor, plates and serviettes. No ethnicities displayed. Just a metropolitan executive styled restaurant. Brown hardwood tables and complementing grey-black seating with off white flooring and white new age walls and styled reception furniture was probably all of the interiors. Oh yes and a couple of yellow English lanterns.

Soups was good, Sizzlers were very good. Quantity was probably less but what more can you expect out of a Rs. 225/- lunch that already included a soup, a sizzler and a soft drink. YOKO manages to retain the sizzle of a Sizzler.

Check out the photo gallery.

Nagpur Today likes this Restaurant. 7.5/10

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YOKO manages to retain the sizzle

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Welcome to the Lakeside Grill, Futala Lake, Nagpur. Thankfully no parking charges were levied. There are 2 entries to this Restaurant. The first one for indoor seating and the other for  outdoor. Indoor looked comfortable but then the AC was on full swing . Since it was raining heavily and we were slightly wet, the 4 of us (friends who had nothing to do that evening) decided to sit outside. Oh the aroma of cheese and fusilli. It really hits you hard.

I sat down on a comfortable garden chair . It was still raining outside, the seating had a fibre roof, thankfully the chairs and tables weren’t wet. Rains made the evening a little stuffy but the outside ambience was well equipped with fans to ensure air circulation was at optimum level . We were treated to a three way cooling; a cooler, a standing fan and a wall mounted rotating fan. Looked at the Menu Card. Felt like trying Italian. The Menu card was full of Italian delights. And there was Indian and Chinese too. For soups, I called for a Chicken Sweet Corn and a Chicken Manchow. The sweet corn soup overall was very good. The corn was VERY FRESH. The taste was exceptionally good. The chef knew his job well. Chicken Manchow was good too. All 4 of us appreciated the flavour; hence justified. Despite promoting Italian food, Lakeside grill’s Indian and Chinese was also brilliant. No main course as such; we called for Chicken Lasagna.  While the order was being prepared, I took time to look around in detail. The very fact that interiors comprised of Chinese and Indian hanging lanterns along with bamboo sidings with the outside seating being French street Bistro kind park chairs, it goes to prove that u could order for anything from the menu and the place would give you at least a certain feel of the native.

The pricing was fair. It wouldn’t burn your pocket. I forgot that food had already come; I was half the way through. The taste was pretty good. Italian well served for the Indian palate. Water was Mineral as we didn’t want to take a chance during rains. The packaged sugar coated aniseed (meetha saunf) was good. Pretty hygenic.

Verdict: 9/ 10.

Excellent Food.

Open and Airy Ambience.

Keep going.

Service is pretty Quick.

Chinese & Italian at Lake Side Grill – Futala Lake, Nagpur

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Nagpur Today Food: The wait is finally over for Nagpur foodies. Czaar Lounge & Restaurant a new food destination on Wardha road is open for all. Situated at Babasaheb International Airport, Nagpur, this place is within 10kms from zero mile on Wardha Road. This means Nagpurians can now enjoy a pleasant evening in the arms of exquisite ambience and that too away from the hustling city traffic. And you don’t have to worry about parking inside the airport. Czaar offers a separate parking free of cost to its customers. Czaar Lounge is an ideal destination for party lovers – Birthdays, Anniversaries or any other occasion – the lounge area is best suited for such events.

Ankita and Suhani from Nagpur Today visited the restaurant and spoke to owner Ranjan Kale.

Suhani : Tell us something about yourself and Czaar!

Ranjan Kale: I am a Mechanical Engineer and my parents wanted me to work as an Engineer. But I was really not interested at all. I always thought of being into Food industry and that’s what I did. I started it with Fionna in 2009, which is my first baby. And now the second one, Czaar! I got to know about this place through a tendered document which was published in the news paper. When I visited the site, it was not structured properly. Still I contacted the concerned authorities and bid for this place. I won the bid as it was the highest and I got down to building Czaar.

Suhani: The interior is really wonderful. I can’t stop myself from asking you. Who designed it?

Ranjan Kale: My wife gave me the whole idea. So all credit goes to her . About Czaar , it is divided in 2 separate sections viz. the Lounge and the Restaurant with a total seating capacity of over 250 persons. Czaar has a very unique and different ambience. As you enter, you would be greeted by a sculpture of ‘Czaar’ the Warrior with war scene in the back drop. The colours used are mostly warm and earthen with a refreshing green upholstery. The overall effect is warm and soothing. Usher yourself into the Lounge area, the theme continues inside with an addition of colour changing lights to suit your mood. An awesome collection of music from Bollywood to Hollywood will liven things around.

Suhani: Why the name Czaar?

Ranjan Kale: Czaar means the most powerful person in the territory. It is not the name but it is the designation we give to somebody and yes it made an impact on my mind. So I named it Czaar.

Suhani: What type of food you are offering?

Ranjan Kale: We have Indian , Chinese, English breakfast, Continental and a bit of Thai. Our speciality is Continental.

Suhani: Do you Cook?

Ranjan Kale: Yes!  I can make Butter Chicken, Omelette Sandwiches . . Thats it! Other than this, it should be risky.

Suhani: How is Czaar different from other restaurants?

Ranjan Kale: First of all it is located at a very secured place and there is no issue of parking. Secondly the difference we are offering are in terms of the ambience and atmosphere which is also unique in itself. You will not find this mix in other restaurants in the city. Youth can hang out with their friends in the Lounge and the families can dine in the restaurant. Thirdly Czaar is also for the airport staff, Passengers and Local Nagpurians.

Suhani: Tell us something the Lounge.

Ranjan Kale: When it Comes to drinks you are in for a pleasant surprise. Czaar offers a mind boggling variety of cocktails, mocktails and a wide array of Whiskies and Vodkas. Czaar is a sister concern of Fionaa Lounge & Restaurant which is already a success story in the field of Fine Dining and Lounge culture.

Suhani: What is more important Food, Interior or Comfort?

Ranjan Kale: According to me Food is the Back Bone of a restaurant and I am focused on that. If food goes wrong then even your Interiors won’t work.

Suhani : What are the Timings of the Restaurant?

Ranjan Kale: The place is open from 7am to 12midnight. So next time you plan a day at the airport, we can provide Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. I you are coming from a long trip, hop into Czaar, relax at the Lounge, eat at the Restaurant and then go home. It saves you the hassles of cooking when you are tired after travelling.

 So whats the plan? Drive to Czaar! Check it out! Satisfaction guaranteed!!!

Suhani Vanjani

Czaar- Most powerful in the territory – Ranjan Kale

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

J9 lounge and bar by The Ashok.
On a cold, foggy evening, not much can beat a hot cup of soup!

And while most pubs and restaurants offer you your largers and bitters, J9 Lounge and bar as it is called gives you a sense of jazz. So we at our office decided to give it a shot – and were we glad! The entrance to the lounge had a typical Jazz look with the 3 musicians that were lit in Led Lights. This however made us ready as to what would follow next.

After entering the restaurant we had a quick fire look around us and surely the ambiance didn’t disappoint me. The reason was simple as I am an musician myself, the ambiance did appeal to me .

The entire restaurant was surrounded by musical artist and dancers and that I guess was the highlighting point of the restaurant. Now focusing on the main job about the restaurant review.

Authenticity is the main ingredient of this Restaurant, and so the chef had brought in 6 different kinds of dishes to tickle our pallets.

Piping Hot and Smokey Chicken Tikka, straight out from the Tandoor made their way to our table first. Still hot from the Tandoor, they went perfectly with the sides of potato salad, cabbage salad, and Lime this was followed by Reshmi Kabab that brought us back to our seat.

Next up, a variety of Chicken dishes. – . From Tandori Chicken, Hyderabadi Chicken, Handi Chicken to Kadai Chicken, there was so much on offer but the main specialty of the restaurant was their Dum Biryani. With so much to offer and a great ambiance to top it, Oh, how can you describe heaven in mere words?

Second helpings of everything saw all of us surreptitiously loosening our belts, but no one thought to say no to any of the food on offer!

Once we had our fill of chicken and Biryani, we kept our eyes open for something sweet, and the chef didn`t disappoint. He called out for Fruit salad! The sound of it made our mouths water but when the dish arrived the look of it took our breath away.

When the chef told the kitchen for the dessert we thought that he has called out for an alien dish. That sounded a little menacing!), but when it came it was gorgeously presented fruit salad.

Once we`d polished off a platter of that, a plate of Honey Nut Fudge Sundae was plated up to give us another tryst with destiny. The only downside of the evening was the weather, but then what`s a little disappointment compared to a brilliant evening filled with amazing tastes!

Bar

Last but not the least the bar section offers a different taste to the people who love a liquid diet rather than a normal diet.

So if you haven`t already checked out J9 lounge by the Nagpur Ashok hotel then, GO NOW!

With reasonable Rates, there`s something there for everyone!

Bon appétit!

By Marcelo Azavedo

J9 lounge and bar by The Nagpur Ashok.

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

Sitting beautifully on the top of Lotus building in the middle of the ever-bustling area of Dharampeth, sits Mangi Forever, a restaurant specialising in Italian cuisine, making a new path for fine dining places in Nagpur. The restaurant is on the 3rd floor of the lush Lotus building, where stylish marble flooring and a beautiful golden statue gives the customers a glimpse of what’s coming next.

Nagpur Today paid a visit to tickle their taste buds and the visit didn’t disappoint any of us. This review is based on 5 parameters mainly Ambience, Service, Food, Drinks, Pricing.

What: Mangi

Where: Lotus  Building, 3^rd floor, west Hight Court Road Nagpur, MH 440010  

The Mangi Ferra, is a group of chefs that are as individual or as leaders of a group have taken a unique route that goes beyond the learning process. Their philosophy transforms the cuisine of the present time as well as the cuisine of the future in a specific area (place) or country. Sometimes they are the leaders of a culinary movement but often, they are alone in their search. Carlo Cracco is a good example. For the last few years, after is apprenticeship with the Master Chef, he has transformed the contemporary Italian cuisine by mixing the traditional, the technology and by adding a??Touch of madness?? (His own words). He is a lot more than an emerging chefs, he is the leader of the new group of Italian young chefs.

Ambience (7/10):

The entrance to the restaurant is a splendid door that opens up to a beautifully furnished space. The ambience of the place is very elegant and classy. The wooden floors add a rustic look and the sound of your shoes hitting the floor makes a person conscious but that is balanced by the   glass walls separating the bar area from the dining area and the small basin adorned with a candle and stones that has been provided on every table, gives the place a distinct charisma and a feel of grandeur.

Service

This questions that wanders in everybody’s mind when they think of visiting a restaurant is the time the waiters will take to serve food. Perhaps the best part of visiting this place on a weekday would be the service. The staff is helpful and friendly, is ready to explain the customers about items on the menu on demand and suggesting the best things to try. On a weekend though, the staff is not able to serve and take orders on time.

Food (8/10):

Mangi is an Italian food connoisseur’s dream come true. For non-vegetarians , the “Ali Di Pollo Profumati” would be a treat to taste, though not that rewarding quantity-wise. The vegetarians should blindly go for the “Pizza Mortadella with Jalapenos”, thin and crisp to perfection! For the main course, the “Lasagne” or the “Risotto Alla Pitocca” as well as the garlic bread served delicately in a basket are all delicious to eat and quite filling!. This is a paradise for Italian Food lovers.

Drinks (7/10):

Restaurant without drinks is like a Bird without wings. A solid diet and no liquid diet don’t make sense. Mangi has a wide variety of Mocktails as well as Cocktails for the customers to enjoy. I ordered for Mojito but was very confused whether they offered me mint leaves or coriander leaves. The product they offered was mediocre. The bar is well stocked with liqueurs of both imported and domestic brands. An ok place for drinkers.

Pricing (6/10):

A customer’s nightmare at a restaurant is the price. By no means, is Mangi easy on the pockets! The lowest price starts from Rs. 250 going upto Rs. 500. While it is not for everyone, those who enjoy the distinct flavour of continental cuisine would find it priced decently.

Verdict(7/10)

If you’re in the mood to splurge and enjoy fine dining or keen to enjoy a romantic atmosphere or a candle-lit dinner with your friends rich food, variety of drinks and friendly staff but a BIG price tag, Mangi Forever would make you yell “delizioso” in delight!

Get ready to tickle your taste buds at “Mangi forever”

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

As you enter IT park, you find broad stretches of calm and serene roads. There are small white boards planted everywhere helping people find the place of interest, a Sports cafe and lounge called Vibrations. Nestled in between the silent but tall glass buildings of IT companies like Persistent Systems, InfoCepts, EasyPack etc, is the new hang-out spot for the youth.

As you open the door, you are hit in the face by a gush of colours! Green, blue, pink, red and all things neon colored are blended in the surroundings. The air is full of beats of the latest English track and instantly, one feels excited.

Ambience (7/10):

There’s no doubt about it; the place looks fabulous. Everything from the chairs, to the walls, glow a brilliant colour. The seats are egg-shaped chairs that change colour every minute or so. As funky as they maybe, they tend to become uncomfortable after a while. The music is good but unsuitable for a cafe-like setting; it becomes an exercise of yelling trying to talk to anyone on the table.

Service (8/10):

Perhaps the service was the best feature here, the waiters do not try to rush at all and at the same time the order was brought to the table fairly quickly. The best part is that they don’t hover!

Food and Coffee (7.5/10):

The most exciting part of any restaurant experience is the food! They have a good variety of things but non-vegetarians would be saddened to know this joint serves only vegetarian food. They have a good variety of Sandwiches, Panini, Pasta, Chinese food and Snacks. What was surprising was to see them offering Indian food, snacks as well as full course meals. The “Mushroom Chilly” was crisp and delightful, The “Pasta Arrabiata” cheesy and filling. The breads again were delightful. Coffee and hot chocolate lovers would be glad to find quirky things like “Mint Mocha Latte” and “Banana Chocolate”. Among coffees, the “White Chocolate Mocha” is full of chocolaty goodness!

Pricing (9/10):

The prices are not that bad, with the items on the menu starting from Rs. 40 to Rs. 200, it doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket and the quantity is satisfying too. It’s not cheap but not expensive either. The coffee is slightly on the expensive side but for the CCD generation, it shouldn’t be an issue!

Wait! There’s more! :

Apart from the general sitting arrangement there are 2 rooms with plush sofas and big screened LCD projectors that a group of 10 people can book and enjoy. There you can watch not just matches and regular DVDs, but also 3D movies! If that doesn’t make you want to  jump with joy, there’s another room with an Xbox Kinnect hooked to another LCD and a separate gaming zone that you can enjoy to beat the stress of the day!

The Verdict. Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

Is it a lounge? Is it a pub? Is it a cafe? Its difficult to find an answer ! Nevertheless, its young and vibrant, a wonderful place to hang out with a group of friends and enjoy the good music selection and the array of glamorous decorations. They offer 120” HD screens with 7.1 channel Dolby Digital Sound. Only for the young at heart, with a tolerance for loud surroundings. All in all, a good place to be and enjoy your week-end, or week-day even!

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?no its “Vibration’s lounge”

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

The Chocolate Room

Drawing on years of retail experience, they have produced an inviting and distinctive fit out for this boutique chocolate cafe.

The Chocolate Room India Pvt. Ltd. started operating since October 2007. It is an Australian concept. And we the chocolate room India Pvt. Ltd. are entitled to give away franchisees across India.

The History of Chocolate

Cocoa, the main ingredient of chocolate is said to have originated in the Amazon basin at least 4000 years age.

Christopher Columbus in 1502 was the first European to discover the beans, however it was not until two decades later that Hernan Cortes found Moctezuma, the Aztec emperor feasting on a cup of Xocoati.

The liquid was so precious that it was served in gold goblets and used as a form of currency. Cortes returned to Spain in 1528 and realising the beans potential seeded “money crops” on the West African Islands of Fernando Po, Bioko, Trinidad and Haiti.

On his return to Spain he presented the beans to King Charles V. It is from these islands that the huge Cacao trade developed.

he Chocolate Room is committed to being an employer of choice and recognises the importance of attracting and retaining the highest quality people.

Strong and consistent set of values, clear direction and an engaged team are three critical elements of The Chocolate Room’s ongoing success. The Chocolate Room is a “can do” company, that moves with speed and energy. The mood is confident, responsive, and results-orientated.

The chocolate Room chain started in Nagpur in 2009 with a group of young entrepreneurs by the name of Mayank Poddar, Vipul Jain, Bharat Jain and Arvind Jain. Their aim was simple to be the best chocolate café in the city. Ever since its inception it has been getting an over whelming response and has become one of the favorite hang out spots to the youth of Nagpur.

On a Sunday afternoon with not much to do, a trip to Chocolate room proves all the more exciting as an ideal mind is a devils workshop.

The entry to the place was ok so I thought to myself why not make a review on the café and see what best they can hit me with.

Ambience 6.5/10.

Once you enter the Café it looks compact. Though it does offer lot of privacy to its customer. There is an option for the customer to sit on the first floor which is spacious and comfortable. The red sofa’s which aren’t properly maintained do spoil the beauty a bit but all in all the decor is worth a second look.

Service 8/10

The service and the waiters are very pleasant in their approach and do add a little subtleness to their style to give that necessary balance on the place. You can expect coffees to be delivered in about 7-10 min’s and other eateries would take between 10-20 min’s which I think is not bad.

The verdict on the service would be nice but it can still improve.

Food   7/10

To test chocolate room to the core I first thought of ordering a sundae and it didn’t disappoint a bit. The flavors in it had the right balance and it tasted nice. The next on my agenda was the Hazelnut Fondue which had a hard yet creamy feel to it but this combination didn’t blend well with the hazelnut.

The Final chapter to my taste buds was the Classic hot Chocolate which in my books tasted like a complain drink. The rest remains for all the chocolates lovers who would definitely find it interesting and nice.

Price 8/10

The pricing of some of its products don’t disappoint. The range starts from 89 onwards and goes upto 500. This place wouldn’t make a hole in your pocket.

If you feel coffee was enough then gets your facts straight because they place boost of a Cake shop section for all the chocolate lovers and also it has started another small shop right beside the café.

The so called shop goes by the name of Mag Adda which offers 10 varieties of Maggie’s and is priced between Rs 35 to 90.

The Menu of the Café is given below

Verdict

The Final verdict would be 7/10 but for chocolate lovers I think the verdict will be a matter of concern.

Fulfill your Choco dream – “The Chocolate Room”

Nagpur Today : Nagpur News

With a lot of food items on the menu during this festive season, Nagpur Today thought of covered most of the restaurants  in the city, but them the team thought that during the festive season food is always available at home but something still remains incomplete and that’s when we thought why don’t we cover Café’s in the city. As the year ends we thought of a little variety and what better that a total committed café shop which caters to every coffee lover’s needs.

The entry to the place was good so I thought to myself why not make a review on the café and see what best they can hit me with..

Ambience 7 /10.

As we enter the place we are welcomed by the sight of the lovely Nescafe Sign that lingers in every persons mind when he thinks of Coffee. The place is a little cramped for space and if you an thinking of getting your girlfriends or someone special to the place for privacy then , you will have to give a second thought but for other reasons other than that it’s a really good place to hangout.

The Décor of the place is simple and that adds to the beauty of the place. All in all the entire ambiance is just great for a coffee.

Service 8/10

The service is very good and each and every waiter attends to your needs in a giffy. For orders like coffee or shakes the time taken is between 5 to 10 minutes and for other eatery items it may vary depending on what’s ordered but one thing is for sure , they won’t keep you waiting that much.

The verdict on the service is good.

Food   8.5/10.

There are 4 categories of food offered:-

1^st Category on the menu is termed as “Hot Favourites”

Inside this category we have Coffee’s under the name of Nescafe.

The items include Nescafe…

Expresso, classic, Cappucino, café Latte and many more. The most sold coffee among the list is Nescafe King Cappucino and Nescafe Classic. They sell around 250 cups of coffee a day and the response is good. The cost of the Nescafe King Cappucino is Rs 75 and Nescafe classic is Rs 55.

The next item in the list is the Fruiteazers where the most sold item is the Green Apple Soda which is priced at Rs 70 and the cool Blue which is priced at Rs 75.

They usually sell around 25 Glasses a day.

In the next segment they offer Cold Refresher’s which give a nice balance to the hot items they offer. The most selling item in this category is Nescafe Frappe that is priced at Rs 65 then we have the Nescafe Coco Fappe which is priced at Rs 75 and the Nescafe Kit Kat shake that is priced at Rs 85. The sell around 120 cups of these items.

The last item on the list is the eatery section which offers a lot of variety but a special mention goes to the Maggi Masala they offer under the banner of Little Bites . this item is priced at Rs 50 onwards.

Price 8/10

The pricing for these items start from Rs 40 onwards and if you look into what they offer, the price doesn’t seem much as they offer a pure coffee experience by the best coffee company in India

After having some glasses of what they offer, we came across a group of coffee lovers and we thought why we don’t get an insight from their point of view about the place.

A View from the Customers

Talking to Vineeet Khatri, he says that the place is nice but he doesn’t fancy the coffee to be pure coffee but says that they have a great playlist.

Another person from their group only by the name of Prateek Sharma says that’s it’s great to have a free Wi-Fi zone and that they have the best Maggi among all the coffee shops in the city.

The locations of the place are also very well thought of as most of the colleges and schools are nearby.

Talking to the owner of the shop Mr Gaurang Shiksharthi about the idea of starting a Nescafe Café and hers what he had to offer.

This place has been started by me and my friend Mr Micky Thomas. We both worked for Nescafe Pune for 6 years and were so impressed and attached with the company that we didn’t want to leave but they say that once in a life time you come across a time where you have to decide what to do next and that’s what we thought off.  We loved our company so much that we thought of starting something new but still being attached to the company. So that’s how Nescafe Illusions birth took place on August 5 2012. We hope like we love our past company, the people of Nagpur also take this café shop into their lives and that will help us serve them better.

The place on the whole is a treat for coffee lovers and thus also gives you a comfortable experience with lots of items on display that will definitely tickle you taste buds and for all those coffee lovers this is surely one place you can’t miss.

A lot can happen over a coffee…So get your “illusions” clear at “Nescafe illusions” café.