Unlimited Thali

Description:

We went to Abhiruchi Village Cottage Restaurants (look up their site www.abhiruchivillage.com) for a saturday night's stay.

Pro-s
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Tracts of greenery.

Well constructed swimming pool. (read on)

The air smells green. Relax in hammocks.

The AC Room was freezing without the AC on (perhaps due to the Pune January season).

Cons
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The story begins.. brace yourself..

VERY VERY VERY VERY POOR maintenance.

If you want to see a first class swimming pool (well tiled) with carpets of moss and scummy water, then this is the one.

CAVALIER attitude towards customer service; ranging from the farm gate sentry to the room boy. Everybody from the office, watchmen and room-boys address you in singular ('Tu') while you address them with respect ('aap')... cantankerous ! Talk about customer orientation.

One is reminded of Gandhiji on the 'customer' - the most important person on our premises.... Abhiruchi does everything opposite to that. This requires special talent.

Food is a simple non-pompous veg fare. But INR 150 (USD 3.75) per head for what they dish out is DAYLIGHT ROBBERY.

Enquire about their horse ride, camel ride etc. 'First pay and then talk' seems to be their credo.

TV sets are available for as low as INR 2000 (USD 50). They have one grainy TV common for all guests. It doesnt receive ANY signal. So no way of knowing a quick update of whats
happening in the world. "Cable waale ke paas light nahin hai" comes the careless reply. A scrutiny reveals the presence of a dish antenna !

The filthiest bathroom/toilets you would have ever seen, replete with the latest and unseen species of mosquitoes and flying pests. Let me reserve my vocabulary.

They take pride that they have NEVER washed the bed covers or the pillow covers since inception. They forewarn you to bring your own towels, napkins and bedsheets. So you really can't fault them on this.

The website boasts of facilities not to be found at all. Try to procure a bucket of hot water for a shower. The roomboy conversation goes like this..
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With a grumpy irritated and disgruntled tone
"Why do u need hot water ?" (tula kaa paahije)

At my wits end
"Excuse me !?" (Maaf keejiye.. kya kahaa aapne)

With an expression as if he has been compelled to perform a rectal examination on a person with piles trouble
"To take bath or to drink ?"

"to take a bath"
On first thought - "to perform your coronation as the King of England at the Westminster Abbey" came to my mind; but I had to resist it.

"Wait till 7 in the morning" like a HC judge pronouncing a verdict..

Projecting an expression of urgency on my face "Sire.. I badly need a bucket of hot water pls.. I bathe atleast twice a day"

I thrust a tenner into his hands.

"You will get one bucket. wait for half an hour"

"Sire.. pls show mercy.. one bucket is too little"..
I thrust another tenner.

"Ok wait for half an hour.."

This was the ordeal for all the essentials.

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A stay at Abhiruchi is a humbling experience. You are humbled by the greenery and the staff who treat you like turd regardless whether you are a President or a peasant.

Are the owners (The Bhide-s.. I understand) even aware of the mess that is going on?

I shared these with a good Maharashtrian friend of mine, who guffawed "it happens all the time.. But you have to see / feel it to experience it".. My jolly good friend has strange ways of exacting revenges for past unpunished deeds.. Recommend Abhiruchi !!!

To end, Oscar Wilde had to say this about America -

America had often been discovered before Columbus, but it had always been hushed up.

Do we see a similarity?

Description:

There is no menu card, just the brightly shining thalis with vaatis lined up. And they start as soon as you are seated, clock work precision.
Here is what we got in our thalis, not in any particular they were served :

Sweet Gujrati Kadhi,
Typical Toor dal
Dahi Aloo
Chawli (Rajma/Lobia - similar to kidney beans)
Koshimbir(sweet mixed raita - tomatoes, onions, beetroot etc)
Pitle Bhaji - a spicy dish made of gram flour ,
Baigan Bharta
Chilli Pakora and some Dal vadis
Curd
2 types of chapatties - wheat and bhakri
2 types of rice - plain and pulao
Papad
2 pickles and 2 chutnies

I am sure the main dishes will vary with the day, but more or less, basic items would remain the same.

Decided to bite into chilli pakora and dal vadis first. soft and spicy pakora and crunchy vadis. ok, time to take the plunge. Bhakri with chawli and kadhi. delecious combination of sweet and spicy. Tried Pitale Bhaji next, i have never tasted this before. Spicy. Baigan bharta, spicy. Ok, time out. give it a rest. Try toor dal, pretty ok, Dahi Aloo, ok. chutnies, tangy and spicy. koshimbir- sweet.Alright, time to restart..yes..spicy..but the amazing thing is, I cannot stop myself. It doesn't seem if we are eating at a restaurant. No added colour, no artificial presentation. Just plain simple delecious food. I almost half filled up just while sampling the different combination of served dishes. The kadhi gets over faster than anyother item, since i have to take a spoonful after every bite.

The servers materialize again, for the next round. Take some more bhakris and kadhi, which are way too good to describe. Then, the rice and pulao appear.Pualo and rice, served with spoonful of ghee ( Of course, you can refuse the ghee..!!), are good to taste, but thats about all I can do. Taste, not eat. Stuffed till the throat. Rising up and leaving the table would require help. Lossen the belt a notch or two.

I do not have a typical experience of home cooked maharashtrian food. But, I am sure, it would not be any different than this one. For a simple reason - the simplicity of the food itself which lends it the authenticity. My maharashtrians friends vouch for the same. I would go by their words as well.

The service is fast, ambience well lit, neat, clean and hygeinic. So, for a typical home cooked maharashtrian experience, different than the regular punjabi paneer/mix veg/kofta/kabab/tandoori roti routine, try Shabree. You won't come back disappointed, and definetly not hungry. Better still, skip the breakfast/lunch, if you planning to go for lunch/dinner. You will do more justice to the Thali !!.

Wallet dent : Costs you Rs 100 per Thali. May be less for the non-A/c dining.

Rohit
http://thepunefoodie.blogspot.com/

Description:

Ok, they serve two dals ( i went for the sweet gujju one) some fried farsan (not bad) on this day they served chana masala, aloo tamatar, some weird green thing, cauli flower, u get your start up off salad, pickle, onions.

In roti you get regular rotis, bhakri, bajra rotli and masala roti (new thingy, not bad) they served 4 mithai things but its over the cost of the thali if you want it. i avoid mithai so i didnt go for it.

i however did go for about 5 glasses of chaas (buttermilk) which unforutnately is extra too. Rice is of course also available and khichdi in the evenings.

The service is pretty good, although a little headless chickened with a having to ask for things sometimes but its all good natured.

Its not a comfortable or glamourous place (seating is awkward, no A/C)but the food is excellent.

Description:

Good simple healthy south indian rice meal place. The meal costs 60 rupees. You get unlimited rice, 4 different types of gravy, 3 different vegetables, papad, pickle, dahi etc all served on a banana leaf.

Description: My friend Mitul has started his unlimited Thali resto.... He has asked me to spread the word... do check it out.. Zaika is here ! Announcing the launch of one of the finest Thali Restaurants Viman Nagar, Pune. (Location Map Follows) Our Daily Unlimited Thali: 2 Sweets 2 Farsans 4 Sabzis 2 Dals + 1 kadhi 2 Drinks Phulkas, Bajre Ki Roti, Rice/Pulav, Khicchdi, Papad, Pickle, Salad, Chutney, Guvar Kachri. Everything is totally unlimited Home delivery services in Viman Nagar Phone: 4003 6565

Description:

This little restuarant is tucked away on the service lane of the WE highway in Bandra East. Chances are that you will miss this place, and stop at the more prominent Maharaja Bar and Restuarant further up the same lane.

The restaurant is very quiet - been there twice and I have seen only one other guest there. The waiters are dressed in the traditional Kerala attire of mundu and jubba. The decor is quite OK. One thing that strikes you when you enter is that the resturant is long and narrow.

I ordered the "Sadya" - a traditional Kerala Thali, which has been customized with a non-vegetarian option. In Kerala, this meal is served during Onam with at least seven different vegetables and condiments, three "payasams" (kheer-type sweet broths which are made up of jaggery, milk+semia, jackfruit, dal, pasta et al), several courses of rice, in a strict order of dal-sambar-buttermilk-rasam (did I get that wrong?)... and Payasams in between. Usually, at Mallu weddings down south, expert waiters serve the food as it is laid down - you will feel as if you are experiencing a moving assembly line. It is quite an experience - don't miss the chance if you ever get one. But non-veg? No!

Back to Rice Boat - here the sadya consists of two appams (spongy hoppers, made of fermented rice batter), some fried fish, fish curry kerala style, chicken stew, one dry veg thoran (sauteed with coconut, mustard seeds, curry leaves) sambar, rasam, some banana chips, some jaggery-banana chips, a yellow kerala plantain, kerala-style papad, some chutney and the usual achar condiments. This is not the strict "sadya", but then, we Mumbai-ites can't travel to Kerala all the time.

The food is served on a banana leaf with a glass of butter milk. You have the option of choosing white rice or red rice. It costs Rs 225, which I think is too pricey for what you are getting.

The food was good, close to the Kerala taste, as authentic as you can get. I was disappointed with the fish fry - tiny portions.

There are other typical Kerala dishes available - like Kottayam Duck Curry, lamb roast, fish preparations (some names have awful spellings!). I haven't tried them, so can't really comment on them.

I feel that a good 10-25% reduction in the prices would bring the crowds in.

Incidentally, there is another Rice Boat in Versova. Gotta check that one out...

Description:

This places always resembles like a marriage function where people are having dinner. With a huge seating capacity (almost 100 people), and lightning service - these folks serve delicious Maharashtrian food. The ``unlimited thali" costs Rs. 60 on weekdays, and Rs. 80 on weekends (on weekends, you get the sweet dish free, on weekdays, it costs Rs. 20 extra) and consists of (mostly)

a. Two subjis (bharlaa vaangaa, choley, etc..)
b. One usal (matki, moog, etc..)
c. Amti
d. Excellent kadhi on the sweeter side (gujurathi prep. style)
e. A choice of: roti, bhakri (jowar, bajraa, corn), thalipeeth.
f. Rice or khichadi.

Don't just miss the sweet dish: ras malai, goolab jamun, basoondi, rabdi. They charge Rs. 20 or 30 extra for it - but it is just WORTH every rupee!!!

These folks count on -
1. Super fast service.
2. Pretty clean place and wholesome food.

At Rs. 60, probably the best ``unlimited thali" you could ever get!!!

Description:

Finally an authentic bengali cuisine place in Bangalore. The place is tucked away in the gallis of Koramangala and its tough to reach unless you have someone to guide you there the 1st time. It's on the top floor of a 3 floored building next to lot of shops and houses in 7th block koramangala. It's a tastefully decorated with a lot of bengali artifacts and a lot of cartoon collages in bengali on the walls.

There is no menu. But the friendly waiter will help you to choose your meal by asking you to take the unlimited veg meals along with one of the non-veg specialities of the day. When we went, the specialities were Macher Kalia, Pabda Mach, Parshe Mach and Amer Chatni. So we ordered for 2 plates of meals with 2 Macher Kalia and 2 Amer Chatni.

The meal was pretty good with white rice, dal and bhat (potato curry). It was made very authentically as if we are having in some bengali person's house. (Later we were told by the owner that all food is home cooked). As we were relising it, Macher Kalia was bought in. That taste was awesome and my bengali friend freaked out on it. I liked it very much too because of the nice spices (or the lack of it? ;)). As we are hogging on Macher Kalia, Amer Chatni was bought in. The sweet and sour taste of it was mind boggling and I relished eating it with more dal.

Finally full, we went and asked for the bill and was surprised to find it was just Rs.90 for the two of us! We were pleasantly surprised and decided to visit the place again as much as possible.

Lovers of Bengali food in Bangalore, don't miss it !! :)

Description:

There are apparently less than a handful of Bengali eating joints in Bombay. And it is Howrah that the Bengalis of the city come to and swear by. The Bengali folks have been coming to New Bengal Lodge for decades and Howrah is their restaurant. It is right next to crawford market opposite Police HQ and JJ School of Arts. Complete with a large model of the Howrah bridge, waiters in traditional Bong dresses and all.

We were quite inexperienced with Bengali food - we just knew that we had to try Hilsa in mustard curry. We did just that and were very happy about it. We could make out some differences between fresh water (Hilsa) and our usual sea water (pomfret etc.) fishes. We also ordered King Prawns in a simple Bengali masala gravy which also turned out nice. We had this with plain rice and aam porchho sherbet (like raw mango jal jeera). We inspected the unlimited Thalis (both veg and non-veg versions) at less than 150 each. I'll definitely be having this next time - this time we were too stuffed.

We quite liked the place. The waiters were extremely helpful and the food was delicious. The songs playing were Bengali originally but then came down to old hindi songs sung in Bengali by Asha Bhosle - so we weren't sure who had copied whom. Conversation wandered in the direction of Calcutta's pollution, trams, metro, street food and we notice that we were the only non-Bengalis in the restaurant. No matter - a good place for a taste of Bengal right here in Mumbai.

Description:

Caclutta Boarding House is a non-veg thali place serving chicken and mutton thalis in various guises. The Kolhapuri ones are the best value for money when you know what to expect. The fish is nothing great being Pune. All in all a good place to try out once with 2-3 friends. No bar, smoking ok.