Shivajinagar

Situated at Range Hills Road,Ashok Nagar (area behind E-square) the Kiva lounge welcomes you with a warm yellow building. Decent amount of parking and valet to boot, ensures there is no minor irritant to ruin the appetite.

A mediterranean ambience with cosy seating and warm interiors makes Kiva quite a hotspot for the young and old alike, offering a casual and contemporary environ to just lounge.

A live DJ playing an excellent mix of the old and young, is the perfect complement to the well-cooked and equally well-served food and drinks.

For all those wanting a good place to chill out, but don't want to travel as far as Koregaon Park, Kiva is a good option to hang out. The service is prompt and the food appeals to all palates! What is most interesting about this place that it actually attracts a diverse clientele and despite the place not being open or large, one does not feel suffocated. There is enough privacy too between seats.

Would rate the place at 10/10 overall.

On University Road, Esquare is quite significant. It sort of screems at you " hey guys, look I am here". The Invitation is not very much those kinds. It is a very insignificant with no neon board or large sign boards. I would expect you to miss it, the first time. It is bang on the turning of the road that goes to SIMS or range hill.

Even when you spot the small, insignificant signboard, you would feel that the restaurant is closed or something. It is not, just walk in. It's a garden with just 1 room which acts as a kitchen. The garden is very dimly lit. Infact the tables are arranged quite far from each other under trees and you have just one low wattage bulb and a shade hanging from the tree. The whole ambience is very romantic, and I think thats the business plan because they take their own sweet time to prepare the order. The whole idea, I think, is to take some time out with your loved ones in a very peaceful ambience and enjoy some good food.

As for the food, I would say DO NOT order anything other than wanton soup, steamed rice and caramel pudding. You get Indian tandoori food too, but not that good. Steamed rice is particularly good, its boiled rice with large chunks of veggies n chicken in white sauce. It may seem lil bland at first, but thats the taste! some soya sauce might help.

You have a nice end to your experience too as the bill is not too heavy and if you closely notice, the owner writes on every bill "Thankyou, Please do come again". He sort of ends it with an invitation :)

Bamboo House is an excellent garden restaurant where Shivaji road meets J.M.Road. It is open during the usual lunch and dinner hours. They have huge seating space over 2-3 gardens and more space in the bar area. Very good for families and large groups - but it gets crowded on weekends.

The bar conjures up decent cocktails though beer really is the flowing drink here. The non-veg food (both chicken and mutton) is very good. Chicken/Mutton Angare is highly recommended. They have a Manglorean menu with some seafood though it is just ok. The best part about the place is that you can eat and drink till 1 am peacefully, which is quite rare in Pune.