Charcoal Pit

If you want a taste of Pune of the old, Charcoal Pit is the place to go. With an amazing view this roof top restaurant has, the food is the perfect foil. Try the Charcoal Pit Special and you will not be disappointed. The rotis are delicious and are served in no time. A word of advice though, ask them to go easy on the spices if you are not into it.

Rating 4.5/5

Zikomo, Baner Road

This place has fantastic ambiance to match its food. Will not let you down. Order anything and it will come out just fine. I sampled it with friends when they had a movie fest going on. One could book a table in advance and dine and watch a movie on the projector. Decently priced too.

Rating 4/5

Apple 5: Want to loose weight and some cash too?

Apple 5, that overly priced place which has all the makings of a wannabe fancy restaurant near Vishal Nagar on the main road to Hinjwadi, is exactly the kind of place where the restaurant takes care that you don't eat too much. The servings are miniscule, which the author discovered when he ordered a Tomato Basil soup and considering the "usual" serivng size prevalent in the lesser hotels around the world, asked it to be "one by 2". The ware itself was pretty decent but the china quality could be improved for sure. Next a veg. sizzler was ordered with the same result. The place boasts of some popular books and board games to create a friendly atmosphere and keep you lounging around which makes it interesting.

Rating : 2.5 /5

Lavasa: A Venice in the making

Situated in the picturesque Western Ghats, around  56 kms from Pune, Lavasa is a perfect weekend getaway as Lonavla, Khandala and other tourist spots around Mumbai-Pune have become overcrowded.
The drive itself is  challenging owing to the twists and turns in the Ghats, but the road is surprisingly good and more than once, you would want to stop and click some pics for that facebook album.

The descent to the town begins with  a beautiful heli-pad which is accentuated by flower beds on the edges and could easily accommodate two choppers if need be. 

Observation decks and platforms dot the descent and provide for a breathtaking view. 

Lavasa is built along the waterfront on the both sides of the dam. 

European waterfront architecture, reminds one of Venice.

The eateries here include The All American Diner, The Old English Pub, Pizza wala and  Subway and many others. There are water sports for the adventurous and a club house as well. It offers lots of activities to keep you engaged with gym, tennis courts and spa. 

Travel tip: Do the bookings for the hotels beforehand as it can get difficult during weekends. 

RATING: 4/5

Tasty Tongues: Bavdhan, Pune

This place was a Samosa shop before it turned into a full fledged eatery, as some locals say. Excellent food in the North Indian/ Punjabi genre. Some real fresh sandwiches would make you crave for a second helping.
It is surprisingly light on the pocket too!

RATING: 4/5

Delhi Swad: Infosys IBPO

The popularity of this eatery in the food court of Infosys BPO (Phase 2), Hinjwadi, Pune can be gauged from the fact that there will a proverbial long and winding queue if you are someone who likes to have lunch at the regular time. The parathas are excellent at INR 35.00 a piece (dinner plate sized!) and served with a bowl of curd and some chutney. While there, do try the G-Jamuns and lassi and you can sleep away to oblivion in the important post lunch meeting.

RATING:  4.5/5