Ritz Classic. Panjim, Goa

​There’s hardly anyone who hasn’t heard of the famous Ritz Classic restaurant in Panjim, Goa. 

I never ever miss a chance to eat here, when in Goa. 

Along with a la carte dishes, which include a huge variety of typical Goan seafood and other meat dishes, the one thing which is an absolute must have for any seafood lover is their Fish Thali. 

A huge slice of perfectly cooked flaky Surmai fry, a big bowl of mild creamy prawn curry (1 big prawn) with drumstick, a spicy-tangy mackerel curry, tisrya (clam) masala, Rice, Eggplant sabji, Solkadhi, and THE most amazing sukka sungta cha kismoor (dry shrimp-onion-fresh coconut salad) This massive thali for 160/- is sheer happiness. 

Farm to Table Sunday Brunch at Hyatt Regency, Pune.

​Sundays are meant to be enjoyed lazying around, catching up with friends and family, and ofcourse enjoying a laid back brunch.

That’s exactly what I did last Sunday at the Farm to Table Sunday Brunch at Hyatt Regency.
This brunch offers you an assortment of cuisines that use fresh, organic seasonal produce, seafood, meats, all procured from local farmers markets and suppliers.
The freshest and most tempting fruits, & veggies welcome you, as you walk into the The Cafe for brunch.

The spread is large indeed, with something to please every palate.
They serve everything from Salads, Chaat , to Lebanese (read Hummus, pita , fattoush, tabouleh, babaganoush) to Japanese (read Sushi – Ok ….the vegetarian ones with Tomato, Bell Pepper and Okra wasn’t impressive at all….but the standard ones like Crab, Prawn, and Tuna more than make up for it.)
There’s a Salad and Pasta station where you can get your dishes customised as per your choice.
The Grill counter offers an array of Chicken, Shellfish and other Seafood, Beef (buff) etc)
For mains, you can choose from a plethora of dishes, whether it’s a spicy, rustic Chicken Rassa, Thecha, Zhunka and Bhakri you’re craving, or a perfectly cooked Dum Biryani or Murgh Makhni.
The vegetarians have a choice of the freshest seasonal produce cooked right in front of them, be it Indian Curries, Thai delicacies or Salads.
The enticing aroma of Thai curry and steamed fish wafting from a corner of the restaurant is sure to lead you there, and try out the delicious Curry and Rice. You can choose from the variety of seafood, chicken or vegetables and get your curry made as per your preference.
If you’re more a ‘wine and cheese’ kinda person, then you’re in luck. The restaurant offers a huge selection of Cheeses and Cold Cuts to enjoy with your favourite wines.
I’m sure no matter how much you eat, there’s always a little corner in the tummy reserved for Dessert !

Those with a sweet tooth will have a tough time choosing from the countless options on offer.

Everything looks so good, and tastes equally good, that you wish you spent all day there !

End your meal with a lovely cup of cappuccino (if that’s even possible, after eating so much !)
I really wish they extend their brunch hours though.

Atleast 12:00 – 16:00….(instead of 12:30 – 15:30)
*Review conducted on Invite*

‘Farm To Table Sunday Brunch’ will be on till February end

Syrakko , Mundhwa

Looking for a lovely fine dine, with a beautiful ambiance, delicious food and excellent cocktails, to impress that special someone? ‘Syrakko’ is The place.
Perfect for a quiet cozy date night, or even for a meal with your family.
They have a long list of cocktails and I strongly recommend, you try some of them.
My pick for a light refreshing summer drink is the ‘Fresh Mowed Lawn’
A refreshing blend of chilled cucumber juice and Vodka.
But if you are a coffee lover like me, then the Espresso Martini is a must have !
I twisted mine with Bourbon instead of Vodka…and boyyy the combination of that strong espresso with bourbon was an absolute delight !
Moving on to Soups- I tried Chicken and Almond Shorba.
Its one of those subtle, creamy soups that you could just go on having on a cold rainy night. So warm and comforting. The garlic melba served on the side deserves a special mention. I loved it.
I chose Malai Prawn Tartlets for starters. True to its name, the prawns were indeed very creamy and delicately flavoured. The flaky, buttery shortcrust base was done nicely and the garnish of microgreens gave the dish a fresh crisp edge.
I was keen on trying the Prawn and Chorizo Risotto from the mains.
I love the strong, almost pungent aroma of spicy chorizo sausages. But it can be overpowering if used excessively.
Happy to say, the rissotto was flavourful with just the right quantity of chorizo used in it. The chef was careful enough not to overpower the dish with too much chorizo, while still infusing the perfect amount of flavour required.
The tender, succulent prawns added the delicate balance to this dish. Quite impressive!

In a fine dining restaurant we are generally used to seeing tiny portions on the plate, which leave you wanting more. (or maybe I’m just the greedy one…lol)
But at Syrakko the portions are pretty generous…so much, that I found it difficult to finish my rissotto!

There’s always room for a little dessert no matter how full you are…and at Syrakko, you definetly have so much to choose from !

‘Paan’ pannacota….Yes you read it correctly. Paan infused panacota is definitely worth a try. A bit too sweet for my liking, but a nice dessert for all those with a sweet tooth.

But my pick is definitely the ‘Espresso Phirni with Tiramisu Granita and Chocolate Soil.’ Honestly, the idea of ‘Espresso Phirni’ didn’t quite appeal to me when I first read it on the menu.
But it was so flavourful, and the tiramisu granita with the crunchy chocolate soil was a medley of different tastes and textures on my tongue.

The massive coffee lover that I am, having coffee in my drinks, and in my dessert was like being in coffee heaven !

Syrakko opens this week, so next time you want to plan a family dinner, or want to impress that special someone, you know where to go !

Bon Appetit 🙂