Sasikanth | - Page 20

Bikanervala | Restaurant Review

Place: Bikanervala
Location: Road No. 1, Banjara Hills
Cuisine: Indian, Buffet
Meal: Dinner (with amma and dad)

On Mother’s day, and my brother’s birthday, I decided to take amma and dad for dinner at my brother’s favorite restaurant in town, Kailash Parbat. Unfortunately though, after reaching Jubilee Hills, we realized that the place has been closed for a while. We then decided to finally give A’la Liberty a try. We reached there about 9:00 PM, and were surprised to find the restaurant totally packed, with an approximate waiting time of 90 minutes. Given that we were all hungry, we finally moved to Bikanervala, which had a minimal waiting time.

We decided to sit upstairs at the restaurant, which has better ambiance and is less crowded than the snack section downstairs. After waiting for about 10 minutes, we were seated at a table for five, right next to the buffet spread. Though we had initially planned on going for à la carte, I was tempted by the wide spread, so I alone opted for the buffet. Amma and dad ordered a Nargisi Kofta along with Masala Kulcha and Methi Paratha.

The food was served in about 10-15 minutes. The Nargisi Kofta looked really good, and tasted yum. The kofta ball was soft, full of paneer and nuts, while the gravy was thick and rich, with a nice spicy flavor to it. The Methi Paratha was alright while the Masala Kulcha was very good, with tons of butter on it. These guys also ordered an Aloo Paratha later on, and apparently, this wasn’t that good compared to the Kulcha.

Talking about the buffet which I hogged on, on this Sunday evening, they were serving Tomato Shorba and Sweet Corn Soup, along with Paneer Tikka, Baby Corn Honey Chilli (or something of that sort), and Veg Tikki/Kebab as starters. I opted for the shorba, and was immediately served the soup along with the starters.

The shorba was thin and didn’t taste great. I’ve had better Tomato Shorbas in my life. Of the starters, the paneer was very fresh and tasted good, while the baby corn needed more spice to be flavorful. The kebabs were just alright.

I also had some Dahi Papdi before indulging in the main course, which was pretty good.

Apart from the regular make you own salads and Indian snacks (such as fryums, papad and Dhokla), for main course, they had Lahori Paneer, Paneer Korma, Bharwa Mushroom, Chiya Kofta, Veg. Jalfrezi, Kadi Pakoda, and their special Punjabi Chole on the Indian front (apart from Dal and Dal Makhni). There were different variety of breads to choose from, and I had a Tandoori Roti and Paneer Kulcha.

Except for the mushroom and Chole, all other curries were just alright and forgettable. The Paneer Korma (white gravy) was infact very bland. The mushroom on the other hand was amazingly good. They were stuffed with paneer and other spices, and cooked just perfect. I would have preferred them to be less greasy, but maybe it was the ghee which made them taste so good. The Chole was authentic and yum. Of the breads, the Paneer Kulcha was very good, while the Tandoori Roti was decent.

I had a small serving of the Dum Biryani, which like in any other buffets, tasted terrible.

On International front, they served Pasta Oliva, Chow Mein and Mixed Vegetables in Coriander Sauce. I The pasta was very dry, and again, was just decent. The Noodles were pretty good, but the accompanying oriental gravy wasn’t upto the mark.

Not being entirely satisfied with the buffet till this point, I divulged into their desserts. They had Moong Dal Halwa, Malpua, Motichur Laddu, a couple of Bengali sweets, fresh fruits and three flavours of ice creams.

The Malpua and Moong Dal Halwa were very palatable, and the Laddu too was very good, while the Bengali sweets could have been better. The ice creams were alright. I was actually hoping for more on the dessert front, and was not entirely satisfied. It would have been nice if they had more variety.

Overall, I actually regret not going for the à la carte along with amma and dad, for I really didn’t enjoy the buffet so much. Except for a couple of Indian curries and desserts, the rest of the items were plain average. For 600 bucks, I expect much more than average. The à la carte dish tasted way better than any curry on the buffet (I know this is expected, but still). I honestly don’t think I’ll ever be coming back for the buffet, especially when there are tons of other places which offer such average dishes with much more variety for lesser price. Give it a try for their à la carte, or their snacks, and that’s about it.

Food: 7/10
Service: 8.5/10
Ambiance: 7.5/10
Meal for 1: Rs. 599/- (Buffet)
Meal for 2: Rs. 649/- (À la carte)

Verdict: 7/10

Lazzio -The Pizzeria | Restaurant Review

Place: Lazzio – The Pizzeria
Location: Adj. Maharaja Chaat, Kavuri Hills
Cuisine: Pizza
Meal: Dinner

Met a friend for a cup of coffee at My Cafe Latte last week, and on parting ways, I decided to give this new pizza place a try on my way back home. Brightly lit, the place is in the building right next to Maharaja Chaat. It was past 10:00 PM when I walked in, and was cheerfully greeted by the owner Tejas. There were a couple of tables in the interior, and another couple on the exterior, and the pizzeria had decent ambiance.

I ordered a Khumb Delight Pizza (minus capsicum, plus olives) for take away. The pizza was ready in about 10 minutes, and Tejas suggested I reheat the pizza at home if necessary for it was packed in a cardboard box.

I dug into the pizza immediately after reaching home without re-heating, and boy was it good. The tomato base had an amazing flavor to it, while the thin base was a bit thicker than I expected, but no qualms for it actually tasted good. The cheese was gooey, and the veggies crunchy. I absolutely loved the pizza, especially for its sauce.

For 100 bucks, though the pizza is quite a steal, I thought it was kinda small (at least when I compare it to the ones served at Viva Italia, which are also priced around the same). Nevertheless, I was very satisfied with the pizza. After Viva Italia, this is one pizzeria everyone needs to visit!

Food: 9/10
Service: 8.5/10
Ambiance: 8/10
Meal for 1: Rs. 100/-

Verdict: 9/10

Big Byte Bakery | Restaurant Review

Place: Big Byte Bakery
Location: Srinagar Colony Main Road
Cuisine: Pizza
Meal: Dinner

I’ve been hogging at Big Byte from the day it opened 20 years ago. Their Chocolate Eclair and Black Forest pastry were my daily treats after school for close to 4 years. All their pastries are yum, and so are their Burgers. My personal favorite is the Paneer Burger.

But over the years, their food quality has been reducing while their prices have been on a substantial rise. The ambiance has also lost its charm, is now pretty untidy. I happened to find cockroaches around their pastry cabins on more than a couple of occasions. I’m gonna think twice now before I have any of their pastries!

Anyhow, on this evening I was craving for a pizza but didn’t want to spend hundreds on a Dominos or Pizza Hut, and so was at Big Byte to have their special, Veg Pataka Pizza (double layered). I asked for a take away, and had to wait for about 15 minutes.

Big Byte Bakery Review by Sasikanth Paturi — Veg. Pataka

The pizza looked really good, but wasn’t that great to taste. The base wasn’t baked properly, and the tomato sauce tasted more like ketchup. I asked for pizza sans capsicum, but was served a pizza with barely any other veggies (just a couple of onions and tomatoes). The cheese too was very light, and was coming off the slice in just one bite. A disappointment, and my craving wasn’t satisfied.

Big Byte, along with Baker’s Inn and Midway (now closed), happens to be few of the best bakeries from the 90’s. But unless they improve on their quality and their standards, I don’t think I’d be returning to them for my baking needs.

Food: 6/10
Ambiance: 5/10
Service: 5/10
Meal for 1: Rs. 130/-

Verdict: 5.5/10

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 | Movie Review

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In closing-credits of The Amazing Spider-Man, a man in the shadows asks Dr. Connors if Peter knows the truth about his father. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is all about Peter finding out the truth, in addition to a the arrival of a new nemesis.

Directed by Marc Webb, I thought this film was much better than it’s prequel for it has an improved storyline. Scripted again by James Vanderbilt (and a few others), this one has more structure to it. Though our Spidey still seemed like a boy with a new toy, there is some maturity to his role. He’s torn between his love and responsibilities, and this has been very well conceived. While the direction is pretty good, and the screenplay (Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Jeff Pinkner) is much improved, I felt the film was too long and had too many characters. Given that the movie was this long anyways, it would have been nice to establish Harry and Peter’s friendship in a better manner as it all seemed very contrived. At close to 150 minutes, I kinda lost track on how the movie had started for there was so much happening!

Andrew Garfield has a more meaty role in this film, and he does not disappoint. I thought he performed well during the climax. However, I believe he makes Spider-Man more cheeky than required, and does not carry the innocence Tobey Maguire brought to plate. Emma Stone is pretty good as Spidey’s love interest, and so is Jamie Foxx as the main antagonist Electro. Dane DeHaan (Harry/Green Goblin) was just ok.

One of the major plus points of this film is some excellent background score by Hans Zimmer. Add to that some amazing sound-mixing, and we have a winner. I really enjoyed the sound effects along with some amazing visuals and 3D effects. Cinematography by Daniel Mindel is of top-notch quality. Editing by Pietro Scalia and Elliot Graham could have been better, but then the script had too much to offer, so I’m guessing there was little they could do.

Is it worth your time and money??: Definitely. It’s a fun film with a lot happening. You can give it a watch just for its grand visuals, but the story is equally good. The only negative aspect is the length, and maybe (at times) heavy fight sequences. Nevertheless, if you can sit through for 142 minutes and love action, you are in for some Amazing entertainment!

Worth mention: The climax fight between Spider-Man and Electro was quite a scene. And also the final fight with Rhino.

Acting: 8.5/10
Story-Screenplay-Direction: 8/10
Technical Aspects: 8.5/10

Verdict: 8.5/10

PS: X-Men fans are in for some goodies during closing-credits, so stay put.

It was disappointing not to watch the movie in IMAX 3D (Prasads, you…).

And ya, it’s a Sony! 😀

Cream Centre | Restaurant Review

Place: Cream Centre
Location: Road No. 36, Jubilee Hills
Cuisine: Indian
Meal: Dinner (with amma and dad)

After reading some good reviews about this place, I dropped in here with amma and dad on Sunday evening. I first came across Cream Center when I was in Bombay, but never got to try it for it always used to be super crowded, and usually had waiting time close to an hour. Unlike the Bombay place, the Hyderabad one wasn’t that crowded when we entered, and we were seated at a table for four in the center of the restaurant. The place had decent ambiance, nothing to talk home about.

Their menu is quite huge but I had already decided on what we were gonna have. We ordered a portion of Italian Herbed Chilli Cheese Toast, Channa and Batura, and Paneer Ka Baap Sizzler.

The Chilli Cheese Toast was served in about 10 minutes, and looked very different from the pictures on their menu. The bread was over toasted, and was burnt in the corners. Though it tasted alright, I was actually disappointed for I could have made better toast at home. And ya, there was nothing Italian about it!

The Channa and Batura are served separately here (on the menu). The Batura looked huge, was crispy and not so oily, while the Channa tasted pretty bland. They did go well together, but I would have preferred the Channa to be a bit more spicy.

The Paneer Ka Baap Sizzler was quite a meal by itself. It had five large chunks of marinated paneer along with five pieces of grilled potato on white rice with cashew and barbeque sauce, served alongside cooked vegetables and potato wedges. The rice along with the sauces tasted pretty good for the sauces had a nice flavor. However, not all paneer pieces were fresh for a couple were chewy while others melt in mouth.

For dessert, we had a single scoop of chocolate brownie sundae, and this turned out to be the best part of our meal. The brownie was fresh, and tasted yum along with the nuts and ice-cream.

Overall, a pretty average meal. Even their signature dish didn’t satisfy my taste buds. The service was a bit clumsy, and it seemed like the waiters need more training. The place too got loud after a while as there were two huge gatherings with kids running all over the place. On price front, everything is pretty exorbitant, and from my experience, they aren’t worth so much. Nevertheless, you might give this place a try once. They have a lunch buffet for 300 bucks (all-inclusive) which might be worth it, so I’d suggest you give that a try first.

Food: 6/10
Service: 7/10
Ambience: 6.5/10
Meal for 3: Rs. 1014/-

Verdict: 6.5/10

Mexican Grill Subs | Restaurant Review

Place: Mexican Grill Subs
Location: Road No. 45, Jubilee Hills
Cuisine: Sub/Pizza
Meal: Dinner

I came across this place a couple of days ago while travelling on Road No. 45. A little curious, I checked out their Zomato page and discovered that they serve fat-free subs. Given that I’ve been trying to control my diet for the past few days, thought I’d give this one a try and rode up to the place. It’s a small joint, with just a couple of tables inside, and a couple outside facing the road. I was greeted politely when I entered, and offered a menu.

Though named Mexican Grill, I honestly didn’t find anything Mexican about the place, and neither is anything grilled (at least on vegetarian front). They had five choices (veg), and I opted for a six-inch Herb Chilli Patty on Parmesan Oregano bread. There was an option of having the veggies on a corn bread pizza base. The quantity of veggies put on the sub were decent, and the patty was similar to the Aloo Patty of Subway sans the oil. I asked the sub to be toasted with the veggies, and then for a little of all the sauces.

The only two tables inside being occupied, I opted for a takeaway. Though the sub remained hot by the time I reached home and took a bite, the bread had become very soggy (I’m hoping it would have been good had I eaten it there). Bread apart, taste wise, it was pretty good. The patty was tasty, and the veggies were crunchy. A bit of honey (one of their sauces) gave it a nice flavor.

It would be nice for these guys to have more vegetarian options on their menu, as well as incorporate Mexican style in some form (maybe offer baked Nachos or something). I would have also loved the sub to be grilled instead being toasted like at Subway or Quiznos. The price also might seem on the higher side if not opting for sub of the day. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my sub, and might come back to the place soon. It definitely is better than the Indian Subway!

Food: 7.5/10
Service: 7.5/10
Ambience: 7/10
Meal for 1: Rs. 126/-

Verdict: 7.5/10

Chandamama Kathalu | Movie Review

I’ve wasted two and half hours watching this dumb film. Not worth spending more time analysing it. In one line, it’s a badly scripted film with mediocre direction and pathetic screenplay. Only grace are decent acting and music.

Is it worth your time and money??: I don’t think so!! I’d actually ask you to stay away !

Worth mention: Nothing.

Acting: 6/10
Story-Screenplay-Direction: 4/10
Technical Aspects: 5/10

Verdict: 4.5/10

Flying Spaghetti Monster | Restaurant Review

Place: Flying Spaghetti Monster
Location: Adj. Blue Cross, Road No. 35, Jubilee Hills
Cuisine: Italian
Meal: Dinner

For dinner on my birthday, I was contemplating between Little Italy and Flying Spaghetti Monster, and finally chose the latter. I’ve read quite a few good things about this place, especially about the restaurant in Vizag, so was kinda excited. It’s located right at the end of Road No. 35, right next to Blue Cross Hyderabad. Walking in, there was option of sitting in either indoor or outdoor dining sections. I sat outside, at a corner table right next to the indoor dining area. The interiors of the indoor section were well done, with high ceiling and bright lights, while the outdoor was more rustic, and had a romantic touch to it.

These guys have a long menu, and it was quite a task to choose from. I was thinking of ordering a starter and a pizza, but the chief chef and owner, Ajay, who was taking my order suggested that it might be too much, and recommended just the pizza with a drink. I ordered the Sicilia Pizza (sun-dried tomatoes, mushroom, onion, mozzarella, basil and chili oil), and a Pina Colada.

The Pina Colada was served almost right away and tasted very very good. It was creamy, just the way I like it, and not too sweet either.

In about 10-15 minutes, the pizza was served. It looked very colorful and was loaded with veggies. Taste wise, it was again very palatable. I loved the thin crust, and the onions and mushrooms, along with the tomatoes were giving it great flavor. I’ve been craving for some good pizza since I was in Singapore, and I finally got some. The size was pretty decent, and I was glad I hadn’t ordered a starter.

After a good meal so far, I was now yearning for an awesome dessert. While Ajay suggested the Chocolate Bomb, I was in no mood for chocolate, and so zeroed in on the Blueberry Cheesecake.

And boy oh boy, am glad that I did for I absolutely loved it. It was creamy, yet so light that it just melt in my mouth. Again, not too sweet, and the crust was baked perfectly. It was so good that I had an after taste for close to an hour after reaching home. Definitely the best cheesecake I’ve had in recent times (and better than the one I had at The Cheesecake Factory in Dubai a few months ago).

Overall, a perfect end to my birthday, and I walked out with a happy tummy. While the meal was heavy on the pocket, the ambiance, service and especially the food made up for it. The service was pretty neat and I loved the fact that the owner/chef himself was attending to the customers. The place was very well done, but I’m not sure if it has the appeal during day time. It would have also been nice to have some music at the outdoor dining area. Nevertheless, I’m definitely coming back to this place soon, and suggest you try it as well.

Food: 9.5/10
Service: 9/10
Ambience: 9/10
Meal for 1: Rs. 945/-

Verdict: 9.5/10

Shanbhag | Restaurant Review

Place: Shanbhag
Location: Basheerbagh, under the flyover
Cuisine: Indian
Meal: Lunch

On my birthday, I was confused on where to go for lunch. I wasn’t really hungry, so the initial plans of going for a buffet were ditched. I wanted to have something yum, and that’s when I zeroed on my first favourite restaurant in town, the food I’ve been hogging from probably my first birthday!

I didn’t even have to look at the menu for I exactly knew what I wanted: Malai Kofta, Butter Naan and the amazingly yummy Ghee Rice.

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The food was served in about 10 minutes. I thought the Malai Kofta quantity was reduced for it was served in a smaller bowl. But I didn’t care for it tasted delicious. Unlike most other places which use paneer to make the kofta, Shanbhag still goes the old way using mashed lauki and other vegetables. The gravy was thick, and a little too spicy than usual, but tasted great with the awesome Butter Naan. Their Butter Naan is the best in town!

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Apart from the Naan, these guys also serve the best Ghee Rice in town, and today was no different. With tons of cashew nuts, it was simple yet yummy. However, I was a little disappointed for the gravy served along was too thin than usual, and lacked the authentic taste.

Overall, a palatable meal. Service was quick, and the ambiance has been the same for almost 20 years now. Though the quantity served has reduced, I still had enough leftovers for another meal. Their prices have increased over time, but I think they are still worth every penny. Go hog!

Food: 9/10
Ambiance: 8/10
Service: 8.5/10
Meal for 1: Rs. 282/-

Verdict: 9/10

2 States | Movie Review

2 States

When I first read the book 2 States: The Story of My Marriage, in 2009, I thought it was decent, though it went a bit overboard at times. Come 2014, like any other Chetan Bhagat book, the movie is made, and this time around, I thought it went overboard in a different way, leaving out some of the niceties, nuances and struggles showcased in the book.

Adapted for screen by first time director Abhishek Verman, the movie kicks off well – with both our protagonists Krish and Ananya meeting at IIM-A, becoming friends, moving in together, and later, wanting to get married. The first half of the film is joyful and entertaining, but the second half seemed long and boring. It all seemed like a fairy tale, without any real challenges in the end. Except for one scene in which Krish is served food on Banana leaf, the cultural differences were not presented. It was just “He’s Punjabi, so don’t marry him” and vice-versa, with no real conflict point established. I also didn’t like the way the story was narrated at a psychiatrist for it did not add anything to the film. While direction is decent, screenplay, especially in the second half could have been better.

Arjun and Alia shine in their roles, and have matured as actors when compared to their debut films. However, not once did Alia look like a Tamil Brahmin. Revathi is simple as Ananya’s mom. Amrita Singh has a meaty role and she did justice to the T. Ronit Roy is pretty good.

I didn’t realize that the music was by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy until the end credits, for it sounded very different from their usual. It was refreshing. Editing by Namrata Rao is alright, while cinematography by Binod Pradhan is decent. I’m bored watching the grand sets in all the Dharma movies. Right from the hostel rooms at IIM-A to the houses Krish and Ananya live in, and the wedding, everything is so majestic and full of money! When will Karan Johar realize that middle class people don’t live like that??

Is it worth your time and money??: I really enjoyed the first half but cringed a bit in the second because it all seemed too easy. While the story could have been more powerful, the cast delivers with fine performances to make the film work. Overall, just a decent watch.

Worth mention: Nothing!

Acting: 8.5/10
Story-Screenplay-Direction: 8/10
Technical Aspects: 7/10

Verdict: 7/10