RESTAURANT REVIEW: N GRILL, HYDERABAD

For when you're trying to make an impression and don't have an appetite

I was scrounging for recommendations for a pre-wedding lunch and EVERYONE said I must try N Grill. So I did.

LOOKS LIKE

My compliments to the interior designer. The interiors are an exciting melding of high ceiling-ed, chandeliered warehouse chic with well chosen dabs of warm wood accents to keep things cosy. The table placement is generous giving each table enough room to spread out comfortably. The outdoor area is a highlight with lots of green and unexpected South east Asian statue figures is uber zen stylish.

The greatest accomplishment of this designer is exercising restraint in embellishment to allow this restaurant to do triple duty as bar, brunch spot and party venue.

TASTES LIKE

Unfortunately this restraint doesn’t translate to the menu which is a mish mash of cuisines. Gnocchi, risottos, grills, salads, south east Asian tidbits and even a New Orleans Blackened Fish compete for your attention. Due to the nature of our experience we didn’t end up ordering main course but the Figs and Cheese (Wine Soaked Dried Figs tossed with Pesto Marinated Buffalo Mozzarella) was to die for. A dainty, pretty bite sized appetizer.



Figs and Cheese

We paired these with refreshing Tender Coconut Martinis, light and adorably contained in a coconut. I wish our meal had ended here though. The subsequent Caprioska was pale and lusterless as were the Chilli and Lychee Martinis.



Chilli and Lychee Martinis

The rest of our time was an unfortunate, antagonistic tango where we ordered things, were disappointed, returned whatever it was and got a replacement which we were too tired to complain about.



Mezze Platter

We asked for a Mezze Platter (Pita, Hummus, Baba Ganoush, Cucumber Garlic Yogurt, Falafel and Roasted Peppers) thinking our more adventurous choices might be the problem and a safer option might pan out. This strategy did not work either. The mezze was the most mediocre I have ever had. Dry store bought pita with not enough hummus and a collection of insipid dips.



Angel Cake with 3 Milk and Hazelnut Sauce: Photo Credits - Aashmita Nayar

We didn’t have the heart to try again with a main course so we shifted to dessert. The Tres Leche (Angel Food Cake with Three Milk and Hazelnut Sauce) was sponge cake in sweet milk with Nutella. The Trio of Brulee was so awful it (also) had to be sent back – crusty, dry, bitter and chemically tasting this was an unacceptable offering from a restaurant of this kind. As my boss once said there has to be a standard you can’t let yourself fall below. NA Grill you’re better than this.



Brulee of Shame

The tango started again and our Trio of Brulee was replaced with a Pannacotta with Berry Coulee, clearly a star dessert, we saw many other tables ordering it. Skimpy with the coulee and too sweet for my taste but the Pannacotta did come in a sunshine golden cage of spun sugar that was a nice touch.

FEELS LIKE

The staff was very helpful and duly apologetic about the disasters the kitchen and bar were so regularly churning out but without support from the kitchen, no amount of niceness from the staff is going to help keep the place afloat.

 

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Should you go:  For the prettiness, the celeb spotting or a first date when you know you won’t be eating much.

Vegetarian Options: Yes

Liquor License: Yes

Smoking Area: Yes

Address: 788, Road 36, Near Croma, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad

Phone: 040 64644141, 040 64644242

RESTAURANT REVIEW: PREGO AT THE WESTIN, HYDERABAD

For the love of Italian food

 

 

I don’t end up eating at five star hotels very often. I find the ambience too formal, the atmosphere too sterile and the staff too obsequious to enjoy. Also, my desk job doesn’t pay me well enough to afford these places on a regular basis. To be completely fair to this kind of establishment, sometimes that money can buy you the kind of ingredients and culinary expertise that a stand alone restaurant can’t afford. Prego at the Westin doesn’t win on all counts but when it comes to food, these guys are using their superpowers for good.

 

 

 

LOOKS LIKE

 

Prego has that clean lines, metallic accents, minimalistic chic thing going that doesn’t really capture my imagination. It looks (and is) expensive and I guess this is intentional. I wish they’d carried the cliché through and stuck with neutral colors – I found the liberal use of red and orange oppressive. I visited in the evening and sat indoors but there’s also an outdoor area which would be very pretty during the day.  

 

Bread is beautiful

 

 

TASTES LIKE

 

If I’m able to describe the food accurately you should be very hungry by the end of the next few paragraphs. The meal starts with a gorgeous chunk of just baked bread, warm out of the oven and drizzled with olive oil served with a sweet, salt tomato sauce pounded roughly so there are little crunches of fresh tomato when you bite in. The Gamberi Aglio E Olio (Prawns sautéed in Garlic, Chilli, Grated Zucchini and Cherry Tomatoes) is a platter full of succulent, impeccably cooked prawn heavily doused with garlic. They don’t skimp on their portions and I didn’t have much of an appetite left but I soldiered on knowing I was flanked by a hungry brother who can usually eat at least twice his weight.

 

Gamberi Aglio E Olio

 

The Arrabiatta (Penne with Spicy Tomato Sauce, Garlic and Parsley) was a revelation – I’ve never had an arrabiatta so simple.The tomato and parsley were so fresh that the addition of garlic, salt and pepper was all that was needed to make an incredible dish. The sauced up, super seasoned version of the arrabiatta I’ve been eating so far seemed gauche and artificial in comparison. The Pollo Allo Spiedo (Roasted Chicken, Black Truffle, Asparagus with Roasted Potato) is pieces of plump chicken cooked faultlessly with the delicate flavor of truffle permeating the meat. It isn’t for the fainthearted though, the portion was much much too large for me.

 

Arrabiatta

 

The Tiramisu was much better than what I’m used to but still a little too creamy for me. I’d have liked more sponge to balance out all the mascarpone. The Zuccotto All Cioccolata (Prego’s Famous Mud Pie) was a shocking disappointment after the track record Prego had been setting. It felt oddly like a scoop of ice cream rolled around in Oreo crumbs. The crumbs were too dry, the flavors not properly balanced and the ice cream watery.

 

Pollo Allo Spiedo

 

FEELS LIKE

The staff was enthusiastic and prompt – considering the technical complexity of the menu it must be difficult to become familiar with it.

 



Zuccotto All Cioccalata

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

 

Should you go: Definitely!

Vegetarian Options: Yes

Liquor License: Yes

Smoking Area: Yes

Address: The Westin, Mindspace IT Park, Madhapur, Hyderabad

Phone: 040 67676828

 

Tiramisu

RESTAURANT REVIEW: FUSION 9, HYDERABAD

For ladies who lunch... But not all that well.



The Bar at Fusion 9

Fusion 9 has managed to stay afloat in the constantly changing restaurantscape of Hyderabad for quite a while. Thanks to the hordes of Hyderabadis descending from foreign shores with exotic tastes, eating and drinking places are always opening in the city. Unfortunately, apart from a few restaurants most of these joints are just hope and ambition without substance or expertise. When I went back to Hyderabad this December I thought I’d check in on Fusion 9 and its weekend brunch.

Part of the platter of appetizers brought to our table

LOOKS LIKE

Fusion 9 is a charming space. I mean no disrespect when I say it feels like Good Earth vomited all over it. Dark wood floors with white accents, a central island bar with brightly painted tile and common boho feminine accents like fairy lights and birdcages with flowers make this the kind of place ladies will feel compelled to lunch.

The Buffet Table

TASTES LIKE

The good news first. The starters brought to our table were generous and well done. The spread at the buffet had been selected with discretion and good taste - adorable knotted dinner rolls with a cheese platter, a salad bar, little snack-y things like devilled eggs, olives and puff pastries with vegetable and chicken fillings and 2 heavier curry options. This makes for a really pretty display (my photo isn’t doing the scene justice) but I would have really appreciated if the chef had put in a quarter of the effort into checking for flavor instead. There was a point in the middle of brunch where I wondered if I was trapped in a doll house and eating picture perfect plastic food.

 

I love taking photos of bread!

 The trend continues with dessert, the selection being visually impressive but disappointing from a gustatory perspective. What looked like soft, warm chocolate was hard and chalky and the seemingly flaky pastry was impossible to slice through. Using too much sugar to hide the absence of texture and flavor is a poor con in dessert making.

The Dessert Buffet

 FEELS LIKE

In keeping with the superficial approach towards food Fusion 9 demonstrated equally half baked service. 

 

 

Impossible to slice through.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Should you go: Don’t bother unless you can’t think of another option

Vegetarian Options: Yes

Liquor License: Yes

Smoking Area: No

Address: 1st Avenue, Road 1, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad

Phone: 040 65577722, 040 65577755

 



 

TRAVEL TO: HYDERABAD

I spent a weekend at my (almost) home town of Hyderabad last December and it was so exciting to see how much the city had changed since I left.

 A lot of the change, unfortunately was predictable, more traffic, more malls and more fast food. On the brighter side, it's great to see the new restaurants and meeting places experimenting with innovative decor and different cuisines.

Since I only had a weekend for my visit, and an old friend's wedding to attend, I didn't like to see as much of new Hyderabad as I would have liked. Here's my list of the places I did get to visit, reviews are coming up soon:

Something old - Fusion 9

Something new - N Grill 

Something super fancy - Prego at the Westin