Inside area
Cuisine: Global
When you say the word Playboy’, images of gambling, nightclubs and the high life immediately come to mind, not to mention the famous curvaceous playboy bunnies. So I was surprised when I was invited for lunch at the Playboy beer garden at Balewadi High Street. It’s a much more sober image of the brand and the first playboy beer garden in the world. At Balewadi High Street, it’s an enormous space with beautiful outdoor white furniture and a large casual dining space indoors. Signature cocktails are worth trying. Start with ‘date me’ a fabulous concoction of Tanqueray, balsamic vinegar and elder flower. The seasonal mango and lemon grass ice tea is also fabulous. All the other big brands are available including a six shot palate of tequila. Chef Vikram was previously with the Grand Hyatt Mumbai at Celini and it shows. The salad Niçoise with a beautifully done poached egg and fresh seared tuna was marvelous in this heat. The playboy Caesar was a little irreverent with a little mango thrown in. Ever popular starters are the nachos topped with garbanzo beans, feta and pomegranate. Do try their jerk potato wedges with cheese sauce, the hooter style buffalo wings and the bean and chèvre crostini. I unfortunately didn’t try the signature Heff burger which has cheese fondue to complete the wickedness. However, the spinach and ricotta ravioli in porcini cream sauce and the pan seared rawas were both outstanding. The chicken cafreal is a twist on the Goan favourite made with boneless chicken and served with a chilli jus. Their Asian dishes are also worth trying – braised tofu claypot and Singapore fried noodles. Do leave room for desserts – the banoffee pie is to die for, made with dulce de leche sticky toffee, a soft biscuit base and golden brulee bananas. The crème brulee of the day was mango and the seasonal mango panna cotta is also rather good. Playboy beer garden is tame by their International reputation – perfectly acceptable for a family lunch and safe to bring your grandmother! It is pet friendly too! In the evening the place takes on a completely different scene with regular Dj’s and live music on the weekends.
Salad Nicoise
Banoffee Pie
WOW FACTOR – 7.5
WATCH OUT FOR – noise at night if you want a quiet evening
PORTION SIZE – good
ALCOHOL – yes
VEGETARIAN – yes
And…… much better food than you would expect
Meal for two: Rs. 2500
Address: 26/27 Balewadi High Street, Link Road, Baner Balewadi Rd, Pune,
Tel: 020 6533 5858
Timings: 11.30am to 11.30pm