Cuisine: Modern Indian
Balewadi High Street will soon look like Singapore’s Clarke Quay and Gurgaon’s Cyber Hub. Urban Foundry is right at the start and takes inspiration from the new, trending “distressed chic” school of interiors. The theme is a foundry – a factory that produces metal castings. Inside is a large space with a long bar and exposed brick walls. They also have a very large outdoor space with basic wooden furniture and benches. It’s young, hip and happening.
The menu takes some getting used to with Devnagari and English interspersed in one description. Start with a drink. These are served either in little soda pop bottles capped in house, quirky oil tins and jam jars. Don’t be put off by the quirkiness. It is backed by solid no nonsense flavours and fantastic execution. The bar is in the very capable hands of mixologist Neha who produces some amazingly innovative cocktails. Try the guntoor chilli beer cocktail with spicy rim; my favorite is the ‘can of peaches’ actually served in a can; the knuckle up with house vodka, lemon grass, pomegranate and lime served in a copper beer mug with a knuckle duster on it, is wonderfully refreshing and ‘are you ready to drink’ is a real winner for summer. Don’t miss the Baileys wali cutting chai. All the food is served in enamel and steel plates and the presentation will stun you. These are all tasty dishes based on Indian favourites – some eclectic, some basic, all clever. We ordered plenty but the dishes that stood out are the vada pav with bacon, bombil Thai fry, creamy broccoli, spicy prawn cocktail and soya chaap disguised as chicken tikka. Do not miss the biryani which is served in a pressure cooker. Home grown green tetcha is served with a lot of the dishes. Thank goodness there’s no ketchup on the table!
Much thought has gone into making the dessert menu really special. The red velvette duet is two kulfis, one made with mascarpone and one with reduced milk smothered with crumbled red cake. The BeerAmisu, a take on tiramisu is amazingly smooth and creamy and the Valronha chocolate dessert will delight real chocolate connoisseurs.
WOW FACTOR – 9
WATCH OUT FOR – Not a place for kids really
PORTION SIZE – Hearty
ALCOHOL – Yes, yes and cheap
VEGETARIAN – Yes, very good
And……great DJ every night of the week
Meal for two: Rs. 1400
Address: 1, Balewadi High Street, Next to Cummins India Office, Baner-Balewadi Link Road, Balewadi, Pune Tel: 020 60220220
Timings: 3pm to 12 midnight (Mondays only)
12pm to 12 am (Tuesday to Sunday)