An arty meal 

An arty meal 

Pandora Gastronomy & Bar has some interesting surprises waiting for you. Have fun unpacking them all  

According to Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman created by the gods, and each of them gave her a unique gift. She was known as ‘the all-endowed’ or the ‘all gifted’. 
Curious about why would one name their restaurant after her, I found my answer at the end of the meal. You will have to read till the end to find out too. 

The restaurant hasn’t got permission to serve alcohol yet, but their mocktails are worth a try. Flavourful, and not just loaded with sugar. We tried the city-specials — The MH12, which is a smooth concoction of cucumber, star anise and lemon while the Puneri Mule is a tasty mix of mango, litchi and ginger. With the alcohol licence on the way, Pandora is going to add a different flavour to the cocktail scene in the city. Pun intended. 

When you browse through the menu, you’ll see a huge variety of starters and bar bites. The restaurant specialises in bar food.

But if you’re one to always start your meal with a soup, we suggest the Mushroom and Liquorice Stout, and yes, it is served in a tall mug. Remember to wipe off that foam moustache. 
We asked the chef to surprise us, so we were served Broccoli Galouti. I must admit, broccoli has never tasted better. A little larger than coin-sized tikkis placed on a tiny paratha base and topped with the ring of an onion filled artistically with saffron foam is a dream come true for anyone who wants to eat healthy but tasty. 

When they say that the The Hot Bean Prawn Rocks will have king prawns, they aren’t bluffing. The size of the prawns are big, cooked till just right and tossed in lip-smacking spicy sauces. The portion is enough for one, and if the one is a seafood lover, they will not be sharing.  

An in-house innovation, the Crusty Puneri Misal is basically a bunny chow, where the gravy is the misal, you have to top it with farsan and cheese fondue served separately. For those who love the authentic preparation, this version might come as a shock. 

Main course was due, and our drinks were over. So we got the Mandarin Blast, flavoured with vanilla and orange, which came in a martini glass, and a Double Lemon, with refreshing lemongrass, lime and litchi in a short glass. 

Lunch comprised Chicken Ghee Roast, which came with light and crispy Malabar parathas. Don’t be scared of the word ‘ghee’ in the title of the dish. Chicken pieces were smaller than usual and more in number. The  quantity will suffice for two. The masala wasn’t hot, but we could taste southern flavours, and the ghee made everything better. 

Then, to try a different cuisine, we had the Teppanyaki Bowl, which came with Teppanyaki rice, tofu shashliks (you can also have chicken), and banana chips. It looked like a work of art. 

Surrendering ourselves to sugar, we ordered quite a few desserts. The Cutting Chai Ice-cream is a must have. Served in a bowl, kept in another bowl filled with warm water, to give you a dramatic steaming effect, it tastes like frozen, creamy masala chai. The Hazelnut and Salted Caramel Moelleux with sugar crisps is plated with a lot of patience and skill. 

The Phirni Parfait is a spectacle. Layers of Phirni are alternated with layers of fresh fruit parfait and topped with crushed rose petals made right in front of you by freezing a desi gulab and crushing it on your dessert before the petals turn soft again. 

Now, the answer to the question at the beginning — why the place is called Pandora? I believe it’s because the food served here is not just about the taste, or the quantity, it is about the art, the drama and everything to make your meal a memorable one. Each dish is ‘all gifted’. 

ST READER SERVICE
Pandora Gastronomy & Bar Unit 3, ground floor, Nyati Unitree, Nagar Road, Yerawada Timings: 12 noon to 1 am

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