𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝟓 𝐁𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨 & 𝐁𝐚𝐫
#inspiredibles
#foodtasting
i stay in kothrud from a decade and have witnessed most changes in the food scenario in this part of the city. if there was any concept restaurant which was yet to open doors in this area, it was a cult american bistro. kalinga filled that void for kothrudkars, and the result is a house full bistro on almost every evening!!
lip-smacking non conventional food suiting indian taste buds and frugal on the pockets, level 5 is everything you'd want to have in a dine-out place: chique retro interiors, mixologies that are both interesting and potent, a full stocked bar, and food for every mood! couple that with the quarter century of in-house experience of the kalinga fraternity, and that makes their success formula almost lethal...
the menu is carefully curated considering the mixed fusion crowd that this place will witness. couple that again with conveniences like a robotised valet, and this place is an ideal bucket-list material!
i recently got an opportunity to taste a few of their delicacies and i realised why they are already giving other places a run for their money at such early stage in their business.
here's what we ordered:
𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝘾𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙤𝙬𝙡
this took me back to san francisco's boudin bakery in the fisherman's wharf who is uber popular for their clam chowder in sourdough bread bowl. i had spent an entire week dunking that soup for dinner, and this seafood chowder took me down that memory lane...
creamy bisque in a house baked edible bread bowl was a fantastic start to our experience.
#donotmissthis!
4 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙋𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙍𝙞𝙗𝙨
two generous portions of fatty ribs marinated overnight and slow cooked for over 4 hours is one of their specialities. it is rubbed with spices to suite indian taste buds, and the coriander chutney served with it is kickass! this was my first time of having coriander chutney with prom ribs and the combination was divine! full marks here..
#absolute_must_have
𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞
i don't know many places in pune that serve crispy calamari fried to perfection. calamari is such a tricky seafood, ten seconds of overcooking it will make it chewy; it takes skilled hands to make calamari this good!
i will admit that this is the best calamari i have tasted in india so far, and it again took me down the memory lane of munching calamari in us.
order this with your beer, and you're settled.
#calamariloversrejoice
#highlyrecommended
𝙆𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙖 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙣
this was a recent addition in their chef's special menu. chicken tenders cooked in coconut and curry leaves and red chillies made it a lethal combination. loved it.
#recommended
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙁𝙚𝙩𝙖 𝙋𝙞𝙯𝙯𝙖
yeah, believe it. a vegetarian spinach pizza with caramelized onions and feta cheese. absolute delish. they have a secret up their sleeves to ensure that the think crust doesn't go soggy even after an hour of making the pizza. i have seriously never tasted a veg pizza so good!! #trytrytry
𝙂𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙧
i urge you to take a look at the picture while you read the description. where else have you seen a plate of burger so huge and fulfilling?
a tender grilled chicken patty with melted cheese is served with a coleslaw, fried onions, french fries, house salad and a spicy tomato dip. a burger couldn't get better than this! reminded me of american style burger plates
#must_try
with not an iota of space left for desserts, we still chose the chocolate bomb and a platter of alcoholic icecreams...
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙤𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙢𝙗
had a filling of berry compote and was served with a mousse and a vanilla ice cream.
the ice cream platter had an array of ice cream shots, all made in house, and filled with liquor. 𝙍𝙪𝙢 𝙣 𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣 was my favourite pick out of it!
it doesn't matter which area you stay or what you like, level 5 is a place you wouldn't regret visiting for any occasion.
amrita shetty is a vibrant personality who took great care of every table on a busy wednesday evening. it was a pleasure meeting and knowing her.