Punjabi by Nature

17Apr08

On the Sunday after the annual sports quiz (organised by Hyderabad Quiz Club and hosted by yours truly and Nitish) when the pangs of hunger were at their peak we decided to go for a mega thulp. I had earlier called Nitish to my place early morning to run through the questions and we had to skip breakfast which was not a  nice idea on the hindsight. What all we do to present a decent quiz to you guys.

The venue decided was ‘Punjabi by Nature’ which is allegedly (haven’t been able to verify) a chain by Jiggs Kalra, a favourite food critic and columnist of mine. The promotional teaser ads of the chain (already present in Delhi) were inviting to say the least and we (Kiddo, JK, Balaji, Nitish and wisecandyman) were very keen to go there.

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the ambience was: EXPENSIVE. We went to the reserved table in the upper section and there I had a look at the silver cutlery and my mind said: ULTRA EXPENSIVE.

We had a look at the menu which was a plank of wood and the prices were RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE. After a look at the prices we decided not go for a individual thulp fest but rather went for a reasonable mixed order. Nitish desperately wanted to have the Dahi Ke Kabab and I was like WTF! A kebab made of curd? We ordered a non-veg kebab platter which seemed a good deal. They were el succulento. The fish kebab was ‘whoah baby’ stuff as was the murg. The seekh kebabs although really well made was no match for the other kebabs. Alas the platter had no prawn / shrimp kebabs which gave the restaurant its 1^st negative star. No Jhinga (prawn) in a non-veg kebab platter in a Punjabi gourmet restaurant!

Keeping the faith in Nitish’s taste in food I dug my teeth into the respectable looking dahi kebab and voila – I was transported to some other planet. Truly delicious and out of this world. To quote a very good friend of mine “The Dahi Ke Kebab there has to be had”.

Then for the main course…Alas there was no bread platter and we went for a mix of laccha parathas and Naans along with a mutton curry (Meat Punjabi by nature), a chicken curry (Murgh Punjabi masala) and a veg. curry for Nitish.

I haven’t seen a bigger naan ever in my life. The chicken curry we got in a monstrous handi / karai and the quantity was enormous – Had we taken it back as parcel it would have been enough for two days. Although Ludwig didn’t like the tangy taste of the murg, wisecandyman thought it was perfect.

After the thulp it was bill time and it was a not-so-nice Rs 500/- per head. Punjabi by Nature, I presume.

Final Words: if you want to eat very good north Indian food and don’t want to blow a hole in your wallet go to Sahib, Sindh and Sultan (More value for money). But if you have the money to splurge look nowhere else than Punjabi by Nature.

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Tags: Cuisine, Culinary, Eating Out, Expensive, Fine Dining, Food, Foodie, Good Food, Hyderabad, Hyderabad eateries, India, Life, Punjabi, Punjabi food, Restaurant Review, Restaurants in Hyderabad