Pune Dining: Five Senses
I was suitably impressed by the chic, ultra-modern interiors of Sen5es (yes that is how this restaurant is stylistically named). The contemporary glass and wood interiors of this bright and airy restaurant would make many a five-star resturanant in this city look downright dowdy in comparison. Therefore, iI wasn't very surprised when I discovered this place had been designed by Masafumi Sanada from the Japanese company M-Style, one of the top restaurant designers in the world.
Oakwood Premium is located just after the Sports Stadium at the end of tony Koregoan Park and is a new addition to Pune's burgeoning upscale serviced apartments. The restaurant consists of a lounge area overlooking the pool and a dining area alongside open kitchens.
The menu contains sections for Oriental, Indian, Western Grill and Italian selections. There is also a section for Soups and Salads as well as a selection of popular coffee-shop snacks.
We ordered a Mango and Raw Papaya Salad from the special seasonal menu on the table followed by Grilled Norwegian Salmon, pasta and a Lebanese sandwich.
You can get your pasta cooked to order here. Mine was spaghetti with mushrooms, tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, brocolli and zucchini and grilled chicken in arrabiata sauce. Arrabiata is a Roman sauce of garlic, of garlic, tomatoes and red chilli cooked in olive oil, sometimes with a hint of basil. The pasta was perfect!
The salmon was equally appetizing. The grilled fish was served on a bed of asparagus and orange-citrus sauce which complemented the dish very well.
The Lebanese sandwich, a falafel with grilled chicken and veggies was served with a side of hummus. Filling but not particularly memorable.
Which brings me to the salad. The taste of not-quite-ripe mangoes mingled with grated raw papaya was particularly refreshing this time of the year. The light spices and thin slivers of red chilli made every morsel tingle in the mouth.
I have to be back to try their Indian dishes - they even some Fusion dishes on the menu. This place is probably also a great choice for a few drinks in the lounge area. If you are in the Koregaon Park area and want to give this place a try, here are the details: 81 Mundhwa, Koregaon Park Annexe (turn right on North Main Road after you cross the Sports Stadium). Ph: 4142-8888.
Update, May 7: This place is even more amazing in the evenings. Fire-pits on the water-bodies that surround the restaurant are lit, and the combination of fire and water transforms the surroundings. Do try the lamb-chops or the T-bone steaks, they are among the best you can find in Pune!