Amidst all the pubs and cafés sprouting up in the city, the bustling Road no 12 Banjara Hills gets a new vegetarian outlet — Ohri’s Mishthann Veda. This week-old space offers a bakery, food court, sweet shop and a casual dining restaurant under one roof.
We make our way to the restaurant on a pleasant Friday evening. With seating for more than 100 patrons, the restaurant has a casual dining vibe with cushioned sofas and bright-lit chandeliers. As we settle down, we’re treated with Cranberry Cooler — a refreshing mocktail served in a pilsner glass. My companions opt for a Strawberry Delight — a classic strawberry shake. However, the mocktails take a backseat, as we see a plate of Chole Bhature make its way to the table. The piping hot bhature are fluffy, perfect with the delicious chole. The Aloo Tikki Ragada and Pani Puri are rather bland, lacking the right amount of spices.
The best of the starters was Tandoor Khajana — everybody at the table agreed. A take on the non-vegetarian kebab platter, this one comes in a huge plate with five kinds of short eats — classics like Hara Bhara Kebab and Seekh Kebab, smoky Tandoori Paneer, slightly sour Dahi Kebab and Bourbon Aloo (where the potato is scooped out and stuffed with an in-house masala). The menu also includes sections like Delhi chaat and South Indian tiffin.
From the mains, we sample Angara Paneer and Mixed Vegetable with soft Butter Naan. The tender paneer cubes in spicy gravy go well with the Indian bread, while the mixed vegetable is more suitable with jeera rice. It is the Moong Dal Hingwali that wins us over in just one spoon. We skip the Veg Hyderabadi Biryani and finish a bowl full of comforting dal and rice. From the plethora of desserts, we opt for Badam Halwa. Rich in ghee and topped with almonds, this one is a must-try!
Price for two: Rs.1,000.