Ever wondered, What is the most difficult thing to choose while planning the perfect date night? Well apart from what you are going to wear to make that impression, the other important factor is the place or the restaurant that you want to hang out at or dine in.
The factors that make a good date restaurant are – dependably good food and drink. A nice vibe or a buzz. A feeling that you’ve made a bit of an attempt without going over the top. Not so much noise so that you can hear what your date is saying.
The newly opened Baraza Bar & Bites in Yerwada, Pune ticks all those factors on that checklist
Read on to know more, if you are planning a tete a tete with a loved one
Often, the best way to spend time in the company of a special someone is over good food, but a date night doesn’t necessarily mean great wine and candlelit dinners. Maybe just comfort food with a dose of cosy vibe can do the trick, Baraza means a ‘meeting place’ in Swahili, and rightly so it channelizes the relaxed and laid-back vibe of Goan shacks, Spanish tavernas and Portuguese botecos giving shape to an experience that is away from the hustle bustle of the city
Apart from the brilliant ambiance here is what Baraza offers in their food and drink menu.
THE DRINKS
The Cosmic Bubble Martini [Rs. 399] Here candy floss, vodka, triple orange and fresh citrus mix give you that wonderful hit…and yes the dramatics of alcohol mix being poured on the candyfloss on the tableto it. One is reminded of the song Isn’t is a wonder…
The Willy Wonka [Rs. 399] Martini as a doorway to a Willy Wonka-like land of pure imagination whiskey and milk chocolate come together beautifully in this signature cocktail at Baraza
The Punch Buggy [499] made with betel leaf, gin and citrus vodka and the Strawberry and Jalapeno Margarita [Rs. 450] with a mix of the muddled strawberry and jalapeno shaken tequila with a triple orange liqueur and fresh citrus mix were other notable cocktails here.
Baraza also offers 8 different craft beers of which 4 beers are from Independence Brewing Co & 4 beers are from Effingut.
A highlight of other drinks…
APPETIZERS
The Kolhapuri Chicken Tacos [Rs. 245] : This was a win win with real hot, exotic dish from the city of Kolhapur enveloped in soft shell tacos, the bite sized morsels will completely wow you here with the flavors intact.
The Baraza Chicken Tikka [Rs. 275] with jalfrezi slaw and lachcha onion again was a crowd pleaser, succulent, well marinated pieces of chicken topped with cheese and grilled to the smokey goodness
The American Corn Tempura [Rs. 180] that’s what we call a chakhna with crunchy corn and spinach with sriracha mayo. This one is highly addictive
The Stir Fried Kung Pao Chili Chicken [Rs. 245]: This Szechuan-inspired chicken dish is spicy, slightly sweet and incredibly delicious with chicken, peanuts, vegetables, and chili peppers
The Rava Paniyarram [Rs. 210] with Kerala chutney, ghee and curry leaf tadka This one is a #MustTry here not just because of the semolina goodness but because the flavours come through beautifully here
A #MustHave #MustTry #BellydrivenRecommends dish at Baraza are the stuffed TheGoa Sausage, water chestnuts with peppers, onions and cheddar stuffed naan was my favorite dish of the day. Goa sausage stuffed naan is an excellent innovation, this dish stuffs the famous Goan sausages inside a naan, a killer combo I was thrilled to discover. [Rs. 325]
Another variant of stuffed naan is the slow cooked “raan”, garlic and coriander [Rs. 325] was equally delish
The Mushroom done two ways slider were decent bite sized slider on a plate but I had already chosen my flavors for the day
Sabudana Vada stuffed with Chicken and Cheese [Rs. 245] was well conceptualized but the dish lacked any hero flavors that would shine through
THE MAINS
The Ghee Roast Chicken [Rs. 325] came on the table with with mini coriander and green chili naan. Though I always love the ghee rast chicken with neer dosas. This combination did not disappoint either. Delicious, flavorful, soft, juicy roasted chicken with generous dollops of ghee .
The Goan Prawn Curry [Rs. 425] a classic fish curry made with prawns, though the rice accompanying it was tad undercooked
The Paneer Tikka Masala Biryani [Rs. 325] A rich and elaborate Mughlai rice dish that’s well worth it because of its wonderful textures and spices
Desserts
Nutella Crème Brûlée [Rs. 225] with pistachio and almond biscotti Heaven comes together in this sweet treat. Creamy and silky creme brulee with Nutella. Very spoonful of the creme brulee is sweet, nutty with gooey Nutella.
The Boozy Brownie [RS. 225] served with homemade vanilla ice cream was absolutely self-indulgent
The Flourless Chocolate Cake [Rs. 245] served with basil pine nut ice cream and salted caramel, Churros [Rs. 245] with chocolate sauce and snicker chunk ice cream and the Classic Banoffee Pie [Rs. 245] were other desserts on the table that again a crowd pleaser
Coupled with brilliant cocktails in their menu and a creative mix of Indian, Asian and Bar Snacks, with food that compliments the drinks this is the perfect place to go for a DATE!!!
The 224 seater space, sprawling across 5,670 sq. ft. is divided seamlessly across the indoor and outdoor area with the azulejos running across the length of the indoor area. The outdoor area has a verandah that overlooks a beautiful tropical garden, picnic benches, a canoe that functions as a table and a Volkswagen Bar, under streamers of carnival lights, serve up a happy ambience. The vintage furniture and light elements add to the overall mood of the space.
Well I am going back to this place again not just for the vibe, but for the well curated food and cocktails and yes that perfect datenight
How about you?
Cheers!!!
