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We find three favourites that fight for the title
Over the last few years, the dining scene in Pune has evolved in exciting ways. Several factors, including the pandemic, woke up a sleepy city. Today, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to buzzy new bars, an exciting variety of cuisines, and young, vibrant cafés.
I moved to Pune in 2008, back when a night out meant a trek to Koregaon Park and fine dining was something found in Mumbai. Don’t get me wrong. I loved the city. I loved the sleepy afternoons when the shops closed for siestas. I loved walking the dappled, tree-lined streets, undisturbed by traffic snarls. I loved the stalwart Irani cafés where the owners greeted you by name. And I enjoyed the Puneri enthusiasm for discovering the best vada pav or the most tikhat misal. The journey culminated into me starting a café in 2013 with my husband in our now-adopted city. We claimed a little corner of a relatively unknown neighbourhood and made it our own.
We have seen the city change in front of our eyes. We witnessed the explosion of restaurants and the evolution of the dining scene firsthand. Over the years, we developed new favourites that hold a special place in our hearts. Let me tell you about three of them.
When we first visited the French Window Patisserie, it was a tiny shop in the leafy bylanes of Koregaon Park. I used to head there for my weekly fix of freshly baked bread and a slice (or two) of Babita’s delicious cakes. Today, the French Window Patisserie can be found in a beautiful three-storied bungalow down the road from the original. The garden, the outdoor area, and the ground floor make up the café section, while the remaining two are occupied by the kitchen and residential space.
The French Window opens early. So, you can head there for breakfast before you begin your day. Grab a seat at one of the pretty wrought iron tables in the garden and settle down for a slow, easy morning start. There will invariably be a pup or two gambolling about your feet. Babita, the chef and owner, is an avid animal lover. Wrap yourself in a sweater as the winter nip settles in, and sip the piping hot coffee.
My fam has its firm favourites at the French Window and we rarely veer off course when ordering. There’s always the Eggs Benedict for the husband – served with smoked salmon and a rich buttery Hollandaise sauce. Warning: this one is not for the light eater. The daughter digs happily into her apple pie pancakes. Fluffy buttermilk pancakes served with a warm, cinnamon-apple compote. If you feel indulgent, ask for a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. The son opts for his signature Tartine – an open-faced toastie loaded with chunks of chicken and gooey cheese. As for me, I always order the ham and cheese croissant. A beautifully flaky and rich croissant stuffed with ham and cheese and served warm. There’s honestly nothing better.
There are also healthy options such as fresh fruit juices, smoothies and granola bowls, but we rarely opt for those. There’s something in the air at the French Window that makes you feel you are on holiday and calories don’t count. All that matters is the present moment – in this little corner of Pune, shaded by trees that have stood the test of time and enjoying the most delicious breakfasts.
PS: Don’t forget to pick up a goody bag of macarons and a slice of the delectable Opera cake before you return to reality.
Address: Lane number 5, Next to Malaka Spice, Koregaon Park, Pune 411001
With a riff on the many wade wallahs peppered around Pune, We Idliwale opened in 2019, in Baner – a far-flung corner of Pune (well far-flung from where I was standing at least). Even with its tiny, delivery-only outlet several kilometres away, we began to hear murmurings of an interesting new place serving South Indian staples in exciting ways. We visited the Viman Nagar outlet of the We Idliwale days after they opened. This was post-pandemic, and Pune seemed ready to embrace a new wave of dining options and cuisines, more 'exotic' than usual. The good news is that their latest outlet is now around the corner from my home at NIBM. Happy days!
While the humble idli and dosa may not seem novel, I promise you, the way they do it at We Idliwale… well, you’ve never had them like this before. I glee as a soft, fluffy pile of idlis is heaped onto my stainless steel thali. A tumbler of slow-cooked sambhar (thankfully, not sweet) awaits the ceremonial dunking that follows. But then, I’d also ordered a chicken curry. Take it from me, there is a certain joy that descends when you combine the soothing fluffiness of an idli with a spoon of the fiery curry. Also, perfect idli accompaniments (but maybe not for breakfast) are the prawn pepper fry and the fish moilee.
If it’s the dosa you are looking for, you’ve come to the right place. You can get Motte dosa (dosa with egg), Madurai-style Kari dosa, and dosa with Sri Lankan prawn curry or with a Bengaluru-style mutton saru. Abhishek, the owner, tells me that their Podi Dosse is an all-time breakfast bestseller. After the idli chutney plates, of course. As for Abhishek, his favourite is their Kothu Paratha. Hmm…shredded paratha tossed with egg and masala sounds like the perfect post-hangover breakfast to me (makes a note in my to-do list).
Besides breakfast specials, We Idliwale does regular weekend menus and seasonal dishes such as chicken vindaloo, and Dindigul biryani. Word of advice: pre-order these as soon as you see the notification on Instagram – they sell out fast!
Address: Baner - Shop 2, Ground floor, Baner BizBay, Pune, 411045
Viman Nagar - Shop no 4, Viman Platinum, Ganpati Mandir Road, Viman Nagar, Pune 411014
NIBM - Shop 3 / 4, Ground floor, La Ventana, NIBM Road, Kondhwa, Pune 411048
Bree and her husband Rajan started One O Eight Cafe in 2013, a few months before we opened ours. Bree is Australian, and the vibe at One O Eight reflects her Aussie roots in the warm, welcoming decor, the deliciously different healthy food, and the attention paid to the quality of ingredients and sourcing. One O Eight is also a proudly vegetarian and a vegan-friendly café.
But this is not a space for boring muesli bowls and bland breakfast plates. Instead, start your day with everyone’s favourite piccolo latte or an Australian-style flat white. Add a cookie from the jars filled with their freshly-baked specials. I usually go for the oat and choc chip one – delish! Their cookies are not made with refined sugar and white flour. So, it’s healthy, dig in. Now take your time. Breathe in. Breathe out. Let go.
One O Eight makes you feel right with body and mind.
According to Bree, the most popular breakfast items from the menu remain the smashed avo toast (slices of avocado on sourdough and garnished with feta, cherry tomatoes, and their in-house dukkah) and their Big Breaky (eggs to order with a side of hash browns, toast, veggies, and sweet chilli sauce). As for me, I love their ricotta pancakes if I'm in a sweet mood. Served with seasonal fresh fruits and spiced sugar syrup, these whole wheat pancakes are the total package. If it’s savoury I’m after, there have yummy Eggs in Hell. Baked eggs sauteed with a spicy tomato and onion sauce and fresh herbs. Mop up this deliciousness with the sourdough toast that comes along with the dish.
Hint: When visiting One O Eight, always keep space for a slice of their spiced carrot cake or a mini banana loaf. You don’t want to miss out on these. One O Eight is open seven days a week and they have a special pizza menu, 6 pm onwards. Just go!
Address: Pingale Farms, South Main Road, Behind Blossom Boulevard, Koregaon Park, Pune 411001
Now you have three delicious breakfast choices to make. Will it be French and indulgent, South Indian and exotic, or Aussie and healthy? Or do what we do, enjoy all over a weekend in Pune.
Also Read -
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Immerse yourself in the lively nightlife of Koregaon Park in Pune
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