On the iftar trail

Ashishwang Godha embarked on a food trail to help you locate the best iftar treats, scattered across the city

On the iftar trail

Ashishwang Godha embarked on a food trail to help you locate the best iftar treats, scattered across the city

Tuck into Dalcha and Shahi tukda at Sharif Hotel and Agra Hotel

The lane that adjoins Poona College at Golibar Maidan may seem tiny and dark when you enter but the bright lights of Ramzan will guide you towards the food. Don't bother with the stalls that line the stretch, instead head straight to Sharif Hotel. We tried the Chicken Cutlet (Rs 15) which wasu00a0 nicely batter-fried with a crisp semolina coating. But what we really liked was the Beef Cutlet (Rs 20) which was hot, spicy and well-done.

Sharif Caterers in Camp. Pics/ Krunal Gosavi

We headed next door to the Agra Hotel where we savoured Tandoori Chicken (Rs 45) that had a lovely crunch and complemented the thick, slightly sweet bread. Then came the star main course of Pune's iftaaru00a0-- the Dalcha (Rs 115), a plate of white rice with a bowl of yellow dal and chunks of mutton. For dessert, we went back to Sharif Hotel and tried the Malpua (Rs 25), which was sweet but slightly over-fluffy for our taste. We also tried the Shahi Tukda (Rs 35), a double-fried bread drenched in milky syrup, which was a melt-in-your-mouth piece of dessert.

Hyderabadi biryani at Imdadi Caterers
Mominpura comes alive during Ramzan and the Imdadi Caterers rule. We tried something that most other areas don't have on their menuu00a0-- Paya or Goat Trotters (Rs 60) in their signature gravy. Next, it was time for the Hyderabadi Biryani (Rs 115), which is one of their famous offerings and it tasted quite unique.

Tandoori boti kebab at Alifiya Caterers
Aalifya Caterers, located in central Kondhwa, resembled a make-shift wedding tent. On offer were all sorts of Seekh and Boti Kebabs as well as innards. We began with a Tandoori Boti Kebab (Rs 35) which was a quite a mouthful. Then we tried the Liver Seekh (Rs 35) which was well-marinated in Indian spices and was a flavourful bite. We tried a plate of Gurda (Rs 40), which came in a spicy mix of tomatoes, potatoes, onions and was sprinkled with green chillies, mint with a wholesome topping of oil. We loved it with our crisp but not too thick Tandoori Roti (Rs 10). We would have appreciated it better if the meat was not a mix of various soft bones and uncooked chewy pieces.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

Tandoori pomfret and phirni at Baba Jaan Chowku00a0
In the heart of Camp, right near Shivaji Market is Baba Jaan Chowk. This area transforms into a food haven during Ramzan and you can savour Tandoori Surmai Fish (Rs 35) or Tandoori Pomfret Fish (Rs 60) fried to a crisp. Walk a little ahead and you will find the famous Imdadi Caterers setting up a huge tent with enough seating for at least a 100 people. We simply opted for what we didn't find anywhere elseu00a0-- the Rose Falooda (Rs 35). It was a lovely, thick drink that washed down all our gourmet over-indulgence. Finally, we rounded it off with a Kesari Phirni (Rs 35) served in an earthen pot. We recommend you go home and chill this one and consume it to prepare yourself for another evening of feasting.

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