Paprika brings to Pune the hot rock conceptu00a0-- and it's clearly a winner

The City Towers complex, with its line of restaurants, has gained fame as a khau galli or an eatery street of sorts. Yet to the credit of each of them (unlike another famed restaurant complex at Koregaon Park), they have retained their character. The latest offering, Paprika, is another romantic open-air spot that offers European and American cuisine. Plus, they have introduced a hot rock -- food cooked on the table in a special rock oven.

Paprika
Food: outstanding
Service: informed
Ambience: romantic

Paella Verduras, Hot Rock Samak E Mashawiu00a0

Wicker sofas and glass tables dot the restaurant, with semi-private dining areas draped in white linen. With an open kitchen at one end of the restaurant, Paprika look perfect for an evening out. Thanks to an affordable, classic bar menu, they look set to be on the corporate dining list as well.

Famished as we were, we decided to get straight to the main course. We opted for a Giardiniera Pizza (Rs 320). All 12-inches of it came in what looked like a large semi-slanted pasta bowl and it had fresh tomatoes, olives and herbs. The thin-crust, however, wasn't really as thin and crisp as we would have liked it to be.

Next, we tried the Paella Verduras (Rs 320). This Spanish rice dish with cherry tomatoes and a saffron flavouring, had a rich taste that stayed with us long after we were done with it. We not only appreciated the close authenticity (except that vegetarian food in Spain is hard to find) but also the fact that it was a wholesome serving.

Finally, it was time for the star of the show: The hot rock that Paprika boasts of. We ordered the Hot Rock Samak E Mashawi (Rs 300) and waited patiently, digesting the rest of the meal. A huge white platter came with the hot rock placed on it while the fish / meat / veggies cooked over it. On the sides were a small salad, roasted vegetables, a dip and portion of potato fries.

As our attendant turned our fish strips of choice over on the hot rock, he explained the concept. Apparently, Paprika is the only restaurant that has brought this American concept to the city. The rock is heated to 400 degrees C in a special rock oven for up to four hours. Then, your meal of choice is placed on it and brought to your table. Here it continues cooking, as you turn it around with the tongs provided. The whole procedure takes under 10 minutes for the meat or fish to be cooked through.

Our first bite into the fish strips dipped in their signature sauce was sheer bliss. We couldn't stop ourselves from greedily taking all the fish off the rock and savouring each piece. The vegetables and the salad acted as perfect taste-breaks for the fish. We would have loved better quality fries and better olive oil on the table, but then, these were just the side heroes. We were looking forward to an unusual dessert. But as we bit into our Chocolate Mousse Cannelloni (Rs 170), it turned to be a bit of a let-down. The chocolate cannelloni was just fine but the mousse didn't match up to the standard.

As for the service, they may have forgotten our bread basket at the start of the meal but it arrived promptly with our first course (we recommend you try the herbed butter that comes with it). Overall the staff was polite and well-informed about their menu.

From: 12 noon to 3.30 pm & 7 pm to 11.30 pm
At: Paprika, City Towers, Boat Club Road.
Call: 9604225121 / 66400797