Best Places to hog Biryani

Talking about Hyderabad food and not mentioning Biryani is like...talking abt Indian Cricket team and not mentioning Sachin!! MUST have for all those who visit Hyderabad. Best way to eat and enjoy a Biryani is with your hands. Forget the spoon for sometime and you will love it!!

Here are the Top places to eat Biryani :






No.1 spot goes to Hotel Sohail , Malakpet (Beside the Flyover) - If you ignore the Service, Hygiene, Ambiance etc..and concentrate only on your plate, this is the BEST place to have Biryani.

No.2 to Cafe Bahar , Hyderguda - Again if you ignore what i mentioned above, you wont regret it. Biryani is excellent.

No.3 to Zafraan Exotica, Banjara Hills - There are very few star restaurants that serve good biryani and Zafraan is one among them. If you are too concerned about the above two hotels because of the ambiance factor, then hop in to Zafraan.

No .4 - Handi Restaurant, Kachiguda - There is something different with their Biryani. Try out the Double masala Mutton Biryani, that's the best they serve.

No.5 - Bawarchi, RTC X roads and Shadaab, Charminar - This is not for everyone. It is crowded, noisy, dirty at times. But if old city is in your blood, you dare not miss this. You will leave home satisfied for having one of the best biryani's in Hyderabad.

Citrus Cafe - Lemon Tree - Hitech City

The name instantly reminded me of this beautiful song by Fools Garden which i used to listen to during my college days - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMwADXEK0pQ.

Coming to the khana (buffet)...was really good. For starters, they served us Apollo Fish and really nice tender Chicken Fry! The paneer haryali kabab starter was by far the best i had. The main course of course had all the typical things that all buffets usually serve. Biryani, Chicken Khorma, Chepala Pulusu (Fish Curry), Thai dishes etc etc. The USP for this place has to be the taste. There wasn't a single dish here where i felt like i could have given it a miss! Even the dessert section comprising of Rasgullas, Gulab Jamuns, Ice creams, Mousse Cakes is a must have.

Scorecard :

Cost : 500-600/- per head

Khaana - 4/5

Service - Decent - 3/5

Ambience - Good 3.5/5

They have other restaurants like Republic of Noodles, Slounge, Kebab Theatre in this hotel. Yet to try them out. Will come up with their review soon. Until then Adios Amigos (still high on ZNMD :D ).

Ohris Nautanki Galli, Hitech City

A barber shop, cycle shop background, 7 seater auto's, Sultan bazaar style saree shops, Tailor shops and huge artificial tree in the middle...in case you are wondering what this Nautanki is all about..then please visit this Galli. Located right in the heart of the techie city..."Nautanki Galli" is the place which every food lover has to visit.
This is easily among the largest buffet spreads in the city. You can start off with the chinese soups or shorba. Then you head to the starters ranging from chicken, fish, manchuria etc and they have enough veg starters to satisfy the veg junta. You can also go with the chat, Jal jeera, khas etc. Coming to the main course..you get all kinds of rotis, naans, parathas and even dosa's and what's more they prepare it in front of you!! Choice of biryanis and other paneer, chicken and mutton dishes will surely challenge your apetite. Need to loosen your belt for the final dessert section - you get all flavors of ice creams and some good old gulab jamuns n hot cakes. Though i feel they should work on this part of the buffet as they say all's well that ends well :).


Scorecard :

Average Cost : 250/- per head

Khaana - 3.5/5
Service - Cant expect much for buffet right ;)
Ambience - 3/5 - Do not visit this place on weekends...there will be mad rush out there and you are going to hate the ambience.
Paisa Vasool - 5/5 - Priced at 250/- this is literally a looot!!

Adda - Cyber Pearl, Hitech city

Mast Kalandar, Hitech City

Been to this place thrice...this is an authentic North Indian Punjabi Vegetarian restaurant with branches all over India. The quality seems to be going down drastically by the day. We asked him for the most famous dish here..and the guy suggested the HP platter (Halka Phulka). They have three variants here : HP1 2 n 3..HP3 offers Daal tadka, Paneer curry, 1 veg dish, 3 Phulkas, Pulav, Raita, Gulab Jaamun n Chaas. Try the Sarson Ka Saag ( Makki roti ) here...tastes good.

Overall Take : You can surely give this place a miss...nothing extraordinary here.


Scorecard :

Average Cost : 200/- per head

Ambience : Poor - 2/5
Service : Average - 2.5/5
Khana : Average - 2.5/5
Paisa Vasool : Average - 2.5/5

Adda : Beside Shilparamam KFC , Hitech City

Nihal Dhaba,Hitec City

Located right next to Asal Dhaba...opposite the lane to Motorola office, this has the same ambience as Asal but the food quality and the service here is pathetic. Many of my friends and office colleagues love this place...but somehow this dhaba has failed to woo me even though i tried my very best to like it. One of my friends who is a pure veggie was once served chicken with paneer ( same happened to him in Paradise ;) ). Now i hope you got what i meant by pathetic service and quality.

Overall Take : Go for it.. if this is the only place that is serving food on this planet

This place doesn't deserve a rating!!

Asal Dhaba - Hitec City

If you like North Indian food...this is one place which you dare not miss. It is located in a very laid back place opposite to motorola lane..dont go by the surroundings, the quality of the food will definitely surprise you :)!!

One of the very few veg places i have visited so many times ( more than a dozen infact)...that goes to suggest the quality of food this place offers.

Coming to the Menu - Parathas are my favourite here - they offer all kinds - Aloo, Muli, Onion, Paneer,dal etc etc

The unlimited thali they offer for 75/- is too good..it tastes like real home made food. They give you these very soft phulkas which they make in front of you, dal, rice, paneer,sweet, raita etc

Overall Take : If you want "Ghar-ka-khana" outside ghar..Asal is the place.

Average Cost - 80/- per head
Service : Good - 3/5
Ambience : Average - 2/5
Khaana: Excellent - 4/5
Paisa Vasool - Excellent - 4/5
Adda : Hitec City, Opposite Motorola lane

Mozzarella Nirvana - Banjara Hills

Previously known as Pink Elephant...this place has been renovated and renamed as Mozzarella which by the name suggests is an Italian cuisine restaurant... right opposite Audi showroom. Well, we went in with a lot of expectations..but the food seriously disappointed us. Non-Veg : Italian Chicken Soup was good (not out of the world though). Grilled Fish steak was ok. The marinated chicken appetizer sucked. The Mud Slide cocktail ( Vodka + Chocolate + Vanilla Ice cream ) was ok for me.

Overall take : Go here if you got a triple digit pay hike and want to burn your pockets. Although you will be floored by the ambience and this is a perfect place for romantic dinners.

Average Cost - 1300/- per head
J' & P's Scorecard:
Service and Ambience : Excellent - 4/5
Khaana : Average - 2.5/5
Paisa Vasool : Pathetic - 1/5
Adda : Banjara Hills Road.No-12
Special Attraction: Sleeping Buddha on the bar ! :)