The Salad Lounge – Pocket friendly healthy meals! — Reviewed!

"Health is a relationship between you and your body!" I strongly believe the statement and to strengthen this relationship, The Salad Lounge in Kharadi has chalked some amazing dishes for the Pune people. Located on the first floor in the Global Business Hub, the place is bit small but can accommodate around 20 patrons. First-floor seating is preferable. Basic yet classy interiors are a win!

Owner and Chef, Sheetal Petkar, an IT professional, left her job to follow her passion. The healthy menu including dressing is curated by her. The idea was to serve scrumptious salads but with the demand, other options like Pasta, Patties, Sandwiches were added to the pocket-friendly menu. After some chit-chat, I tried the following dishes from the menu....

• Lemon Ice Tea (4/5)
• Apple and Beetroot Salad (4.5/5)
• Grilled Peppers with Daliya (4.5/5)
• Sprouts and Veggies Salad (3.5/5)
• Pumpkin with Orange Soup (4/5)
• Herb Potatoes (3.5/5)
• Cheese Croquettes (4/5)
• Basil Pesto Pasta (5/5)
• Hummus and Grilled Peppers Sandwich (4.5/5)
• Apple Parcels (4/5)
• Caramel Custard (4/5)

Started our lunch with the refreshing Lemon Ice Tea (Rs.60). A perfect concoction of Lemon and Tea. A drink you need for a scorching summer day!

From the salads, I tried 3 of them and each one had a different texture, taste, and flavour. Apple and Beetroot Salad was a melange of beautiful colors. The sweet earthiness of beet and crunch of apple tossed in the creamy dressing was one of my favourites. A nice option for fussy kids to eat healthily.

Next on the table was Grilled Peppers and Daliya (Rs.150). Bit rustic, zesty, smokey, power-packed salad was the best way to devour daliya. Grilled peppers were so delicious. I wish it had more daliya and nuts to add the crunch. Must try!

The Sprouts and Veggies Salad (Rs.135) had bit of everything. The protein-packed winning combination of sprouts and veggies will keep you satiated for long. The oriental dressing was good too but more of it would have elevated the taste to the next level.

Pumpkin with Orange Soup (Rs.120) was served next. The deliciously silky-textured soup had a hint of orange. Truly a bowl of comfort!

Next, we had Herb Potatoes (Rs.150) and Cheese Croquettes (Rs.140). Half cut baby potatoes were roasted to perfection and tossed with herbs. However, I found it a bit dry. Cheese croquettes, on the other hand, were super delicious. Soft, gooey, crunchy deep fried snack went well with the dip. Wish it had more cheese! After all, who says no to extra cheese! Haha.

Also, tried the favourite Basil Pesto Pasta (Rs.240) and trust me it was one of the best I had in recent times. The rich, creamy and addictive pasta is highly recommended when visiting this place. Also, the Hummus and Grilled Peppers Open Sandwich (Rs.175) was a winner. The multigrain bread slice was slathered with creamy hummus and bit grilled peppers garnished with finely chopped onions and tomatoes. Super delicious it was. Have it with your choice of beverage. I paired it with cold coffee.

Last but not least, we had desserts. Apple Parcels (Rs.150) were a classic twist to the apples. Caramelized apple crush was filled in the flaky triangle-shaped pastry. Loved the mild-sweet dish. Rich, silky, perfectly light Panna Cotta (Rs.150) was fresh and a luscious end to the meal. Recommended!

The Salad Lounge is in the initial phase and apart from some minor issues, the place is doing good. Staff is courteous. You can also opt for home deliveries. I would, however, recommend to visit the place and experience the food hot and fresh.

Nine Square Vegetarian Bistro – Heaven for vegetarians! — Reviewed!

Pune got another gem in the city by the Celebrity Chef, Ajay Chopra and thy name is Nine Square. Located in Creaticity (previously Ishanya Mall), Yerawada, the pure vegetarian place is a boon for not only veg lovers but for meat-eaters too.

The minimalist aesthetic blue and white interiors, bright color space, indoor and outdoor seating, wall hung plant bouquets, small bakery counter are some of the features of the Nine Square. A perfect setting for a lunch with family, evening tea with friends or a dinner date. The menu ranges from North Indian to Continental food. Staff is courteous. While waiting for the food, one can also enjoy the complimentary popcorns which were equally delish.

Some of the dishes I tried from the menu was....

• Not Your Regular Greek Salad (4/5)
• Thyme-Scented Mushroom Soup (4.5/5)
• Dabeli Croquettes (4/5)
• The Bombay Toastie Sandwich (4.5/5)
• Hazelnut Chocolate Tart (4.5/5)

Started our meal with the refreshing "Not your regular greek salad". A power-packed bowl of nutrients had the goodness of tomato petals, cucumbers, watermelon, feta, radish topped with microgreens. Liked it.

Out of the classic soups from the menu we chose Thyme scented Mushroom Soup. The earthy texture and aroma was bang on. Served with delicious confit garlic and mushroom crostini, the soup was perfect order for a cold evening.

I was quite excited to try the fusion version of the Indian mini sliders, Dabeli, so ordered Dabeli croquettes. I loved the remake of popular gujarati street food. The croquette had the crunchy exterior and the filling was of the dabeli mixture garnished with sev served over the bed of garlic chutney crumbs. Dabeli mixture was spicy and less sweet. Liked the presentation.
The Bombay Toastie Sandwich was a huge portion. It was a meal in itself for people like me with low appetite. One of the most popular street food sandwich had the spicy potato filling and delicious chutney. Served with a portion of crisp french fries and fresh salad, I absolutely loved it with my cup of Flat White! Highly Recommended!

The bakery team at Nine Square also bakes their own bread, tarts, cupcakes, and pastries. They also do cakes on order. From the array of sinful desserts, we tried the Hazelnut Chocolate Tart. The indulgent, impressive tart had the perfect chocolate ganache. Wish the tart was bit soft and easy to cut. Overall, the taste was delicious.

We also tried the refreshing Watermelon Mojito and Rose mocktail. Watermelon mojito is a must try!

Also, the best offer they are running is the Express Lunch (Rs.299 AI) including the choices of a Mocktail, Soup/Salad, Main Course, Choice of dessert. A total value for money. Do enjoy some of the shots.