Review - SHIV SAGAR Restaurant, Aundh, Pune

           Shiv Sagar is a vegetarian restaurant located in Aundh, Pune in Maharashtra, India. It is one of the best restaurants for the middle class in Pune, where you can find dishes ranging from the traditional Dal Tadka to Paneer Butter Masala to Manchurian to Mexican Pasta Sizzlers. No other place having such a large cuisine.

          First, we will have a look at the details of the place. Then I will introduce you to some of the best and famous dishes of the restaurant.

          The restaurant has two storeys, the ground floor which is non A/C, and the first floor which is an A/C hall. The first floor has cloth covers on the tables and chairs, preferred by those dining in premium hotels, while the ground floor has normal chairs, tables and fans. The difference between the two is that the ground floor has a normal temperature, while the first floor has a cold temperature. It just means that food becomes cold within a few minutes in the A/C hall, while on the ground floor, it doesn’t. So, first recommendation, dining on the ground floor is better.
 

          Tables can be reserved on phone. Tables are available for two, four and six people, but for more people, the staff can join two or more tables, so that they can have a great party. The time taken to serve the food after placing the order varies from ten to fifteen minutes during normal hours and half an hour during peak hours. It also depends upon the type of dish you order.
 

          The cleanliness is fine. There is a wash basin, and after eating food, a finger bowl is provided. The tableware is neat. Till date only once in my 250+ visits have I encountered the problem of some material being present in my plate and glass.
 

          Now let’s have a look at the cuisine.
 

          The Pav Bhaji is breathtakingly incredible. It is probably the best Pav Bhaji you could ever have in this world. You have to try it before it’s too late. Though it is a bit expensive, it is a must-eat. I hereby declare it as the best dish of this place.
 

          Chole Bhature – the bhature part is fantastic (and oily), but the chole part, not so much. The chole are, well, I never was able to understand their flavour. I’d recommend Shiv Sagar to possibly make them a bit softer, so that it would be more enjoyable. The bhatura part is shockingly amazing. It is almost bewildering. Biting into one feels like walking through heaven, or more accurately, eating heaven. Believe me. You can order exclusively the bhatura part, without the chole.
 

          Manchurian and all the types of Paneer served here are satisfying. If you have the money, you can buy a nice sizzler. It will result in people coughing around you, due to the hot vapours coming out of it. But it has a taste of its own.
 

          Now for the South Indian part. The masala dosa is remarkable. There have to be better restaurants that make better dosas, but till date, of all dosas I've eaten, the Shiv Sagar dosa is the best. The original masala dosa with the red chatni is crisp and less oily, while the rava masala dosa is oily and crispier, and the one suggested by me.
 

           The Utthapam and Idli are okay. The Medu Vada is nice and crisp. Along with all these South Indian dishes, Sambhar and coconut chatni is served. Both are nice and add to the flavour.
 

          As for the dessert, if you visit Shiv Sagar in winter or spring, order Strawberry with Cream. Big pieces of real strawberry are topped with cream. Dig into one, and you’d never want it to end. I’d call it a khatta-meetha combination. But along with the brilliant taste comes a higher than normal price tag. You can also try the strawberry milkshake. It comes in a big glass, again with real strawberry pieces.
 

          This was all about the Shiv Sagar restaurant. On the whole, the place is excellent for moderate price high quality food. I would give the restaurant four and a half out of five stars and I wish all the best to Shiv Sagar to continue its future endeavours.
 

-         Manas Trivedi

 

Shiv Sagar Vegetarian Restaurant

Masala Dosa with Red Chatni - Shiv Sagar

Utthapam - Shiv Sagar

Strawberry With Cream - Shiv Sagar