Punjab Exotica (Amanora) — Restaurant in Maharashtra

Punjab Exotica in Pune is a popular dining spot known for its North Indian cuisine. Here’s a detailed review based on various aspects:

Ambiance Punjab Exotica boasts a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. The decor is traditional yet modern, with comfortable seating arrangements and tasteful Punjabi-themed elements that add to the dining experience. The outdoor seating area is especially appealing during pleasant weather.

Food Quality The restaurant is renowned for its authentic North Indian dishes. Signature dishes like Butter Chicken, Dal Makhani, and Tandoori items are highly praised. The flavors are rich, with generous use of spices and fresh ingredients. The vegetarian options are equally delightful, catering to a diverse palate.

Service The staff at Punjab Exotica is courteous and attentive. Service is generally prompt, and the waiters are knowledgeable about the menu, often providing good recommendations based on customer preferences. However, during peak hours, service might be slightly slower, but the staff maintains a friendly demeanor.

Value for Money Prices at Punjab Exotica are on the higher side, but the quality of food and the overall dining experience justify the cost. Portions are generous, making it a good value for the price paid. Special occasions and celebrations are particularly worth the splurge here.

Cleanliness and Hygiene The restaurant maintains high standards of cleanliness and hygiene, both in the dining area and the restrooms. The kitchen appears well-organized, and hygiene practices are visibly followed by the staff.

Highlights Ambiance: Traditional yet modern with comfortable seating. Food Quality: Authentic North Indian cuisine with rich flavors. Service: Courteous and attentive staff. Value for Money: Higher side but justified by quality. Cleanliness: High standards of hygiene.

Areas for Improvement Service During Peak Hours: Can be slightly slower. Menu Variety: Although the focus is on North Indian cuisine, incorporating a few more diverse dishes could attract a wider audience.

Conclusion Punjab Exotica in Pune is a great place to enjoy authentic North Indian cuisine in a pleasant ambiance. Despite being slightly pricey, the quality of food and service makes it a worthwhile experience. It’s ideal for family dinners, gatherings, and...

Disappointing outing! We went here for a late lunch on a Saturday. As it was a relatively warm afternoon we decided to sit inside with AC. My feedback from here onwards is purely based on the charges mentioned in their Menu which are exorbitant to say the least. The outside ambience is very well done but the inside ambience is very disappointing. Paint is peeling off, the tables are wobbly like dhaba and chairs and sofas have turned brown with dirt. We started with Bhatti da Murg which was excellent and very well made. Then we had Afghani Malai Tikka which was very dry and not juicy at all and had no taste. You can't be charging Rs700 for a dry starter. They forgot to give the chutney as well which we had to remind. But the chutney seemed stale as well and was sugary sweet. We ordered starters and main course at the beginning only so that we don't have to order again. But they brought our main course along with the starters. We had to send it back as we were still eating starters. You can't be charging 5 star rates without having a basic understanding of service. In came the main course which had Smoky Butter Chicken and surprisingly it came out to be yellow in colour and did not have any smoky taste. It was just regular dhaba chicken which you will get for Rs250 at any roadside dhaba which was being sold at Rs750 here. I am not sure whether they messed up our order and whether it was even butter chicken, we just didn't bother about it after that. They brought the same Garlic naan and Butter Roti which they had mistakenly brought 20-25mins back. It was just reheated in microwave as it came out very dry. Again, for these prices you can't just give dry naan if it's your mistake you messed up the order. Luckily before paying the bill we checked Zomato for any discount and there was 50% off going on. That made the final bill pretty reasonable. But with their charges mentioned in the menu, this is not at all recommended. If they want to continue charging that, they literally need to redo their interiors, seatings, service and chef as well. For 50% off prices,...

We visited Punjab Exotica for a team lunch. While the place has a beautiful interior and good aesthetic vibe, our overall experience was disappointing and concerning.

Despite being the only group present at the time, the service was extremely slow and unresponsive. We were offered a complimentary mocktail, which was supposed to be sweet and tangy, but we received a salty soda instead. Even after pointing out that sugar was missing, the drink wasn’t replaced or corrected.

The most alarming part was finding glass pieces in our food — specifically in the Paneer Lawabdar and Sarson Da Saag. Initially, a small piece was found, and later, two more team members found larger pieces, which was very scary.

To their credit, the manager and owner did come to speak with us, acknowledged this was the first time such an incident occurred, and assured us they were checking with the kitchen staff and chef. They compensated by waiving off part of the main course and offering Dal Makhani and desserts, which tasted good.

However, even with the compensation, the incident left most of us too scared to continue eating. Hygiene and food safety are critical, and this could have caused serious harm.

Additionally, the pricing feels on the higher side, especially when compared to the portion sizes — starters and most dishes seemed overpriced. And to make matters worse, there were a lot of flies (makhi) roaming around, which was very off-putting and added to the hygiene concerns.

Pros: • Lovely interiors and ambiance • Food (apart from the incident) was good in taste, especially the dessert

Cons: • Very slow and inattentive service • Serious hygiene issue: glass found in food • Flies present around the dining area • Initial staff response lacked urgency • Overpriced menu compared to portion size

While the management’s response was responsible, the experience was unsettling. Hope they take immediate steps to improve food safety, cleanliness, and...