Panchali (Pure Veg) — Restaurant in Pune

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Panchali Restaurant, located at the heart of JM Road, and the experience was truly satisfying. From the moment I stepped in until the end of the meal, everything—from the ambiance to the service and the food—was impressive and worth sharing.

First and foremost, let’s talk about the food quality, which was absolutely top-notch. One of the highlights of our meal was the paneer dishes. The paneer was incredibly fresh, soft, and flavorful, and you could instantly tell that it was made from high-quality ingredients. Whether it was the Paneer Butter Masala, Paneer Tikka, or any other paneer-based item, each bite was rich in taste and had the perfect balance of spices. It's not often that you find such freshness in every dish, especially on a crowded day.

Speaking of crowds, we visited the restaurant on a Sunday evening, a time when most places are bustling and service can sometimes falter. However, to our surprise, Panchali Restaurant managed everything extremely well despite the rush. The staff was not only quick and efficient in taking and delivering our order but also very polite and professional throughout. Our food arrived on time, hot and perfectly plated, which shows their excellent time management and coordination in the kitchen and service areas.

Another major plus point was the affordability of the food. The prices are very reasonable, and the quality and quantity of the dishes far exceeded our expectations. It’s rare to find a place that offers such value for money. Whether you’re a student, a family, or a group of friends, Panchali ensures that your hunger is satisfied without burning a hole in your pocket.

The ambiance of the restaurant is another aspect worth mentioning. The interiors are tastefully done, giving a calm and welcoming vibe. Even when the restaurant was packed, the environment didn’t feel chaotic. The seating is comfortable, and the overall atmosphere adds to the dining experience. It’s a great place to sit, relax, and enjoy a hearty meal.

Lastly, I’d like to appreciate the staff, who were extremely helpful, courteous, and attentive. They patiently guided us through the menu and even suggested a few must-try dishes. Their warm behavior made the experience even better and added a personal touch to the service.

In conclusion, Panchali Restaurant at JM Road offers everything you could ask for in a good dining experience—delicious food, prompt service, reasonable pricing, a soothing ambiance, and friendly staff. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a satisfying and enjoyable meal. Whether you're a regular visitor to JM Road or just passing by, do make a stop at Panchali—you won’t be...

Panchali Some restaurants don't need their introduction, Panchali is one of the oldest restaurant situated on crowded lanes of JM road, just opposite to JM temple. The same Deliciousness just with add-on of new Looks very similar to "रिश्ता वही सोच नई". The ambience is quite nice and impressive just like their food. Now they also have an AC sittings. Yeah and the highlight is, it's a VEG restaurant which will give a perfect throwback answer to the nonveg lovers i.e. "Yes we do have lot of options in Veg too..."

Spring Rolls :- Fresh minced veggies stuffed inside rolls and fried. Paired with Shezwan chutney and Salad. Tastes DELICIOUS as the rolls were not oily and perfectly fried goes well with the spicy shezwan chutney.

Paneer Tikka Masala :- Square chunks of fresh paneer marinated in spices and then Tandoored with some capsicum chunks paired with salad and Pudina Chutney. The paneer chunks were perfectly Tandoored and marinated well, enough to give a flavourful blast in my mouth.

Panchali Special Tawa Veg :- Considering most of the restaurants' special dishes are always sweet in taste but this one was medium spicy and that's so cool. Containing lot of veggies with medium spicy gravy, tastes Yummy.

Special Veg Balti :- Yeah the name and your guessing are right, they serve the dish in a small steel Balti (Bucket). Mix veggies tossed with spicy tangy spices topped with Pineapple chunks. I loved those Pineapple dipped in gravy. They were tasting Yummilicious.

Paneer Butter Masala :- The fresh chunks of paneer cooked with a sweet and spicy gravy tossed with butter. All time great choice to order.

Veg Fried Rice :- It was just perfect neither so oily nor so dry, tossed with small chunks of veggies. A Delicious way to mouth.

Veg Hyderabadi Biryani :- Green coloured based biryani containing veggies. For those nonveg Biryani lovers, Yes Biryani do come in VEG option too. It was really good in taste the masala were perfectly balanced with the veggies and rice. Yummy.

Rava Dosa :- Best Rava Dosa I have tasted ever. Chutney and sambar were perfectly paired for this Delicious delicacy. Perfect crisp from outside and little soft from inside just Delicious.

Now here come my fav part :- The desserts.

Special Falooda :- Looks inviting with those vibrant colours. Sevai, subja, crushes, thick milk topped with scoop of ice cream and some nuts. Tastes Delicious.

Fruit Punch :- Pineapple, Orange blended with Vanilla ice cream and topped with scoop of Vanilla ice cream and chunks of pineapple. A well known mocktail. Tastes Yummilicious.

Fruit Salad with Icecream :- Fresh fruits mixed with crushes and chopped nuts topped with Icecream. Just Delicious.

Hungry for...

I recently visited Panchalee Restaurant in Shivaji Nagar, Pune, and ordered their Special Punjabi Thali. While the ambiance and service were passable, my overall dining experience was just average, earning the restaurant a 3-star rating. Below is a detailed review of my experience.

Special Punjabi Thali: A Mixed Bag

The Special Punjabi Thali was the main attraction of my visit. Unfortunately, the dish did not live up to expectations. Despite the promise of hearty, robust flavors, several aspects left me disappointed:

Average Food Quality

The overall food quality was mediocre. The ingredients did not appear fresh, and the presentation was rather uninspiring. The meal felt like it was prepared with minimal care, lacking the vibrant flavors typically associated with Punjabi cuisine.

Stale Paneer

One of the highlights of a Punjabi thali is fresh, soft paneer. However, the paneer served was noticeably stale. It had a tough texture and lacked the creaminess and freshness that are essential to a good paneer preparation, which significantly impacted the overall taste of the thali.

Gravy Lacking Essential Ingredients

The gravy, an essential component of the thali, was another letdown. Despite being touted as a rich, flavorful accompaniment, the gravy was thin and noticeably missing mushrooms—a key ingredient that usually adds depth and texture to the dish. The absence of mushrooms left the gravy bland and underwhelming.

Overall Taste and Experience

Ultimately, the Special Punjabi Thali offered only average taste and an overall dining experience that did not impress. While the restaurant is conveniently located in Shivaji Nagar and provides decent service, the food did not stand out. The stale paneer and lack of critical ingredients in the gravy were major factors in making the meal feel subpar.

Final Thoughts

For those looking to dine at Panchalee Restaurant in Shivaji Nagar, Pune, here’s a quick takeaway: • Pros: Convenient location and acceptable service. • Cons: Average food quality, stale paneer, lack of mushrooms in the gravy, and overall average taste and experience.

Given these points, I rate Panchalee Restaurant a solid 3 stars based on my Special Punjabi Thali experience. If you’re in the area and looking for a quick meal, it might suffice, but for a memorable Punjabi dining experience, you may want to explore...