PUNE MISAL HOUSE — Restaurant in Pune

Puneri Misal. DP Road.Mhatre Bridge. Erandwane. Pune. Today after a good meeting with Academic advisor in Pune, my son and I were in search for something quick and easy to eat. Both Mufasa and Simba here are certified carnivores but aficionados of Misal. Like father like son. Probably out DNA strands have M for Misal as additional Nitrogenous base. Making us rare father son who not just like Misal but love it.

Google is safe and reliable as far as food hunt is considered. Sometimes the Google Map might go haywire in destinations but food they help to reach Niravana. So a quick search threw Puneri Misal House as close by around three and half kms from the academy.We set off for the same.

We entered the hotel which was quite large for a Misal House. We were seated well by owner and he advised us on the menu. Misal Thali is something I avoid. I like simple Misal Pav. So we were given two options. Kolhapuri Misal and Puneri Misal. We ordered both. Kolhapuri for my son and Puneri for me. Within few minutes Misal arrived.

A shallow bowl with Farsan and Misal cut, shev and mataki in it. Complete absence of potato and I didn't notice Pohe too. The sample what they call looked perilously red. At least the Kolhapuri version. Mine looked alright. They had given tiny bowl of Mataki , chopped onion , pair of pav and tuny bucket of Misal curry cut. Curd with tuti fruti was a novelty.

My habit forced me to get a sense check of Misal content, ingredients and proportion. A scooped a spoonful of Misal with curry and found farsan with Mataki, boiled moth beans, thick shev just the way I like and should be in Misal. Thin shev is a blasphemy. I took the first bite. Nice crisp farsan and reasonably spicy Misal cut. Broke a piece of bread , dipped in the Misal and ate it. Fresh bread and nice Misal sample. I turned the contents inside out within the bowl and found nothing different than usual suspects in it. What was different was home made farsan , shev and nicely done Misal curry cut. Krishna the outlet manager explained how they make their own Masalas and farsan. The original Misal House is from Shirur and they have this branch in Pune. Pune outskirts have some amazing Misals and if you move towards Nagar Road the Misals there have crispy Farsan, basically papdi, thickish shev and shev. Good quality besan and oil is used to make it as best as they can. The onion is also little coarsely chopped and coriander was missing. A bowl is curd is something which is standard with it. Not to mention the mataki bowl. That's pretty much common.

Since Misal wasn't too spicy I was happy to scoop one after another spoonful and nibble bread all along. Chopped onion were just to give a brief respite and curd to cool it down little bit.

While second serving the manger advised me couple things . To try Kolhapuri Misal cut and he also have us a tiniest bowl of Ghee, clarified butter. Never seen ghee in Misal shop. Kolhapuri misal cut was fiery and it immediately elevated the pungency. Not too hot but good enough to burn the taste buds of the uninitiated. For veterans like me it wasn't much and went nicely with my original Misal bowl. In finsihed second Pav with this hybrid combination and ghee arrived. He urged us just to put the ghee in Misal. Never tried before. Didn't see any harm. I out half a spoon. It actually lifted the spirit of Misal. Ghee does that with any food. And especially home made ghee would turn any ordinary curry into heavenly potion. Exuding it's fatty flavour and changing the oil base to better . Misal cut wasn't the same. I wish I had tried earlier. Now we were settled well. Son replenished his consumed breads in succession, took couple more farsan watis, needless to say kept emptying the bucket into his bowl. Finally he also asked for butter milk. Which was little spices up but nice. Good accompaniment to Misal.

Two hungery lions entered and came out as satisfied humans.

That's what a good Misal does to you. Make happy , content and peace...

I have been trying out most of the well known Misal places in Pune over the past couple of years to savour the variety of nuances offered by these popular establishments. Today, I visited Pune Misal House on my quest for good Misals in Pune.

I ordered a Puneri Misal and another Tikhat Kolapuri misal with ghee/tup. I also had their tak, solkadhi, and shengdana laddu.

Food quality and quantity: Both the Puneri and Kolhapuri Misals were exactly the same - farsan, matki, rassa, pav, onion+nimbu, curd with bits of tutti-frutti. When I enquired with the waiter whether there was any difference between the puneri and Kolhapuri Misals, he said no only Kolhapuri had more tarri in rassa to make it spicy but rassa was the same. I also didn't get ghee/tup in separate vaati - not did I see any ghee/tup in my misal.

My understanding is that Kolhapuri masala and ingredients are different from the Puneri misal's, so was expecting two distinct flavours but was disappointed to have the same watery rassa. Wondering why should they even have two separate menu items for these when these are essentially the same dish in their restaurant.

The taste was nothing extraordinary for me to write about. However the quantity of matki, onion and curd provided was shameful. For the 100+ rupees they charge for a misal pav they could atleast provide matki, onion, and curd in regular vaati that is commonly used across restaurants, however they serve these in miniature vaatis. The initial serving of matki should atleast be sufficient quantity to go along with the farsan and rassa, it is very less. I ordered bhajlela paav (₹10) and was hoping to get a nice hot paav to go with my spicy misal as it was raining outside, however the pav was simply warm as if kept on a tava and served - not properly heated with butter etc. I liked the taste of solkadhi as it was sweet and also had a tinge of spicyness which I like instead of just sweet version.

Pricing: I can get good quality unlimited Misal along with other traditional Maharashtrian dishes at Shrimant Misal for the price of limited misal here. Even though it costs 150+, the Bajirao Misal is also limited - it just bundles taak, laddu, and paan along with the regular misal. You have to pay extra for everything except the onions and rassa. So matki, farsan, pav is all chargeable here.

Atmosphere & Service: There are 8 tables with 6 plastic seats each, so about 45+ people can be seated at a time. The place was reasonably clean. They served regular temperature drinking water in plastic bottles and paper glasses. One of the waiters drank water from one such bottle directly instead of using a glass and kept it back. I ordered for a cold bisleri and got some unknown brand's water bottle instead for ₹20. The outlet had 3 tables occupied as it was around 11 AM on a Tuesday morning so not a peak hour. The staff was also enjoying the unseasonal rains, so we had to shout to get their attention or wait for them to order more paav or ask for more onions etc.

The outlet has photos of many celebrities and film posters decorating their walls, not sure if they are also invested in films. They also seems to have diversified or partnered with someone to sell perfumes and some tours etc.

Overall, I travelled for about an hour to try out Pune Misal House's misal and it was not...

It is a delightful eatery that offers an authentic and flavorful experience for misal pav enthusiasts. Located conveniently, this place has quickly become a favorite spot for locals and visitors craving a taste of traditional Maharashtrian cuisine.

The highlight of Pune Misal House is undoubtedly its misal pav. The dish is prepared with a perfect blend of spices, creating a burst of flavors that is both satisfying and memorable. The misal is served piping hot, with crunchy farsan, fresh onions, and a slice of lemon, accompanied by soft and freshly baked pav. The balance of spice and tanginess is just right, catering to both those who love a bit of heat and those who prefer a milder taste.

The ambiance of Pune Misal House is simple and welcoming. The decor is unpretentious, focusing on providing a comfortable dining experience. The seating is ample and well-arranged, ensuring that even during busy hours, customers can find a spot without much hassle. The cleanliness and hygiene standards are commendable, making it a pleasant place to enjoy a meal.

Service at Pune Misal House is efficient and friendly. The staff are attentive and quick to respond to requests, ensuring that customers are well taken care of. Orders are served promptly, and the staff are knowledgeable about the menu, ready to offer recommendations or adjustments to suit individual preferences.

In addition to the misal pav, Pune Misal House offers a variety of other snacks and beverages that complement the main dish perfectly. Their buttermilk and lassi are particularly refreshing, providing a cooling contrast to the spicy misal. The menu, while focused on misal, includes enough variety to keep repeat visits interesting.

However, there are a few areas where Pune Misal House could improve. The seating area, though comfortable, can get quite crowded during peak times, leading to a bit of a wait. Additionally, expanding the menu to include more regional delicacies could attract a broader customer base and enhance the overall dining experience.

In conclusion, Pune Misal House is a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy authentic misal pav in a clean and friendly environment. With its delicious food, efficient service, and inviting ambiance, it is well-deserving of a four-star rating. A few minor improvements could easily elevate it to a five-star establishment, but as it stands, it offers a thoroughly enjoyable...