Sabores Bistro & Bar — Restaurant in Pune

Perched on the roof top of Pradip Chambers, Shivaji Nagar is this wonderful bistro called Sabores. It is a Diner cum Bar specializing in European, Continental and Asian cuisine and bubbly, invigorating cocktails and drinks.

Dhanashri, the exuberant owner/ partner gave me a look-see tour of the place and also a peek into their culinary story and I instantly fathomed the precursor to the gastronomic delights in store.

The vibes are very connecting, positive energy floating in the air. The view from the rooftop is breathtaking; on to one side you notice the neon lights of Symbiosis and a row of houses nestled on the hilly terrain behind and on the other side, full of greenery and occasional squawk of peacocks intertwined with honking of cars and bright citylights, signifying the hustle and bustle of a metropolis.

Ambience and interiors are rustic with sturdy furniture strewn in clusters all around and one gazebo with an elevated baithak. The bar is set inside conforming to local excise rules. Murals and graffiti adorn the walls and pillars mirroring the dimlit lighting.

Drinks as I mentioned are just brilliant and you have an extensive choice. I tried the classic LIIT and Tequila Sunrise; both exquisite, inviting and piquant.

For starters and insalata tucked in classic Greek salad with chicken- mildly tossed in salad dressing and crackle of croutons. Loved it!

Guange Xao chicken- crispy thin strips of chicken sautéed in a tangy chef's special sauce- a prelude to the Asian fanfare.

Mushroom Popcorn- tad crunchy outside and mushy inside- cheesy, gooey seasoned with peri peri.

Main Course was strikingly enticing with Pepper Grilled Chicken- probably this qualifies as the dish of the year- succulent chicken breast grilled over charcoal topped with a generous helping of smoky-nutty white sauce and a liberal side of choicest veggies- speechless! Must, must, must try!

Red Thai curry- Gaeng Phed Gai or chicken in red curry thai style- perfect combination of thick coconut milk, galangal and kaffir lime leaves accompanied by mild herb flavoured jasmine rice.

Spicy Chicken Pizza- chicken overload on a thin crust base with oodles of marinara sauce and condiments giving it a characteristic reddish brown colour- delectable.

For dessert try their decadent Tiramisu- coffee flavoured indulgence of luxury- soft, fluffy, luscious, melt in the mouth pastry layered with creme de la creme. Very strongly recommended!

If you are in Pune and havent been to Sabores, its probably akin to visiting Agra and skipping the Taj Mahal or being to London and missing the Double decker. So gather your wits about and go party with sabor at the Sabores Bistro; you can...

Sabores European Bistro is a new addition to the Pune culinary landscape. Situated at the busy intersection of Bhandarkar road on Law College road, this is a rooftop restaurant with chilled vibes, overlooking the Vetal Tekdi.

Spacious seating arrangements with warm lighting welcome you as you step onto the rooftop. An “L” shaped place, with the kitchen located at the short end, Sabores sports a raised platform at the joint, for live events. Soft music matches the overall ambiance of the place.

Headed by Chef Anish, who also manages La Gustoza in Kothrud; the menu at Sabores is classic European. I was recently called over for a #FoodTasting over a cool March evening and here is my narrative of my experience.

Mocktails The Watermelon Spritzer [Rs. 160] was extremely refreshing with a nice zing from the soda. The lack of any artificial sweetness actually allowed the natural taste of the watermelon to shine through. #Refreshing

Tapas The Lemon & Coriander Falafel [Rs. 220] served on quarter-cut pita bread were nice and crunchy. The presence of lemon added some welcome acidity to the dish. The Moroccan Shrimps with Tzatziki [Rs. 380] were well cooked and flavorful however the spice rub didn't feel very Middle Eastern.

Unfortunately there is a lot of room for improvement in the chicken dishes that were sampled. The Turkish Chicken Kebabs [Rs. 300] were overall bland despite being cooked well while the Chicken Doner Kebab [Rs. 340] was a bien sandwich with dry chicken in a crumbly bread.

Entrée The Chicken Schnitzel was a shining star in an otherwise cloudy sky. Perfectly cooked, the pounded chicken breast retained its tender juiciness and had absorbed all the flavors from the spice rub. The breadcrumb coating provided a wonderful crunch to the bite. Squeezing a few drops of lemon juice over the schnitzel takes the flavor profile to a whole new level. #YumYum

Sweet Endings Continuing the European theme of the place, the chocolate dessert was christened Vienna Soother [Rs. 240]. Chocolate brownie topped chocolate whipped cream and drenched in rum, the Vienna Soother painted a gorgeous picture in a martini glass. Loved the strong undercurrent of the rum which is a classic combination with chocolate. #DeadlyPotent #DeliciousDelicious

Sabores may stand for “flavors” in Spanish however the flavors here definitely need some working on. Sabores has the capability to monopolize the market, especially the Deccan area, with the pedigreed Chef Anish at the helm; however they still have some ways to go before they can stamp...

If you are looking for something fancy in drinks then get a Nutella Brownie Shake on your table. Good to impress your date or yourself, has a lot of chocolate, a brownie bar hooked up at the top and some more chocolate. In other drinks you have only mocktails and milkshakes available for now.

A classic Italian starter, Peperoncino Arancini balls are as good as they look and these cheese-filled risotto balls are served with pasata sauce and are perfect for a bite size dish.

Moroccan Shrimp with Tzatziki is a dish with a combo from two worlds. The deveined shrimps are grilled in Moroccan spices and served with a Tzatziki – a dip made from salted strained yogurt with a strong flavour of Cucumber. A Greek delicacy.

The Turkish Chicken Kebab isn’t your regular kebab dish. The kebabs are white, mildly flavoured and has fresh pomegranates in it along with a yin yang designed orange and regular hummus.

You cannot miss pasta at an European restaurant. Try their Tagliatelle in Rich Meat Sauce is a delicious pasta recipe which has got Penne tossed with pork popperoni in red sauce with a hint of spice. There are chances that you may find this a bit costly, but if you have the cash do go for it.

For entree, a good seafood option is Fennel Beurre Cream Basa in which you are served with a preparation of grilled basa made in fennel butter cream sauce with mash potatoes and grilled veggies. The only change we would like to see is to customize the quantities of mashed potatoes and grilled veggies. For chicken lovers there is Rosemary Chicken with Pepper Jus which also is served with mashed potatoes and grilled veggies.

End your meal with a classic Vienna Soother or a big slice of Tiramisu cake. The Tiramisu gets a yes from us because it is a cake. And...