Santé Spa Cuisine — Restaurant in Pune

Warning: It is NOT GLUTENFREE! I want to start off with saying that the food is yummy, the ambience is pretty cool and calm, staff is nice and I have been in touch with the female owner of this place on the glutenfree-issue. Despite that I can only express my disappointment on the handling of glutenfree food.

Glutenfree-label for dishes I had ordered the “Tibetan Thukpa inspired herb soup” which IS labelled “glutenfree”. The soup was black-ish and I was suspicious if there might be soy sauce in there. I asked and it turned out it was full of not-glutenfree soy sauce. Oof.

After that not-glutenfree discovery I went there again (exactly 1 week after the incident) to find out that there was NO notification/modification at all in the menu and on top I ordered a “House salad of Capri” which was again labelled as glutenfree, but it arrived mit not-glutenfree oats sprinkled on top as decoration.

I was very sad to learn, that neither the chef nor the owner knows which food actually contains gluten and which not and for celiacs it can be fatal. And any restaurant owner should be aware of that, when offering the label glutenfree, otherwise please don’t label it as glutenfree.

Uninformed Staff/Chef/kitchen personnel I ordered a pizza that says “made out of 100% glutenfree grains”. Before ordering I’ve asked the staff if this pizza is glutenfree, because there was NO glutenfree label so that got me suspicious. I know that “practice” from other restaurants that do that because they can’t avoid cross contamination. I told the waiter that I have a gluten allergy and I want to double check if this is glutenfree/ why it is not labelled glutenfree. He came back informing me “it is 100% glutenfree ma’am, but there is no label because we cook non-glutenfree things in the kitchen as well”. Since I don’t have a too severe case of celiac disease I ordered the pizza. Pizza arrived and it was very crunchy and “dry” which I’m used to from glutenfree food and i found it very yummy. I had food there every 3-4 day and was very pleased with the taste, however developed health issues. I just didn’t think that it is coming from Santé. Anyway, when the incident in Nr. 1 happened (see above) I was lucky to have a very well-informed staff letting me know that the pizza is in fact NOT glutenfree as they mix wheat flour in the dough. I was shocked, at the same time all my bad symptoms made sense. I wanted to leave the place and denied further food.

Handling my case by the female owner Upon leaving the restaurant the female owner stopped me and was very friendly regarding my case. She informed me that Indians don’t like completely glutenfree food, which is why they mix wheat flour in there, but only a “little bit”. She said she simply didn’t know that soy sauce isn’t glutenfree and she’ll let her staff know. She said as well that they in fact have 100% glutenfree pizza dough ready during peak times because there are celiacs coming. Plus she asked me to let the waiter know in upon ordering, that way we can ensure to give me glutenfree food. She finally added, that there are so many other glutenfree things that I could choose from and offered me a drink and making me a pizza right away. I did feel misunderstood still. It is NO excuse to only put “a little” bit of wheat flour in there. And she mentioned that several times that “it is only a few few spoons, the rest is glutenfree ingredients”. A label that says “glutenfree” has to contain NO gluten at all and the restaurant owner should be well-informed about it before plastering that label all over the menu. It is also NO excuse that Indians like it different - I don’t care how you prepare your food, honestly, but if there is a label that is supposed to prevent serious health issues it is not about taste anymore. I have let the waiter know upon ordering and I usually don’t ask the same waiter the same question during my next visit because I had confirmed it once.

At the end they made a glutenfree pizza for me, which was good, but you can’t trust...

Visited here with couple of friends. Sante Spa Cuisine is located in lane 1 in Koregaon Park. The ambiance is very relaxing, calming and soothing. The place has indoor and outdoor seating arrangement with beautiful greenery all around. The food served here is organic, healthy, vegan and gluten free. They serve variety of soups, salad, dimsum, sushi, pizza and desserts.

Coming to food and beverages, we had:

FOOD

Bread Basket: Variety of multigrain breads served with house made butter like herbed garlic, mushroom, tomato, plain butter with chia seeds and jam. It was a good appetizer to munch on while waiting for food.

Beetroot and Spinach Hummus: Hummus drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and served with multigrain khakra, crunchy chickpeas, olives and micro greens. Both the hummus were healthy, delicious and tasted so good with khakra.

Black and White Moroccan Hummus: Activated charcoal and green chilli spilked hummus drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, topped with olives, bell peppers, chickpeas and served with multigrain khakra. It was yummy.

Spaghetti of Farm Grown Organic Vegetables: This healthy salad consists of spaghetti made out of vegetables, pickled raw mango vinaigrette, fenugreek leaves and khakra.

Fresh Fruit and Nut Bhel: Fresh fruits, soaked nuts, multigrain mix, fox nuts mix together with like juice and herbs. It was decent.

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad: This yummy salad made of apples, orange, walnuts, cranberries, lettuce, baby spinach, Greek feta and quinoa was healthy, crunchy and delicious. I liked it more coz of Greek feta.

Chlorophyll dimsums on Red Curry: Steamed dimsums made of broccoli, pakchoy, baby spinach, basil encased in tapioca casing and dipped in creamy, smooth and delicious red curry. Dimsums were scrumptious, flavorful and tasted amazing with curry.

Golden Dumplings: Steamed dumplings made of burnt chilli spiced vegetables encased in activated charcoal casing, sprinkled with gold dust and served with soy sauce.

Crunchy Mushroom Dimsum: Dimsums stuffed with white fungus, chestnuts, carrots and shitake mushroom and served with soy sauce. It was cooked nicely and taste so good.

Half n Half Pizza: It was made of half of pizza verde and half of farmfresh pizza. Pizza verde was topped with arugula basil pesto, capers, zucchini, spinach, and fenugreek leaves. Farmfresh pizza was topped with olives, jalapenos, sundried tomato, bell peppers and broccoli. Pizza was delicious and had nice thin crust.

Sour Dough Pizza A La Greque: Pizza topped with feta cheese, caramelized onions, olives, pimento and micro herbs. It was mildly sweet and I didn't like it much.

Spicy California Uramaki Rolls & Crackling Midori Sushi Rolls: California rolls was made with country cucumber and asparagus. Midori rolls was made with spinach, broccoli and pakchoy. They were served with soy sauce and pickled ginger. Both the sushi tasted so delicious and I loved it.

Thai Curried Vegetable: Blend of exotic vegetables cooked in coconut curry and served with steamed brown rice. Veggies were cooked nicely and the curry tasted so flavorful and it's a perfect meal to enjoy in winters.

Whole Wheat Spaghetti Kale Pesto: Whole wheat spaghetti tossed in olive oil, garden fresh vegetables, paprika flakes placed upon kale pesto and sprinkled with grated cheese. Pasta was cooked nicely and it tasted amazing.

DESSERTS

Almond Muesli Icecream

Coconut and Palm Jaggery Icecream

Salted Caramel Mud Cup

Dark Decadent Brownie

Organic Ajmer Gulkand Cheese Slab

All the desserts were yummy and was presented beautifully. I loved dark decadent brownie and salted caramel mud cup, it was perfectly sweet, nothing too overpowering.

BEVERAGES

Antioxidizing- Pineapple, Spinach, Spearmint and Black Salt

Chilled Vegan Turmeric Cocoa Latte

Pink Lemonade

Green Tea

Americano

Latte

Everything was fresh and refreshing and I loved Pink Lemonade, it tasted amazing.

Overall, the place is amazing with amazing ambiance, service and serves one of the best vegan...

Sante Spa situated in the bylines Koregaon Park, near Osho Ashram. It is a beautiful designed spa. The attached restaurant serves Healthy options : Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten free and Jain. Their purpose - you heartily enjoy guilt free meals. Gourmet Cuisine/dishes modified using ingredients that are healthier without compromising on the quality, taste, appearance or satisfaction. The ambience is elegant and beautiful. The Vibes here are positivity, giving inner peace - Zen Effect. The furniture (seating) spaced out ensuring comfort and relaxation. The server pours water from a jug which has Tulsi leaves into your copper glass. Detoxing!

Let’s get down to what we had :-

*Thandai Milkshake: served chilled. Milk with a blend of dry fruits and spices. The texture was smooth. It was sweet with hints of pepper. Loved it.

*Homemade Guacamole – This classy Mexican Avocado spread was extremely fresh and refreshing. Acted as a perfect condiment with gluten free - beetroot and spinach Khakras. Incredibly delicious!

*Beetroot, Spinach and White& Black Hummus – The three different middle eastern savory dips made with tahini, chickpeas, garlic, lime juice and a different twist were a welcoming healthy starter with breads from the basket and Khakras. Delicious.

*The Basket : consists of Assorted breads made with flex seeds, multi grains. The 5 types of butter 1)chia butter, 2)mushroom and soy , 3) tomato and chilly 4) garlic and parsley and 5)country style butter. All different in taste, wholesome and refreshing delightful. The butters enchanted the taste with hummus and Guacamole. A gastronomical experience!!

*Pan Seared Zucchini Kebabs were crunchy, tasty and shallow fried. Kebabs made with stuffing of spring onions, zucchini and South spices. A dip into the ginger tomato chutney enhances the taste and salad makes it a fiber rich starter. Perfect!

*Crunchy Chlorophyll Dimsum :Soft Dimsum paired beautifully with Thai red curry which was creamy with coconut milk, spicy, flavorful. This pan Asian dish was soulful.

*Heritage Asian Purple Risotto : an amalgamation of black rice, Italian herbs and crunchy carrot noodles Superb!

*Pizza Farm fresh/Pizza Verde (half n half) Visually a colorful delight. The jowar thin pizza base and crunchiness of the vegetables, oregano. Didn’t feel guilty eating this pizza, indulge yourself!

*Rajma Chawal A combination of Jasmine rice, a generous helping of white homemade butter (home-style) and tender cooked rajma in the classic NI curry. This is soul food. Delicious.

The dessert served were : *Salted caramel mud cup wheat and Jagger based and *Almond muesli ice cream made with almond milk. Both dessert were okayish. Perhaps I was expecting more or lacking certain ingredients. However - the mains and starters were so Indulgent it made up for a...