We visited Pune's famous SP's Biryani House on Tilak Road, Pune. SP's Biryani House is considered the best for mutton and Chicken biryani in Pune (it also serves various other maharashtrian styled mutton and Chicken dishes as well).
Looking at the rush at gate and outside the restaurant, we instantly knew why SP's Biryani House is considered best in Pune. Though it was weekday evening, rush and as so high that it took us almost 30 minutes to get seating. Inside atmosphere and seating arrangement was not so jazzy like some other restaurants, I would say it was more basic seating arrangement, but every table had as full and restaurant was jam packed.
We checked with restaurant staff and was told that Amir Khan special Mutton biryani and Sajuk Ghee mutton biryani are the best biryanis (& restaurant specialities) offered by restaurant. So we ordered both Amir Khan special Mutton biryani and Sajuk Ghee mutton biryani. Thinking that quantity may not be sufficient for our group we also ordered Gavran Chicken Biryani as well. When all three biryanis were served, looking at quantity, we instantly realised that possibly we made a mistake by ordering three biryanis.
All three biryanis were really exclusive and wonderful in taste. In my and our group's opinion, Sajuk Ghee Mutton Biryani was best of the lot. There was little spices in biryani, but spices were adequate. Entire biryani had fragrance of home made ghee (clarified butter) and was very very tasty. Finally, even though quantity was much higher, we ended up polishing plates clean within no time.
So, it was a wonderful experience of one of the best biryani we had in Pune. However, we felt that despite such a big brand, offering such a wonderful biryani, cleanliness in hotel was not upto mark. Also ventilation in restaurant we felt was poor ( may be due to too many tables packed in relatively medium size hall and too many people). SP Biryani should improve upon the hygiene inside dining hall and should improve ventilation so that guests like us feel more comfortable visiting restaurant to enjoy biryani.
Ofcourse, the place is very very popular as there was heavy rush not only for guests who want to dine in but also for people who want to takeaway. The rush was so bloody heavy that when we came out of restaurant around 0930 pm, there were display boards on restaurant gates indicating Mutton Biryani is over for the day.
Overall it was very decent experience for us and we really enjoyed one of the best mutton biryani in Pune. However seeing the rush, lack of good ventilation, relatively cramped space inside dining hall, we decided that in future it is better for us to order SP's excellent Sajuk Ghee Mutton Biryani and Gavran Chicken biryani through food apps and enjoy same at home rather than visiting SP's Biryani House...
Read moreAuthentic Review: SP's Biryani House – A Disappointing Culinary Letdown Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
I recently ordered a kacchhi mutton biryani from SP's Biryani House in Pune for ₹577, expecting an authentic, flavorful experience. Sadly, what arrived was a tasteless, underwhelming dish that felt like a blatant rip-off. Here’s why I urge others to think twice before ordering:
Tasteless and Unauthentic Biryani The biryani lacked any semblance of authentic spices or aroma. The masala was bland, as if the chefs forgot to add the soul of the dish. This aligns with other reviews mentioning "too much oily and lot of masala" with no balance in flavor. Even the rice lacked fragrance, resembling plain steamed grains rather than the layered delight biryani should be. Overpriced for Subpar Quality At ₹577, the portion size and quality were shockingly poor. For context, SP’s Biryani House is listed under a price range (₹860–₹2,200 per person), but my single order felt like a fraction of that value. Other customers have also criticized the restaurant for being "over priced" and delivering "mere traces of meat". Questionable Hygiene and Ingredients The mutton in the biryani had an off-putting smell, raising concerns about freshness. Another reviewer similarly complained about "mutton smelling" and receiving the wrong order entirely . This negligence in ingredient quality is unacceptable for a restaurant claiming heritage since 1994. Misleading Authenticity Claims While SP’s Biryani House boasts traditional recipes like "Sajuk tup biryani" , my experience was far from the "melt-in-the-mouth" mutton described. Instead, it mirrored complaints of "steamed rice with boneless pieces" lacking depth. No Accountability for Customer Dissatisfaction The restaurant’s lack of response to such issues—evident from repeated negative reviews—shows a disregard for customer feedback. One patron even called the service "worst" and akin to "eating food free of charge". Final Verdict: SP’s Biryani House fails to deliver on taste, authenticity, and value. Save your money and explore alternatives, where quality and flavor are prioritized. Pune’s biryani lovers deserve better than this disappointment.
Advice to Potential Customers: Check recent reviews carefully. Many have warned about declining standards here. Don’t fall for the nostalgia trap—opt for restaurants that respect both your palate and...
Read moreGreat Old restaurant with unique flavors. Some may like some may not..
Let's get into a deep dive
Ambiance : Ambiance is more to cater the more customer as possible.. So it is more of a congested sitting place.. What I feel. Having a huge family together at one time is bit of issue.. But as I said earlier it is highly crowded most of time.. So it make sense to accomplish more and more people at time..
Service : Again it is more towards getting more and more people served as early as possible.. But waiters cum captain are well know to menu.. They will help you out about menu.. One issue with parking service is that they have car parking at different area than their restaurant.. So you have to handover the 🚘 car to their drivers.. However my issue is that they charge you for parking Rs. 50 for your car.. Not sure why first time i have seen a restaurant is charging for car parking.. Even after the one single biryani is costing rs. 500. I do not like it. So one ⭐ less for that.
Food : Main thing food 🍲 , Most people come over here for their biryani.. So here is my review.. Sajuk tupatli chicken biryani : very very mild.. Good amount of ghee and bit of blend taste.. But my kido like it that way.. And i am ok to try new stuff. Give a try if you are person who do not like even mild spicy 🌶..
Sp Mutton dum biryani : very high on spicy mutton is smooth & tender.. (It's sheep 🐑 mutton ) . If you like very spicy biryani then give a try.
Chicken lollypop very good liked 👍. The chutney was a bit different than the normal schezwan chutney..
Veg 🥦🥕🌽 green peas masala : very bad.. Too much oil and too much synthetic color.
For all veg person, please do not even try to eat.. This restaurant is mainly for non veg lovers only..
Overall give a try if you are Non veg person.. Check my photos and videos.. Please follow me on google for more unbiased...
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