Vadhiv Akkha Masoor — Restaurant in Pune

Note: This is not a michelin fine-dine restaurant in an upscale 5* hotel, so review stars given are in comparison to restaurants in similar category and price range.

I am always interested in trying out local vegetarian cuisines. I heard about Akkha Masoor, but never earlier had the opportunity to try it.

Drove for about 45 minutes on Sunday to finally try it out at Vadhiv Akkha Masoor in Karve Nagar. There is some space provided by restaurant to park 2-wheelers and these are also parked at the street-side, however there is no place to park 4-wheelers. There is a no-parking sign, however there were a few 4-wheelers parked on the street-side. Since it was a Sunday there wasn't much traffic.

Atmosphere/Ambience: Simple, minimal, clean. Wash-basin & Kitchen at the back, payment counter at the entrance and 4-5 tables. The glass facade and open sides gave the small place an open feel. Even with the openness and the weather, there was no dust or flies. I am happy with the cleanliness maintained.

Service: The owner/partner/counter person were attentive to the guests' needs. We were welcomed with a katori of complimentary pandra rassa. It was a wonderful start during this rainy weather. After the first order, the person who took the order checked once or twice if we needed anything else without being too intrusive. The order taker could be more attentive to customers instead of standing near the sink after the initial order as customers may need something between the times he decides to visit the table eg. Papad, chhas, water, spoon etc. However, a simple wave of the hand was all that was required to get his attention, as this place is small, so not a big issue. The order taker should also ensure that the order taken is delivered completely. We did not get one of the items that we had ordered (curd), when reminded I heard him say that he had conveyed the order to the servers and it seems they missed it. After all they are on the same team, so order taker should work with the kitchen to ensure the preparation is as per customers needs (spice level etc.) and work with servers to ensure that everything ordered is served (nothing missed). No water was served and had to explicitly order for bottled water and glasses.

Food: Simply tasty. First, I was pleasantly surprised by the simple menu - just Akkha Masoor, Roti, Rice in main course. Ofcourse there are accompaniments like chhas, solkadhi, papad, curd etc. to go with the main course. However, I am glad that they have stuck to their USP (Akkha Masoor) and not diluted it by adding hundreds of items to the menu (so no misal, no dosa, no paneer etc.etc.). The complimentary pandra rassa (veg) served to us even before we placed our orders, immediately after we settled in at our table was such a wonderful welcome drink in the rainy weather. The warm temperature and aroma of the infused spices worked wonderful to get our gastric juices flowing and increasing our hunger. We ordered almost everything on the menu Akkha Masoor with garlic - the USP dish had three variants - special, tej (extra spicy), garlic (medium spicy). The garlic one has deep fried garlic cloves added to the special akkha masoor while cooking and also as topping. The creamy texture and flavour (reminded me of daal makhani) interspersed with masoor lentils whole and ground is healthy as well as tasty. It goes very well with the roti and rice. Butter tandoori roti - was very big and thinner as compared to the tandoori rotis we get in most restaurants. Butter was flowing and dripping. Khushk rice - steamed long grain rice seasoned with khada masala (bay leaf, black pepper, cardamom, etc.) Chhas - was a bit too salty for my taste Solkadhi: tasted like the ready packet type, not too bad, however nothing like a freshly prepared one which is generally difficult to find at most restaurants. Masala Papad: fried papad with topping of onion, tomato, sev. The topping was a little extra salty for me, but otherwise a good accompaniment Curd: plain,...

Was looking forward to go have Akkha Massor on Satara Rd, but then came across some reel and came to know about this newly opened restaurant in Karve Nagar. Myself staying in Kothrud decided to try this out since it was nearby distance to me. This is located near Cummins Engineering college nearby area ( Canal Rd), so you can always expect more bachelor people/ youth,than families. The ambience was decent enough and satisfactory. This is out and out Akkha Masoor speciality outlet hence don't expect much of other dishes. We ordered Akkha Masoor full ( spicy/ तिखट) costing Rs 150/- which is quite economical along with Butter Roti ( Rs. 35) . The Roti is huge in size but the main dish i.e Akkha Masoor was average to my taste. I didn't find any WOW factor is in it. I was disappointed by the service. They put a single Plate on your table and you have to adjust the Massor and Roti in the same plate. Also they don't serve you by themselves, they will just bring the Akkha Masoor on your table and you have serve that yourself to yourself/ family. The Pandhara Rassa is something unique offering of this restaurant which i didn't found in any other Akkha Masoor serving restaurant. They give 1 medium size wati Rassa complementary and i found it good. I ordered extra rassa which then cost Rs 10/-. Solkadi was good. Then we ordered the Khuska rice. This was bit disappointing. Though it had the crispy fried Onion layer on the top, the rice was typical long rice which we get in all the normal Veg restaurant. Was expecting some other variety of Rice along with Masoor. Rate is the USP of this outlet. They even offer combo dish like half plate Massor, 1 roti and rice in Rs 150/- which is good option for a single person.

Overall i will rate this restaurant 3.8 / 5. Not overwhelm by its taste but also not totally...

If you're a fan of rich, flavorful Maharashtrian cuisine, finding a restaurant that serves authentic Akkha Masoor is a must. Akkha Masoor, a traditional dish made with whole lentils cooked in a spiced gravy, is a favorite among food lovers, and this restaurant does it exceptionally well.

Ambience & Location

Located in a convenient spot, this restaurant welcomes guests with a warm and cozy atmosphere. The traditional décor, inspired by rural Maharashtra, adds an authentic touch to the dining experience. Whether you're visiting with family or friends, the setting is perfect for an enjoyable meal.

Signature Dish: Akkha Masoor

The highlight of the menu is, without a doubt, the Akkha Masoor, cooked to perfection with aromatic spices and served with hot bhakri or jeera rice. The lentils are tender, infused with a smoky, spicy, and tangy flavor that makes every bite a delight.

Why You’ll Love It:

✅ Authentic Taste: Traditional spices and slow-cooked lentils give it a rich, earthy flavor. ✅ Perfect Pairing: Goes exceptionally well with bhakri, naan, or steamed rice. ✅ Generous Portions: Satisfying servings at reasonable prices.

Service & Hospitality

The staff is friendly and attentive, ensuring a seamless dining experience. They are happy to recommend pairings and customize spice levels according to your preference.

Final Verdict

If you're searching for the best Akkha Masoor near you, this restaurant is a top choice. The authentic flavors, warm hospitality, and cozy ambiance make it a must-visit for every food lover.

⭐ Rating: 4.8/5 💰 Price...