Kangan
Indian
Food: 4 | Service: 3 | Décor: 3.5
DÉCOR
The décor is classic and sophisticated. The seating is comfortable and the large round and rectangular tables ensure ample dining space for everyone. There is a large glass wall which overlooks the lobby and another one decorated intricately with bangles, inspired by the name of the place. The silver chandeliers add to the elegance of the design. Some traditional embellishments and décor pieces similar to the wooden swing at the entrance would help in creating a more ‘Indian’ ambience.
FOOD
After a brief gap, Kangan reopened in May 2019. The menu curated by executive chefs Amit Dash and Ashwani Mall includes an exclusive selection of recipes from the North or more specifically North Western frontier.
Our meal at Kangan began with a tray of cute mason jars filled with pickles and chutneys and of course the ubiquitous papad. The pickles were perfect accompaniments to the portion of crunchy and addictive masala naan strips, which were served complimentary. For appetizers, we ordered two chef’s signature dishes - Dahi aur Singdana Kebab and Banno Kebab. As a Maharashtrian, I know the unique combination of curd and peanuts works wonders and rightly so, the dahi-singdana kebabs (bread parcels stuffed with yoghurt, crushed peanuts and peppers), were delicious. The Banno Kebabs were perfectly cooked, tender and flavourful, but compared to the kebabs, the egg-white coating was quite bland and did not add anything to the dish. The Khumb ki Galouti melted in the mouth and got the signature Lucknowi flavours right. After trying this at Kangan, the mushroom galouti has now become my go-to vegetarian appetizer at restaurants.
From the Curries section, we started with the Amrud ki Sabzi (Ripe guavas pan fried with onions, tomatoes and spices). This unique curry from Rajasthan was delightfully sweet, tangy and spicy. For non vegetarians, there are lots of great options to choose from and we selected the rather safe Chooza Makhani and the Nalli Nihari. The tandoor cooked chicken in the chooza makhani was grilled to perfection and the curry was smooth and buttery. The distinct flavor of kasoori methi made the dish really special. The lamb meat in the Nalli Nihari was falling off the bone and the taste and flavor of the curry was on point. I enjoyed the Nihari just by itself without any accompaniments. From the breads selection, our pick was the Laccha Paratha which paired perfectly with all the curries. We finished our main course with the eternal comfort food for most Indians - Dal Makhani (named Dal Kangan) and Steamed Rice. The dal was creamy, but too thick for my liking.
I was happy to see Shahi Tukda on the menu as very few restaurants in Pune serve it. Fried bread pieces soaked in sugar syrup, topped with condensed milk and nuts, it tasted as good as it sounds.
PLUS & MINUS
The menu at Kangan is meticulously curated and offers the best and selected dishes from the North Westerns frontier. The taste of the food and the authentic flavors were the highlights of our meal here. The staff was friendly and courteous, but the service faltered at times.
Must Try Dishes: Dahi Singdana Kebab, Khumb ki Galouti, Chooza Makhani, Nalli Nihari, Shahi Tukda
Meal for Two: Rs. 4000
Address: The Westin Pune Koregaon Park, 36/ 3-B, Mundhwa Road, Koregaon Park Annexe, Pune 411001
Contact: 020-67210061
Timings: Monday-Friday 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM | Saturday-Sunday 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM, 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM
Photo Courtesy: Kangan
Note:
This review was first published in Pune Times on 4 October 2019.