AlDiLa: Conrad Pune, Bund Garden Road, Pune

Indian Travel Places February 25, 2022 Food Review 1,956 Views

Restaurant Name: AlDiLa: Conrad Pune, Bund Garden Road, Pune
Phone: +912067456745
Address: Mangaldas Road, Near Bund Garden Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411001 India
Time: 05:00 PM – 01:00 AM
Meals for two: Rs. 5,200
Cuisines: Italian, Bar
Facilities: Full Bar Available, Free Parking, Rooftop, Luxury Dining, Smoking Area

AIDiLa is a newly opened rooftop restaurant, lounge and bar at Hotel Conrad that serves Italian cuisine along with global appetizers and bar snacks.

AlDiLa: Conrad Pune, Bund Garden Road, Pune: Decor

The name AIDiLa can be interpreted as ‘above and beyond’ in Italian which perfectly suits the rooftop location and the swanky interiors. The art deco interiors which is a signature theme throughout the hotel continues here too. The indoor section has contemporary Italian furniture, a mix of formal and high-chair seating and chandeliers run throughout the space. This space can be combined with the alfresco section by opening the glass doors. The alfresco section houses the bar with some bar chairs and seating available. Probably the most premium seating is by the glass railings which offer a stunning view of the city. The seating here is wicker chairs and sofas with comfortable cushions and upholstery. The ambience created with the perfect lighting, elegant decor and the panoramic views is magical.

AlDiLa: Conrad Pune, Bund Garden Road, Pune: Food

The food menu is primarily Italian and European with some exceptions in the appetizers and bar snacks section which is more global. The drinks menu is elaborate and includes a wide range of spirits from across the globe. From the signature cocktails, we tried the tasty Japanese berry, a gin based cocktail with fresh blackberry infusion and among the mocktails we tried the spicy and wonderful Tex-Mex lemonade. The food menu is curated well, with carefully handpicked dishes in each section. From the globally inspired appetizers menu we started with the addictive rosemary and parmesan crisps which were served with pesto, tomato and garlic chilli dips. The wild mushroom pate with truffle oil was intense and full of the signature umami flavour. It was served in tiny cones which added a crunchy contrast to the smooth pate. The chicken shish tawook was cooked well. It was decent, but did not wow us with the flavour. The vegetarian California uramaki with asparagus and cream cheese filling was excellent. The last dish among the appetisers was the JD pulled Iamb tacos. The Iamb was cooked perfectly and served in crunchy tacos. The pulled Iamb filling had minimal sauce which made the bite more meaty and flavorful. We picked one flatbread among the four of us and it got over within seconds. The caramelized onions, sun dried tomatoes, goat cheese and pesto combination never fails to impress. The flatbread was crispy and the quantity of cheese was just right. For the mains, we started with the meatball linguini. Linguini pasta was tossed with an intense and flavorful Iamb bolognese sauce, meatballs and fresh basil. The asparagus risotto came next. The risotto had the characteristic flavour of ricotta, the crunch from the asparagus and the intensity from the truffle oil. The eggplant parmigiana, which is a personal favourite, was excellent. The eggplants and mozzarella stack ratio was spot-on. But the real hero was the tomato sauce which was simple and delicious. For our non-vegetarian main dish, we decided to indulge and ordered the rather expensive lobster thermidor which is a rare find in restaurants in the city. The lobster was cooked perfectly in a cognac beurre blanc sauce and topped with crusted gruyere cheese. We made sure that we had space for desserts and we were not disappointed. The dessert named forbidden fruit is a chocolate mousse with a tart raspberry coulis centre encased in white chocolate, modeled like an apple. The dish literally looked like one of Reynold Poernomo creations, an ex-contestant on Masterchef Australia known for his incredible dessert creations. But the more plainly presented tiramisu impressed the most. In my opinion, the tiramisu was one of the best in the city.