Grab a quick bite

 

You hit a buffet for your tummy, not your tongue. Unless it’s Barbeque Nation, of course. That being said, we decided to break our no-buffet rule of late and barged into the fairly new Pashtun at Elante Mall. Needless to say, we were intrigued by the long line of hungry enthusiasts; and we decided to catch them on a weekend dinner. 

For the uninitiated, Pashtun is erstwhile Khyber of Sector 35, Chandigarh. The base kitchen for both restaurants remains the same to maintain consistency of taste. We chose the weekend, because, well, a team is only as strong as its weakest link. The name does, however, justify at least a part of the interior. Yes, we’re talking about the wall-paintings. The basic, no-nonsense interiors, otherwise, are easy on the eyes. The buffet station, however, does not allow space for much movement.

So, to start with, no starters! Not unless you want to count the Russian Salad or Macaroni Salad in. The main course comprised Veg Biryani, Raita, Dal Makhni, Shahi Paneer, Kumbh Makai ki Subzi, Navratan Korma, Kadhai Chicken and Fish Curry. The protagonist of the dinner remained the Dal Makhni, as we found ourselves returning to it after every couple of bites of pretty much everything else. The Veg Biryani was a close second, coming as close as possible to being a replacement for the safe haven of pulao. 

In vegetarian offerings, the only dish that lacked some flavour was the Navratan Korma — not that the vegetables were overcooked or that the gravy didn’t have a distinct taste, but the only problem, for a finer palate, that is, was that the gravy wasn’t brawny enough to leave an impact on the tongue. As a matter of fact, the chicken too, could do with spending a little more time at the spice station. The Fish Curry, however, emerged victorious towards the end. Why? Because, despite a very strong, chicken-esque gravy of the Fish Curry, we could taste the fish rather beautifully. 

Be warned, however, that the buffet does not include dessert either. But, one can’t really be unreasonable enough to ask for the moon in a buffet priced at Rs 299. And while there is a variety of breads available, if you’re opting for the indulgent naan (especially the garlic variant), don’t forget to instruct your waiter to keep them wafer-thin.

 

somya@tribunemail.com