Founded way back in the year 1983, the American based luxury hotel chain ‘Ritz-Carlton’ have made a name for themselves in the super luxe segment. Staying true to their values over the years, they’ve cemented their presence in this space in such a way that the word ‘Ritz’, besides the dictionary definition of uber-luxury and glamour, is now a household name used to refer to luxurious accommodation.
My two-day visit to the Ritz-Carlton at Golf Course Square – Pune, made me realize the volume and depth of their truly elite way of living, soon leaving me with this insatiable hunger that I didn’t even know existed.
Upon arriving at the breakfast table I was thoroughly confused as to how I was going to stick to my plan as I saw six different rooms (that’s no typo) serving up six different courses. I spent more time figuring which room to begin with than on breakfast entirely!
I decided to walk in and start with the first room, the Salad bar, which had all things green and leafy. With over nine different freshly squeezed fruit juices (including sugarcane), freshly chopped veggies to pick up and make-your-own salad, Greek yogurt and a whole lot more.
The next room was the bread station. Loaves, slices, buns, whole wheat, focaccia, white, and brown – no doubt about it, they knew which side your bread needs to be buttered.
Room 3 was all about our very own continent – Asia. The spread that stretched from one end to the other included Thai noodle soups, Chinese stir fry, noodles and dumplings.
Home is where the heart is. Room 4 was home. A full fledged spread that covered nearly all parts of our homeland. Gujrati dishes included Dhokla, Khandvi, Shrikhand and Khakhra. Sabudana vada, Misal pav, Poha and Khichdi made up the Maharashtrian menu. Punjabi chole, puri and stuffed paratha was on offer in the Punjabi section and last but not the least, no Indian breakfast is complete without the inclusion of Idli, Dosa, Upma, Vada and Uttapam.
Take nothing away from the three different spaces of indoor seating though. Aesthetically, it is perfect for a post-work round of cocktails, a business dinner or even a romantic evening with the better half. The design is contemporary and oozes class no matter which wall, beam or ceiling you look at, further augmenting the already ecstatic vibe.
Serving only Indian cuisine, the menu offers various delicacies from different parts of the country. While the Artichoke Malai and Lotus Stem Kebabs were at the premium standard that we now came to expect from the Ritz, the Mozzarella-Basil Kulcha and Avocado Raita were nothing short of a dream. Break the Kulcha into two and the cheese stretches all the way, refusing to separate, much like a teenage couple in love for the first time.
Moving on, we head over to Ukiyo, for a traditional Japanese dinner. By definition, ‘Ukiyo’ means to ‘live in the moment’ and that’s exactly what we did through our time there. It is the first restaurant in Pune to offer a modern Japanese dining experience and serves sushi grade fish and a fine collection of Japanese sake.
This was, if not the best, definitely right up there in the top three stay experiences I have ever had globally. My favorite is the unbelievable vast breakfast spread which I’ll surely miss. It sure beats any experience I had in Mumbai, leaving me with the one and only regretful thought I had throughout my stay here – I just wish I had more time…