Hakeem
We are talking about the Hakeem at MP Nagar. The restaurant is in a commercial complex just off the main road. A regular restaurant with average ambience, it is clean though, and that was all what we wanted. Besides the food of course, for, what they lack in ambience, they more than make up in their food. We fell for their Mutton Biryani – extremely tasty, Awadhi style and not crazy spicy. We also got a few Shammi Kebabs packed for the house back in Mumbai. Good decision!
We strongly recommend Hakeem’s biryani when in Bhopal. Ignore the ambience, and you will get good food!
Under the Mango Tree
A beautiful restaurant, right under a massive mango tree as the name suggests, at the royal Jehan NumaPalace hotel. Seemingly famous for its kebabs and biryani, it is a must visit for drinks and dinner even if you don’t happen to stay at the hotel. The food is very good, especially the Kebab platter, but nothing extraordinary. In fact, the Mutton Pulao was way off the ordinary…the other options were the Hyderabadi Biryani, which we didn’t want to have sitting in Bhopal! The other minus of this restaurant is that the staff is quite indifferent in their behavior…. We’d like to warn you of their desserts rates too – one serving of Phirni (rice pudding) set me back by INR 500!! Beat that!
All in all, a wonderful ambience, food could be better, rates could be certainly better!
Winds & Wave
We went there primarily for the view, for, it faces the beautiful Upper Lake. Plus there is live music too. Dusk, the lake in its evening glow and music – can’t get better than this, can it? Try and get a seat next to the railings for a view of the singers and lakefront. There was a band belting out some very good songs that evening. We listened to them for almost an hour before we headed off for dinner to the old city. That’s because, food is a disappointment here. Although both the starters and drinks are reasonably priced and the service is prompt, you don’t really give your heart to this place for its food.
Good ambience, yes; Well-priced drinks, yes; Food? Go to the old city of Bhopal