I went to Aasmana on 5^th January 2021 to celebrate my brother’s birthday. We were a party of nine and I was very much looking forward to this outing to the 18^th floor restaurant-bar at the Ritz Carlton in Pune. The place is appropriately named – since ‘Aasmana’ means ‘sky’ in Hindi and this rooftop venue had some spectacular aerial views of the city.

On reaching the restaurant, we were greeted warmly by the host, our temperature was checked and then we were taken to our more or less private indoor seating area. We chose to sit indoors just in case it rained since the weather had been a little unpredictable lately. It also got a little chilly outside so overall it was a good decision. The music was louder outdoors so we preferred the softer music inside so that we could have a lively conversation.

The entrance of the restaurant was a long corridor with offshoots leading to indoor dining areas and the outside lounge area, with a swanky bar at the end of the corridor. Expensive wine bottles lined the passageway. The lighting was dim but adequate and cozy.

We were famished when we arrived at 7.30pm so we immediately got down to ordering appetizers and drinks. We ordered ten appetizers to share between us and ordered a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. The food was surprisingly consistently good and I have provided a quick overview of the highlights to assist my readers with choosing from the menu.

• Grilled Crab cakes: were a little dry but tasty
• Saffron chicken: was succulent and amazing
• New Zealand Lamb chops: were to die for
• Ghee roast Lamb ‘boti’ kebabs: were exquisite
• Pan seared cottage cheese: was delicious
• The Bajra khichdi: was universally liked by everyone on the table.

The appetizers came in generous portions and it was more food than I expected. It is quite possible to simply order a range of appetizers from the wide variety available and to skip the main course entirely. We however ordered the main course although it is fair to say we were quite full from the appetizers.

Among the main course dishes, the ‘Yakni Pulao,’ a Kashmiri style lamb and rice dish was a standout. The vegetarian rice dish was flavoured with betel leaves and particularly enjoyed by everyone. We feasted on the Kerala style fish curry and the chicken in garlic and cashew nut gravy. The Black dal was absolutely mouth-wateringly delicious while the ‘Vilayati’ vegetables consisting of mushrooms, broccoli and asparagus cooked in Indian spices was a star dish. Only the ‘Pindi Chana’ (chickpea) didn’t quite live up to its name and left members of my group desiring the authentic dish.

I usually judge the bartending abilities of any restaurant from the way they make my martini and I must say that my Roku gin dirty martini was perfectly shaken, smooth to drink and left me delighted. The Twilight Rhapsody, a vodka based cocktail is a must try. Aasmana offers a wide range of exclusive champagnes and even 3^rd Growth Bordeaux wines.

The service provided by Sarveen and her team was impeccable and did not leave us wanting for anything. They provided individual attention to the needs of all members of our group and for a party of nine, it was very well executed. There was no unnecessary waiting happening on our part for the food or the drinks. In fact, I would go so far as to say that they over-delivered. The Manager of the restaurant came around to say hello to us and so did the friendly chef.

As far as Covid precautions went, we had to serve ourselves once the food was placed on the table which wasn’t a problem. The staff all wore masks. We sat without masks at our table but put on masks while visiting the nearby toilets, which were tastefully decorated.

The birthday ‘pastry’ that Aasmana provided complimentary for my brother’s birthday turned out to be a delicious chocolate mousse cake sufficient for nine people! I couldn’t even finish my share of the rich and yummy cake.

The bill came in at INR 35,000 all-inclusive which I would say is really value for money. My experience left me really satisfied and I will definitely visit again.