If it’s the old world charm, the beauty of the Victorian era and authentic Gujarati Cuisine that attracts you then you’re definitely in for a treat at Hotel Ritz.
Though there are many options in Pune when it comes to Gujarati cuisine, one cult Gujarati dish ‘Undhiyu’ dished out by Ritz has garnered a huge fan base for its distinct quality and taste. Something one could never stop raving about when visiting this Hotel is its eye catching architecture and the timeless elegance that blends seamlessly with the modern sophistication.
One of the oldest heritage hotels in Pune that’s known for serving the famous Gujarati thali for years now, Hotel Ritz sure has quite a history behind it. This place is largely considered to be a home to the finest Gujarati Thali in town and ‘Undhiyo’, a signature dish here, has been loved by Gujju Punekars.
A British abode turned into a heritage hotel, the place belonged to Shembekars from Baramati and was later administered by the Thakkars post the British Rule.
Come winters and Hotel Ritz is flooded with incessant requests for ‘Undhiyu’. Made with a medley of seasonal vegetables, Undhiyu marks the beginning of winters in Gujarat. The dish has attained a cult status thanks to the seasonal availability of its ingredients and the laborious cooking process involved. Hotel Ritz is no exception, for the main ingredient ‘Surti papdi’ is only available in winters. The other ingredients comprise sweet potatoes, raw bananas, Methi muthiya, small brinjals, baby potatoes, basically a potpourri of veggies cooked with green spices.
‘Undhiyu’ is usually bursting with flavors, aromas and textures because of the different veggies, the special masala and the muthias (fenugreek dumplings) that go into its making.
As per the staff at Ritz, apart from its flavours settling on your tastebuds, ‘undhiyu’ here also ends up giving you some fond memories that you would cherish for long. Thankfully, the ‘papdi’ hasn’t given up and ‘undhiyu’ continues to be a once in a year winter dish.
Now that the winters are here, if you plan to dig into some authentic Gujarati goodness with a regal backdrop then Hotel Ritz is here to charm you with its great hospitality and its hearty Undhiyu.
Timings: 12 PM- 12 AM
Address: Hotel Ritz, Sadhu Vaswani Chowk, 6, Connaught Rd, opp. GPO, Sangamvadi, Pune.
Contact: 9370281616
