Impeccable Food Experience
Restaurant: Malaka Spice
Reviewer: Aalok Wadhwa | 30th August 2017 | Reviewer Rating (Out of 5) 4.63

I have wanted to go to this restaurant for some time now, and during this visit I do manage. Malaka Spice was established in the year 1997 by a young chef along with her investment banker husband. They travelled extensively across Southeast Asia and picked the best dishes from various countries and made sure each meal at Malaka Spice is a unique taste experience. All ingredients used here are locally grown and the fresh flavours of Asia are all there, as I am soon to discover. Food here is a revelation.

As I enter the restaurant I find a large airy hall with colourful lampshades hanging from the roof. There is a large outdoor space with a lot of greenery but since it is raining we choose to sit inside. As the menu is brought for us, I find to my delight that an option for lunch is “Buffet on the table” where for Rs 599, a thirteen course menu with unlimited helpings waiting for us. Obviously me and my vegetarian colleague both decide to go with it. 

For starters I order Tom Yum Prawn soup (Rs 255; not in the buffet menu) while my vegetariasn fried decides to wait for the buffet. The soup is fragrant, piquant and a great start of a great meal. Buffet starts rolling almost simultaneously, and next comes Mutton Murtabak, a popular street food in Malaysia and Singapore. It is a stuffed paratha with mutton mince in it and tastes amazing.

 

My colleague freaks out on the crispness and the sweet sour taste of the Vegetable Thai Spring Rolls. Tangy Green Papaya Salad is nice too.

 

And so are the well fried Nan Thod Potatoes with a hit of tamarind. Rendang Fish Satay is made with sole fish and is enjoyable with the peanut sauce.

 

It is time for the mains now and I am amazed at how good each one of the dishes served so far has been. I also wonder how they can continue their winning streak given that the first two of the main courses are made from chicken and tofu, neither of which I really care for. But each of these dishes (Tofu in Basil & Chilli and Green Pepper Chicken) is amazingly tasty and full of flavour. We pair these dishes with some good Roti Canai and Garlic Roti Canai (Malabar parathas).

 

The second main course is Penang Curry with the options of Veg and Chicken, served with Steamed Rice and followed by Phad Thai Noodles Vegetarian noodles. The Penang curry is competent, but the only place where the restaurant falters is with the Pad Thai noodles which are too dry and tasteless.

Asian food is not known for desserts. Mango Mousse is decent but not outstanding.  This ends a superb VFM meal – this is certainly a place to visit in Pune.

 

What is interesting to note is that the bill does not have service charges, but just cost of food and GST. In fact I did not have to pay service charge a single time while in Pune. Now Koregaon Park is not exactly a low rental place. I really don’t understand the reason we constantly have to pay service charges in Gurgaon.

 

The review was anonymously done after paying for the meal.

Ratings (Out of 5)

Food: 4.5 | Ambiance: 4.5 | Service: 4.5 | Value: 5.0 | Overall: 4.5

Meal for two: Rs.1200 | Alcohol: Yes | Credit Card: Yes | Wheel chair friendly: Yes

Address: Lane 5, Opposite Oxford Properties, North Main Road, Koregaon Park, Pune

Tel +91 7507057866, +91 9158884188

 

Asian food is not known for desserts. Mango Mousse is decent but not outstanding.  This ends a superb VFM meal – this is certainly a place to visit in Pune.

 

About the Author
Aalok Wadhwa Aalok Wadhwa
Restaurant Information
Malaka Spice Malaka Spice
Lane 5, Opposite Oxford Properties, North Main Road, Koregaon Park, Pune
Telephone: +91 7507057866, +91 9158884188 view on a map
Opening Hours:
Cuisine: Pan-Asian
Average Price: Rs. 1000 - 1200