Restaurant Review - The Coconut Tree Bar & Kitchen
Being a Bengali, I am an avid seafood lover and it's not quite often that I find a seafood restaurant that wins me over but when I recently dined at The Coconut Tree Bar & Kitchen, I was beyond delighted by its lovely ambiance, wonderful service and outstanding food! The Coconut Tree is a contemporary space spread over two floors serving authentic coastal cuisine, innovative cocktails and premium alcohol. Inspired by the regions where the coconut tree grows in India, the restaurant offers the most delectable cuisine from Mangalore, Kerala, Andhra, Malvan and Goa along with an array of seafood options.
Coming from the same owners as the Coconut Grove Restaurant & Bar in Pune, The Coconut Tree is named so because of the essential role the coconut plays in their menu. Spread across an expansive area of 6000 sq feet area, the restaurant not only serves coastal cuisine but also offers delectable vegetarian and non vegetarian food in Awadhi and Nawabi food. The chef and owner has modified recipes with a mix of spices from specific coastal areas with her own innovations, taking a step forward in the way the food is prepared, cooked, plated and served.
The fine dining area on the ground floor is adorned with a perfect blend of natural and modern elements white the upper floor which consists of the bar and dj console has a more casual feel. The seating is comfortable with a mix of high and low-top tables, and couches that spread throughout the space. They plan to start events at this space very soon.
Moving on to my meal, we started with a the Coco Cooler which was a refreshing and super delicious blend of coconut syrup and cinnamon. Being a huge alcohol aficionado, the very fact that I loved a mocktail speaks for itself.
We started off with the Kundapur Tawa Fish which consisted of fish marinated with Kundapuri Masala paste, steamed and grilled. Kundapur masala is a spice mix used in Mangalorean cuisine prepared by dry roasting dried red chillies, coriander seeds, pepper corns, methi seeds and turmeric powder. This is just so delicious that you must try it when you go there!
We also had the Kundapur Kurkure Prawns which were Rolled in Kundapur Spicy Masala Powder, Garlic paste and deep crispy fried. Even though the same masala was used, this tasted very different from the dish above and is delicious and crunchy.
Not forgetting my love for lamb, I also tried the Mutton Andhra Banana Leaf Potli which came wrapped in banana leaves like the name suggests.
This dish is made with tender pieces of mutton rolled in a paste of Kadi Patta, Ginger, Garlic, Mint along with Andhra spices and steamed. Heavenly! Absolutely recommended!
Moving on to the main course I tried the Pulli Munchi Ghee Surmai Curry which is a traditional Mangalorean preparation with juicy fish pieces cooked in authentic, local spices along with coconut and tamarind and is known for its spicy and tangy flavors. Highly recommended!
I also had the Rajmandri Chicken Curry which consists of chicken marinated in authentic Rajmandri Garam masala and Andhra masala paste. This was a rich preparation and is not as spicy as it looks.
As accompaniments to the gravies, we had the Egg Appam and Neer Dosa. Appam is a type of pancake made with fermented rice batter and coconut milk. It is a common food in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. What made this one unique is the egg in the center of the Appam.
Neer dosa literally meaning water dosa in Tulu Language is a crêpe prepared from rice batter. Its a fluffy, soft and non oily version of the commonly available traditional dosa.
Though I usually skip dessert as I don't have a sweet tooth, that night I was suddenly craving Gulab Jamun and decided to stuff myself further. After all, who doesn't like Gulab Jamun? The ones here are so tender and melt in your mouth. The perfect way to end a delicious meal!
Overall, I highly recommend The Coconut Tree Bar and Kitchen because it offers an amazing dining experience and I can't wait to go back to try out more great food from their menu. Their manager Nikhil is a wonderful host and recommended us what to try and also explained many aspects of the menu and space. I had a great time and loved the food at The Coconut Tree and am confident that you will too! Try it out!
Address: 5, Konark Icon, Near Seasons Mall, Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune- 411028
Contact: 020 30189850