Freshly baked bread with butter
Arancinelle
Couscous Trapanese
Baked Yogurt Tart
When I moved to Pune, one of the places I was hoping to visit was Dario’s. I loved their food when the restaurant was running in Chennai, but then they shut down. Heart broke when i read the Pune one had also shut. But thankfully I was in for a pleasant surprise when I heard they were reopening in Pune. I got all excited and kept telling P and others that I was looking forward to visiting the place. The food was so good, it was something I didnt mind going back again and again for… The moment you step inside, you’re transported to a world of authentic flavours and warm hospitality. But for me, the experience was even more special. It was a trip down memory lane, a chance to relive the cherished memories of dining at their restaurant in Chennai.
Last Friday evening a bunch of us friends had planned a meetup at a Durga Puja Pandal in KP, but along the way it started to pour and so we canned the plan. We were in the cab, wondering where to go for a bite, when suddenly I had an epiphany of sorts. I quickly looked up Dario’s on google maps, we called booked a table and headed there. so happened that
Nostalgia Hits Hard
I was first introduced Dario’s in Chennai, a city that holds a special place in my heart. The restaurant was a haven for Italian food lovers, offering a taste of Italy right in the heart of India. The ambiance was cozy and inviting, the service impeccable, and the food, oh, the food! Every dish was a masterpiece, a symphony of flavours that danced on my palate. Still remember how amazing their ravioli, and pizza were. Infact, one of the first visits was with family, my gramma was there as well. When I told her I revisited the place, she immediately said “that’s the place that served the amazing broccoli almond soup”. Yep, they sure did~
Pune’s Culinary Delight
As we headed to the restaurant, the anticipation was palpable. Would the food live up to the memories I had of the Chennai restaurant? Would it evoke the same emotions? We walked in, the place was smaller than the Chennai one, and the staff struggled to find us a table for a few minutes. They suggested we sit outside, but water was dripping all over. Finally, we got a table inside and settled in. Choosing not to let the initial interactions ruin the mood, we focussed on the food and drinks.
I ordered a Bloody Mary, while P chose a beer.
For starters, we picked the Arancinelle –Italian rice balls that are stuffed with rice, vegetable, cheese, coated with breadcrumbs, and deep-fried, served with a sauce. The dish was divine, we loved it
For the mains, we chose Couscous Trapanese – Couscous with grilled mediterranean vegetables, chickpeas and raisins with a tomato and herb sauce. This dish was delicious as well. We couldn’t get over how deep the flavours in the sauce was, and what a beautiful contrast it was to the sweet light couscous.
Finally, for the dessert, I picked the Baked Yogurt Tart [based purely on memories]- It was served warm, but I felt the filling was tad loose and quite different from how I remembered the dish. It was tasty, nevertheless.
Overall, we were quite happy with the whole evening. It was like stepping back in time, but with a fresh and exciting twist. I was glad to have visited the place. I just might hop back in a few months down the road to see if the experience was better and the place was better settled.
Address:
Darios
Lane Number 5, Ashok Chakra Society,
Meera Nagar, Koregaon Park, Pune
