Aasmana at The Ritz-Carlton Pune. Deconstructed.

Spontaneous plans are the best. Particularly because they involve minimal degree of planning, and hence, the expectations are not grandiose. I made the call for a reservation and tried to work my hapless charm (No gloating there. Just a little maybe) in order to secure a table OUTSIDE. Under the AASMAN. Out in the open. As someone who is based in Mumbai, non-humid fresh cold-ish air is particularly of the essence; even on a Saturday night.

Obviously, it was all booked. The helpful guy at the other end of the line told me that all the outdoor tables were booked 3 days back. In my mind, I wondered 'Ah Pune, you are back at it and how'. Anyway, I did my best and left the rest to the sweet guy at the other end of the line.

AASMANA, the chic lounge on just the 18th floor of the swanky and palatial Ritz-Carlton Pune is quite a thing. It is unlike anything I have experienced before. The arduous amount of effort that has been put in to create this lovely lounge is evidently visible.

The lobby, apart from being atrociously huge; is also stupendously gorgeous. What with the chandeliers and the grand viewing balconies, it is simply incredible. I was transported to another world. That of palaces and royalty. Borderline pompous.

On to the 18th floor. AASMANA.

It so happened that the CHARM worked. Slowly. Like marinade working its way into tender chicken. Slowly. Nicely. Convincingly. (No gloating, I promise)

I got an outdoor table. And it was an experience to cherish. A sight to behold. The energy, the view, the ambiance, the music, the food and the staff. It is One Hundred Percent Perfect. After having enjoyed a round of drinks and appetizers outdoors, I moved to an indoor table for mains.

The menu compilation at AASMANA is unique, fresh, strictly Pan- Indian and yet, very contemporary.

I can't help but write about a particular appetizer that the server suggested. A bajra salad with hung curd. Scrumptious and healthy; made for a lovely appetizer. There are plenty more to choose from to go with their exceptional drinks menu. The teetotaler that I am, I did not go beyond the 7th page of the drinks menu.

I settled for a Lucknowi biryani for my mains. A boneless chicken biryani made with special spices hailing from Awadh and cooked in a china clay dum. In small batches. The combination of flavorful rice and succulent chicken dum-ed together is something else. Cooked well like this biryani was, it creates magic on the palate.

With food so good, there is no doubt I'll be back soon to savor other interesting items on the menu. Gucchi aur Akroth ka pulao and Gilafi Sheekh kebab are next on my list.

Shout out to the wonderful team at AASMANA; to Sagar and Damini for being so professional and going the extra mile to make my evening special. And a bigger shout out to Raj, the captain of the ship, to maneuver the ship so skillfully. Kudos to you guys.

Kudos to team Ritz-Carlton Pune.

Quick tip: Making a reservation will definitely elevate your experience. And remember, you get a BONVOY discount here; certainly good to save a few bucks. And if you are a good guest, you get a free dessert. Either that or I am extremely charming.

AASAMANA at the RITZ-CARLTON Pune

Yerwada, Pune