Tamarind Tree

A placid little place screened from the bustle of the busy Begumpet main road, this cafe-style joint is the perfect stop for a snack. That is, if you're not in too much of a hurry, if your tastes are fairly basic, and you're not unduly perturbed by leaves floating peacefully from above into your glass of water every now and then.

Tamarind Tree is marked by a complete lack of precipitated action - no one's in a hurry to take your order or bring your food. You're treated with an indifferent kind of hospitality. The service here is helpful and friendly, but they're not particularly eager to please. But this is more of a quirk than a real problem at Tamarind Tree. You'll be left alone to chat, look around, and just be for a while.

This all-vegetarian cafe has juices, chaat and pizzas. Nothing fancy in any of those categories, but good value for money all the same. Mosambi and watermelon juices here are the best - fresh, cool and delicious. For chaat, try the Cheese Pav Bhaaji, which they make in the regular way - only, they garnish the hot bhaaji liberally with cheese that melts instantly. Served with crisp onions and a slice of lemon, this is a completely satisfying meal, and should keep you going quite happily till dinner.

You wouldn't suspect this restaurant of having good pizzas, but you'll be pleasantly surprised. Order the Veg Cheese, and you'll be served a pizza with a crunchy crust, spicy tomato sauce and lots of cheese. This one takes a while to get made, but it's worth the wait. The Plain Cheese is also very good. The delish-factor of Tamarind Tree's pizzas lies in their crust, which is delightfully light, and in the sauce, which is simple but has a special tang all the same.

The restaurant also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and their afternoon Mini Meals are very popular at Rs. 52. Chopsuey, Veg Manchuria and Paneer Majestic are the hottest selling Chinese dishes.

Tamarind Tree is hardly ever crowded, but does well anyway. As it is part of Tourism Corporation's hotel, Yatri Nivas, it sees its fair share of out-of-towners and families out on a day trip. On the expensive side, but totally worth the occasional visit to take care of those post-lunch pangs.