.jpeg)
A new royal restaurant has sprung up in Hyderabad by the name of the Pink Elephant, and that's why its strong, unrivalled presence pulled us to it. When we smacked the eatery, it made us realise that it was a matter of admiration and pride for the executive chef from Lucknow city. Taking us through a momentous culinary journey with a classic, rooted fare, reflecting the twenty-first century of our country and its quintessential love for food, we were stunned, especially with the presentation. The restaurant is helmed by Chef Mrigank Singh, who seems to have over twenty years of experience in the F&B industry. Just to offer a truly immersive dining experience to all its consumers, they were also whipping up a feast for our eyes.
I had never seen such a reception desk where that itself made a powerful impression on us with modern-day decor in the open. Living by its name, with so many colourful baby elephants in the middle of the pathway to the main restaurant, was really the brand recognition and their loyalty towards the pink elephant. They are not just any plain elephants; in reality, we almost felt we were attending an elephant festival! Most importantly, its deep connection to the vibrant colours made us stay for a longer time. Especially the pink colour made the restaurant a lively place to be. The residues of pink were like those timely antidotes that will continue to remind you about its current atmosphere.
It is a space that is unabashedly, purely, and entirely ours, not in a preachy way but in the lighthearted way in which modern India has come to celebrate and revere their food. The restaurant is divided into the fountain courtyard, the monument room, the elephant lounge, and the courtyard. It also has one of the most luxurious private dining rooms that houses a twenty-person table and a private bar. That's where the real fun began! That private dining room made us feel important, and the interiors, oh my, were so convulsive.
You'll see elephants being threaded even on their cushions! To your left, supposedly where there should be a wall, was the glass room, and what made us take a seat there immediately was how the sunlight was falling onto us. To tell you the truth, we really got our sun-lit pictures for Instagram! In conversation with the chef, we heard how the basic principle of setting up a restaurant that looks like The Pink Elephant and serves food like it is to draw attention to the elaborate, variety of food that India puts on its plates, wherever you go, and is an ode to the intricate nuances of Indian cooking or creates a bespoke experience for every diner.
It was time for the nourishment to kick in. But before that, the gallant chef says, "Feel free to waste our food," because, as we hear from everybody who works under him, all of them had to say just one thing about the chef: he is the most gentlemanly chef they have ever worked with and never ever compromises on food! What brightened up our day was a special mocktail that I have never had in my life, and with the name of "Beach Breeze," I can't even begin to tell you how mouth-watering and freezing cold it was.
A fusion of coconut cream and litchi, it was a newly discovered drink only at this restaurant. As per the chef, these coconuts come in and are frozen with the help of cold storage, and as soon as you pick them up, you'll notice the logo of the restaurant because the whole coconut is scraped so well! We were wondering how. The chef tells us it's with the help of a burnt stamp, so nuance! Moving ahead, he brings to us a soft shell crab — a fully fledged crab was laid down on our plate interestingly with a pinch of spice. It was moulted, and hence the taste of the crab meat. The chef also told us how the whole seafood is imported from Chennai because of its popularity! Then up next we had, chettinad duck dosa, which gave us the tangy flavour; it was lovely and flavoursome! I didn't expect confit duck to be the filling of it; again, their own fusion! The Pink Elephant was giving us flawless and memorable experiences, one after the other. In fact, their daulat ki chaat, which is only found in the northern states, took us by surprise. Light-as-air, delicate-as-dew chaat, and was a great example of the ingenuity of our halwais and mithai walas.
So, getting the mighty cuisine under one roof required extensive research, travel, some natural flair, and a whole lot of kitchen trials. Travelling and exploring helped the team get into home kitchens across the country and document authentic and traditional recipes that were beautifully incorporated into the menu. It has been ensured that each item on the menu is prepared using stringent procedures without compromising the process. If a raan needs to be marinated for twelve hours, it is, or if nine different kinds of chillies need to be stocked, it is done. The generosity to detail and the spirit of the kitchen were a grand celebration of the diverse and exotic flavours of our country that we saw. Then it boasts of a well-stocked bar; that's classic.
Whether it's some smooth Japanese single malt or distilled gins, the bar keeps itself well stocked. Technique-led cocktails and local ingredient-based non-alcoholic drinks tie up the whole menu beautifully. Not to forget the saag paneer that comes with a tempered mix of green puree and a delectable tomato salsa. From the moment you walk through the doors, it's like a dive into a whimsical wonderland that's reminiscent of The Great Gatsby with an Indian touch.
The interior of the restaurant is bathed in delightful shades of rose, fuchsia, and hot pink. The courtyard with the high transparent ceiling traces the sunlight beautifully as the day moves on into the night and turns into a starry sky! Another most beautiful experience If you walk in for high-tea or a glass of wine, this is where you should be headed. The fountain courtyard has sand stone seating flown in from Rajasthan and reflective of all its regalia, as we were told.
WHAT: The Pink Elephant
WHERE: Laxmi Cyber City
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS: Beach Breeze, Sea Shell Crab & Daulat ki Chaat
RATING: 4.5/5
VERDICT: A place that goes an extra mile to satisfy their diners.
