Twin treat

First up is Ying Yang,quick service Chinese restaurant,owned by restaurateurs Mohindra Singh Judge and Sandeep Brar,that has opened in Mohali’s phase 10 and Chandigarh’s Sector 22. The latter,a franchise outlet,is the one we chose to check out. Yin Yang follows the Chinese philosophy of balance and is styled along the same lines. There are no Mandarin lamps hanging from the ceiling and the famed dragons don’t make an appearance anywhere. The 40-cover restaurant is neat in its red and black layout.

The menu offers regular Chinese dishes like spring rolls and chilly chicken but also includes some authentic Pan Asian fare. And that’s what makes it different from the rest in its league. The starters bring in Japanese tempura (Rs 119/169) and Indonesian Fish Sambal (Rs 289),alongside Singapore Laksa soup (Rs 99) and Malaysian curry (Rs 209/249 veg/non-veg). The chicken satays we tried were succulent and the peanut dip well done. The Chinese cabbage with black mushrooms (Rs 209) was fairly authentic and paired with the pan-fried noodles (Rs 139),a good-enough meal for two. The much-recommended Kung Pao chicken (Rs 249) was a delicious treat. The portions at Yin Yang are large. The desserts section is trim with just the choice of a Chocolate mud cake (Rs 129). Home delivery is available as well.

Not too far away,Forno has set up its wood-fire oven in Sector 35. Styled like an Italian cafe,Forno might be tight on space but that hasn’t stopped owner Vivek Bhasin from offering a lavish menu comprising pizzas,pastas,kebabs and salads. Forno offers lesser tried fare like Boscaiola pasta — a delicious creamy sauce made with bacon,mushrooms and parmesan cheese. We tried the Lucifero pizza in a medium size for Rs 169,with its rich topping of salami,chilli pepper,onions,Napoleonata sauce and mozzarella cheese. While Forno also offers home delivery options,it’s a treat to know that the tiny cafe is open till 3 am. Do ask for their cappuccino — it’s the best coffee the city has seen in a while.

Meal for two: Rs 600 (Yin Yang); Rs 350 (Forno). Contact: 0172-5076617 (Yin Yang); 0172-5000099 (Forno)