Be Italian

For appetisers,we highly recommend the Carrot Lentil soup,comprising masoor dal and carrot,with a hint of thyme. It will take you back to your ‘baby days’ when dal used to be staple diet! And if you are not quite the dal person,indulge in the Classic Minestrone,with a light tomato base,blanched zucchinis,tofu bits,pasta chunks and a generous sprinkling of herbs. Priced at a meagre Rs 50,the soups will keep both your tummy and wallet happy.

From the pasta section,we were recommended the Cheesy Alfredo (with penne and black olives),which needless to say,is only for the cheese crazy. But the Puttanesca (with fusilli) stole the show,swathed as it was in a mix of red and white sauces and veggies. The Pesto Garlic Bread had a good taste,but the Crostini topping,sans any cheese,seemed to miss something essential,resulting in the veggies tasting almost sweet. The peppers seemed to have been grilled too long and the loaf wasn’t soft enough.

Our salad order was forgotten,and when it did come,it underwhelmed. The Amore House salad is touted as a specialty,but the seasoning was tepid and the leaves bitter. However,we ended in good stead. In the sweltering weather,the yoghurt-based smoothies,flavoured with strawberries,chocolates,mangoes,bananas and other seasonal fruits,are a perfect respite. We ordered the strawberry smoothie; it was thick and chilled just right.

The eatery’s focus is on healthy,but not diet,food. So the missing spices can be forgiven. The pizzas here are thin crust,and low on cheese. But the lack of freshness of some ingredients and the blink-and-miss flavours in a few dishes doesn’t bode well. Overall though,we were impressed by the generous portions,the good soups and the budget pricing.