Does good food make you happy? Like really, really happy? Chances are you are Punjabi by Nature! I had the pleasure of being invited to this spunky little joint near Lamcy Plaza a few weeks ago, and loved their quirky decor just as much as the decadent, authentically Punjabi grub that we got served.
The interiors are invitingly bright, and adorably kitsch. This is a restaurant that makes you shamelessly stare at the artwork, even if it’s right across the table bang opposite a neighbouring diner ferociously digging into his Butter Chicken. Kudos to the graphics designer behind the makings of this fun and funky brand!
The menu itself is an absolute work of art. With tongue-in-cheek takes of popular Punjabi slang and slapstick English, many of the star dishes get a special ‘Balle Balle’ worthy highlight.
I was particularly drawn to the Chatti Wali Lassi Pede De Naal. ‘O paaji just try it and see’ cried the menu. ‘Peda’ is a very popular North Indian sweet treat, it has the characteristic taste of ghur (Indian molasses). At Punjabi by Nature, the peda is blended into the lassi (a yogurt-based Indian smoothie), making for an absolutely rich, decadent shake.
This lassi is so rich and satiating, that our host warned us not to have a whole serving as we had a whole course to eat through. Instead, we were served shot glasses as a taster.
The texture of this lassi is divinely thick, and I absolutely loved the taste of peda and saffron. It is pretty much like drinking in an entire glassful of Indian sweetness. Pure indulgent decadence, not for the faint of heart!
For starters, we were served the Amritsari Paneer Tikka, Bhatti Da Murg and Amritsari Chicken Tikka.
We had our starters with generous sips of the Punjabi by Nature Shikanji (a very refreshing Indian lemonade with a hint if black salt). I absolutely loved this drink, and had two helpings.
And here is a look at our mains:
The portion sizes at Punjabi by Nature are generously large. One dish can easily be shared by two. We had to pack up the leftovers, and I had all that Daal Makhani to myself the following day 🙂
For dessert, we had very sweet, sticky warmed Gulab Jamuns and saffron-infused Rasmalai. I prefered the later as the Gulab Jamuns were a tad too sweet for my liking.
Overall, I found the food at Punjabi by Nature to be absolutely fantabulous. You get a true taste of Punjab here, including some rarely seen menu additions like the Chatti Wali Lassi Pede De Naal. I also like how each and every dish is bold on flavours, and does not shy away from traditional roots. Some dishes may be a tad bit too spicy for some, so do warn your waiter in advance! The ambiance is a must-see with all the quirky takes on Punjabi innuendos, and I left this restaurant with a huge grin on my very satiated face.
Punjabi by Nature is located in Oud Metha, in the same circle as Lamcy Plaza. The restaurant operates from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM daily for lunch, and is open for dinner from 7 PM to 11:30 PM.
The Tezzy Files 