It was one of those days when the entire family decided to take a break and go for a long drive to Munnar from Cochin. We didn’t realise the time pass with the long chats and the scenic drive. It was lunch time even before we knew it. We were still a few kilometres away from Munnar, when we decided to look out for restaurants on the way, so that we could take a break, stretch ourselves, and satisfy our grumbling tummies before we proceeded further. It was then that we spotted Hotel Panoramic Getaway and decided to stop there for lunch.
From the roadside, the hotel looked like a standard yet good enough one. However, on entering it, we were awed by it’s beauty, nature playing a crucial role in it. The hotel was well maintained and extraordinarily neat and clean. In fact, it was even better than quite a lot of star hotels. As we we walked into their multi-cuisine restaurant Aimie, we were greeted by the friendly staff. The view from the restaurant was breathtaking – overlooking the plush green valley. Right after we placed our order, we headed to the adjoining garden area to admire nature’s beauty and of course, click as many pictures as possible!
We decided to order the main course directly. While the rest of the family ordered Kerala Porotta, Hara Pulav, Methi Malai Matar and Mutton Biryani, I went continental and ordered a Cottage Cheese Steak with Herb Rice and Mushroom Sauce. It took a while for the food to come, but we had no complaints since we spent the entire waiting time soaking up the sun, breathing fresh air, and enjoying the greenery. Needless to say, we were famished by the time the food arrived and we wasted no time digging in.
The food looked absolutely delicious and tasted even better than how it looked. The Kerala Porotta, was flaky, fluffy, soft and layered. It may not have matched those roadside porottas taste wise, but for restaurant standards, it was up to the mark. The husband, who is always in search of good Kerala porottas, liked it for its layers and flakiness. The Methi Malai Matar that we ordered as a side dish for the porotta was a let down. In fact, this was the only dish that we weren’t really happy about. It wasn’t your usual type of Methi Malai Matar – this one felt more like cooked peas in a cashew-based gravy with dried Methi with a few spoons of fresh cream mixed into it. The fresh taste of methi and the heat from the chilli were missing. Because of this, the curry felt bland and without the usual charm of the dish.
The Pulav and Biryani were accompanied by Raita, Papad, and Pickle. While the husband and father-in-law relished the flavour-loaded, perfectly cooked Mutton Biryani, devouring every piece of the juicy mutton. The little one and my mother-in-law enjoyed the Hara Pulav. This was definitely one of the best dishes of the day – rightly spiced, perfectly cooked rice, topped with fried onion and well, really tasty to sum it up! I would have loved to have a few more spoons of the Pulav, but the little boy was not ready to share!
I was not disappointed though. Because, the best dish of the day was undoubtedly mine – the Cottage Cheese Steak with Herb Rice and Mushroom Sauce! Everything about the dish was perfect – from the presentation to the taste. The dish consisted of two chunky pieces of perfectly grilled cottage cheese, served along with grilled vegetables, french fries, herb rice, and mushroom sauce. The cottage cheese was infused well with the marinade, and this, along with the vegetables, was grilled to perfection. The vegetables too were seasoned well and retained its crunch, making it a delight to bite into. The herb rice along with the mushroom sauce binded everything well and I loved the flavour the whole dish gave to my palate. I also liked the fact that along with the dish came an extra serving of mushroom sauce in a bowl, which prompted me to have a portion of the thick, creamy sauce just by itself and it was heavenly!
The price, here, is really heavy on the pockets, but no complaints since we had the best of service, good food in terms of quality and quantity, and a lunch with one of the most picturesque views that you can get. The staff is very courteous and helps you in choosing the food, even offering to customize your order as per your requirement.
It felt good to have a really tasty meal after a long drive. It definitely elevated everyone’s mood. The father-in-law (who is not a fan of outside food) too didn’t have anything to complain about, which just reiterates how good the food was. Without any doubt, all of us fell head-over-heels in love with this place that had the perfect view, yummy food, and in general, exuded a positive vibe!
