India’s richest cuisine that’s all about the aromas and textures, i.e. Awadhi cuisine from Lucknow has been the missing piece in Pune’s culinary scene. Daawat-e-Ishq, a quaint rustic kitchen has been running for the past few months but far from all the shor-sharaba & the heavyweight marketing. Absolutely difficult to find and hidden behind a garage on Aundh-Baner link road, this kitchen dishes out the original Lucknowi Galawat Ke Kebab & a lot more!

The moment we got to know about this culinary gem, we had to visit. Spotting Daawat-e-Ishq from the main road is a task. So make sure you call on the numbers provided below for directions. The first thing after you reach there catching your attention is the captivating aromas and the huge Tawa for roasting the famous Galoutis! Those delicate Mutton Galawat are getting cooked on slow heat dunked in ghee. Mughlai Paratha a.k.a. Ulte Tawe Ka Paratha being made right in front of you. All of this is a sight to behold for any foodie out there.
A simple basic rustic setup and all the efforts are just on serving you original uncompromised authentic food, that’s how I’ll describe Daawat-e-Ishq. I tried their unique take on Chicken Tandoori which they call Butter Chicken Tandoori. The marinated chicken first grilled in tandoor is then shallow fried in ghee and tossed with butter, cream and cheese. Nawabs certainly love their food to be rich like them! The tandoor makes chicken succulent, frying makes it a bit crispy and the final touches make it creamy. Not to forget the slight aroma of the kasoori methi, makes the dish so divine!
The real star of the show here is Mutton Galawat a.k.a. Galouti Kebab. Pair the soft silky Mutton kebabs with the crispy flaky Mughlai paratha and some chutney and onions, the bite is pure heaven. The spices are not harsh and just lend their aromas to the meat. The grounded meat slowly shallow fried in ghee creates a food experience that can’t be compared with any other dish on this earth!
The other Lucknowi specialties at Daawat-e-Ishq feature Nawabi Chicken Tikka, Malai Chicken Tikka and their Mutton Seekh Kebab that pack a meaty punch. The Nawabi chef you see here certainly knows how to cook meat properly. The seekh kebabs here have a nice bite to it and the chillies give it just the right amount of heat to the dish. Mint Chutney and crisp onions are great accompaniments to all these Nawabi Kebabs!
In Pune, you certainly don’t find the Lucknowi Nawabi Biryani. They also call it Awadhi Chicken Biryani. Complex aromas, delicate long grains of rice having saffron whiff to it and dum cooked chunks of meat, that’s how simple looking this biryani is. But if you’re a fan of spicy, masala laden biryanis, then this is a completely new style of Biryani for you. After a good round of Kebabs, you should end the meal with this delicate, flavourful and aromatic Biryani. Let the aromas linger on your palate and soothe your senses. That makes for a complete Nawabi experience!!!
Daawat-e-Ishq opens only in the evenings. Call on the number provided if you get lost. Get ready for a Lucknowi Nawabi culinary experience.