Restaurant Review: Tim Luck Luck

Decor
Tim Luck Luck, certainly a Punjabi turn of phrase, is a Punjabi dhaba in Pimple Saudagar. The restaurant gets packed with IT professionals from Hinjewadi and young families. Advisable to book on weekends. A good landmark is Akash Ganga Society which is marked in neon lights on the roof of the building and is just opposite the restaurant.
Once you reach Tim Luck Luck, you are really transported to Punjab - brightly coloured tables and chairs, some regular seating, some seating on khatiyas, an air-conditioned section and seating on the floor around a large square communal table, makes it a completely regional experience.
Food
Start with a paaya shorba and follow this with the very unusual bhel kukkad di - an unusual combination of traditional bhel with chopped chicken tikka. I liked the Dilli channa chaat made with black channa and spiked with nimbu masala. Many of the kebabs on the menu are smothered with a red masala that is not particularly fiery but very brightly coloured. However the bhatti da murgh from Amritsar is as authentic as it comes. We also enjoyed the slightly different kaagaz vich kukkad - chicken seekh cooked in paper. To main courses - if you still have room, the til mil kumbh - mushrooms stuffed with garlic cheese was rather good. Since the preparation was not over spicy, it actually preserved the flavour of the mushrooms. There are several paneer options but I chose the tunak tunak tun kofta - their version of malai kofta topped with a tamarind vodka tadka! Another interesting invention is the Patiala kukkad - chicken in a palak gravy wrapped in an omlette, topped with a tomato gravy and a peg of rum. A must try is the TLL rasse walla meat, a simple mutton curry which really hits the spot. Rotis are stunning. The churrawala paratha, both plain and paneer were outstanding, crispy and flaky with a slightly soft centre. Their parathas, kulchas and khastha tandoori rotis smothered with white butter are worth driving all the way to Pimpri for. There is also an extensive Chinese menu which seemed to go down very well with the locals - lots of crispy, fried, saucy, sizzling items which have now become part and parcel of the ‘Indian-Chinese’ culinary vocabulary. We almost went away without dessert but were persuaded otherwise. They do a stunning home-made gulab jamun flambéed with rum and served with vanilla ice cream; a deliciously fresh kheer and a very authentic phirni in a terracotta shakora. Tim Luck Luck offers a no fuss authentic dhaba experience and also has a full bar and attentive service.
Plus and Minus: All the way in Pimple! Quite a trek but an authentic Punjabi experience.
Rating: Food: 3.5 Service: 3.5 Décor: 3