Ishtaa

I visited Ishtaa in Gachibowli with fairly high expectations, considering the premium pricing and fine dining setup. Unfortunately, the food did not match the expectations created by the ambience and pricing.

We started with Fresh Orange Juice (₹185). It was natural and freshly prepared, but beyond that there wasn’t much to comment on in terms of taste or uniqueness.

Next, we ordered Thotakura Liver Biryani (₹390). The portion size felt suitable only for one person, which is quite small considering the price. More importantly, the taste didn’t justify the dish name. Instead of a rich, flavorful biryani, it felt like plain steamed rice mixed with thotakura, lacking depth and complexity. It felt more like paying for the concept of the dish rather than the actual flavor.

Hoping to end the meal on a better note, we ordered Poornam Boorelu (₹170 for 4 pieces). The outer layer was crispy, but the sweet filling inside was very mild. The chana dal filling also seemed undercooked, which affected the texture. Even when eaten with ghee, the dish felt just okay and not memorable.

On the positive side, service was quick, the ambience was pleasant, and the restaurant offers valet parking along with wheelchair accessibility, which is definitely a plus.

However, based on this visit, the food quality didn’t justify the premium pricing.

The total bill came to ₹851.