Pride Plaza always used to be very visible during all my trips to the airport via Aerocity. I always used to wonder about its service, ambiance and hospitality.

Pride Plaza

I got an invite to review this property. This time I was accompanied by my family. Corp Comm Raja Singh cordially invited us with a detailed itinerary.

So, we packed our bags and a chauffeur driven car picked us up from our residence. We reached the hotel in just 45 minutes. After security check in, we entered the hotel which had a grand entrance. Behind the reception was  a vast and beautiful painting which was very catchy. It gave me a pure sense of belonging to a special place. I kept on looking at the painting for long. It reminded me of Amer Fort in Jaipur. 

Reception area

We were escorted till our room and were offered welcome drinks at both lobby and at our room. Kids had their own room and we settled in ours.

Welcome drink

Our Room

Both rooms were interconnected. Rooms had view of swimming pool. There were all modern amenities in the room. Everything was well placed and rooms appeared spacious. There were unique paintings in our room behind beds. These paintinings depicted open spaces and provided an optical illusion to give a feel of more space in the room. Whenever I looked at these paintings, I used to get transported to a different soothing world altogether.

Our room

Ambiance of Pride Plaza

Pride Plaza is quite a big property. Having a huge lobby and confectionery- Mr. Conefctioner to the left , Lounge and bar Stallion with beautifully dim and soothing ambiance just to indulge in cocktails and mock tails. Pan Asian restaurant Oriental Spice with sophisticated and formal setting. Cafe Pride is another 24X7  coffee shop , very spacious suiting for both formal and smart casual setting.

Mr.Confectioner

Stallion Lounge and Bar

Oriental Spice restaurant

Cafe Pride

Everywhere in the hotel, one peculiar thing was common- paintings showing further path ways, open skies, endless roads, depicting more is yet to come or there is more world to see on the other side.

A painting at Pride Plaza

I could really feel the more will never end factor throughout the hotel. Interestingly, all paintings depicted truly Indian architecture, palaces, places, cultures and traditions. That’s how Pride Plaza says its tagline- Truly Indian Traditionally Luxurious and Purely Pride. 

Painting at the reception

Then we went for property round. I must tell you, its a huge property and a perfect stop for weddings, conferences and off sites.

Board Room

Pride Plaza is MICE enabled and has good non disruptive internet speed. I could see spacious halls in the basement area with enough lighting and great interiors. The property has 385 well appointed spacious rooms , gymn , spa and a swimming pool. I could not however understand the air conditioning.

Gymnasium

Spa Room

By the pool side

Our Experience

After settling down , we headed for lunch at Cafe Pride and had sumptuous Awadhi cuisine at Cafe Pride. Head Chef Shailendra Singh welcomed us with delicious food on the plate. How much I loved the food only I can tell. Me and kids had Mewe ke kebabs, Makai motia seekh kebab, Galouti kebab and Gulmohar tangdi. Galouti kebabs were lusciously tasty. They had perfect spices and were totally irresistible.

Gulmohar tangdi was nicely marinated and was soft and juicy and absolutely mouthwatering. My kids loved Makai motia seek kebab and Mewe ke kebab. Even I tried them and they were fabulous. This menu was specially crafted for me.

In main course we had Nalli Nihari, Murgh Bemisal, Bagiche ki sabzi, Dal Qureshi. Murgh Bemisal was my favourite and I would recommend it to everyone. Bagiche ki Sabzi was outstanding and one needs to have guts to prepare it. This dish had a rarest combination of cauliflower, brinjal and ladyfinger. Yet each vegetable had its own distinctive taste and were complimenting each other. This dish was mind blowing and I in my life could have never thought of making it. Overall, it was a fantabulous experience of Awadhi food. This cuisine is always my favourite. Plus if its prepared nicely, I need nothing else to be happy about. So, I must congratulate the team for this outstanding food.

After having delicious lunch, we rested for a while and later spent some time at the pool. In the evening, we headed to Stallion for delicious snacks and cool breezers.

Mocktail of cucumber, lime and mint juice

Pradeep Sharma, supervisor of Stallion made amazing mock tails. His passion and enthusiasm was reflecting in innovations he did for us. We also had non vegetarian and vegetarian platters at Stallion. I liked non vegetarian platter more as I am so fond of it. The non vegetarian platter had chicken, seekh kebab and fish. Fish was very crispy and good. Chicken tikka was juicy and mutton seekh had perfect blend of spices. Most recommended.

Non vegetarian platter at Stallion

Even while we were having dinner at Oriental Spice, we ordered mocktails from Stallion. We had some great oriental cuisine like Cucumber Cilantro Soup which my palette loved. I got to know how healthy soups can be prepared while being tasty. Even kids loved the soup.Then we had American Corn pepper salt which was tasty as well. However, it was a bit oily, yet irresistible. Shanghai steam chicken was relishable. My husband specially doesn’t like Oriental Cuisine but he loved it this time. Green vegetable and Duo mushroom teriyaki flavoured dumpling were also served as snacks. Chef’s special sweet and sour chicken was out of the normals as it was prepared in mango curry. Special, no!!

Chef’s special Sweet and Sour chicken

Thai Green curry was my favourite. I kept on indulging in it even though I was full by now.

Sesame dumpling with Vanilla Ice cream was a unique dessert served. Special thanks to Executive Sous Chef Sanjeev Singh Gosain.

Next day afternoon, we had Continental cuisine. Truffle Cappuccino soup was good. I relished modern style Caesar Salad.

Modern Style Caesar Salad

It was lipsmacking. Chicken hamlet or chicken dome was highly innovative and par excellence. Fegatumi Pasta is highly recommended as well. All thanks to Chef Munish Pandit, Executive Sous Chef.

Chicken Hamlet

Service

Staff was very prompt and hospitable. They were very pro active. I would say excellent service with pleasing smiles and specially ‘Namaskar’ as I mentioned earlier. Mr. Raja Singh was a great host.

Dessert

Interaction with General Manager, Pride Plaza, Mr. Pankaj Mathur

I also got an opportunity to meet with the General Manager Mr. Pankaj Mathur, the brain behind Pride Plaza. He is a visionary I must say. Mr. Pankaj said, for any hospitality brand to be successful, basics should be set right from the beginning. His strong principles lie in CORE- Care Own Respect and Engage. He said the empowerment to staff and integrity are important aspects of any business. Having 30 years of powerful experience in Hospitality industry, with Starwood, Hyatt, Marriott, Oberoi, Taj and Wlcome group, Pankaj Mathur is now spearheading Pride Plaza and creating a strong flagship and a benchmark of Indian Hospitality in luxury segment. He has given a facelift to the brand by providing a truly Indian atmosphere to guests. Each staff member greets with an Indian ‘Namaskar’ and at least I felt proud to hear that.

Mr. Pankaj Mathur, GM of Hotel Pride Plaza

Although the hotel is fairly new, but I am sure it will reach higher heights under the leadership of Mr. Pankaj Mathur.

I would recommend Pride Plaza, Aerocity to world travellers both business or family and even to Delhi/NCR residents for short staycation for its food and hospitality that too at competitive prices.

Nidhi KM

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