Kritunga Restaurant

Kritunga Restaurant is a well-known Andhra restaurant on Road No. 1 in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana, serving banana-leaf meals, spicy Guntur-style curries and biryani. Banjara Hills is one of the city's affluent districts, with offices, hotels and many restaurants, and Kritunga has a reputation among Telugu diners as a place to eat the cooking of coastal and central Andhra Pradesh in Hyderabad. The cuisine is Andhra, with an emphasis on the chilli-rich style associated with Guntur, a district known for its red chillies. The signature dishes are the Andhra meals, gongura mutton and pulusu. The Andhra meal is a full spread served on a banana leaf or plate, with rice, curries, lentils, pickles and accompaniments. Gongura mutton combines mutton with gongura, a tangy sorrel-like leaf that is an emblem of Andhra cooking, and pulusu is a tamarind-based stew that is sour and spicy. Biryani is also available for diners who want a familiar dish. The heat level is generally high, so diners who prefer milder food may wish to ask the staff before ordering. The dining room is lively and informal, with a busy, family-oriented atmosphere and a noise level that rises at peak sittings. There is no strict dress code, and reservations are not required, though groups may wish to arrive early on weekends. The restaurant does not focus on wine or cocktails, and drinks are usually buttermilk, soft drinks and water, which help balance the spice. Prices are mid-range, at roughly INR 400 to 650 per person, and the meals are generous enough to share. The listed hours are 11:30AM to 3:30PM and 7PM to 11PM daily, so the kitchen closes in the afternoon. For travellers, the restaurant is a convenient way to taste Andhra cuisine without leaving central Hyderabad, and it offers a contrast to the Nizami and Mughlai dishes most often associated with the city.