Samosa party
Chef Abhishek Joshi recently added three new mutton dishes to the menu. Why? Pune loves mutton, he loves to cook mutton, and it’s the monsoon! From them, the Haleem & Keema Samosas is a playful standout. You never quite know what you will get when you pick a samosa off your plate. A crispy bite might reveal a spicy, robust keema or a milder, creamier haleem. Another hit is the Mutton Pepper Chops, served charred and smoky with a coal-cooked potato on the side as a nod to the chef’s childhood. (In picture: Haleem & Keema Samosa)

At We Idliwale, Barroom, Balewadi High Street, Baner. 
Cost Rs 530 for Samosas, Rs 650 for chops
Call 9307536165

Sando surprise from Maharashtra
Cafe PNQ specialises in taking classic Indian regional recipes and turning them into robust sandwich fillings. Their Mutton Tambda Rassa Birria turns a classic recipe into a mutton brioche sandwich served with Tambda rassa like a birria’s consomme. You essentially get a bowl of hot rassa on the side for dipping, alongside punchy bites of pickled paprika chilli and melted cheddar packed into the sandwich. (In picture: Mutton Tambda Rassa Birria)

At Cafe PNQ, Swapnali Apartments, Late GA Kulkarni Path, Kothrud. 
Cost Rs 550 
Call 9665526940

Twist to a taco
If you prefer an elegant night out that still gets a bit messy, this spot delivers. With their Kala Mutton Tacos, they take slow-cooked kala mutton, a beloved Maharashtrian recipe in a rich and dark gravy, and pack it into a soft taco shell that spends some time on the pan to earn a light crisp. It comes served with fresh lime, chillies, and onion to cut through the heavy, spiced richness of the meat. (In Photos: Kala Mutton Tacos)

At Cobbler & Crew, Ground floor, Barons Club, North Avenue, opposite Jogger’s Park, Kalyani Nagar. 
Cost Rs 635 
Call 9325875685

Japan calling
Chef Brehadeesh Kumar, the Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador recognised by Japan’s MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan), brings authentic ramen to Kothrud. But after the recent renovation, he’s serving a clever local twist. The Mutton-Kotsu Ramen features a mutton bone broth simmered for eight to 10 hours, layered with Kolhapuri Karamiso, and paired with handmade alkaline noodles. While currently off the menu for recipe standardisation, it is expected to return in October. (In Picture: Mutton-Kotsu Ramen)

At Ginkgo, 12, Damodar Villa Apartment, Rahul Nagar, Kothrud. 
Cost Rs 800 
Call 9359837216

Don’t skip the legends

Surve’s Pure Non-Veg
Get its hearty Special Mutton Thali, loaded with robust Mutton Rassa, Mutton Sukka, and Indrayani rice.
Call 9823999960

Maratha Samrat
Order their legendary Kala Mutton Sukka paired with a Pandhara rassa.
Call 9960179573

Hotel Chul Mutton
True to its name, they cook over coals; but their Mutton Alani draws crowds from across town.
Call 7272815555

George Restaurant
A decades-old institution that still serves a great Mutton Biryani in a traditional handi.
Call 66020121