Tag: Delhi Fine Dining

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Foodie

Feel the taste of Southern India at Peninsular Kitchen, Vasant Kunj

There are not many dedicated South Indian places in Delhi where you can go in order to satisfy your South Indian foodie cravings. Peninsular Kitchen located in the plush area of Vasant Kunj at Ambience Mall, serves as a pleasant exception. The chefs brought from down south are well experienced to make the best South Indian dishes that you have ever tasted in a North Indian city. All the Peninsular states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka are covered in the vast menu along with some other seafood options straight from Goa.

The restaurant happens to be located in the Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj and the average cost per person is about 1000 INR.

Ambience

The decor is amazing and quite unique than anything you must have ever seen. The walls are decorated with huge anchors, reminders of the obvious Peninsula places, which mean the places surrounded by the ocean. The restaurant in itself is not huge, but the amazing lighting and interiors give it the illusion of a massive place. A large pillar is located in the middle of the place, with a boat-shaped base and the models of birds flying over in the sky. Get the idea? A display kitchen is also there giving you an amazing view of how the great best food is being prepared before it reaches on your tables. The lighting is all very soothing and blissful.

 

All in all, the ambiance of the restaurant is quite amazing with a lot to take home with you.

Cuisines

Covering almost all the best South Indian meals, the menu is quite confusing. Especially for the ones who aren’t as well acquainted with the South Indian meals and their names. For the starters, go for an orange colored drink called Sol Kadi, which would make you feel like tasting the beauty of entire southern India. The next stop for us was papad and Malabar Parantha, all crispy and hot. It was accompanied by four types of chatnis- tomato, mint, coconut, and mango. It served as a great appetizer. Spicy pumpkin curry and the very spicy yet memorable rawa dosa constituted my main course and I must say, it was all memorable with a taste I haven’t felt in all the South Indian restaurants that I have been in New Delhi.

For the dessert, I had the Pineapple Halwa which can be described as slowly cooked pineapple with dry fruits and coconut milk and this summed the meal up for me perfectly on a very happy note. The food exceeded my expectations quite well and considering the fact that I had to spend less than 900 on such great food seemed like an all-around win to me.

Highlights

While South India is the hottest spot for beaches, boasts of a different culture and cuisine every few hundred kilometers, there is hardly any such destination in the North with such diversity. Peninsular Kitchen takes the lead in bringing us quality coastal food and is a must visit place for such foodie cravings. The other main highlight of the place remains its ambiance, giving a feel of being in the middle of an ocean. Well tried!

There is no another place serving south Indian and coastal food better than Peninsular Kitchen in New Delhi. Go for it without thinking.

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Experience the enticing flavors of authentic Indian cuisine at Diya, The Leela Ambience

What’s Hot?

Specially designed to the delight of every palate, Diya at the Leela Ambience is a true North Indian restaurant. From the ambiance of the restaurant to the class apart hospitality, everything is inviting about the place. Step through the metal-frame rosewood doors into the land of exotic flavors and get mesmerized by the contemporary setting of the restaurant. You won’t be surprised to know that some of the bestselling dishes from the menu are prepared by their in-house celebrity chef, Kunal Kapur. Now, who won’t want to go there?

 

Location

Considering the ease of accessibility to the crowd of both the cities, Diya at the Leela Ambience is located on Delhi-Gurgaon border in Ambience Mall. The mall is located away from the resident zone to avoid the traffic congestion of the city. So, it won’t be a hard time for anyone to reach here.
Don’t forget to try

The signature dishes to try are dal makhani which is heavily loaded with makhan, khattey meethey kofte and Nalli Korma. Baigan ki katli, gilawat ke kebab are good to try as starters. Another not to miss dish is crispy shredded mutton served with assortment of chutneys, the two special ones are peanut-eggplant, and tamarind-dates.


Each dish prepared is unique in itself, and shows creativity not only in terms of the assortment of ingredients but also presentation. Don’t forget to try the Indian mustard-flavoured delicacy, the Kasundi Salmon Tikka. It is as mouth watering as it sounds.
The assortment of desserts is endless; your meal would be considered incomplete if you get up from your place without trying their sweet dish. It is rightly said; keep the good things for the last. Try their Matka kesar pista kulfi, a homemade ice cream with flavor of saffron and nuts, for the healthier option you can even go for Chukandar ka halwa, beetroot fudge.

What’s Special

Experience the dream come true moment at Diya by tasting the food personally made by the world renowned celebrity chef, Kunal Kapur. You never know when you might turn that lucky enough.

Ambience
he decor of the Diya has an old traditional palace look and charm. It remains beautifully lit with dimly lit lamps around the water body along with live music, so soothing to the ears being played in the background. The restaurant is designed in such a way that can accommodate 112 guests easily.
For a private affair, there is a glass enclosed private dining space that can accommodate up to 12 guests. The another highlight of the restaurant is the live kitchen, where you can see your order being freshly made.

Price

The price of the restaurant is slightly on the higher side which is approximately Rs. 3500 for two people, but is worth every penny spent.

Quick Tip

Make prior reservations to avoid the later hassle. In case if you are skeptical about your order, consult the chef and you won’t regret their decision.

The Verdict
One after the other, Diya has won many awards for its unabating hospitality and quality. This is what has kept its name and ranking always on the top. Stepping through the contemporary interiors of the place, accompanied with warm hospitality and soothing environment makes you feel not less than an Indian maharaja.

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Foodie

Dubliin Square Rohini paves way for great Indian food and handful of beverages

Rohini, in eastern Delhi, has always suffered due to the lack of good places for wining and dining but ever since Dubliin Square has opened there, the locales are finally getting a taste of some great dining experience. Dubliin Square is one of those places which give you the feeling of sitting in a high-end place but it happens to be quite an affordable place.

The restaurant is located in the secluded Mangalam Paradise Mall, sector 3, Rohini, New Delhi.

The average price for a meal for two people is about 1500 INR.

Ambience

The restaurant is a two storey establishment in the Paradise Mall, Rohini, one of the main stops for the shoppers. The ambiance inside the cafe is quite on the gloomy and sad side. The lighting seemed dull and uninspiring. Even though it seems a bit down, it does appeal to certain customers and that is why the place is almost always full of young groups and families. The upstair dining hall is somehow better and gives out a friendly vibe thanks to the better view and good lighting. The paintings and Buddha looked pleasant. In any case, the restaurant is good and if the low cost is taken into consideration, it may very well be one of the best places to eat in the area.

The food

To go well with the assortment of starters, we started with their mocktails such as Virgin Mojito and Ice Crush which had a strong presence of lime and mint. For starters, we had Paneer Multani Tikka and spring rolls. The vegetable spring roll that I had was one amazing way to warm up before actually getting onto the main course.

Out of the amazing meals served at the place, the ones for the vegetarians are pretty diverse and amazing. The much-preferred foodie destination deals primarily in the North Indian, Chinese and Continental food items. Almost every other meal that we tasted was excellent but we feel it is quite necessary to mention some meals over here that was unforgettable. The garlic fried rice that we ate was so drool-worthy that the taste hasn’t left my mouth even after a couple of days.

The tandoori roti with shahi paneer took my taste buds on a roller coaster ride. The menu is quite vast full of almost every other North Indian snack and main course food items, including dal makhani

Highlights

The restaurant is one of the best-reviewed places on many portals thanks to the impeccable service that is provided to the customers along with great food. Other than that, there are many other added services that help the customers in having a wonderful experience at the place. Along with the usual things such as full bar and live music performances every now and then, the restaurant also provides free home delivery services to the nearby residents. Buffet services are also there to make the experience as good as it gets.

The Verdict

It’s less than a year since the place has been under operation. The roaring success that it has achieved in a short period of time is noticeable. With great food and amazing staff, Dubliin Square has become one of the most important dining spots in and around Delhi.

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Tickle your taste buds at the luxury dining space in Spicy Duck, Taj Palace

What’s Hot

From the Taishan and Chengdu sub-regions of Sichuan and Canton provinces in China, Spicy Duck promises to bring the true flavors of Chinese cuisine onto your platter. Boasting of its appetizing duck menu, the restaurant is considered as the best duck serving restaurant in the NCR.

The two expat chefs Leong and Oon from the South Chinese province of Guangdong are an expert in their jobs. They have worked in India before so are aware of Indian Palate. You won’t be surprised to find an in-house chili relish on the table.

The place is well known for the authenticity of Chinese dishes and its cozy luxury dining space. What adds to the flavor of the recipes is the hand-picked ingredients from the Chinese farms.

The Location

Tucked away in the posh society of the city, which is frequently visited by the foreign diplomats and ambassadors, the Spicy Duck is located in located in Taj Palace Hotel at Diplomatic Enclave in Chanakyapuri.

Ambience

The ambiance of the restaurant is enthralling, that is sure to captivate you with its striking interiors. The colors are more subtle as compared to other Chinese restaurants. The look of the place is quite modern which adds to its class. The cubicles are designed such that provides privacy to your dining experience.

What to eat

The signature dish of the restaurant is Crispy Spring Rolls with Mushroom and Milk in truffle oil. The rolls are so light and crispy that it gets quite difficult for one to stop. Another specialty of the restaurant is its Peking Duck, that is served in two servings. First, in the sliced skin along with spring onion and cucumber with plum sauce. And, second is the stir-fried shredded duck with vegetable and black bean sauce.


Some other must tries are Wok-fried Sliced Pork with Chilli Bean, Prawn Stir-fried preserved chili garlic, Braised Eggplant, Wild Mushroom in Dou Ban Sauce. Combine your main course with the glass noodles, which are by far the thinnest noodles you will ever taste.

The desserts will make you fall in love with its every bite. Don’t forget to try their Sticky Date Cake, five spice caramel. They simply add glory to the whole meal.

What’s Special

What makes it special is the freshly hand picked raw materials and ingredients from the Chinese farms to retain the true flavour of the dish. Apart from the raw materials, the oils and concoctions that are used in the restaurant kitchen are also homemade.

Price

The price of the restaurant is slightly on the higher end. For a lunch or dinner for two, the amount would range somewhat around Rs 5000.

The Verdict

Acclaimed as the best duck serving restaurant in the town, Spicy Duck is a must try for every meat lover. With its warm hospitality and well maintained quality, Spicy Duck has got its name in the city’s fine dining arena.

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Start a food affair with Lazeez Affaire, the most delectable restaurant of the town

What’s Hot?

Boasting of its true flavors, Lazeez Affaire is nestled on the Malcha Marg in Chanakyapuri is a typical North Indian and Mughlai restaurant. The quality and service of the place have been publicly acclaimed by the international tourism. The warm hospitality that is bestowed on the customers is something that takes your heart away.
From Indian to Mughlai to Chinese, enjoy your food with the choicest of drinks at the welcoming bar. Every dish prepared here is with so much love which can be felt in its every bite.
The restaurant attracts a major crowd from the posh colonies of South Delhi and is known as a nice cozy place for family outing. The maximum crowd you will find here is of foreign diplomats and ambassadors who have maintained their loyalty to this spectacular place.

What to try?

What tops the menu here is an assortment of curries, kebabs, soups, and biryanis.

Some of the popular dishes to relish are chapli kabab, kakori kabab, sharabi raan (which has a punch of dark rum in it) and rahra mutton. You will find most of the specialties from the North Indian cuisine.

Don’t forget to try their barbeque menu which will melt in your mouth at every bite. For vegetarians, there is an equally scrumptious menu on the list. Some of the palatable items include Dahi Kebab, Paneer Korma, maharani veg platter and mushroom tikkas. Combine your meal with some drink to relish it better. During winters, you can incorporate hot shorbas that will warm you up and during summers it can be replaced with some chillars i.e., Jal jeera, lassi, kanji, and buttermilk etc.

What’s Special

The restaurant boasts of its clientage, the maximum of which remains to be foreign diplomats and ambassadors. Being in a company of such people, devouring on a great meal, makes you feel as if you are in a different land.

Ambience

As compared to its vibrant food, the ambiance of the restaurant is very classy and composed.  This is an ideal place for a family get together where one can sit and chit chat with some soft music being played in the background. There is a bar too with the choicest of drinks that can be enjoyed along with every meal.

Due to its proximity to the diplomatic enclave, the place is frequently visited by foreigners. So you are supposed to find a good crowd as well here.

Price
As compared to its quality service and food, the price at Lazeez Affaire is very nominal that can suit every budget pocket. The price for two is approximately Rs. 2000.

Quick Tip
The place remains crowded usually, so it is advised to make prior bookings to avoid later hassles.

The Verdict

That is a casual dining space, specially designed for all standards of society. With its scrumptious food and warm hospitality, the place has maintained a huge client base over the city

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Foodie

Rajdhani at Scindia House, Connaught Place serves authentic Rajasthani flavours on your plate

Located right in the heart of the city in New Delhi, Rajdhani is one popular restaurant that primarily serves Indian meals. The very famous chain has their restaurants in most of the big cities in the country and they mostly serve the food in thalis. However, strangely enough, more than the food, it was the service provided by the staff that impressed us. All in all, it was a great experience dining in a place as such.

Rajdhani is located at Scindia House, Connaught Place in New Delhi and being a pocket-friendly restaurant, it costs about 900 INR for two people.

Decor

The place has a very suitable ambiance for the families to sit together and enjoy some time together while eating some of the most brilliant food. The best thing is that the place has a welcoming ambiance and the way they welcome you in is heart warming. You feel special and important to the staff. The waiters can be seen in ethnic uniforms. The service is quite fast even during house full hours which make you fall in love with the place even more.  The chairs and tables are perfectly lined up which somehow seems a bit more formal, but all clean and tidy. The crowd, however, makes the vibe a little bit noisy in the peak hours, but it all seems worth it somehow. Overall, the ambiance is quite a simple one and comfortable. The restaurant could try with some renovation.

Food  

Specializing mostly in the Indian food, that too Gujarati and Rajasthani, the place may look like the menu lacks lots of choices. But as it happens to be the case, there are enough options in the menu that would make you really really happy. We ordered a Rajasthani thali. Being fans of that, we had tasted the same in a number of places. Everywhere, we experienced a different flavor, which naturally varies from place to place.

An army of waiters started to come in filling our thalis with one food item at a time. It all started with buttermilk first. Starting with buttermilk the waiters served us a delicious thali which had Daal Bati, choorma, kadhi, daal, masala daal and gate ki sabzi. The kadhi had a slightly sweet taste yet every bit of it was delicious. The daal bhaati choorma is the best you can have anywhere in the city. It was followed by bread, roti and butter/ghee. The varieties of roti also included the bajre ki roti. The khichdi served with ghee was also a lip smacking dish.

The large variety of sumptuous various flavors on just one plate make the experience truly distinct from other places. The entire meal was a pretty mixture of sweet and sour, spicy and fresh. It was satisfying to its core and in the end, the Gulab Jamuns we had as desserts were amazing.

Highlights

The biggest highlight about the place had to be the impeccable service that they believe in. Despite the fact that the place was filled up to its neck, we were always attended promptly by the well trained and well-spoken staff of waiters. Before the meal, we got a brass surahi, a sort of water container and a bowl to help us wash our hands. The place is crowded, especially in the peak hours, so it’s better to make the reservations in advance to avoid the unwanted hassle. Other than that, it’s a great experience.

If you visit during the hot and humid summer weather, you will be served a glass of salty chaach which is so tempting and a savior in the hot weather.

The Verdict

Offering traditional Gujarati and Rajasthani cuisines, the place is a gem for Thali lovers. Not to miss, Rajdhani has branches PAN India.

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Foodie

Tonino brings you love from Italy!

Tonino is a restaurant that makes you realize what would it really be like sitting in an Italian city, feasting on the best of the Italian meals. You wouldn’t really find a place like it in the entire Delhi NCR. Redefining class, the place is located in Connaught place, in the heart of New Delhi. You can spot it right near the Rajiv Chowk metro station, in the PVR plaza building. Although thanks to the metro, the place is pretty much under the reach of the Delhiites who crave some authentically native Italian meals along with some delicious Continental meals that would tickle your taste buds.

Tonino is a beautiful piece of architecture and it costs a couple of people about 1500 INR to have one good meal over here.

Decor

Laced with long winding staircases, the place is exquisitely designed to woo the average Delhi youth. The staircase along with the white painted walls produces a pretty romantic and chirpy ambiance. Although, it is quite obvious that the efforts had been made to make the place look somehow unique but the fine dine look of the interiors fails in the pursuit. That doesn’t mean it is any lesser in beauty, it’s a bit more stylistic, however clichéd. The giant window glass overlooking the road is quite artistic and well thought out. While the furniture, to the tiles used on the walls, will easily remind you of what Italian architecture actually means.

Overall, the ambiance is quite at par with some of the best places in the city, maybe even surpassing a few of them.

Food

Let’s start with the drinks first. The restaurant hasn’t got a bar license yet but there are some refreshing and delightful mocktails and delicious cups of coffee to make up for that. The drink named Beet’s beauty is especially worth a mention.

Being a proud Italian eatery, one could expect that there would be variety of delicious pizzas. And the restaurant does exceed all the expectations of die-hard pizza lovers. From thin crust pizzas to arabita pastas they have everything to offer from the Italian menu. For starters, we ordered Arancini Di Formaggi which were cheese rice balls and definitely worth a try. Pizza Sana and Cafe Tonino Square Pizza served as a special treat to our taste buds. The thin crust and crispy pizzas retain a smoky taste that is surreal, thanks to the wood firing technique used to bake them. The pizza sandwiches are great as well and leave you stunned with the veggie fillings and the quality of cheese included.

Our meal culminated with the desserts in form of Arabian Honey cake and Tiramisu. Both were sweet and summed up a great experience perfectly well.

Highlights

The world renowned chef Suman Sharma overlooks the menu of the restaurant and having such a huge name to its credit, Tonino is a great place to satisfy your love for authentic Italian food.

Being located in the most happening neighborhood in the city, the crowd is good, yet may prove to be too much for some. So book in advance and enjoy a great meal. They have their fine dining at MG Road as well and is very popular if you plan candle light dinner.

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If you really prefer a private dining area with your friends, The Vault Cafe in Connaught Place is the best place to be

Multi-cuisine menus courteously served in 5 themed private vaults that can easily accommodate between 8 and 22 people, this sums up the Vault Café for you.

Located amidst the pleasant rush in Central Delhi’ Connaught place area, The Vault Cafe is a cool and lively place in the city. The ambiance is soothing to the senses. With the crowd comprising of young and the restless Delhiites, bathed in somewhat neon reddish lights, this might just be the place in case you are looking for a group outing or a date. The low light setting somehow reminds you of a dark brooding novel setting or a French art film and the little bit wicked aesthetic inclination appeals to the customers. The USP of this place is that you can spend your evening in private rooms shaped like vaults of different capacity – that’s why the name The Vault Cafe. Get yourself a vault if you are a group of 5 or more and have a blast with your friends.

Location

Although, the first timers may find it a bit difficult to locate the restaurant, but that makes the place all the more exclusive. The restaurant is tucked in a corner in the F block in Connaught Place. The exact location is F-60, Second Floor, Connaught Place. The place remains open till 12.30 AM.

The Food

Choosing the perfect item from the extensive menu full of items from all across the world could very well be a daunting task. If you don’t know your way through it, you will find it tough to decide. The highlights for theme lunch and dinner would be Raspberry Swizzle and Mai Tei for the cocktails and Coffee surprise, Kiwi hour and Melon Breeze for mocktails. Strawberry Mango smoothie is extraordinarily suave as well.

For the starters, one could go without thinking for some exquisite options such as Mushroom Satay, Shish Taowk and Falafel Wrap. But apart from these, the Pasta with cheese toppings is something you would remember for a very long time. Coming out of these starters, Pav Bhaji here is spicy and delight to the taste buds. Same is the case with Vada Pao which happens to be exquisitely delicious.

The restaurant serves as a vegetarian foodie’s paradise with dishes such as the thin crust pizzas and paneer tikka pizza. Specifically, the restaurant deals in North Indian, Asian, Continental and Mediterranean cuisines which would be some of the best your taste buds ever had the pleasure of checking out.

Also do not miss the tandoori chaap and pizza.

Pricing

With alcohol included, the average cost for an eating session which includes two people is approximately INR 1600, which remains right under the budget for most people.

Highlights

Some highlights of the place which are worth mentioning are –

-Outdoor sitting arrangements

-Wheelchair is accessible

-Smoking area

-Wifi

-Full Bar Available

Apart from the mysterious theme of the interiors, everything from the menu to the seating arrangements is a great one. Great food, superb service, and good ambiance give enough reasons to be in love with the place.

With the interior coming straight from the mind of some creative geniuses, the place reminds you of the place you used to dream about. Enjoying the music and the food with your friends in a private space arrangement is a great way to experience the group outing.

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Bukhara, ITC Maurya,Delhi – A restaurant which greets the tandoori lover in you

Planning to celebrate the tandoori food lover in you right before the year ends? Then Bukhara at ITC Maurya can play the perfect host to all your tandoori desires. The famous multi-cuisine restaurant is located at Sardar Patel Marg, Chanakyapuri.

Come here and you’ll earn yourself a unique, sophisticated yet totally ethnic experience. Everything from the display kitchen including the tandoori kebabs looks so mouth watering. The special thing about the place that it recreates the charm of the traditional way of cooking in clay ovens known as “Tandoors”.

If you are a vegetarian, delight your taste buds with recipes such as Paneer Tikka , Veg Tandoori salad, Bharwan Aloo (Stuffed potatoes) and famous Dal Bukhara which is exceptionally the best to try. The delicious and succulent tandoor cooked- kebabs, vegetables, and bread and Sikandri Raan, straight from the kitchen all make for a great menu.

Besides the luscious food, the interior that gives you the feel of a Dhaba is a feast for the eyes. The décor is still like that of the old times with stone walls, low stool seating, wooden flooring giving the place a rugged look. Copper pots are suspended from the ceilings. Also, the crockery used is the earthenware in an earthen color and if we talk about the menu it is actually painted on a block of wood.

The guests are made to wear the checked aprons while eating and moreover they are also motivated to eat with their hands so that the food is tasted by all the senses. The wearing of checked aprons is a very novel concept. The restaurant offers an efficient service in the delivery of food to the tables.

Quick Tips

If you are looking forward to the best dine in experience at Bukhara this weekend, reserving a table is strongly recommended as one may have to wait for 45-60 minutes to be seated which could make you a little restless. The staff service is great that will set you off on an insatiable greed to order more.

For those looking to end the meals with a dessert, phirni is a great option. If you are in Delhi, add this legendary restaurant to your things to do list without a second thought. A royal family dine-in experience is all you will end up with.
Price The prices are definitely expensive but the place is all the worth to visit and does live up to its hype. The price is Rs.6500 for two people approx where VAT and service charges are additional.

Hours: 12:30 PM – 2:45 PM; 7:00 PM – 11:45 PM

Dress Code: Formals/ Smart Casuals

Dining at Bukhara is a feast to remember. A beacon of culinary excellence across the globe and the undisputed pride of India, Bukhara has won innumerable awards over the years, making it a globally recognized Indian restaurant and the preferred dining destination of foreign delegates and high-profile people.

 

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