Restaurants
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Bukhara
Cuisine North-West Frontier
Hours Daily 12:30-2:45pm and 7-11:45pm
Location ITC Maurya Sheraton Hotel, Diplomatic Enclave
Reservations 12:30-1:30pm and 7-8pm only
Phone 011/2611-2233
Prices Main courses Rs 300-Rs 1,195
Staff at this international culinary flagship are immensely proud of the fact that Bill Clinton apparently chose to stay at the Maurya Sheraton "because of our restaurant," and report that when Vladamir Putin was in town, he wanted to dine here three times a day. Hardly surprising then, that Restaurant Magazine rated Bukhara as one of the 50 best restaurants (and best Asian restaurant) in the world in 2004. It's a cozy venue, with stone walls and cushion-covered stools at mock log-top tables. In a busy display kitchen where meat and vegetables hang from sword-like kebab spears, chefs slave to produce delicacies from a menu that hasn't changed in over 25 years. The best way to experience Bukhara's internationally celebrated cuisine is to order an assorted kebab platter (there's even one named in Clinton's honor). Follow that up with any of Bukhara's classic lamb (raan) dishes best savored with thin butter naans. Finish off with a traditional rice-based phirni pudding or one of their amazing kulfis (ice cream).
Chor Bizarre
Cuisine North Indian, Kashmiri
Hours Daily noon-3:30pm and 7:30-11:30pm
Address 4/15 A Asaf Ali Rd
Location Hotel Broadway, Asaf Ali Road, Central New Delhi
Phone 011/2327-3821
Prices Main courses Rs 290-Rs 395; thalis Rs 245-Rs 345
A fantasy of kitsch twisted into a unique and wonderful space that is more irreverent museum than diner, this is one restaurant that truly lives up to its name. Its name a pun on chor bazaar, which literally means "thieves' market," Chor Bizarre is packed with fascinating odds and ends, mismatched settings, out-of-place furnishings, and reassembled bits and pieces (matchboxes, coins, chessboards, antique combs, ivory sandals, jewelry, chandeliers, a jukebox.), innovatively displayed to create one of India's most visually dynamic restaurants (a branch of which is now also open in London). One table was previously a Maharaja's bed, while a 1927 vintage Fiat has become the buffet-carrying "Chaat mobile." Start with deep-fried lotus roots, prepared Kashmiri-style, and move on to kakori kebab, lamb marinated in 36 different spices and grilled in a tandoor. Cardamom-flavored lamb meatballs (goshtaba) are another delicious Kashmiri specialty, slow-cooked over an open flame. Alternatively, if you're up for a feast, try the Kashmiri taramis (thali), filled with treats and served from a traditional royal platter.
Website: http://www.chorbizarrerestaurant.com/newsite/index_india.html
DineEsty
Cuisine Oriental
Hours Lunch noon-3:30pm; Dinner 7:00pm-1:30am
Location Sushant Lok, Gurgaon
Prices Under Rs. 1,600 for two.
Wednesday is special for women here. Why? Because they get a complimentary goblet of wine! The men pay, of course! Anyway, have a go at some of the new Chinese and Japanese additions like dumpling soup, chicken duo jio sauce, prawns in Mongolian sauce, grilled making rolls in your choice of seafood or chicken and so on. Health freaks can try the steamed chicken or fish in ginger oyster sauce. Yum yum!
F-Bar & Kitchen
Cuisine Eclectic Eats
Hours 12:30pm onwards (Mon-Fri)
Address 4/15 A Asaf Ali Rd
Location Cyber City, Gurgaon
Phone 011/2327-3821
Prices Under Rs. 1,000 for two.
A steaming soup for your tired soul. . . What say? An assortment of salads to munch on. . . And then, main course calling. . . Try some pasta Neopolitana or a Med casserole or Hong Kong chicken with a variety of breads. And then, dig into créme brulée or tiramisu. Did we forget to mention the complimentary glass of wine? Well salut!
Fa Yian
Cuisine Chinese
Hours Daily noon-3pm and 7-11pm
Address A Block, 25/2 Middle Circle
Location Connaught Place
Phone 011/2332-3237, 011/5151-6788
Prices Main courses Rs 135-Rs 165 ($3.05-$3.75); prawns Rs 465 ($11)
Judging by the exterior and the neighborhood, this might at first seem the type of place you don't want to be at night. But grit your teeth and venture inside -- the brainchild of Gregory Kuok, this is the most authentic Chinese restaurant in Delhi, and the well-established menu has been tried and tested by some of the city's fussiest diners for well over a decade. Steamed wheat dumplings, filled with prawns, chicken, or vegetables and served with a garlic soya dip, are what gave Fa Yian its excellent reputation. The dumplings are prepared, along with the homemade noodles, fresh each day. Try these as a starter, followed by honey chicken, pepper-salt jumbo prawns, or the Fa Yian hot pot, which is prepared at the table according to your taste. Fish is brought in from Mumbai and steamed with a delicate hint of ginger. Covering two levels, the ambience is relaxed and simple; ask for a table upstairs. Service is friendly and casual.
Flavours
Cuisine Home-style Italian
Hours Daily 11am-midnight
Location Moolchand Flyover Complex, Defence Colony, New Delhi
Reservations Reservations recommended; necessary on weekends
Phone 011/2464-5644
Prices Most main courses Rs 300-Rs 350
Genuine home-style Italian cooking is the hallmark of Delhi's favorite Italian restaurant. Italian owner-chef Tarsilo Nataloni began this as an ice-cream shop and soon expanded to an extensive menu. Unless it's a blistering summer day and you prefer the air-conditioned section, grab a seat at a pretty wrought-iron table on the veranda. Order a wonderfully refreshing pink ginger fizz to sip on while you decide on what to eat. You could snack on panini made with ciabatta and imported cheese and meats, or get a delicious Greek salad followed by one of the perfect wood-fired oven pizzas (try the unusual pizza peri-peri). Flavors serves consistently good food, so go ahead and order any of the risottos or the fresh homemade pastas -- you won't be disappointed. Pleasant young college students wait tables here (a rarity in India), and are eager to chat if you care for interaction. If not, this is a perfect spot for a relaxed evening after an exhausting day. Advance booking is recommended on weekend evenings.
Haveli
Cuisine North Indian
Hours Daily 12:30-2:45pm and 7:30-11:45pm
Address Number One Mansingh Rd
Location Taj Mahal Hotel
Phone 011/2302-6162
Prices Main courses Rs 305-Rs 795; thalis Rs 895-Rs 995
Besides the fact that Haveli's food is exceptional, it's almost worth a visit just to admire the sumptuous decor. One wall showcases fine floral frescoes and decorative reliefs, while the ceiling is adorned with carved wooden haveli eaves, gilt tiles, and Belgian chandeliers. In the evenings, musical and cultural performances are staged on a raised marble platform under a beautiful canopy. A great way to get a taste for North Indian cuisine is to order a Maharaja thali, a silver platter filled with tandoori prawns, masala chicken, spicy lamb, mixed vegetable curry, and heavenly black dal, a lentil specialty that's cooked for up to 20 hours over hot charcoal. Try the signature murgh dhaniya, a mild chicken curry flavored with cilantro.
Karim Restaurant
Cuisine Mughlai
Hours Daily 7am-midnight
Address 16 Jama Masjid
Location Matiya Mahal, opposite Hotel Bombay Orient
Phone 011/2326-4981 or -9880
Website www.karimhoteldelhi.com
Prices Main courses Rs 51-Rs 180; baker feast Rs 3,800
Credit Cards Not accepted
In the heart of Old Delhi, not far from the Jama Masjid, this legendary eatery dates back to 1913, when it was opened by a chef who hailed from a family of royal cooks who served, among other guests, the great Mughal Emperor Akbar. Come here for the food, and don't be put off by the informal setting; this is the genuine thing. It's primarily a meat-eaters' hangout, and the real princely treats are mutton burra kebabs. The butter-cooked chicken (makhani murgh) is also wonderful, as is the badshahi badam pasanda, mutton cooked with blended almonds and yogurt and fragrant spices. If you're really adventurous, you can also sample exotic fare such as spiced goat trotters, or the advance-order Bakra feast -- lamb stuffed with chicken, rice, eggs, and dried fruit, a meal made for a dozen people.
Masala Art
Cuisine Contemporary Indian
Hours Daily 12:30-2:45pm and 7:30-11:45pm
Address 2 Sadar Patel Marg
Location Taj Palace Hotel, Diplomatic Enclave
Phone 011/2611-0202
Prices Main courses Rs 325-Rs 950; Food shows Rs 1,375; Seafood Rs 1,175
Artistic rendering of classic Indian cuisine is all the rage in the country's upscale city restaurants, and Masala Art makes a very conscious attempt to dazzle. The chefs turn cooking into a performing art, putting on engaging food demonstrations at mealtimes; spectators eat whatever delicacies are produced. Of the daily a-la-carte specials, look for achari jhinga (prawns flavored with raw mango), and galouti kebabs prepared with finely minced lamb and 126 different herbs. If you're up for sharing a small feast, order khushk raan, a whole leg of lamb pot-roasted in a secret, heavenly marinade. Order homemade puffy phulka bread, made from ground wheat on the side, and be sure to have a glass of fresh sugar-cane juice or bhune jeere ki chaas, buttermilk seasoned with roasted cumin. End with cheena payesh, soft cottage cheese dumplings in reduced milk, topped with pistachios.
My Humble House
Cuisine Chinese
Hours Daily 12:30-2:45pm and 7-11:45pm
Location ITC Maurya Sheraton Hotel, Diplomatic Enclave
Reservations recommended
Phone 011/2611-2233
ITC Maurya's open rooftop restaurant My Humble House infuses Chinese styles with global touches. It is a unique dining concept that is reflected in the restaurant's cuisine, design, service and attention to detail. Designed by Myu Planing, a Japanese firm, My Humble House is built around neat straight lines drawn from a Zen approach.
A hugely popular fine dining experience in Singapore, Beijing and Tokyo, My Humble House now at ITC Maurya, Delhi, provides that definitive hospitality experience for people of superior taste and refinement. The restaurant has a bar lounge which can seat up to 16 and has a distinguished collection of wines, sprits and malts to boast of. The main dining area with 114 covers has two private dining rooms, semi private alcoves with background light effects that give it just the right touch of friendliness, outdoor dining and a beautiful Al Fresco, overlooking the verdant ridge
Naivedyam
Cuisine South Indian Vegetarian
Hours Daily 11am-11pm
Address 1 Hauz Khas Village
Location Around Town
Phone 011/2696-0426
Prices Main courses Rs 45-Rs 75; thali Rs 90
Delhi has three branches of this fantastic little South Indian restaurant; the one in Hauz Khas is the original; atmospherically decorated with mirror-framed Tanjore paintings and pillars that have been beautifully carved and embossed. Soothing temple music fills the subtly lit interior. You start your meal with a spicy peppery lentil soup, called rasam, which is taken as a curative and is something of an acquired taste. Thalis, or multicourse platters, are served at meal times, and are a good way to sample a variety of tastes from the South. Alternatively, you can choose from a whole range of dosas (akin to a pancake). Try tangam paper masala dosa; it's a paper-thin pancake made from rice and lentil flour. The ingredients may sound ridiculously simple, but dosas easily become addictive. On the side you'll be served chutney made from ground coconut and green chilies; and sambar, a soup like concoction of lentils, tamarind, and vegetables. Tea and coffee are served in the style typical of the South, but there's no alcohol. You'll recognize the restaurant by the stone Nandi bull statue that faces the front entrance.
Orient Express
Cuisine French
Hours Daily 12:30-2:30pm and 6:30-11:30pm
Address 2 Sadar Patel Marg
Location Taj Palace Hotel, Diplomatic Enclave
Reservations Reservations essential
Phone 011/2611-0202
Prices 4-course meal Rs 2,395; 3-course meal Rs 2,095
Other Children under 17 not allowed for dinner
You're best off dressing up for a meal in this posh replica of a Pullman Orient Express train carriage; look anything less than debonair and you're likely to be ignored. Enjoy pre-boarding drinks on the "platform," as the bar area is called, and scan the humidor for an expensive cigar. Your four-course journey is inspired by the countries through which the Orient Express passes on its Paris-to-Istanbul run, and is likely to include items such as Camembert soufflé with paprika sauce, pan-seared reef cod with raw papaya salad, and the extremely popular oven-roasted New Zealand rack of lamb, encrusted with herbs and almonds and served with lamb. Fish is flown in fresh daily -- from France. Although the menu changes three or four times a year, one item will never be replaced: the sinful but wonderful warm chocolate pudding with a liquid chocolate center.
Park Balluchi
Cuisine Mughlai, Afhghani
Hours Daily noon-11:45pm
Location Deer Park, Hauz Khas Village
Reservations Reservations for dinner and weekends essential
Phone 011/2685-9369
Prices Main courses Rs 180-Rs 530
A regular winner of India's Tourism Award for the country's best restaurant, Park Balluchi enjoys a magical setting on the grounds of Delhi's leafy Deer Park, in Hauz Khas. Turbaned waiters in waistcoats and long shirts serve an extensive range of kebabs and spicy tandoor items. For some light drama, order Afghani-style murgh-potli (tandoori chicken): chicken breast stuffed with minced mutton and served over a flaming sword. The specialty at Balluchi is the dohra kebab, a unique combination of two meats. Vegetarians should order mewa paneer tukra, Indian cottage cheese stuffed with raisins, sultanas, walnuts, and other nuts; preparation of this dish takes at least 12 hours. Be sure to get a side order of Peshawari naan, bread cooked in the tandoor oven with poppy seeds and coriander leaves. As you eat, you will likely catch a glimpse of scampering rabbits or strutting peacocks, making this an ideal lunch venue.
Punjabi by Nature
Cuisine Punjabi
Hours Daily 12:30-3:30pm and 7:30-11:30pm
Address 11 Basant Lok
Location Vasant Vihar
Phone 011/5151-6665 thru 69
Prices Main courses Rs 225-Rs 495; prawns Rs 495; lobster Rs 750
You'll know from the many Sikh families that eat here that this is one of Delhi's best-regarded Punjabi restaurants, with two floors for diners and a pub upstairs. On the first floor is a display kitchen where you can watch tandoori items and desserts being made; ask for a table here, where it's more atmospheric. Try tandoori trout, flown in from the icy streams of Himachal Pradesh, or masala quail (bataer masaledar). Lobster is brought fresh from Mumbai and cooked to perfection in the tandoor oven. Vegetarians can look forward to tandoori broccoli, prepared in a mustard marinade; or sarson ka saag, fresh mustard greens served with homemade corn meal bread. Try the house specialty, a "gol gappa" shot - a tiny puri (fried puffed bread) filled with vodka, which you pop into your mouth whole.
Seven
Cuisine Goan Gourmet
Hours Lunch noon-3:30pm; Dinner 7:00pm-1:30am
Location The Crowne Plaza, Connaught Place
Prices Under Rs. 2,500 for two.
Drink, eat and make merry...After all, its the cuisine from the land of fun! Start with caldo verde (spinach-potato soup) or indulge in super seafood like rissois de camarrao (deep- fried prawn turnovers), king fish recheardo (grilled in Goan red masala) and crab xec xec (simmered in coconut curry). Sign off with some gooey bebinca (coconut milk & jaggery cake), perada (thickened guava pulp) or godshe (rice cooked in sweetened milk). Goa amchi Goa ahey!
Thai Wok
Cuisine Thai, Pacific Rim
Hours Noon-11:30pm. Snacks only, 3:30-7pm
Address 1091/1 Ambavata Complex
Location Mehrauli
Reservations Reservations highly recommended; essential on weekends
Phone 011/2664-4289
Prices Main courses Rs 195-Rs 400
This is one of the best ways to enjoy a meal in Delhi, which is probably why Delhi's smart crowd loves this designer-chic rooftop restaurant, with views of the Qutub Minar. Reached via an ancient elevator and a short set of stairs, the artful alfresco setting includes a bright-orange walled area with cushioned seating, wall torches, wind-blown pagodas, and white curtains that enhance an airy feel. Reserve well ahead to sit here. The affable host will make plenty of recommendations; find out if the wonderful pork spareribs, marinated in Thai herbs and topped with a honey and garlic sauce, are on offer. Seafood dishes are exceptional; try red snapper in chili-sour sauce, prawns stir-fried with fresh green chilies and sweet basil, or deep-fried filet of sole tossed in chopped garlic and freshly crushed black pepper. Vegetarians will love the super-light batter-fried vegetables and outstanding green curry. Try one of the delightfully decadent cocktails or peruse the extensive wine list with vintages from France, Italy, Spain, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and California -- all at hefty prices, of course.
The House of Ming
Cuisine Chinese - Schezwan and Cantonese
Hours Daily 12:30-2:45pm and 7:30-11:45pm
Location The Taj Mahal Hotel, 1, Mansingh Road, New Delhi
Reservations Reservations recommended
Phone +91 11 2302 6162
This big and spacious restaurant specializes in the spicy Schezwan and Cantonese cuisines. It is also among the few places that serve authentic Chinese food. The decor is very intimidating; there is a big dragon at the entrance and the interiors are all done up in blue and white, inspired by the colours on the artifacts of the Ming Dynasty.
Arguably the premier Chinese restaurant in Delhi, The House of Ming enjoys the patronage of the hauté and happening of the city.
While the Schezuan style offers deliciously hot and spicy fare, the Canton cuisine pampers the palates of those who prefer subtle and light food. Despite catering to totally divergent tastes, The House of Ming has consistently maintained its standards and remains one of the most socially prominent places in which to dine.
Chef Wang’s signature dishes include crispy thousand corner king prawns, Ant above the tree (mince chicken in a spicy sauce on a bed of crispy rice noodles).
The Rampur Kitchen
Cuisine North Indian
Hours Daily noon-3:30pm and 7-11pm
Address 8A Khan Market
Reservations Reservations recommended
Phone 011/2460-3366, 98682-60361
Prices Main courses Rs 130-Rs 250
Named after a former princely capital in Uttar Pradesh, this bright, yellow-walled restaurant is a fantastic place for meat-eaters and ideal if you've been browsing the Khan Market. It's intimate and extremely clean, with modern artworks depicting scenes from Delhi life. The Muslim food here is rich -- the chefs don't exactly hold back on the ghee. Try seekh kebab Rampuri, tasty mutton kebabs that are generously spiced, mixed with boiled egg whites, and grilled over charcoal. Gosht nahari is a delicious mutton dish prepared in thick, spicy onion gravy and cooked overnight on a slow fire. Another delicacy is haleem, made from a thick mutton paste mixed with spices and pulses and garnished with chilies and ginger; order tasty kulcha bread as an accompaniment.
The Spice Route
Cuisine Asian, Pacific Rim
Hours Daily 12.30-2:45pm and 7-11:45pm
Address 1 Janpath
Location The Imperial
Phone 011/2334-1234
Prices Main courses Rs 400-Rs 950
It was voted one of the top 10 restaurants in the world by Condé Nast Traveler, and it certainly lives up to its promise with a vast menu that makes the mouth water at the variety of flavors and ingredients. The decor alone is worth a visit -- every nook and cranny is hand-painted by temple artists flown in from Kerala, and antique beams, pillars, and ceilings are all imbued with meaning. The restaurant took 9 years to complete, and is divided into nine sections, each representing an aspect of the "journey of life" -- for instance, the Wealth section is embellished with 24-karat gold leaf, whereas the Ancestral section has replicas of panels from Thai temples. If the evening is balmy, sit in the tranquil courtyard and be prepared to be blown away by the food -- the best tom kha kai ever (the classic Thai soup, made with spicy chicken and coconut milk, flavored with lemon grass and kafir leaves) and mouthwatering chemeen thoren (Kerala-style prawns, stir-fried with coconut, curry leaves, and black tamarind, and flavored with mustard seeds). Kung nang phad khing is stir-fried lobster with ginger and Thai black mushrooms, and malu miris is composed of vegetables, coral mushrooms, and water chestnuts cooked in a Sri Lankan curry. As indicated by the name, the menu takes you on a complex culinary journey, from the Malabar Coast to Sri Lanka, Malaysia to Indonesia, Thailand to Vietnam. And although the lobster and the like are pretty pricey, you won't regret ordering them. There are plenty of other dishes in the Rs 400-to-Rs 600 ($9.10-$14) range. Service is superb -- smart, discreet, and helpful.
The Tai Pan
Cuisine Chinese
Hours Daily 12:30-2:45pm and 7:30-11:45pm
Location The Oberoi, Dr. Zakir Hussain Marg
Reservations Reservations recommended, essential on weekends
Phone 011/2436-3030
Prices Main courses Rs 350-Rs 1,600; Average vegetarian dish Rs 400; Non-vegetarian dish Rs 550
Singaporean chef Thian serves up amazing dim sum at this popular Chinese restaurant, arguably the best in town. Steamed and served in special bamboo baskets, Chinese dim sum are tiny dumplings filled with an assortment of tasty morsels; they draw a dedicated following, and it's quite possible to fill up on these starters without even moving on to the main courses. At lunchtime, when you can enjoy the fantastic view over Delhi Golf Course, an assorted platter of dim sum is ideal for a tasty midday meal that won't leave you feeling stuffed for the rest of the day. If you're up for a complete meal, don't miss the fantastic Peking duck or the chef's special, chicken tapering chili (sliced chicken and whole long tapering chilies, flavored with a light soya sauce). The chicken is not half as pungent as it sounds, unless you eat the whole chilies.
ThreeSixty
Cuisine Australian Seafood
Hours Lunch 12.30pm-2.45pm; Dinner 7:30pm-11:30pm
Location The Oberoi, Dr. Zakir Hussain Marg
Reservations Reservations recommended, essential on weekends
Phone 011/2436-3030
Prices Under Rs. 5000 for two
How about some Australian seafood mate? Prepared by master chef Raymond Sunny DeOcampo, here's an ocean of seafood fantasies from various parts of Australia that you could dive into! Sample premium Tasmanian salmon, scallops, aqua oysters, rock lobster or deep seas crab.
Turquoise Cottage
Cuisine Thai, Chinese
Hours Daily 12:30-3pm and 7:30-11:30pm
Address 81/3 Adhchini, Sri Aurobindo Marg
Location Around Town
Reservations Reservations essential Wed, Fri and Sat
Phone 011/2685-3896, 011/5168-1288
Prices Main courses Rs 85-Rs 500
Another option (like Thai Wok) if you're in the Qutub Minar area, this smart Asian restaurant has turquoise walls, dark stone floors with turquoise tiles, wrought-iron furniture, contemporary chandeliers, and a fish tank or two. Start with an assortment of dim sum dumplings (mouthful-size portions of minced seafood, chicken, meat, or vegetables wrapped in handmade wontons and steamed). Then move on to a barbecue platter; it comes with spareribs, satay chicken, filet of sole, and prawns. Other interesting dishes include black-pepper crab, spicy basil prawns, crispy shredded lamb, stuffed squid, and pork chops prepared with fragrant lemon grass. After you've eaten, join the young, hip crowd in the bar downstairs for some super-size vodka shots..
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