Landed in the city and don’t know where to eat? Take a look at these restaurants that will better your dining experience and overall stay in the capital of India.
By Catalina Sainz
Being a foodie, exploring all known-of restaurants in a new city is a must. This is why, in a city as big and diverse as Delhi, you should know where to dine in different occasions. After my “foodscapes”, I gathered a list of restaurants that I think will suit everybody and anybody.
- Indian Accent, Connaught Place: This restaurant is not just the best in Delhi, but the number one restaurant in the country! Indian Accent presents creative Indian cooking by fusing international products and methods with Indian flavors and customs. Chef Manish’s menu reimagines traditional Indian dishes while embracing global methods and inspirations. However, be pocket ready if you’re planning to dine here, since the average price for two people starts at around 5000 Rs.
- ROOH, Mehrauli, Qutub Minar: Rooh is the creation of Chef Sujan Sarkar and restaurateurs Anu and Vikram Bhambri. It has been a sensation in San Francisco for the past two years thanks to its innovative Indian cuisine, and now it has made its way to New Delhi. It is now only offering a tasting menu, which I personally love, choosing a less-travelled route, even though the capital hasn’t embraced this idea very well in the past. But for now, one must wait and see if the new eatery can succeed. With 11-course dinners matched with wines for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians, the attention to detail is evident. Additionally, their maître d’ always tells you about the background of the meals and the reds and whites that go with them. You can get meals like light as air Pork Vindaloo floss on top of a doughnut, a liquid Egg Bhurji topped with masala from Thetcha, a street cuisine from Maharashtra, and Pav, which is fermented Aloo Parantha with goat cheese and tomato pickle on the side. This restaurant is all about basic indigenous flavours that are simply presented in a novel way and exquisite way. The setup is “modern Indian,” but there’s no fuss with dramatic presentations like foams and sprays, as we would be able to see in the Indian Accent. Flavour is still the key priority.
- Spice Route, Imperial Hotel: You may lose hours admiring the old, gaudily painted wooden pillars and panels that adorn the Spice Route’s interior. The restaurant’s hand-painted walls took seven years to produce, thanks to the design of Rajeev Sethi, a well-known cultural czar of India in the area. Kerali painters and artisans have worked extremely hard to replicate frescoes, murals, and pillars that are rich in paints and carvings. Some of the greatest South Asian food in the area is made by Chef Veena Arora, who performs an excellent job. You may likely encounter a number of Thai-style meals, such as Tom Kha Kai, a fiery tomato soup enhanced with coconut milk, chicken, and kafir leaves, or Kung Nang Phad Khing, which features sautéed lobster, ginger, and Thai mushrooms.
The zesty oriental salads, sharp vegetable stews, and Malu Miris—a stew of veggies, water chestnuts, and coral mushrooms in a hot gravy—are all must-tries. Additionally, you can eat Keralan cuisine like Chemeen Thoran, which is made with coconut, tamarind, curry leaves, and mustard. Just one thing, if you are like me, and you are not accustomed to really spicy food, be sure to request a mild heat level when placing your order. If you want a low spice level, you will receive it—unlike in many Indian restaurants where you request mild and end up with a highly spicy meal. This is because Spice Route is tailored to the Western perception of spice level!
- Olive Bar and Kitchen, Mehrauli, Qutub Minar: Olive Bar & Kitchen in Mehrauli is a popular destination for discerning travelers and high rollers in Delhi due to its rustic-glam décor, excellent food, and famous clientele. The tables are set up beneath banyan trees, exuding a carefree, Mediterranean appeal, enhanced by glass lamps, candles, and comfortable divans. Expect expertly prepared ceviche, risotto, lasagne, and an abundance of international wines. The dishes reflect the mood and match the scenery, and it is honestly an amazing place to go to during winter season, since you can sit outside and enjoy the weather under the trees. If you do end up deciding to go here, I would personally recommend the Sorrentino Pasta combined with a peanut butter and oreo shake!
- Fig at Museo, Gurgaon: By chance, do you enjoy eating and taking pictures? What a space it would be to have both under one roof! That is what Fig at Museo, in Gurgaon, has to offer. This café, which is housed in the “Museo Camera- Centre for the Photographic Arts,” which showcases the history of photography and cameras under one roof, is centered around the concepts of culinary perfection and wellbeing. Fig’s interior design revolves around the idea that “simplicity is bliss,” and the venue’s peaceful atmosphere makes it an ideal place to indulge in one’s creative side. This atmosphere fits in nicely with the museum’s core values. The international cuisine at Fig allows you to have an Indian oriented meal or a Western or even Mediterranean oriented meal, something for everybody! My personal favorite in this restaurant would be the Carbonara pasta, which is perfectly cooked every time, as well as the “Cheesecake ke andhar” dessert.
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