Rendezvous

Have you ever been to a place that made you think " aisa ghar hi toh chahiye" ? If not, you've never been to Cafe Wink  in Sreshtha Vihar. This place is what dreams are made of. If I weren't a happy heterosexual male, I'd be proposing to this fine piece of architecture left, right and centre. Cafe Wink is a prime example of you eat with your eyes first  with it's simple, victorian-ish decor and the effort that has gone into it with its ambiance is impeccable. The place stands out in what seems perhaps the West Delhi of East Delhi, Anand Vihar. The place is located next to DAV School and can easily be spotted because it is the most beautiful place in the area. It's like spotting Eminem in a group of generic black rappers. Coming to the service, the staff is super friendly. If I had a daughter, mai uska haath de deta inhe. Because I know they know how to take care of someone. They always served us with a smile. Gems. :') Nex...

THE BIRYANI PROJECT, GREATER KAILASH 2 Biryani is something that us Delhites have taken to heart. All of us have our own favorite places that serve biryani. And with more than a handful of new joints opening up everywhere, it's hard to pick your one true savior. Whenever you're craving for that handi full of rice, loaded with fried onions and doused with chunks of chicken on the bone, you end up getting it from your nearest "Moradabadi Biryani" store that has a neon sign and just a pateela full of regular old rice and some chicken. They measure it out and serve it to you in disposable plates. Why settle for anything less than a methodically prepared, systematically generated, meticulously synthesized handi of Biryani? The Biryani Project  in Greater Kailash is a result of years of trying and testing and tasting! The people behind this venture have been all across India, trying out various Biryanis the country has to offer. And no no no, they don't ju...

DHABA - A PUNJABI THEME I've always been amazed by the very idea of dining raw, dining ethnic, dining desi. The best possible experience I've had of dining like that would be in Chowki Dhani in Jaipur. And it is really tough to recreate that experience of getting close to our desi roots. However, this beautiful joint in Rajouri Garden states it plain and simple right in its name. Dhaba - A Punjabi Theme is, as the beautifully thought of name that must have taken them ages to think of suggests, a Punjabi Themed restaurant that looks like a Dhaba. MIND = BLOWN. Well, the name is a spoiler for what awaits you inside, but the door of the place is very distinct. It has two massive statues of what seem to be Pharaohs. Well, okay, Punjab may have had Pharaohs for all we know but we were too busy focusing on the Bhangra. Dhaba has a dining hall on two floors and a banquet/ party hall as well. The dining hall that we sat in was very homely. It felt like we were at our Ludh...

After the scorching heat of Delhi subsides, we welcome the Monsoon rains. The smell of rain hitting the ground, the sound of the pouring heavens, the wind gracing our faces and the relief of not having to step out in the blazing sun. All this calls out for one thing and one thing only. Food. Monsoon rains have always been associated with something salty and savory along with a hot cup of chai. And the perfect match is Chai and Chaat! Nothing beats a good old cuppa desi chai and a plate full of  salty tidbits, and some fresh onions and tomatoes, topped off with a fresh squeeze of lemon. DAMN! That is the stuff right there.  Chaayos  has added new items to their special Monsoon Menu  including an Egg White Chaat and a Keema Chaat!  I went into the Nehru Place outlet in Epicuria, looking forward to escape the heat of the Nehru Place market and the people running after my bag thinking there was a laptop in there that needed repairing. (Um. no thanks. i...

After the much awaited Naked Chicken Taco hit the stores of Taco Bell across Delhi, comes the vegetarian's saving grace! The new Crispy Potaco is here to make all you leaf-eating, meat-hating, forest-cover-depleting herbivores love your plain lives again! The Potaco is not just another regular old taco, mi amigo. It is that cousin of the Taco that went to MIT, Maulanabad Institute of Technology. While the Naked Chicken Taco is a NYU Graduate already. The Potaco has a fried potato shell! Tiki-Taka may be dead. but Tikki-Taco IS ALIVE! Stuffed with the regular vegetables, cheese and sauce, the Potaco is now available at your nearest Taco Bell for just Rs 99/- Head on over to try the Potato today!

  For ages and beyond Indian people have had the urge to sit in Central Perk, sip on some fresh brewed Latte and ask people of their age group, "How you doin?" Unfortunately for them, they look like Nirahua Rikshawala rather than Joey Tribbiani, they say " Aur bhaiiiii kahan chali? " instead of the famous catchphrase and they have their local chai wala on the nukkad rather than Central Perk. Now, you cannot give someone the charisma of Joey Tribianni by making them binge on 10 seasons of Friends, but you can give them a cafe that is lively and that plays smooth jazz over the speaker system. How You Brewing?   is the metaphorical amazement that gives you the opportunity to sip on some hot coffee, eat some muffins or croissants, or some Paappe if you're desi. Located in East of Kailash, near the famous Street Food Mecca, Amar Colony, How You Brewing has an outlook that is hard to miss. Massive green doors and windows and a bright sign that says the n...

SUSHIYA As my dear friend once said, Sushi has always been amazing. The aura around this classic Japanese dish has been built up by years of seeing it on Television, in movies and in cartoons! Just the thought of something being so popular in the eastern civilization was enough to make me try this wonderful dish. I have had sushi before a number of times and that is why, today, I really love it. It's light, clean and tastes fresh everytime I have it. But my friends who try it for the first time almost want to puke. It is really an acquired taste. The sticky rice, the seaweed roll and the protein inside it make it a very complex dish. And then there's the pain of teaching my friends how to use the chopsticks. They end up stabbing the food with it and using it like a fork. Sigh. Neanderthals. I found this wonderful delivery outlet, Sushiya, in Malviya Nagar that was happily delivering Sushi to homes! And I went on ahead and placed an order for my family to try t...

TPot Café, Malviya Nagar When you're out and about, looking for a place to just chill out with your gang, or that special someone, or your family itself, Malviya Nagar has a cute little café that offers a calm and serene ambience. TPot in C Block of Malviya Nagar serves quick bites that you can enjoy with a refreshing beverage. Sandwiches, Wraps, Pastas are the classics and they have recently launched their Breakfast Menu which includes Omelettes, Maggi, Paranthas and more! I got a chance to try their Paneer Parantha, which was massive and served alongside some tangy achaar. The other item I tried was their TPot Special Maggi which was loaded with vegetables and cooked to perfection. This cutesy little place has fun interiors, vibrant lighting and plenty of board games for you to enjoy. They open at 9am everyday till 11 pm on Mon-Thursday, while till 1 am on Fri-Sunday!

THE AMERICAN CONNECTION DINER, KALKAJI The biggest flaw that Indians have is that they're never really satisfied with being Indian. It is always about replicating the west. People nowadays think that The Avengers are cool but they forget that Shaktiman will forever be their first "Fuq Fuq Fuq Fuq". And this trend has bled into the food industry as well. The westernization of food outlets throughout Delhi has left old uncles and aunties in peril. With the OG American Diner in Indian Habitat Center, which was a bit too bland for my taste, Indians rejoiced the taste of America in exchange for their inherent spice-tolerant palate and their hard earned money. And it comes as no surprise that an American Diner opened up in Kalkaji as well. The American Connection Diner is located in Kalkaji and it is right next to the famous Gol Chakkar Cafe which is, to everyone's surprise, next to the gol chakkar. It is a beautifully decorated place with vibrant colors t...

THE GOURMET'S, C.R. PARK There are a massive number of delivery outlets running all across Delhi NCR. Especially in South Delhi, there are many restaurants that don't have dine-in capabilities and only run a delivery chain. This independence from a seating arrangement decreases their running costs as well. Some restaurant owners are solely focused on this cost and selling ratio to increase profits. But that is certainly not the case at The Gourmet's in C.R. Park! Very closeby my Grad School, in Kalkaji, The Gourmet's prides itself in making the most hygeinic food possible. They claim to not compromise on the quality of the food. even though the customers might have to pay an extra buck. And their passion for food clearly shines across all aspects of the restaurant. From the friendly delivery to the amazing customer service and feedback retreival system. They are brilliantly acquiring new customers and retaining the old ones too! THE FOOD Now, I...