Dana Choga Kebabri, Gurgaon

[Rated: 3.5/5]

The 12 year old family-run restaurant has three outlets- all named Dana Choga. The chain also has a fourth outlet, the Dana Choga Kebabri specialises in Kebabs. Among the hordes of North Indian restaurants and eateries in Gurgaon, the Dana Choga turned out to be good value for money.

There was nothing special about the small 22-seater restaurant, but it was comfortable for an informal family meal. The air-conditioning was nice and the pastel colors on the walls were soothing. This small chain is a welcome breather in Gurgaon which is spoilt for choices for expensive fine dine, food court in the malls, or road side ‘Aahatas’ but not many in its category.

Café Mozart, South Point Mall, Gurgaon

[Rated: 2/5]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. The newly opened Mozart Café at the DLF South Point Mall bears no resemblance to the great maestro. With a dimly lit lower ground floor (euphemism for basement) location, a kitschy confused interior, and a clichéd Indian-Chinese-Continental menu, the restaurant is neither a café nor has any howsoever remote connection to Mozart.

Coming to the food in this diverse and seemingly discordant ensemble, there is a wide choice presented in its encyclopedic 18-page menu offering drinks, starters, mains and desserts in Oriental, Indian and Western style dishes.

Zinos, Cyber City, Gurgaon

[Rated: 3.0/5]

It’s been sometime since I promised myself not to judge a restaurant basis its buffet. Some of the items in buffet will always be mediocre, however good a restaurant might try. It’s not easy to prepare 100’s of dishes in quantities, and still bring out the best in each. Moreover, the food is prepared will never be able to satify individual taste buds. But what do you do when the restaurant like Zinos, is a buffet serving restaurant only. Probably one of its kind in Gurgaon, not including Rajdhaani, which I feel is in another league.

My office is in cyber city, and whenever we want to go out for lunch as a team, we look forward for a buffet serving restaurant for two reasons – a) We are short on time, and buffet enables a quick retreat back to our work stations, b) No one feels guilty of ordering an item which may be more expensive than what others would have ordered since the cost is equally shared. Zinos offers a lavish buffet (much more than required for a working lunch) consisting of appetizers which are served on the table and main course. The huge over 100-seater restaurant offers pan asian cuisine ranging from momos, chilli chicken, thin crust pizzas, seekh kebabs, paneer tikkas among others in appetizers, and similar assortments of dishes including fish, and prawns, chicken & mutton dishes in main course.

Ummami, Global Foyer, Gurgaon

Mille-feuille of dark Hazelnut Chocolate

[Rated: 4/5]

Gurgaon has had an explosion of multi-cuisine eateries, especially at the DLF Cyber city and the Golf Course Road. What is common to most of them is their tendency to clone each other. So there is the regulation mezze platter with minor variations, chicken tikka with minor variations, and chilly chicken-hakka noodles with no variation. In this multitude of mediocrity, a gem of excellence has finally landed in Gurgaon.

Umami is a Japanese word meaning "pleasant savory taste". Add some ‘mmmm’ to it, and it would quite sum up the eating experience at the recently opened Ummami, situated above the Mercedes Benz showroom at the Golf Course Road. The restaurant serves some fine Japanese food, along with wood fired Pizzas, Pasta, Asian, Mediterranean, and of course, Indian dishes – all at reasonable prices. And a fine selection of wines and cocktails.

21 Gun Salute, Sector 29, Gurgaon

[Rated: 4.5/5]

When people ask my favorite North Indian restaurant in Gurgaon, I would be in a tight spot. There are few restaurants I like but none that I could call my favorite. My visit to 21 Gun Salute luckily filled the void.

 

A place that awes you by the sheer subdued luxury in the pastel shades as you enter. A rare kitchen that uses desi chicken in its preparations and not the boiler chicken. A restaurant with ethnic royal look without using the ubiquitous Jaipuri paintings which has become a norm. Old pictures of Royal families and vintage cars and bikes displayed in the dining area complete the royal touch. All this and more awaits you at 21 Gun Salute where the name itself spells opulent.

Striker Pub & Brewery, Global Foyer, Gurgaon

[Rated: 3/5]

Is Striker a joy to the beer guzzlers’ world?. This micro-brewery tries to bring all the good things in life together…..good beer in nice ambience, foot tapping music and great food. Does it succeed? 

Barely over a month old, and nesting over the Mercedes Benz showroom on the Golf Course Road, Striker Pub and Brewery has a distinct industrial décor, a stage for the bands to perform (Parikrama was here some time ago), a smoking room, and enough cozy nooks to have a nice evening.

Jain Shikanji (Lemonade), Modinagar, Ghaziabad

[Rated : 4/5]

High temperature during summers can be taxing. One needs a cooler to overcome the heat and loss of fluids in body due to sweating. Many drinks does the trick like aerated drinks, juices etc. But a cooler that offers the benefits of health, taste and cold retreat all in one is a Shikanji - a Lemonade !!!

During this summer on my way to Meerut, while approaching Modinagar (appx 20 Kms before Meerut), I saw many boards promoting “Jain Shikanji”. Had heard a lot about it and decided to try one at it. This shop is located on main road, just after the Modinagar Police Station. The first thing I noticed was the crowd in front of the shop. As I waded through it, I heard POP… POP… POP… Yes, you guessed it right… the sound of soda bottle caps being opened in quick succession by the Shikanji makers.

Best Restaurants in North Delhi and West Delhi

I have been a resident of North Delhi since birth. As I can recall during my school and college days (am talking mid to late 90s…am not that old!), there were few good restaurants one could go to. Many would remember good old 'Nirulas' on Bunglow street in Kamla Nagar or 'Invitation' in Ashok Vihar or 'Richie Rich' near Shalimar Bagh maybe. As the economic prosperity set in over decade of 2000, and Pitam Pura and Rohini took shape, a whole lot of good eating joints have mushroomed and made name for themselves in the North and West Delhi. 

Lassi and more

Lassi is one of the favourite coolers in summers in northern part of the country. I happen to have visited at three famous places serving Lassi as one of their specialty. Two of these are in Meerut, a small but fast growing city in UP and one in north Delhi. Here is my account of Lassi scouting good Lassi.

1. Lassi Corner Shop, Sadar Bazaar, Meerut :

This shop is located in old Sadar bazaar near the entrance gate to the market. It serves Lassi by the dozen in one go. I found lots of orders hitting from customers standing as well as from neighbouring shops. I saw the Lassi being made in front of me in an big vessel having the mixer. The Lassi was garnished with a thick layers of malai and almonds. For the first time I saw Malai coming out of a handheld machine churning out strips of Malai. The presentation looked good and inviting. However, as I took my bite into the Malai I found it to be synthetic although the Lassi tasted nice. The combination of almonds with Lassi didn’t work for me. Priced at Rs.15, I found this to be an average experience.

2. Hariya Ki Lassi, Teen Kurti Bazaar, Meerut :

Fresco, Airport Terminal, New Delhi

[Rated: 3.5/5]

I remember the old times, when the only lounge available at the New Delhi Airport was run by ITC. Every time I flew I would get the same menu, poor quality and the same waiters who always seemed to be in a hurry for reasons unknown. Inspite of the ITC brand name, I could only despair at the quality of everything that was on offer at the lounge. Apparently even established brands do not escape the effects of monopoly.

Route 69, Gurgaon

[Rated: 4.5/5]

Aahata is a simple concept, where you buy the booze from the next wine shop, and it provides you with water, ice, soda and snacks. It started as a low end option for people who couldn’t afford anything better. With times, even these have evolved.

Route 69 is one such high end Aahata catering to the senior corporate segment who though can afford high end restaurants, but would still like to come here to get more value of their money. Route 69 works on the Aahata concept, but it has a league of its own with no current competition in sight. It is one of those places which serve only continental food,