Lucia, Metropolitan Mall, Gurgaon

[Rated: 2.0/5]

Lucia lounge bar with spacious and electrifying interiors with color changing ceiling is the new pub in town. The modern décor, good music and lounge setting immediately give a comfy feeling. But that’s it!

The menu that has been inspired (Read: Copied) from the various pubs in the city. Pricing which is at par with its counterparts, but not worth the stuff. Lucia Masala (295) inspired from another leading pub in Gurgaon is nowhere near the original. Frozen Margarita (295) comes with a kinky hair in the glass, LIIT (295) isn’t bad but not great either, and Veg platter (375) which was served with Raw Stuffed Aloo. Amongst all the confusion, aromatic Thai Spring Roll (275) and well-cooked Fried Chicken favored with herbs (325) came as a refreshing change.

Cafe Jiji, Sector 15, Gurgaon

[Rated: 4/5]

“Jiji means happiness in Italian,” says young chef Anup looking quite cheerful himself. Well, I have not been able to find the word “jiji” or its cheerful meaning in any of the European languages. But if Café Jiji has decided to create its own brand of joy, who are we to quibble? The interiors certainly do justice to the mood. Large, open, airy spaces, colourful murals, sleek furniture, and a well executed décor all add to the energy of this restaurant.

L'Angoor, Gurgaon

[Rated: 3.0/5]

The name L’Angoor can be intriguing, especially if it is the name of an upscale restaurant. “We serve modern American cuisine,” says Chef Hitesh Gupta. I query him on the thinking behind the name, and their crest of two primates with a bunch of grapes. He does explain the significance of grapes in fine dining that their wine restaurant promises but the langur connection to their food or service continues to remain a mystery. 

Latitude, Mosaic Hotel, Sector 18, Noida

[Rated: 4/5]

PUNJAB is synonymous to brave people with heart full of love & hospitality, dhol & bhangra, vast fields, hard work & prosperity and delicious cuisine.

Punjabi cuisine is reminiscent of Makki Di Roti te Sarson Da Saag served with Gud (Jaggery). However Punjabi food is a lot more than this scrumptious delicacy, and in an endeavour to introduce authentic Punjabi delights, Latitude an otherwise world cuisine restaurant at Mosaic Hotel is celebrating the richness of Punjabi dishes under the fortnight long event named “Zaika Punjab Da” from 18 Nov till 3 Dec'11.

The Tea Room Company, Star Mall, Gurgaon

[Rated: 3.5/5]

Tea is known as nature’s ‘Wonder Drug’ with revitalizing and soothing properties. No wonder it is the second most consumed liquid in the world, after water. Still, we see hordes of coffee shop mushrooming around the city, but there aren’t many who focus on tea.

Lunch with Masterchef Kunal Kapoor at Diya, The Leela Kempinski, Gurgaon

I was happy and excited to have received an invite to meet the celebrity Chef, Kunal Kapoor. It was not only an opportunity to meet a Masterchef but also to savour the dishes he had churned out especially for us.

Diya, is a fine dine Indian cuisine restaurant at Leela Kimpinski and offers a soul soothing ambience. The décor was stylish in an understated tone. Natural lights from wall-to-wall high windows complimented the lights from beautiful hanging lamps. The relaxing sound of water from fountain at the center of restaurant had a calming effect.

Eggriculture, Super Mart-1, Gurgaon - Eggciting Times

[Rated: 3.0/5]

“An egg is always an adventure; the next one may be different,” said Oscar Wilde. And the next one at Eggriculture, a very small, almost minute café at the Supermart 1, is certainly an adventure. This one-month-old eatery is geared to serve eggs in 43 different forms.

“My inspiration behind this café came while I was enjoying a late night anda paratha under the Moolchand flyover,” says Harsh Mehra who runs this place, ably assisted by his two young daughters. A consequence of the nocturnal nibble is a menu that is varied and tempting enough (at egg dish prices ranging from Rs 60 to Rs 110) for me to want to order the full monty. I curb my enthusiasm and ask the owner for his recommendations.

Start Preparing Your Favorite Indian Dishes

Veg Platter

Do you live in a household full of Indian food fanatics? If you do, you’ve probably noticed that Indian food can get a little pricy, when you eat out at Indian restaurants all the time. That’s why you should cook your family delicious Indian dinners at home! Doing so may seem a little intimidating at first. You may be afraid that you could never cook dishes that tasted as authentic as the ones you can order in your favorite Indian restaurant. But with the right easy dinner recipes and mindset, you can definitely cook your family the delicious Indian grub they long for. Here are five easy steps that will help you start cooking authentic tasting Indian meals for yourself and your loved ones:

Leons, Sector 56, Gurgaon

[Rated: 3.5/5]

Gurgaon, once an under-developed suburb of Delhi is now known for its swanky office buildings and luxurious malls. Gurgaon has come a long way but one thing that has remained unchanged are the hordes of people from Delhi and nearby areas who still flock to the many road side drinking joints to get tipsy post the normal closing hours in neighbouring cities. These roadside drinking joints, commonly known as Aahatas, have come a long way from serving not-so-rich people who could not afford expensive restaurants, to becoming a preferred drinking and meeting place for the corporate crowd. These outlets work on the simple concept— ‘BYOB' meaning that people can get booze (bottles) from retail outlets and food is served from the restaurant menu. This concept greatly reduces the cost of an outing, as drinks comprise a major portion of the total bill in a good restaurant in Gurgaon where VAT itself adds 25% to the liquor bill. Importantly, all these aahatas are legal with valid permits and allows guests to bring their own booze.

Bahi, South Point Mall, Golf Course Road, Gurgaon

[Rated: 5/5]

Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake ~ Henry David Thoreau

There are few who dare to dream, fewer who take a plunge to realize their dreams, and even fewer who are able to dream, dare and realize their dreams.

Leon Baker, is one such rare individual who quit his well-paid ‘Vice President’ job to follow his passion. Making a modest beginning by starting an Ahata (BYOB concept) under his own name – Leon’s in a popular and overcrowded category in Gurgaon; Leon’s immediately got popular with ardent fan followers. Following his heart, live rock music was introduced at Leon’s (as per him he wanted to relive his childhood experiences of music from Guwahati). Despite a rocking success, Leon’s was sold since he realised that girls in North India do not want to be seen in a roadside Ahata and his aim was to get people of both gender together for a good time.

   

This gave birth to Bahi (Assamese word for bamboo flute) in a new swanky pub in Gurgaon where he combined his love for music and Assamese food. Outlet’s motto - “Bahi is the place where people come to relive the life they have forgotten, and there are no strangers at Bahi but just friends who haven’t met” may sound may sound cliché but the honesty in Leon’s words not only reflect clearly in his eyes but in his efforts and actions.