In a nutshell: Great ambience , good service, average to bad buffet that totally derailed my mood & made me think ‘WTF’!!!!. Address & other details: Indian Grill Room Meal for 2: Rs. 1300 buffet. Cuisine type : Vegetarian & Nonvegetarian Disclaimer: All restaurants / eateries reviewed by YUMMRAJ were visited by YUMMRAJ himself & he has paid for the full Bill & tips also. … Continue reading Indian Grill Room (315, Suncity Business Tower, Sector 54, Golf Course Road, Gurgaon)
In a nutshell: Excellent parathas – many times better than at the disgustingly famous Parathewali gali, Superb vegetarian curries, raita & daal in a low profile restaurant with an ‘airconditioned section’ for families. Address & other details: Once out of the Chandni Chowk Metro Station, take a rickshaw to Fatehpuri Masjid. Once u r in front of Fatehpuri Masjid, (facing the masjid) turn right & … Continue reading Kake di Hatti (Chandni Chowk, near Fatehpuri Masjid, beside Giani’s, Old Delhi)
In a nutshell: A Retro Indian Restaurant that serves good North Indian food in a nice ambience with live Ghazals on all evenings – The whole setting & even the menu reminds one of eating out experience two decades back . Address & other details: Earthen Oven Meal for 2: Rs. 2000 Cuisine type : Vegetarian & nonvegetarian Disclaimer: All restaurants / eateries reviewed by … Continue reading Earthen Oven (Fortune Select Excalibur Hotel, Sector 49, Sohna Road, Gurgaon)
Master of curries, paneer & vegetarian Kababs, one of the best of its kind in Delhi NCR, with scope for improvement in Indian Breads & rice section. Worth a 1.5 hr metro ride for me to get here, hoping that some day they will open a restaurant in Gurgaon.
The concept of food in the restaurant is ‘Food from the different places around the Indus River – From Rajasthan to Afghanisthan, North West Frontier food, etc.’ Though the river does not really touch Rajasthan or Afghanistan, some of the cuisines of those places have been included. Tibet & Ladakh have been left out.
Indus Daal – served in a balti
Leaving Geography aside, the names of certain items are quite ‘for the sake of naming’. E.g. Harappan Aloo – Harappan Civilization existed approx 5000 years back & aloo came to Indian subcontinent as late as less than 250 years back.
A side of the Restaurant’s wall has a very well made Off white colored Mural map of the Indus Valley. The seating is bright Red high sofas, dark brown wooden tables & red seat chairs arranged in a row.
Mural Map of Indus Valley
Tables are a bit near to each other & there is chance that u wud hear the chat in the next table. However that practically is not possible due to piped instrumental music in the right volume – not loud enough to disturb a chat at one’s own table but loud enough to inhibit clarity of chat on the adjacent table.
Other part of the dining Hall
The service is good & it takes a while for them to get the dishes ordered. The finishing (if not fully) of every dish seemed to be done post placing of orders. That helped the food taste ‘freshly made’. The staff were constantly running around from table to table but they were keeping an eye on all tables as well.
The place was fully packed most of the time & I recommend doing a phone booking in peak dinner hours.
All the above aside, Food is the King here. I have never had so good paneer in Gurgaon so far except in very very few places in Delhi. The only vegetarian Tandoori platter I have had is the one at Bikanervala Gurgaon – The one at Indus Flavours is multiple times better than the Bikanervala version. I was told that Paneer is made inhouse & that makes a difference. It left a lasting impression on me – Anything paneer was good.
Staff at Work inside the lit area beside beautifully laid out Dinner table
Detailed description – In case u have the time to njoy reading:
I was told about Raja Café’s impressive Culinary heritage & we liked food that they served – Inspite of a decline from the time it was a ‘Legendary Restaurant’. It is surely not the best in its category in the current day but surely worth a visit.
the entrance
Meal for 2: Rs. 600 onwards
Cuisine Type: Vegetarian & Nonvegetarian
Short Description – In case u r in a hurry:
I had heard a lot about this place from friends who had visited Khajuraho before – ( 8 – 10 yrs back). As I started chatting with people in Khajuraho, many mentioned the Legend of Raja Café – started by a European couple & used be be a superb place to eat & hang out….in those days. I was also told that it was much better earlier than today.
I was pleasantly surprised as I entered the place. Very nice & casual décor – options to sit outside as well as inside the a/c dining hall. There are two entrance gates on two sides & they r beautifully done. The ‘sit outside’ section has beautiful Garden chairs & the area was dimly lit. The ‘sit inside’ area was brightly lit – good for me coz better lighting means better food snaps. Before coming to this place I thought it wud b plastic chairs & tables like Mediterraneo & other eateries in Khajuraho but it turned out to be pleasantly different.
A view of Raja cafe from outside the gate – open seating section in the front & indoor seating in the background
The staff member who served us was good, quite prompt & served us with a smiling face. He handled our queries (about the menu) well. I wud say that he was as good as one cud get in this part of country.
They had quite a huge menu card – ‘Fresh from our Bakery’ section starts with apple pie, croissants, muffins, lemon tart, Brownie etc. drinks like different kinds of coffee including the likes of cappuccino hazelnut, different kinds of tea, many options of shakes, vegetarian & non vegetarian club sandwiches, the usual list of beverages, Indian, Continental & English breakfast, omelets of diff kind – European & indian, Chinese soups & main course, a huge section of continental – 16 to 18 dishes & a list of North Indian approximate 10 vegetarian & 10 nonvegetarian options. In Tandoori section they had approximately 12 diff tikkas, nans & kababs. Apart from this they offered 4 kinds of south indian dosas. For desserts one cud choose from a long list of pancakes, waffles, banana flambé & banana fritters. They also had Indian Fixed menu & the most interesting named item – ‘European thali’ (grilled mixed veg, pasta with tomato sauce, rice pudding, mashed potato)
the menu card
The large menu was very balanced menu with almost equal number of vegetarian & nonvegetarian food on offer in each section.
Food was good but not outstanding. Good place to spend some time & eat some good food when in Khajuraho – Food at Mediterraneo was far better.
Detailed Description – In case u have the time to njoy reading:
Desi Ghee bedami pooris with super hot ‘n spicy aloo that set my tongue on fire, made the traditional way – super enjoyable till the time u start thinking calories.
facade of the shop
Address & other details: Take a rickshaw from chandni chowk metro station to Maliwada on the main Chandni chowk road (after u cross parathe wali gali if walking towards Fatehpuri masjid). Enter the lane that has a board saying ‘ Moti Bazar vyapar samiti aapka hardik swagat karta hai’. As u hit the T point, turn right & u reach this shop to ur left.
Desi Ghee bedami pooris with aloo, nagori pooris with halwa & chholey Bhature the traditional way super enjoyable till the time u start thinking calories.
In a nutshell: My tastebuds were subjected to torture here for no fault of theirs – a culinary disaster that all Indian foodies shud avoid. Address & other details: Indian Delhi Palace Cuisine Type: Vegetarian & Nonvegetarian Meal for 2: US$ 30 onwards Short Description – In case u r in a Hurry: Went with a bunch of friends to this place as some of … Continue reading Indian Delhi Palace (5104 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ)
Cool hangout place with friends & family, good food in general topped up with some real masterpieces.
Address & other details:Sky Lounge
Sheesha Sky Lounge
Cuisine type:Vegetarian & Nonvegetarian
Meal for 2:Rs. 500 onwards
Short description – In case u r in a hurry:
The first time I went to this place I was super impressed. I was pleasantly surprised again on my second visit as well.
A part of the interiors of this Lounge is for obvious reasons, in lounge style with sofas etc in Indian detailing. On another side there are few open cubicles with interesting seating in which a group of five to ten can easily sit around a table & talk to each other face to face while enjoying the food & beverages. There is normal restaurant seating in another section as well.
The first time we went to the restaurant, it was 7.00 pm. The place was quite empty for almost an hour & looked spacious. The second occasion we reached at about 9.00 pm. The place was jam packed & fully alive. Liked both the occasions. Love the lamp shades here as that dramatically livens up the otherwise brown, beige & white interiors.
the cool lamp shades at Sheesha Sky lounge
The waiting staff is quite warm & knowledgeable. Service is reasonably in time. Not too fast , not too late. Both the occasions I found that the ‘order’ in which we ordered the food was followed.
The menu card is very tastefully done.
The menu card
The food is good. There are sure instances of trying to do some things differently. Some of the food I found to be outstanding.
Sheesha was not served due to the new Government regulation.
Detailed Description – In case u have the time to enjoy reading:
