From
age - old eateries in the by lanes of the Walled City to glitzy, specialty restaurants
in five - star hotels, Delhi is a moveable feast. It offers a choice of Indian
and international cuisines in different ambiences to suit varied budgets.
For gourmets, Delhi is synonymous with Mughlai and Frontier cuisines. The best
of Mughlai cuisine can be enjoyed at Karim, (both in Jama Masjid and Nizamuddin)
where recipes, dating from the times of the Mughals have been the closely -
guarded secret of generation of chefs.
Delhi Ka Aangan (Hyatt Regency), Darbar (Ashoka Hotel) and Corbetts (Claridges)
are among the many options available in the expensive range, while Gulati Restaurant
(Pandara Market), Angeethi (Asiad Village) and Degchi (Regal Building) are among
those catering to more modest budgets. The finest Frontier cuisine is available
at the Bukhara (Maurya Sheraton), Frontier (Ashoka Hotel) and Baluchi (The Hilton).
At the other end of the scale are many popular road side eateries around Jama
Masjid and Nzamuddin where kababs, rotis and biryani are order of the day. Every
five - star hotel in the city has a Chinese restaurant, while most markets in
South Delhi have a medium - budget Chinese restaurants. The popularity of this
cuisine can be gauged by the immumerable Chinese food outlets of the "meals-
on - wheels" and kiosk variety.
The growing sophistication Delhite's palate is discernable in the increasing
number of speaciality restaurants- EI Arab (Regal Building), Dum Pukht or the
process of slow cooking developed in Awadh (Maurya Sheraton), Kashmiri food
at Chor Bizarre (Hotel Broadway), Thai food at Baan Thai (The Oberoi) and Sukothai
(Hauz Khas Village), Japenese food at Tokyo (Ashoka Hotel) and Osaka (Hauz Khas
Village), Tibetan food at eateries near Chanakya Theatre, and Mexican food at
Rodeo (Connaught Place).
Another indication is the frequency and popularity of food festivals organised
by Hotels. South Indians food is another favorite, the vegetarian variety of
which is best in enjoyed at Sagar (Defence Colony), Sagar Ratna (Lodhi Hotel)
and Dasaprakash (Hotel Ambassador). Coconut Grove (Ashok Yatri Niwas) offers
excellent non- vegeterian
cuisine from South India.
The best of continental cuisine can be eaten at five - star hotels, for instance
La Rochelle (The Oberoi), The Orient Express (Taj Palace) and Captains Cabin
(Taj Man Singh), though numerous multi - cuisine restaurants also offers continental
food. Keeping pace with the changing face of the city are the growing number
of fast food outlets which serve all manner of cuisines.
A delightful outlet offering a range of Indian cuisines are the food stalls
ar Dilli Haat, here, the cuisine of different states is made available at very
moderate rates. Set in the mindset of a spacious crafts bazaar these cafes are
a very pleasant place to enjoy food.
For the more intrepid, eateries such as those at Paranthe wali gali, or chaat
at Bengali Market and Sunder Nagar, bhelpuri at Greater Kailash and sweetmeats
from Annapoorna and Ghantewala can be part of the gastronomical tour of Delhi.
Delhi is also synonymous with the omnipresent tandoori chicken and tandoori
roti, which, when freshly had from the tandoor, makes a delicious meal. This
is often available at roadside dhabas at a moderate cost.