‘tis the season for tipples and nibbles, and the city is sprouting with new eateries bringing forth novel concepts. An American-style brasserie, a French-style bistro, a tapas bar, a modern Indian bar, a travel-inspired culinary cocktail bar, a European and Mediterranean casual dining space…all you need to bring along is a voracious appetite and a spirit of culinary adventure, to take off on this gustatory ride. Our eating-out calendars are marked with these budding gems and we shall be back with what we loved and what failed to make the cut.
Our first stop, Sazerac, the American style brasserie in Sundar Nagar from the house of Pass Code Hospitality, features a swanky cocktail bar and serves American diner cuisine. With the unmissable wall art and retro music providing the perfect backdrop, we’re ready to dive our forks and knives right into BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Tenderloin Steak, Wood-Fired Pizzas, Truffled Eggs, Buttermilk Pancakes, San Francisco Bay Fish Tacos, and wash them all down with what else, but a couple (or all) of the New Orleans cocktail Sazeracs after which they take their name.
After enticing Delhi with his wizardry in the past, Chef Sujan Sarkar is back with a pop up of his NYC-based Indian Gastro Bar, Baar Baar in Khan Market. Baar Baar offers innovative cocktails and food with familiar and new flavours. While we await the liquor license, it doesn’t stop us from heading here for the Green Pea Kulcha with goat’s cheese and truffle butter, Kashmiri Duck Kulcha with apricot & chilli chutney, parmesan cheese, Cheese Thali built with locally sourced cheeses, Pork Belly with a tandoori BBQ sauce, pickled radish, and charred chilli. #DSSCTopTip: Don’t miss their Baar Baar Fried Chicken and Churros.
Hop over to Reve, the modern French bistro at Worldmark 1, Aerocity which serves classics such as Coq Au Vin, Ratatouille, Lamb Bourguignon, Chicken Liver Parfait, Steak Frites, and Pork Normandy. Salivating already? Head here for a jolly good time with friends.
L: Serai ; R: Reve
Olive’s bar, Dirty Martini has been revamped as Serai, a travel-inspired culinary cocktail bar envisioned by Chetna Chopra and Amanda Bhandari. With stellar bar plates by Chef Dhruv Oberoi and teq tonics to match, this new space by restaurateur AD Singh set in the heart of ancient havelis and Mughal ruins is must-visit.
Standing a few doors away from its erstwhile address, Tres is back at Lodhi Colony. It’s bigger, it’s better! With chefs Julia Carmen Desa, Jatin Mallick and Jamsheed Bhote at the helm, this contemporary European restaurant is winning diner’s hearts (and tummies) with old favourites and new techniques. We loved our well-made Quick Tossed King Prawn and Calamari, instagrammable-yet-tasty Goat’s Cheese Bavaroise, gratifying Homemade Salted Pork Belly on a crusty sourdough, and a decadent Dark Chocolate Ganache with passion fruit sorbet. To top it all, there’s a lush outdoor space which we can safely predict will be booked out this winter. Reserve your spot, pronto!
Shop until you drop and post that, eat to your heart’s content at Le Cantine, DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj. Pizzas with alluring toppings prepared in a wood-fired oven, pastas, superfood bowls, soups, sandwiches, artisanal coffee, and cocktails are what you can expect here. While we check all these gems from our list, a new tapas bar La Roca is in the midst of getting the finishing touches. They will be serving modern food with flavours inspired by Mediterranean, Mexican, Pan Asian, and Indian regions.
Feature Image: L: Baar Baar ; R: Sazerac
