Top 5 Exceptional Fine-dining Experiences in Delhi

Delhi is undoubtedly a foodie's haven. From the incredibly tempting street food which is a delight to one's gustatory senses to the succulent, rich and flavorsome food served in impeccable surroundings and a charming fine-dining ambiance, this city will never cease to impress you. A visit to Delhi is incomplete unless you've experienced a culinary delight abundant with Oriental spices.

For those who're apprehensive of the 'Delhi Belly', here's a pick of the Top 5 Fine-dining restaurants in and around the city serving contemporary cuisine, light on the tummy, ambrosial, and providing nothing less than a superlative experience for the discerning. The restaurants listed below offer not just great food but also a luxurious dining experience in a superlative surrounding. They have raised the bar for contemporary and experiential fine-dining in Delhi, India.

#1 Pluck

Location: Pullman Hotel, Aerocity. Click here for location map.

The review:

Food: The name 'Pluck' is derived from the fact that the ingredients used in the dishes here are freshly plucked by the chef every morning, from the herb garden that is located on the hotel's premises. The freshness can be discerned in the taste of the food, especially the salads, soups, and mocktails. The menu has two options - European and Indian and in both cases, you will be thrilled to see some unimaginable blends of ingredients which will spark your interest immediately and make it difficult for you to pick your dish of choice. Popular dishes presented with a twist make it appealing to a very global palate, ensuring the delectable yet not-too-strong flavors create a mellow symphony. A food aficionado's dream come true, this is where the best flavors from cuisines around the world are picked, homegrown, creatively blended with authentic fare and brought to your table, creating a new inimitable recipe altogether. The helpings are small, every dish has been curated to please one gastronome at a time.

Food rating: 5/5

Service: Exemplary service, setting the bar very high for comparative fine-dining outlets. Not only does the sommelier happily recommend wine pairings, the mixologist is also amazing with the cocktail and mocktail concoctions. Feel free to ask for a quick tour of the in-house herb garden and you will be happily obliged. 

Service rating: 5/5

Ambiance: Minimal is the word that comes to mind, be it the food presentation or the ambiance. Polished and elegant interiors are brought to life by the colorful roof, with panels embodying the fresh ingredients being grown in-house, true to the theme. The restaurant is spacious, airy and spread out wide, giving enough privacy to the guests. Ambiance rating: 5/5

Ambiance rating: 5/5

Delights: The one thing that stood out is the menu presentation on iPads, which not only makes it more convenient but also allows them to display each dish with a picture, and sometimes even a video showing how the dish is prepared and presented. This makes for not only a pleasurable experience to learn about the dish before ordering it but also much easier to decide what you want and what to expect.

Disappointments: The menu is not very extensive.

Recommended items from the menu: Sweet potato chaat, Golgappe with caviar, mushroom soup, Cucumber and basil refresher (drink), backwater prawns,  Greek custard & Ras malai parfait

Price (for two, approx): Rs 4,000

Overall score: 5/5

Click here for reservations.

#2 Indian Accent

Location: The Manor Hotel, New Friends Colony. Click here for location map.

The review:

Food: Fusion Indian food is the trend nowadays and Indian Accent takes this to the next level with the brilliantly thought-out food combinations. You have two options - Chef's tasting menu, which is a fixed menu, with or without wine pairings. The other option is to go for a la carte (we chose a la carte). As you look through the menu, you'll find yourself being amazed at the ingredients which have been brought together to create unique dishes. If you know Indian food well, this fusion of flavors will surprise and delight you. If you don't, you'll find yourself floating in a world of food melodies, where rich and aromatic spices come together with bold flavors, creating a perfect harmony. The portions are just about perfect, ensuring that nothing gets leftover but at the same time, you feel contented. The presentation of the food itself is fascinating! Ice lollies being served in a mini-sized cooker, dessert served on a bed of (fake) currency notes and digestives served on a mini-jute cot bed, every food that is served is a source of amusement. This does not take away from the taste, the food is divine in every sense of the word. Prepare for a gastronomical experience that is unparalleled.

Food rating: 5/5

Service: Service was impeccable. Traditionally-dressed staff complemented the authentic Indian theme that was also reflected in the interiors.

Service rating: 5/5

Ambiance: Neither the location nor the interiors are very grand. However, the elegance is reflected in the simplicity. As we had a child with us, we had to sit in the Verandah area (which is air conditioned and covered), children were not allowed in the main dining hall. There was nothing ostentatious about the furniture or the decor, as you might expect from a classy fine-dining place yet there were decorative embellishments in every corner.

Ambiance rating: 4.5/5

Delights: The palate cleansers that were served in between the courses, free of charge, such as mini helpings of soup, ice lollies, etc and tasting samples to keep us busy while waiting for the food.

Disappointments: The main course was divided into equal portions before it was served, between all the table members. This strips us of the choice of picking our helpings.

Recommended items from the menu: Dahi goat cheese kebab, Ghee roast mutton boti, Chicken Tikka Quesadilla, Dal Moradabadi, banana and jaggery sticky cake.

Price (for two, approx): Rs 3,500

Overall score: 4.9/5

Special note: Due to the immense popularity but limited seating, it is very hard to get reservations at the restaurant. Make sure to book at least 2 weeks in advance. Click here for reservations.

#3 Masala Library by Jiggs Kalra

Location: Adjacent to Le Meridien Hotel, Janpath. Click here for location map.

The review: 

Food: There is a choice between a set menu (chef's tasting menu) and a la carte, we went for the latter. Yet another fusion Indian experimental menu, although the creativity was applaudable and the presentation was alluring, I found the food a tad bit too rich and heavy on the tummy. However, this is not rare when it comes to Indian cuisine and the ingenious combination of ingredients, put in place very skillfully by an obviously dexterous chef, was a pleasure to the palate. The kebabs were so soft, they melted in our mouths and the aroma of the mushroom chai/soup brought immense sensory joy, proving the freshness of the products used. If you're a fan of zesty Indian food with a twist, this is your place!

Food rating: 4.7/5

Service: The service was flawless and the staff cared to explain in detail what we were eating and how it had been prepared, on serving the dish. At an instance when we ordered two desserts, both sounding very unique, we were recommended by the staff to order a different one instead as the ones we had picked were very similar in preparation. I liked how the staff took a special interest in our orders, assisting us with correct advice where deemed necessary. They were extremely courteous and attentive, not leaving a moment for us to feel unattended to.

Service rating: 5/5

Ambiance: The magnificent interiors are what will catch your attention the first thing here. The moment you enter, you will see a giant wall bar, with all imaginable liquor, stocked up to the ceiling. As you walk into the main dining area, an extravagant chandelier steals the show. The ambient lighting creates a golden hue, the perfect setting for an intimate meal.

Ambiance rating: 5/5

Delights: They went out of their way to whip up a Pina Colada for us, which was not on the menu but one of us really wanted it. The 'extra mile' attitude of the staff was very charming. Also, the demonstration of the levitating chocolate truffle was quite mesmerizing!

Disappointments: No wi-fi, no kids allowed in any area of the restaurant (this restricts families), and no finger cleaning bowls or tissues to wipe our hands after the meal.

Recommended items from the menu: Mushroom chai, sweet potato kebabs, Galawat kebabs, tandoori prawns, French naan and jalebi caviar.

Price (for two, approx): Rs. 5,000

Overall score: 4.7 / 5

Click here for reservations.

#4 Threesixtyone

Location: The Oberoi, Gurgaon. Click here for location map.

The review:

Food: If you're planning to go for brunch, you'll be spoiled for choice with an extensive buffet spread that features Indian, South-east Asian and Italian dishes. Alternatively, you can go for an a la carte option where the choices are equally diverse. For health-conscious eaters, there's an entire page of the menu dedicated to healthy dishes. Turn the page and you'll be amazed at the wide selection of Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian (pasta, pizzas, sandwiches) fare. There's also a separate Teppanyaki and sushi menu! The best part? Cooks are brought in from these countries to prepare their specialties, making the dishes absolutely luscious because of the authentic flavours and cooking styles. Seafood lovers will be delighted to discover how fresh the fish is, it melts in your mouth! The portions are just about perfect and the Indian food is not as hot as you might find in many other places.

Food rating: 4.5/5

Service: Stellar service representative of the Oberoi brand. The staff was not only courteous and friendly but also happy to customize certain things according to requirements. The managers were available and roaming the floors, checking in to make sure things are fine and guests are happy.

Service rating: 4.8/5

Ambiance: The large space, high ceiling and floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the blue pool outside give a very grand appearance to this place. Located in one of the most luxurious 5-star hotels in the city, the interiors are calm, not too ostentatious yet classy and most importantly, spacious! The views are great, making the restaurant airy and inviting.

Ambiance rating: 4.8/5

Delights: The wide selection of dishes.

Disappointments: Dishes are more simple rather than experimental or fusion combinations, there were not enough Daals (pulses) on the Indian menu.

Recommended items from the menu: Sangria, Steamed Indian Ocean Seabass, Dahi Kebabs, Sarson Jhinga (mustard prawn) & Slowly-baked Chocolate Cake.

Price (for two, approx): Rs. 6,000

Overall score: 4.6 / 5

Click here for reservations.

#5 The Spice Route

Location: The Imperial Hotel, Janpath. Click here for location map.

The review:

Food: A unique combination of dishes from South India (particularly Kerala) and other South-east Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, if you have a liking for coconut-flavoured dishes, then this will definitely suit your taste. Although it is not uncommon to find dishes from the South of India in many restaurants in Delhi, it is rare to find Kerala/ Malabari cuisine. The food is simple, light and not-too-strongly flavored, with authentic spices used from the countries the foods hail from. During summer, a special mango-based menu is available and a must-try, especially the tangy dishes with raw mango. If you're looking for mildly-spiced food which is easy to your taste buds as well as your tummy, this restaurant is a good choice.

Food rating: 4.5/5

Service: The service was good although you might feel a little bit neglected in the effort of the staff trying to give you privacy. The restaurant manager is available onsite and happy to attend to you if required.

Service rating: 4.5/5

Ambiance: The reason why this restaurant features on this list is because of the unique dining experience it provides. Very cozy and intimate seating is complemented with paintings, murals, sculptures and carvings of gods, goddesses and common men. The restaurant is divided into nine sections, reflective of Indian philosophy and thoughts related to the journey of life. Each section is a work of art and antique pieces from around the world adorn the walls and ceiling, related to nine key principles of life. Based on availability, you can choose which of the sections you'd like to be seated in. It is said that the restaurant was built in 7 years by several renowned artists and designers, and some of the exquisite historical relics used in the decoration are from temples as old as 400 years!

Ambiance rating: 5/5

Delights: For those interested, the restaurant manager is more than happy to give a short tour of the restaurant along with explaining the significance of each of its seating areas, the story behind the concept of the restaurant, the intricate carvings and sculptures that form the soul of the place and the beautiful historical relics that are engraved in its royal and aristocratic interiors. If you have time, you should definitely listen to the beautiful story of the journey of life and how the murals used depict each aspect.

Disappointments: The desserts were not impressive at all.

Recommended items from the menu: Chemeen Thoren (Kerala-style prawns), Yum Mamuang (spicy raw mango salad), Irachi Porichatu (boneless lamb in Kerala Masala), Tom Kha Kai (coconut milk soup).

Price (for two, approx): Rs. 6,000

Overall score: 4.5 / 5

Click here for reservations.

Suggested medium budget hotel near the airport in Delhi: Pullman Aerocity