>NP-160 Mangal Bazaar Road Pitampura (near Gopal Mandir)
Tel: Daily 011 4755 2580
Timings: Daily 9 am to 10 pm
Karim’s
A long-time favourite of the meat-eating set and purveyor of probably the best kebabs in town, Karim’s, officially named Karim Hotel, claims it was started by the descendants of cooks who fed Mughal royalty. But the restaurant legendary for lots of flavourful meat dripping with oil, was established in 1913, long after the last emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar was dead. Menu offerings include mutton, tandoori rotis, koftas and Mughlai chicken. There are several locations around Delhi to choose from. Vegetarians need not shy away. There are curries, dals and paneer offerings that are satisfying. The place can get crowded, not every Karim’s has a bathroom and the ones that do aren’t the best, so takeout is a great option.
>Karim’s 16 Gali Kababian
Tel: 011 2326 9880; 011 2326 4981; 011 2324 3343
Timings: Daily noon to 3.30 pm; 6 pm to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 700 for 2
Web: www.karimhoteldelhi.com
>Dastarkhawan E Karim, 168/2, JHA House Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin West
Tel: 011 2435 0018; 011 2435 0024; 011 2435 8300
Timings: Daily 7 am to 10 pm
>26 A/4a, Bungalow Road Jawahar Nagar
Tel: 011 6542 1051; 6542 1052
Timings: Daily 7 am to 10 pm
>A-18, Kailash Colony Greater Kailash II, Delhi
Tel: 011 6565 3801; 011 6565 3802; 011 2647 2561
Timings: Daily 7 am to 10 pm
>Opposite Sagar Complex Preet Vihar, Delhi
Tel: 011 2251 9517; 011 2250 6311
Timings: Daily 7 am to 10 pm
>18/85/1, Zakir Nagar Opposite New Friends Colony, Delhi
Tel: 011 2698 1619; 011 2698 0565
Timings: Daily 7 am to 10 pm
Khan Chacha’s Kebab Corner
Kebabs. Both veg and non-veg. Walk and eat and shop around the market. They are HOT, so spring for a bottle of water. There are always throngs of people 15 deep milling about despite there being 3 other kebab joints in the market. One, which will remain nameless, is on the same lane.
>75, Middle Lane, Khan Market, Delhi
Tel: 98106 71103
Timings: Daily noon to 10 pm, closed on Fri
Cost: From Rs 75
The Kitchen
How can one describe this eatery without saying it has something for everyone while blending Vietnamese and Thai with Mexican and Italian and a proper fish n’ chips which comes wrapped in paper, the British way, thank you very much. Cool postcards for the kids to pocket at a newspaper rack and a clean toilet at the rear is all one can really ask for. The food is good, the warm chocolate cake with ice cream is divine and fizzy drinks in tall glasses really hit the spot.
>75 Khan Market (next to Khan Chacha)
Tel: 011 4175 7960/1
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 800 for 2
Laxmi Dairy
Famous for the kalakand, lassi and milkshake varieties, this sweet shop has been around for nearly 50 years.
>14 Edward Line, Kingsway Camp
Tel: 011 2713 4966
Timings: Daily 6 am to 10 pm
Cost: Rs 250 for 2
Lebanese Point
Lebanese. Veg and non-veg Inexpensive.
7, PVR Saket
Tel: 011 4166 4440
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 800 for 2
Lodhi – The Garden Restaurant
The restaurant’s garden is a great and we mean, great, place for families for Saturday and Sunday lunch and brunch. Lodhi – The Garden Restaurant is going to make an encore appearance throughout this guide. With comfy sofa seating, shaded table and chairs, misty sprays throughout, old carriages and a stone waterfall, the kids have plenty of space to run around and just be kids. There’s a swing that can’t be resisted and feathered friends can be seen in the adjacent fenced yard. There’s inside seating too, but only choose this option when it’s unbearably hot and you want the benefit of fans and AC. Though the menu is Mediterranean leaning, a generous portion of fish and chips, tasty soups, starters and entrees are also featured. The bar is fully stocked with Cosmopolitans and Green Apple Martinis and fresh fruit juice options. The waiters are friendly and no one gives you the eye hoping you will leave to free up the table. Desserts include chocolate mousse, apple pie and various ice creams with honey. Of course there is a nice fresh fruit platter with a mix of seasonal fruit for a healthier option. The toilet is inside the restaurant and is also kid size so you won’t even have to pick them up. Make a reservation, ask for the sofa and justify the request by telling them you have kids with you.
>Lodhi Garden, near Gate 1
Tel: 011 2465 2808
Timings: Brunch daily 11:30 am to 4 pm; 6:30 pm to 11 pm
Cost: From Rs 800 for 2
Mainland China
For many years it was the de facto place to go to for great Chinese food. Mainland China still has its fans, though cheaper and as tasty options can be had elsewhere. The menu has something for everyone and you won’t walk away from the meal disappointed. You will be a bit poorer, yes. But, disappointed, no.
>E-4 Local Shopping Complex Masjid Moth, GK II
Tel: 011 2922 2123/7
Timings: Daily noon to 3:15 pm; 7 pm to 12:30 am
Cost: Rs 1,200 for 2
Market Café
Walk upstairs to have a delicious Mediterranean meal in a wi-fi enabled café with outdoor seating. Menu choices at Market Café include hummus, dips, pesto pasta, pizza, sandwiches and chicken and lamb dishes. The pastry bar at the exit is a big draw for kids and adults alike, and the restaurant also has a clean and spacious bathroom.
>8 Khan Market
Tel: 011 4175 7703
Timings: Daily 10:30 am to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 800 meal for 2
Moti Mahal
With over 70 outlets across the country known for its famous tandoori chicken that has had people from the Shah of Iran to the King of Nepal smacking their lips for over 60 years, Moti Mahal is still a favourite. Menu offerings include Indian dining staples like butter chicken and dals and rotis. Butter chicken was apparently invented here. Go to http://motimahal1947.com/ for locations.
>11 Defence Colony, Delhi
Tel: 011 2433 0263/4/5
Timings: Daily noon to 3:30 pm, 7 pm to midnight
Cost: Rs 800 for 2
>M-30, M Block Market, Greater Kailash I
Tel: 011 2641 2467; 011 2628 0480
Timings: Noon to 3:30 pm, 7 pm to midnight
>3703, Netaji Subhash Marg, Daryaganj
Tel: 011 2327 3011; 011 2327 3661
Timings: Daily noon to 3:30 pm; 7 pm to midnight
> 20/48, Diplomatic Enclave Malcha Marg, Chanakyapuri, Delhi
Tel: 011 2611 8693; 011 2687 2760
Timings: Daily noon to 3:30 pm; 7 pm to midnight
Nirmal Restaurant
Another Old Delhi restaurant that has earned raves from its perch on Paranthe Wali Gali.
>756 Chandni Chowk, opposite Town Hall
Timings: Daily 6:30 am to midnight
Nirula’s
Restaurant and ice cream shop that serves up tasty, less expensive food. There’s a huge selection of ice creams and the kids get balloons. Go to www.nirulas.com for more locations.
>N-64, Connaught Place
Tel: 011 41517070; 98731 83643
Timings: Daily 10:30 am to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 400 for 2
>23, Basant Lok Vasant Vihar, Delhi
Tel: 011 2614 7756, 011 2615 4096
Timings: Daily 10:30 am to 11 pm
>B/H, Chanakya Cinema Chanakyapuri, Delhi
Tel: 011 2687 1712; 011 2467 3100; 011 2467 1598
Timings: Daily 10:30 am to 11 pm
Not Just Paranthas
Paranthas of all kinds.
>A-24, Vishal Enclave, Rajouri Garden
Tel: 011 2544 2434
Nearest Metro: Rajouri Garden
Timings: Daily noon to 4:30 pm; 7 to 11:30 pm
Cost: Rs 600 meal for 2; discount for takeaway orders
>M-84 GK II, M Block Market
Tel: 011 2922 3366
>V3S Mall, Plot 10, Vikas Marg, Laxmi Nagar
Tel: 011 6450 6888
>Cyber Greens, DLF Phase II
Tel: 0124 411 4777/8/9
>West Gate Mall, Raja Garden
Nearest Metro: Rajouri Garden
Oh! Calcutta
Not keen on a train ride to Calcutta to satisfy cravings for Bengali food? Look no further than Oh! Calcutta. Located in the premises of The Park Plaza in Nehru Place, it is a favourite place for a Sunday lunch with the family because everything scores high marks from the food, to the décor and the service. The restaurant scores on every item on the menu. Stick to fish, which comes all the way from Kolkata, and prawn, which is heavy on mustard oil and there’s no going wrong. Do try the crab appetizer wrapped in banana leaf. The food is pricey, however, a buffet lunch consisting of Bengali delicacies like koshan mangsho (mutton, slightly spicy with a very thick red gravy); maacher jhaal (mustard fish), mustard prawn and selections for vegetarians included cholar daal (chana dal), begun bhaja (brinjal fry) and other common items with rice and puri (luchi in Bengali). You have to really love fish to enjoy the buffet. Some Bengali sweets top off the meal.
> Park Royal Hotel, International Trade Tower, Ground Flr, Nehru Place
Tel: 011 2646 4180/2/4
Timings: Daily 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm; 7 pm to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 2,500 for 2; however there’s a buffet lunch for Rs 450
Paranthe Wali Gali
The paranthas of various fillings just cannot be beat here.
>Chandni Chowk, near Ajmeri Gate
Tel: 98116 02460
>4th Flr, Cafe Terrace, City Square Mall, Rajouri Garden
Tel: 011 3291 7920
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 250 for 2
Parikrama
Kids will be so fascinated by the city moving around them at Parikrama, the revolving restaurant. This way, they really won’t pay attention to the food you’re slipping into their mouths on the sly. Nowhere else can the family take a trip around Delhi in a little over an hour. However, the food is pretty good on its own with a choice of tandoori chicken, kebabs and fish tikkas for non-vegetarians; paneer tikka, bharwa aloo and dal makhani for vegetarians. Order a tutty frutty for dessert.
>Antariksh Bhavan, Kasturba Gandhi Marg
Tel: 011 2372 1616; 011 2372 1617
Timings: Mon to Sat 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Cost: From Rs 600 for 2
Park Balluchi
Located in the middle of the deer park in Hauz Khas, Park Balluchi is surrounded by forest, manicured lawns, and deer. The ambience is enough to draw throngs. Kids can do some bird spotting. That aside, the restaurant serves the most distinctive barbecue dishes in Delhi. Among them is Murg Potli (marinated chicken breast wrapped around minced mutton and served flambeed) and Mewa Paneer Tukra (farmer’s cheese stuffed with mushrooms, almonds, walnuts, and sultanas, marinated in cream and then roasted). The house creations, such as Banarasi Seekh Kabab (minced vegetables and cheese rolled onto a skewer) and Lazeez Karela Mussalam (bitter gourd stuffed with cottage cheese and herbs, cooked in the tandoor), are also recommended.
>Inside Deer Park, near Hauz Khas Village, Hauz Khas
Tel: 011 2696 9829
Timings: Noon to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 1,000 to 1,500 for 2
Piccadelhi
One can find a little bit of London’s Piccadilly Circus at Piccadelhi. Kids can ride on a mini-bus and watch Charlie Chaplin’s antics on a TV screen. The multi-cuisine offering includes pizza, pastas, onion rings, Indian food and an extensive offering of desserts including a chocolate fountain.
>Plaza Cinema Building, Connaught Place
Tel: 011 2331 6344/9
Timings: 11 am to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 400 for 2
Ploof
It’s seafood and good seafood. There’s a courtyard upstairs so outdoor dining is nice and kids can focus on greenery other than the vegetation on their plates. Menu options also include north Indian, Chinese and Thai food.
>13 Lodhi Colony, Main Market
Tel: 011 2464 9026
Timings: Daily lunch noon to 4 pm; dinner 6:30 pm to 1 am
Cost: Rs 2,500 for 2
Priviledge Punjab
Indo-Chinese fare and a variety of soups and rice dishes.
>A-12, Vishal Enclave Rajouri Garden
Tel: 011 2515 5163/4/5
Timings: Daily 11 am to 5 pm; 7 pm to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 800 for 2
Punjabi by Nature
Amazing kebabs, but not much choice for vegetarians.
>11, Basant Lok Community Centre, Priya Cinema Complex, Vasant Vihar, Delhi
Tel: 011 4151 6666/7/8
Timings: Daily 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm; 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Cost: Rs 1,200 for 2
>P-19, Sector 18, Noida (Near McDonald’s)
Tel: 95 120 425 0111
Timings: Daily 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm; 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Cost: Rs 1,200 for 2
Rajdhani
Known for its thalis and sweet dishes. The weekend thali can be had for Rs 200 per person.
>P/90 Daulatram House, Connaught Place Opposite PVR Rivoli
Tel: 011 2334 6300
Cost: Rs 350 for 2
>The Great India Place Mall, Noida, Sector 38A, 3rd Flr
Tel: 95 120 648 8933
Timings: Daily noon to 11 pm
Rendezvous
Good pasta, salads and Mexican food.
>T-540 Panchsheel Park, Malviya Nagar, Delhi
Tel: 011 2668 2222, 011 2668 4444
Timings: Daily noon to 11:45 pm
Cost: Rs 1,200 for 2
Rodeo
Multi-cuisine. But the Tex-Mex food is a stand-out. The place has saddles for chairs so that’s likely to keep the kiddies in their seats as they eat.
>A-12, Connaught Place, Delhi
Tel: 011 2371 3780/1
Timings: Daily noon to midnight
Cost: Rs 1,200 for 2
Route 4
After a long day of seeing the sights and sounds of Delhi, Route 4, may just be the ticket for several hours of (American) comfort food and relaxation. Open practically all day long, the restaurant serves up generous portions of typical American food which is heavy on the size and low on the spice. Prices are reasonable at about Rs 400 per person.
>No. 4 Khan Market, Middle Lane
Tel: 011 4352 1811/10
Timings: Daily 8 am to midnight
Cost: Rs 1,200 for 2
Sagar
South Indian vegetarian food at its finest. Always crowded.
>18 Defence Colony Market
Tel: 011 2433 3110; 011 2433 3440; 011 2433 3658; 011 4155 1097; 011 2668 1308
Timings: Daily 8 am to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 450 for 2
>C-2, Malviya Nagar, Delhi
Tel: 011 2668 0088; 011 2667 7941; 011 6565 7499
Timings: Daily 8 am to 11 pm
>A-2/40, Rajouri Garden, Delhi
Tel: 011 2510 7746; 011 2516 6848
Timings: Daily 8 am to 11 pm
Sagar Ratna
The all-veg restaurant specializes in South Indian cuisine. The breakfast combo of dosa, idli, upma, vada and a strong cup of South Indian coffee can be had for about Rs 200 per person.
>Ashok Hotel 50-B, Chanakyapuri
Tel: 011 2688 8242 Ext: 1456
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 450 for 2
Sancho’s
This is what Mexican food should taste like when you’re outside Mexico. Feast on burritos, fajitas, quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos, refried beans, tortillas and a host of traditional desserts.
>E-3, South
Extension II, 3rd and 4th Flrs
Tel: 011 4607 6422
Timings: Daily noon to 12:30 am
Cost: Appetizers start from Rs 99, main courses from Rs 275
Saravana Bhavan
Great South Indian vegetarian food. The place is always crowded, but the service isn’t too good.
>46, Janpath, Connaught Place, Delhi
Tel: 011 2331 7755; 011 2331 6060
Timings: Daily 8 am to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 200 for 2
Sethi’s
Heavy Punjabi food. Lots of oil. If the shopping at near Rajouri Garden didn’t tire you out, after a meal here, you will be racing back to your hotel room for a nap.
>Shop No 8-9, DDA Market, Community Centre Opposite Surya Hotel, Rajouri Garden, Delhi
Tel: 011 6575 3939; 011 6575 9700
Timings: Daily noon to midnight.
Cost: Rs 300 for 2
Shalom
Lebanese, Mediterranean. Great lunch option after shopping in the Greater Kailash I market.
>N-18, N Block Market, Greater Kailash I, (Near Lady Sri Ram College)
Tel: 011 4163 2280; 011 4163 2283
Timings: 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm, 7:30 pm to midnight Cost: Rs 1,200 for 2
Spaghetti Kitchen
Pizzas and pastas. A bit overpriced, but tasty nonetheless. Desserts are yummy. (There’s a play area on the same floor with slides, Little Tykes cars and balls. Ideal for kids ages 2 to 4. The rate is Rs 150 for one hour.)
>Select Citywalk Mall, Saket, 2nd Flr
Tel: 011 4265 8430
Timings: Daily noon to 3:30 pm; 7 pm to 10:45 pm
Cost: Rs 2,000 for 2
Spice World Mall food court
The food court at Spice World Mall is more mini bazaar than food court so the kids can’t say there’s nothing to eat. When the eating’s done, check out the 4D arcade, movie theatre and gaming centre. Tickets for the 4D movies cost Rs 100.
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