>Spice World Mall, Sector 25, Noida
Tel: 0120 436 6400
Timings: Daily 10 am to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 300 for 2
Sushiya
Authentic Japanese restaurant.
>Neb Sarai, Saket, Delhi
Tel: 93124 44086
Timings: Daily noon to 9:30 pm
Cost: Rs 600 for 2
Swagath Restaurant
South Indian specialties abound.
>No.1, Community Centre, Naraina
Tel: 011 6469 1357/58
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11:30 pm
>14, Defence Colony Market
Tel: 011 2433 0930; 011 2433 7538; 011 2433 4537
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11:30 pm
Cost: Rs 800 for 2
>C-8, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi
Tel: 011 5183 0622; 011 5183 0613
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11:30 pm
>J-57, Sector 18, Noida
Tel: 95120 2516066; 95120 4240619
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11:30 pm
>Logic Cyber Park, Sector 62, Noida
Tel: 95120 6483744
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11:30 pm
TGI Friday
As average as the fare in the US. Nothing better, nothing worse. Mexican and American food. Avoid Friday evenings and lunch hour rush unless you make a reservation. And who really wants to make a reservation at a Friday’s?
>F-16, Inner Circle, Connaught Place, Delhi
Tel: 011 2371 1991/2
Timings: Daily noon to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 900 for 2
Wenger’s
The Connaught Place restaurant was started by a Swiss couple in 1926. It fell into local hands nearly 20 years later, and this pastry shop has an array of delicious offerings from the main course to dessert. Tasty shami kebabs share space on the menu with chocolate éclairs. Extremely affordable.
> A-16, Connaught Place, Delhi
Tel: 011 2332 4403; 011 2332 4594; 011 2332 4373
Timings: Daily 10:30 am to 8 pm
Cost: Rs 250 for 2
Yum Yum Tree
Yum Yum Tree will make multiple appearances because it also gets points for not just the kids’ brunch on Sunday, but for making its okra dish satisfy the veggie quotient for those little people who are veggie adverse. From spring rolls to dim sum to not spicy chicken, the menu offers innovative Chinese dishes. The conveyor belt will dazzle the kids while you’re waiting for your order.
>Community Centre, 1st Flr, New Friends Colony
Tel: 011 4260 2020
Timings: Daily noon to 4 pm; 6:30 pm to 1 am
Cost: Rs 1,400 for two
Bread Feast
Why settle for the grocery store variety of bread for sandwiches or a quick bite as the family explores Delhi? There are several fantastic options for freshly baked bread that just could rival some of the patisseries in Europe.
Bread & More
An array of choices on offer from wheat, multi-grain, rye, corn and olive oil in the form of rolls, baguettes and loaves. Coffee and other baked goods are also available. Dine in or take away.
>N-17 GK 1
Tel: 011 2923 0575; 011 2924 6301
Timings: Daily 8 am to 10 pm (same for all outlets)
Cost: Rs 200 for 2
>30 Central Market, West Punjabi Bagh
Tel: 011 2522 6417
>23-E/15, East Patel Nagar
Tel: 011 6529 5527
>Shop No. 214, DLF City Centre Mall, Gurgaon
Tel: 95 124 404 4042
Chocolate Wheel
Lots of breads in a lineup that includes cakes and 33 kinds of chocolates. But remember, it’s the bread that you’re there for.
>55 Sanjay Gandhi Green Lane, Jor Bagh (Near Jor Bagh market)
Tel: 011 2464 7520; 011 2462 3844
Timings: Daily 8 am to 8 pm
Daily Bread
No worries in finding something for everyone with the 30 kinds of European and Indian breads available.
>Shop 6, G13, Community Centre, New Friends Colony
Tel: 011 4652 0857
Timings: Daily 10:30 am to 11 pm
Defence Bakery
Started in 1962, today the bakery serves more than 60 kinds of breads and focaccia. The sundried tomato bread is a signature offering. Rolls and coffee from the café round out the experience.
>34 Defence Colony Market
Tel: 011 2433 8119; 011 1433 3178
Timings: Daily 10 am to 10 pm
Ego Café
Some of the best croissants and baguettes outside of Belgium. You can order baguette and loaves of bread, fresh from the oven. Lots of pastries, coffee and other stuffed treats.
>33 Community Centre, New Friends Colony
Tel: 011 4167 2326
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11:30 pm
Cost: Rs 500 for 2
German Bakeshop
Just as its name suggests, the German Bakeshop serves a variety of German breads including sesame, potato, sauerteig, bretzel, raisin rolls and chewy mini baguettes.
>ITA Group Building 162-A/9 Kishan Garh Main Road, Vasant Kunj
Tel: 011 2612 4421
Web: www.german-bakeshop.com
Gourmet Shop
Interesting name choices such as the Dagwood, cheese burger and parsley caper garlic bread headline the list of truly scrumptious breads.
>The Metropolitan Hotel, Bangla Sahib Road, Connaught Place
Tel: 011 4250 0200
Timings: Daily 10 am to 10 pm
Patisserie Petunia
This bakery is definitely worth the drive all the way to Gurgaon. Multi-grain, oat, garlic and raisin breads are the favoured choices.
>C-132, The Shopping Mall, Arjun Marg DLF City Phase I, Gurgaon
Tel: 95124 4105758
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
Red Moon Bakery
It’s hard to find a good bagel in Delhi. Many places claim to have them, but essentially they are pieces of bread with holes in the middle. That isn’t the case at Red Moon Bakery. A Canadian couple does the baking of the aforementioned bagels in several varieties; cookies, cakes, pastries, breads (including focaccia, pita and Grissini). The bakery offers delivery or you can stop in to see what’s there.
>Shop No. 32 Pocket D and E Market, Sarita Vihar
Tel: 011 4053 4797
Timings: Mon to Sat 9 am to 7:30 pm
Web: www.redmoonbakery.net
Ye Old Bakery
This pastry shop in The Claridges Hotel has an exotic menu of sunflower seed, corn, oatmeal and multi-grain breads. The shop also features a ‘bread of the month’ that will offer pleasant surprises throughout the year.
>The Claridges 12 Aurangzeb Road
Tel: 011 4133 5133
Timings: Daily 11 am to 9 pm
Fast Food / Cheap Eats
No vacation is complete without some greasy burgers, fries, kebabs, pizza or chicken. Most, if not all, of these places offer delivery. Some of these blink-and-you-miss-it places don’t have great ambiance and are crowded if they do offer seating. The portions are small and manageable so doing a takeaway is a good option. Eat while you walk to the next touristy spot. (There are numerous locations so check out delhiburrp.com for addresses of other outlets.)
Diamond Café
Most of the items on the menu cost less than Rs 100. The relatively clean restaurant offers everything from Indian to Israeli food and a great mix of Continental cuisine.
>5066 Main Bazaar, Paharganj, opposite Vivek Hotel
Tel: 98108 18456
Metro: New Delhi Railway Station
Timings: Daily 7:30 am to 1 pm
Cost: Rs 200 for 2
Domino’s
Pizza, soft drinks, salads, garlic bread and chicken wings. Delivery is available. Outlets in Connaught Place, Kamla Nagar, Preet Vihar, Green Park, Greater Kailash, Patel Nagar, Saket, Pragati Maidan, Rajouri Nagar and a number of shopping complexes. Go to www.dominos.co.in to find more locations.
>M-42, Connaught Circus, Connaught Place
Tel: 011 2341 5879/6880/6876
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
>Shop No 6–7, Shanti Niketan Market, Chanakyapuri
Tel: 011 2411 9120/23
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
>Kalkaji, opposite Nehru Place
Tel: 011 2642 1601/2/3
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
Frontier Samosa
Around since 1947, the price cannot be beat at Rs 6 per samosa. No ambience to speak of, so it is definitely buy and go. The samosas are served with spicy chhola.
>Panchkulan Road (near Lady Harding Medical College), Connaught Place
Kachori Jodhpuree
The only authentic Marwari restaurant in town.
>NP-160, Mangal Bazaar road, Pitampura (Near Gopal Mandir)
Tel: 011 4755 2580
Timings: Daily 9 am to 10 pm
Cost: Jodhpurees from Rs 10 a piece
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)
Fried chicken and side orders that go nicely with crispy fried chicken. Outlets in Noida, Connaught Place, Dwarka, Saket, Vasant Kunj and Ansal Plaza. Go to www.kfc.com for more locations.
>A-12 Inner Circle, Connaught Place (Near Palika Bazaar)
Tel: 011 4151 6307
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
Malhotra Restaurant
Serves good Indian and Continental food. The place is spacious and there’s seating for about around 40 people.
>1833–34 Laxmi Narain Street, Paharganj, (opposite the Hotel Cottage Yes Please)
Tel: 011 2358 9371
Metro: New Delhi Railway Station
Timings: Daily 7 am until 11 pm
Cost: Rs 200 for 2
Manohar’s Japani Samosa
It tastes like a samosa although it’s shaped more like a patty than a triangle. The samosas have layers of potatoes and peas and are served with chhola.
>Between Lajpat Rai Market and Moti Cinema
McDonald’s
Burgers, fries, milkshakes, cold coffees and ice cream. Delivery is available. Go to www.mcdonaldsindia.com to find more locations.
>B-24, Inner Circle, Connaught Place
Tel: 011 2373 7121/2
Timings: Daily 10 am to 11 pm
>42 Janpath, Connaught Place
Tel: 011 2331 8931/06
Timings: Daily 10 am to 11 pm
>P-14 Connaught Place
Tel: 011 2331 8931; 011 2336 3422/5146
Timings: Daily 10 am to 11 pm
>34-A Khan Market
Tel: 011 2464 5261
Timings: Daily 10 am to 11 pm
>ISBT DMRC Railway Station, Kashmere Gate, ISBT
Tel: 011 2386 3159/6413
Timings: Daily 10 am to 11 pm
>Ansal Plaza, Khel Gaon Marg, Siri Fort
Tel: 011 2625 5325
Timings: Daily 10 am to 11 pm
>13-A, Jor Bagh Market Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, Delhi
Tel: 011 2460 4047
Timings: Daily 10 am to 11 pm
The Metropolis Bar and Restaurant
Located on the rooftop of the Metropolis Tourist Home, this is one of the best restaurants in Paharganj. Both Indian and Western dishes are prepared.
>Metropolis Tourist Home 1628 Main Bazaar, Paharganj
Tel: 011 2356 1782
Timings: Daily 8 am to 11 pm
Cost: Rs 750 for 2
Pizza Hut
Serves up vegetarian and non-veg pizzas, salads and garlic bread. Go to www.pizzahut.co.in for more locations. Outlets in Connaught Place, Defence Colony, Greater Kailash I, Shanti Niketan, Grandlays Cinema Complex, Sonia Cinema Complex, EDM Mall, Pacific Mall and Sector 18 in Noida
>E-3, Inner Circle, Connaught Place
Tel: 011 2341 4366
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
Subway
Sandwiches, both vegetarian and non-veg. Cookies, chips and drinks. Save money on the daily special. Outlets in Saket, Basant Lok, San Martin Marg, Connaught Place, TDI Mall, Safdarjung, Greater Kailash (GK), Defence Colony, Ansal Plaza, Khan Market and a number of other places. Go to www.subway.com for more locations.
>N-14, Outer Circle, Connaught Place
Tel: 011 4152 3236; 011 4152 3237
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
>B-112 Ansal Plaza
Tel: 011 4175 4034
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
>CDA, opposite IIT, Hauz Khas Village, Hauz Khas
Tel: 011 4165 7111/2
Timings: Daily 11 am to 11 pm
Thank God It’s Friday (TGIF)
American style food, heavy on pasta, burger, fries, cocktails and loud music. Outlets in Vasant Vihar, Connaught Place, Noida, West Gate Mall and Gurgaon. Go to www.tgifindia.com for more locations.
>F-16 Inner Circle, Connaught Place
Tel: 011 2371 1991
Timings: Daily noon to midnight
Wimpy’s
Burgers, fries, pizzas and milkshakes. Outlets in Hauz Khas, Janpath, Lajpat Nagar, Pitampura, Rajouri Garden, Connaught Place and New Delhi Railway Station, Platform No. 12.
>New Delhi Railway Station, Platform No. 12, Paharganj
Tel: 011 2322 1375; 011 3258 0555
Timings: Daily 10 am to midnight
>N-6 Connaught Place
Tel: 011 2331 3910
>31 Ground Flr, Hauz Khas
Tel: 011 2651 2763
>1221 Devika Tower, 12th Flr, Nehru Place
Tel: 011 3256 0634
Yellow Brick Road
Breakfast isn’t all that Yellow Brick Road serves. The truly multi-cuisine menu also offers Indian, Thai and continental dishes. The Thai curry chicken and Titanic burger will have you moving slowly to the exit. The food is pretty good, especially the desserts.
> The Ambassador Hotel, Sujan Singh Park, Cornwallis Road
Tel: 011 6601 1825
Timings: 24 hours
Cost: Rs 1,000 for 2
Street Food
Sometimes, the aromas emanating from street food just seem to call out to your stomach, despite what your brain is telling you. Street food comprises chaat (the quintessential food of North India that is made up of an assortment of crisp, fried wafers sprinkled with masala powders and assorted chutneys and a dash of yogurt) to Chinese food, South Indian idlis and dosas, the vada-pau made famous by Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena, kababs and biryanis, sweets like jalebis, balushahis, and gulab jamuns, snacks such as puri-bhaji or stuffed parantha. Even Tibetan momos served with steaming hot soup can be bought from stalls on the street. Of course none of this food will be complete without some hot sweet chai to round out the meal. Different varieties of omelettes, pork fry, paranthas served with curry are also available at minimal prices. When the temptation is too great to resist street food, head to Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi. But don’t throw caution to the wind. Avoid anything covered in flies, any cold meats or food that has a layer of dust. Ask the vendor when the food was made. The following places are known for their chaat and most importantly, the hygiene.
Bishan Swaroop
Bishan Swaroop is hard to find as it is hidden in one of Chandni Chowk’s winding streets. The menu is not extensive, but it is only a snack after all. Try the aloo kulla (boiled potatoes with chickpeas).
>1421 Chandni Chowk
Tel: 98183 64070
Timings: Daily 9 am to 7 pm
Cost: Rs 50 for 2
Jugal Kishore Ramji Lal
This place is renowned for its fruit chaat (fruit salad with a twist).
>13, Dujana House, Chawri Bazaar, Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi
Tel: 98113 53076
Timings: Daily 10 am to 10 pm
Cost: Rs 60 for 2
Lala Babu Chaat Bhandar
Good value for the money for authentic chaat. Try the gobi muttar samosas (crispy pastries stuffed with cooked cauliflower, peas, and spices)
>77, Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi (opposite McDonald’s)
Tel:
011 2328 2806
Timings: Daily 11 am to 9 pm
Cost: Rs 80 for two
Prince’s Paan and Chaat Corner
One of the few chaat places outside Chandni Chowk worth a visit. One would consider upmarket for what is on offer. Expats give it major points for location and hygiene. Try the gol gappas (fried crispy shells filled with a watery mixture of potato, chilli, and tamarind), also known elsewhere in India as pani puri.
>29, M Block Market, GK I
Tel: 011 2923 6364.
Timings: Daily 10 am to 10 pm
Cost: Rs 250 for 2
Samosa wallas
Sure it’s not chaat, but samosas are as ubiquitous in Delhi just like its famous cousin. Find samosas worth eating from the samosa wallas in front of Scindia House. Small cocktail-size samosas are priced at 4 for Rs 4. They are cooked right in front of you so the turnover is high and freshness is ensured.
>14 Scindia House, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Connaught Place
Shree Balaji Chaat Bhandar
Very popular with locals due to the delicious snacks. Try the papri chaat (crispy fried dough wafers, served with boiled potatoes, boiled chick peas, chillis, yogurt and tamarind chutney).
>1462, Chandni Chowk
Tel: 011 2328 0579
Timings: Daily noon until 10 pm
Cost: Rs 80 for 2
Street Foods of India
Chaat and other snacks in hygienic mall food-court settings.
>Ambience Mall, DLF Phase 3, Gurgaon
Tel: 011 4350 3716/17/18
Timings: Daily noon to 10 pm
Cost: Rs 200 for 2
>Metropolitan Mall, 3rd Flr Food Court Mehrauli Gurgaon Road, Gurgaon
Timings: Daily noon to 10 pm
Cost: Rs 200 for 2
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