4 owner involved restaurants. Review on General Tips on Restaurants

We talk here of those restaurants where the food is good because the owners themselves take a special interest in the kitchen and the end result is Labour of Love………. · By Rupali Dean BERNARDO’S Location- 107, Galleria, DLF(opposite City club), Gurgaon. Phone- 9811571379/0124-4057067 Ambience- Delightfully unfussy and interiors are reminiscent of a Goan Home. Cuisine- Authentic Goan. Recommendations- Try the ‘Peixe Recheado’- fried fish stuffed with traditional Goan spices, ‘Figado De Galinha’ – spicy stir-fried chicken liver.

Also try ‘Sorpotel’ with Pao, ‘ Caril de Camaro’- a spicy prawn curry cooked in traditional spices and coconut milk. ‘Chourico’-spicy Goa sausages cooked with potatoes and tomatoes, is another Goan, specialty, and it doesn’t get more bonafide than this that the Goan sausages are sourced from Mapusa in Goa! Vegetarians could opt for the kurry patta flavored “Veg Croquettes”, ‘Vegetable Fugad’ and the ‘ Caap’ –a sweet and sour green mango curry. For dessert home goodness comes in the form of a slice of Chocolate cake or a Banana walnut cake(which Cres bakes herself) - a must try with ice cream. Average meal for two- Rs 500 About the Owners- Run by Chrys & Cres Fernandes a full of life old Goan couple where Cress takes care of the kitchen and Chris the service aspect. It happens to be the only Goan restaurant in and around Delhi.

AZZURRO Location- Saket, PVR Cinema complex Ambience- the interiors, cuisine or the music, bring a rich Mediterranean experience and understanding. The off-white floor made of Italian Travertine marble, white stucco walls with hints of distressed peach, and other neutral tones capture the feel of the region. Cuisine- Italian, Spanish and Moroccan. Recommendations- Go for “Polenta Mushrooms”-Grilled polenta cake topped with sauté button & porcini mushrooms, garlic, red chili and sun-dried tomato, “ Rosemary Lamb Skewers”– char grilled leg of lamb, skewered with stems of Rosemary and served with a Olive & Caper Tapenade.Pizzas are a specialty out here and have a Whole-Wheat base, besides as an alternative to health-minded guest, they taste great as well. Also try “ Penne with Rocket, Parmesan & Zucchini”. To end on a sweet note go for the Tiramisu and Blueberry cheesecake.

Average meal for two- Rs 1, 200 About the Owners- One of them being Chef and promoter Shrivant Rajgarhia who has also done a one-year course from Le Cordon Bleu and his specialty is Bakery. It isn’t a wonder that you would find good quality and fresh breads and desserts out here. Being a Marwari Shrivant has made sure that the vegetarians have an ample choice out here. NANKING Location- C 6, opposite Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj Ambience- A three leveled atypical Chinese ambience replete with a statue of Buddha et all. Cuisine- Chinese. Recommendations – Go for the “Dimsums”, “Steamed chicken in lotus leaf”, “Chilli Crab”. “Sweet and spicy Brinjal” and “Clay pot rice”. To end on a sweet note go for the “date pancakes with ice cream”. Average meal for two- Rs 1, 200 About the Owner- Run By Baba Ling who is one of the country’s best-known figures in the field of Chinese restaurants(of the famous Ling family’s, Ling’s Pavilion from amchi Mumbai).

It’s interesting to see Baba count his fish and prawns which he flies down from Mumbai every second day, check the quality personally so that the people who come down to eat at his restaurant have no reason to complain. Baba is unique in his training and skills and is a go-getter by nature; he has worked his way up with grit and determination. PLOOF Location- 13 Main market, Lodhi Colony, New Delhi Ambience- The subtle aqua accents throughout the dining space, the aqua- colored chairs, rhythm of lounge music, personalized service and creative menu all contribute to an atmosphere of elegance. Cuisine- The menu does not adhere to any one form of cooking and covers a variety of cuisine forms, like Coastal, Continental, Mediterranean, Italian, French, Goan, Oriental and Spanish.

Recommendations – The Ploof Menu is designed in an innovative way by introducing the “Market Place” section, where the concept is to allow guests to go for the “Catch of the Day”(Out of the regular Menu selections) and choose from seven different cooking forms. Do try the “Cajun blackened Prawn Satay”, “Pan-Seared Salmon Steak”-with charred sweet potato and asparagus, “Grilled fillet of Sea bass” and “ Kerela prawn Curry with coconut rice”. To end on a sweet note go for “Blueberry cheese cake” and “yogurt Ice-creams”. Average meal for two- Rs 1, 200 About the Owner- Promoted by Rajan Gupta. Run and managed by Sudha Kukreja and Chef Manav Sharma who’s worked in Cape Town, South Africa in a seafood specialty restaurant, as a matter of fact Ploof is very popular for its seafood.