Fuss-free Punjabi
The full house from morning to night tells its own story about the popularity of this brand
I have visited the branch at the DLF Place in Saket more than once. It is the one restaurant that is consistently full, which says something about the unbeatable combination of realistic prices plus choice of cuisine. After sampling the cuisines of far-away shores, one does come back to good old wadi aloo and baingan bharta with a sigh of relief. The interiors are extremely witty, with the sort of signages that you would see at a dhaba. ‘Chandeliers’ made out of taps, a real truck that you can climb into inside the restaurant, and an open kitchen counter that resembles a highway pit-stop – you won’t get dim lights and soft music here. About once in an hour, the staff (including suited and booted managers) dances in the middle of the restaurant. Dhaba manages to get a sprinkling of expats who have come to immerse themselves in the North Indian Experience.
Each dish is a close approximation of its counterpart in a real dhaba. Tawa mutton (Rs 425) consists of small cubes of lamb in a clinging sauce. Diced tomato, onions, cilantro and green chillies add a touch of freshness. The finest dish on the menu is tandoori bhune aloo (Rs 325). Made with potatoes that have been first roasted in the tandoor, then fried on the tawa before being sprinkled with a spice mix that is part spicy, part tangy and wholly addictive. The rest of the vegetarian menu is just as exciting. Amritsari chole is made tart with a combination of tamarind and anardana (while aamchur is used in the bhune aloo) and Amritsari wadi aloo (Rs 375) has a thin, spicy gravy that contrasts wonderfully with the astringency of the wadis and the smoothness of the potatoes. For aficionados of brain masala (Rs 440) Dhaba does a version that has everything to do with the most basic spicing. Their baingan bharta (Rs 425) is legendary. Highly recommended even for avid meat-eaters.
A fail-safe, fun option to take business visitors from overseas to. The one false note is the Amritsari tawa chaap (Rs 425) which would not be out of place in an Anglo Indian home. In Dhaba, it is a travesty.
Must try: tawa mutton pulao; Balti meat; daal Dhaba
Food: 3.50; Service: 3.50; Décor: 3.50
2nd floor, DLF Place, Saket
Tel: 011-41750555, 8527900669
Open from 11 am to 11 pm
Meal for two: Rs 1800
Alcohol served; credit cards
