The fun of going to Hauz Khas Village is discovering all levels of restaurants and bars, from the professionally
run to mom’s kitchen, plus everything in between. Raas is one of the more professionally run.
From the first floor, the view is of a tiny garden enclosed with an ancient wall. It is floodlit at night.
The second floor misses out on the view, but is pleasant nevertheless, with a choice of lounge and conventional restaurant
seating.
Start your meal with a bowl of lahsuni paya shorba (Rs 195). Although it is really made from lamb’s trotters,
it is not gelatinous, perhaps taking into account South Delhi diners’ tastes! The sprinkling of crisp fried
garlic does give it a zing. Murg lemon grass tikka (Rs 455) and murg tikka vanilla (Rs 455) are masterpieces.
Whoever thought of these ideas deserves a prize. There’s just a hint of each flavour in the respective kebabs,
with cream and cheese being kept to a minimum and no other spice to compete. A tad less and the flavours would
have been lost. More and it would have been an abomination, so the balance the kitchen has maintained is admirable.
Wasabi paneer tikka (Rs 355) on the other hand, could have done with rather more wasabi: forget about bite, there
wasn’t much in the way of flavour either.
Laal maas (Rs 575) could have, so easily, been the outstanding dish of the evening. Fearsomely spicy with real
Mathania chillies (you can taste their superior flavour), it is one of the best curries on the menu, but alas,
on the day of our visit, chili powder had been used and not cooked properly, so that the spice level came across
as raw. The surprise of the evening was an excellent haleem (Rs 425) in which dal, boneless mutton and spices were
blended to perfection.
Plus and minus: It is a huge relief to visit a Hauz Khas Village restaurant and be assured of professional service
and a professional set-up. Some of the dishes require more work though. Vegetarian galouti kebab (Rs 355) had an ill-advised combination of spices, chief of which was chaat masala. In a galouti kebab! And some of the so-called Pakistani dishes need reworking.
Must tries: Dahi kebab, Khoya Methi Mattar Malai, Rose Petal Kheer
Ratings
Food 3.50
Service 3.00
Décor 3.00
9A Hauz Khas Village 1st floor
Tel: 8285180151
Open from 12 noon to 12 midnight
Meal for two: Rs 1,750
