Multi Cuisine
Centrally located hangout for the young crowd
Atmospherics: Exactly opposite Odeon Cinema, up a flight of stairs that can be easily missed, Whitewaters Café has an attractive white and aqua colour scheme. It is ramped up with the blinds being down even when there’s bright sunshine outside, the better to maintain the underwater atmosphere. There’s tub-thumping music playing all through the day and night at a rather loud volume, making it a must-visit destination for the young. Even better are the two private dining rooms they have, of which one is in a cleverly carved out mezzanine space. There is also a second floor open terrace that is mostly operational in fine weather. I visited at the odd hour of 4 pm and found the restaurant cum lounge full, with both private dining areas occupied: if you do want a table for upto 12 people, it is a good idea to make a prior reservation. The staff is the finest part of this restaurant. They go the extra mile and are super attentive. Standing near the stations, gossiping may be the norm elsewhere, but you won’t find it here.
Table talk: Depending on your perspective, it is either admirably suited to the local palate or needs urgently reworking. There is a North Indian section and in hindsight, it may have been a good plan to stick with it. Kibbeh (Rs 325) was a regularly mutton cutlet and was nothing that a Syrian would have recognized as his cuisine; grilled chicken and avocado sandwich (Rs 195) was a masaledar concoction rather like the egg and caper sandwich (Rs 175) that had enough chilli sauce in it to turn it into a desi dish, besides boiled egg slices, capers, gherkins and shredded lettuce. There are several takers for this kind of cuisine – I’m just not 
one of them. Far, far better was the spicy cheese balls (Rs 275) an Indian starter. Crunchy with fine breadcrumbs on the outside, and fairly soft and full of cheese inside, they were the highlight of my meal at White Waters Café. The other surprise was roast rosemary chicken champignon (Rs 345) – flattened escallopes of chicken filled with rosemary scented stuffing and served with brown sauce. No masalas in that one either!
Plus and minus: Great, attentive, polite service from the door onwards. Loud music and dim lights coupled with fairly steep stairs may make it out of bounds for a mature customer.
Must try: Murgh kali mirch, corn methi malai, trio paneer tikka
Food: 2.50
Service: 3.50
Décor: 3.00
C 39, Connaught Place, First floor, Opp Odeon Cinema
Open from 12 noon to 11.30 pm
Credit cards accepted; alcohol served
Meal for two: Rs 1,200
