FIVE 5-STAR EXPERIENCES IN DELHI

Delhi is famous for its regional street food, but to be honest, Delhi just knows how to do food well - and that applies to the five-star restaurants too. Hospitality in Delhi aims to create an unforgettable culinary experience while striving for authenticity. Here are some of our picks that you can count on to have a memorable meal and evening.

TK’s

Delhi's best teppanyaki restaurant at the Hyatt Regency that’s always a hit. I think it’s owed to the personal hibachi chef that tweaks the sauce just a bit to be the perfect fit for you. The seafood and the veggies are always fresh, with an aquarium hosting their specialty crabs so you can take your pick, but pay attention to the sauce. The Thai curries are quite good, the sweet and sour is toward the sweeter side, and the chili garlic is pretty standard. All hit the mark as they are served right off the teppanyaki grill. What takes the bite to another level is the thinly sliced garlic fried in butter. Another recommendation is the sushi that is very well prepared with a really good balance of flavors. Even though the restaurant is quite big, the tables feel cozy. The food takes the main stage as it is cooked in front of you, but tables allow for intimate conversation too. The evening will be exciting and all dishes will present rich flavour.

TIRAMISINI RATING: 4.7/5

La Piazza

One of the first five-star restaurants in one of the oldest hotels in Delhi. That itself comes along with a rich legacy. I remember celebrating my father's 40th birthday here as well as my graduation dinner. Although that might hint at a bias, that also means I have seen the progression of the restaurant. I won’t say that it transports you to Italy, but somehow the warm yellow lighting with rich wooden interiors and an open kitchen with a beautiful wood-fired oven makes you feel so comforted as soon as you walk in. You would be served with their homemade focaccia and olive dip as you’re looking over the menu, and without exaggeration, it’s one of the best focaccia I’ve ever had. Soft and fluffy on the inside with a crispy and buttery exterior outside creates the perfect balance and pairs perfectly with the olive dip. Another classic to not miss is their pizza La Piazza which has a crispy and light crust along with their classic sauce and mozzarella, has olives and sundried tomatoes. It’s usually on the cheesier side, so we would recommend letting them know to reduce the cheese to lean towards a more authentic Italian pizza. Would also recommend only going for this pizza as the others don't stand out. Another classic is the spaghetti pomodoro, which is rich in tomatoes and Parmesan. On the non-vegetarian side, their prawn linguine and lamb shank are very satiating. Pair the food with one of the wines from their wooden cellar and you have yourself a meal to remember. Before you leave, try their chocolate ganache. Their tiramisu is the most popular and for good reason, but Tiramisini personally prefers the ganache after acquiring the taste for an Irish Cream Tiramisu which is irreplaceable.

TIRAMISINI RATING: 4/5

House of Ming

The standard of food here is just too good. Every dish is an explosion of flavors and authenticity. One of my favorite cuisines is Sichuan, and therefore I don’t say this lightly. But I do have a note - the price range here is visibly higher than the others. The dumplings were standard, but the curries hit the mark. We ordered the tofu and the chicken. Both were aromatic and savory and went well with the chili garlic noodles as well as the sticky rice. The splurging that comes with this restaurant makes it a rare but well-anticipated experience.

TIRAMISINI RATING: 4.2/5

360 Oberoi

This is the best Sunday brunch in Delhi, and I strongly advocate going only for the Sunday brunch as the à la carte is not the same— but trust me, there is no experience more complete. The brunch collection is a selection of impressive spreads from sushi to Mediterranean, Indian, Italian, and Asian. I always start with the sushi, with both the vegetarian and non-vegetarian options being perfectly balanced. The selection of hummus includes classic and beetroot, with other dips such as tzatziki, labneh, baba ghanoush, served with warm pita at your table. Here, you find the best muhammara in town: spicy and smoky. Then there are the soups, which change and have been minestrone, a hearty lemongrass, pumpkin, or a luxurious mushroom which had all the bougie varieties like gucchi, shiitake, and enoki. The Indian and Asian sections are more like main courses. The Indian section is very varied with dishes from all regions fo the country usually with Amritsari fish, malabar curry, and the classics like dal makhani and biriyani —again served with warm naan or tandoori roti at your table. But the most underrated section is the Asian one. Hidden in the corner, it offers chilli garlic noodles and sticky rice, along with maybe Kung Pao or some other chicken dish. The last time, for vegetarians, there was a lemongrass tofu—which had such a unique flavour that I was thinking about it for months after. It has a clear cornflour coating with a light yet spicy curry infused with lemongrass, which leaves you comforted but not overpowered. And of course, there is a lavish collection of desserts and drinks, drinks that are fresh and can be customised for you as per your preferences.

TIRAMISINI RATING: 4.5/5 (sunday brunch) 3/5 (normally)

China kitchen

Hyatt makes the spot once again and for good reason. One of the most well-known restaurants in Delhi, and a popular choice for special occasions. However, from the 10 or so times I’ve been here, half of them have gone brilliantly well and the others failed to match their own bar. But the good is so good that it somehow convinces you to always give it another chance; we hope you catch them on their good day. Some of the Sichuan classics that never disappoint are the dried chili chicken, which tasted equally well with the tofu, its vegetarian counterpart. We also recommend their mapo tofu and lobster, which always hit the spot. Their dumplings offer unique varieties that can only be found at TCK. The noodles can be a hit or a miss, and the salads are usually very underwhelming with outrageous prices. For desserts, don't bother with their dessert platter unless you have a big group of children, but definitely try their homemade ice creams, which are some of the best in town. This review does sound bittersweet, but we'd like to emphasize that a good day is so good that it keeps calling you back.

TIRAMISINI RATING: 3.5/5

Baoshuan

After having the culinary experiences at China Kitchen and TK’s, this one is likely not to exceed expectations, but it will exceed the price and hence make you unlikely to choose it again. However, it is still a pretty solid choice for a good evening. Located at the top of the Oberoi hotel, the vibe is more formal. The rice crackers in the beginning are a nice touch but have become quite common now as lower-price restaurants like Mamagoto do the same. The chicken and prawn dumplings are good to start with. The mushroom baos are quite flavorful. The curries and the noodles are pretty standard. They do have an extravagant dessert bar on their Sunday brunch and what makes this place and your experience special is the Oberoi hospitality.

TIRAMISINI RATING: 3.5/5