REVIEW: 1911, The Imperial New Delhi

I recently dined at The Imperial in New Delhi, and while the place certainly has the charm and elegance you’d expect, the food was far from impressive. This place has lovely interiors and you'd feel the epitome of sophistication while enjoying their hight tea. Perhaps, it's best to stick to just that.

Starting with the pasta arrabiata—it was a letdown. It leaned way too sweet, and while I can appreciate a bit of texture in pasta, this was cooked a little less than al dente. The taste reminded me of something from an average four-star hotel during a tourist trip in the hills. It felt outdated and uninspired, especially since every cafe in the city can do a more authentic pasta now.

The mezze platter was equally underwhelming. The hummus tasted like it was made from canned chickpeas and was overwhelmed by garlic. The baba ghanoush was just fine, and the muhammara missed the mark entirely—too sweet and lacking that true, authentic flavor. Overall, it didn’t have much going for it.

Hoping for redemption, we ordered the non-veg platter, but it arrived cold and tasted overly ordinary. I figured the Indian items might be better, given the setting, but they were just as disappointing. We even gave the platter a second chance by reordering, only to be let down again.

Service could use improvement too. Our waiters were polite and sweet, but seemed a bit disorganized, forgetting essential accompaniments for our dishes. At one point, a bowl of onions was sitting in front of us, untouched because we’d already lost interest in the meal.

The only saving grace is the cozy, colonial-era ambience, which is charming if you’re into that aesthetic. However, the waitstaff’s attire was overly colonial, giving off an air of catering to a bygone British clientele, which felt odd and out of place, too 'imperialistic.'

In the end, if you’re after great Indian food, skip The Imperial and try a local Mughlai restaurant. The ambience is lovely, but for a restaurant of this caliber, the food just doesn’t live up to expectations. Save yourself the time and money—there are much better options nearby.