Please note: This review was done on an invitation from the restaurant to taste their food, and no bill was presented to the author. While the author assures you of objectivity, the review may be influenced by the personalized attention the author got.

For me and the larger community of Greater Kailash in south Delhi, Culinaire has been the beginning and end of Thai food in Delhi. My first introduction to many dishes like Matsaman curry and to some extent the extra spicy desi taste of localized Tom Yum Prawn soup became a yardstick of what Thai food should taste like. So when we get invited to review the food at the newly opened outpost of Culinaire at Galleria, it was a bit of a nostalgic trip down food memory lane.  

Clearly focused on deliveries, Culinaire has a pleasantly minimalistic three table restaurant for diners, which is where we seat ourselves. Of course the first dish to be tasted had to be Tom yum soup prawn (Rs 275) – the spicy clear soup with flavours of lemongrass, Galangal, lime leaves, lime juice and Thai chillies. It was every bit as good as it was years ago, and even for someone with no memories baggage, delicious as I can see on Shivendu’s face as he attacked the soup. The prawns however, could be cooked a few minutes less.

Thai fish cakes (Rs 300) served with Thai sweet chilly sauce, cucumber, and crushed peanuts are spongy delicious as they should be. Prawns spicy chilly oil (Rs 450) dry, with prawns, red bell peppers, mushroom and spring onions tossed in Thai chili oil are a bit disappointing because the batter in which the prawns are fried overshadows the taste of prawns and robs the dish of any personality.

It is difficult to make this dish right, but the Pan fried noodles veg (Rs 275) with crisp and golden noodles in a thick vegetable sauce are simply[ly delicious. Good old Matsaman curry lamb (Rs 475) maybe of wrong colour (it is too creamy and not brown enough), the taste is all there.

Steamed fish in black bean sauce steamed (Rs 400) is ruined by the quality and texture of the fish. One of the most enjoyable dishes of the lunch is Spicy Thai fried rice, lamb minced (Rs 300), Thai styled tossed with minced lamb and fresh basil leaves. It has bags full of flavour and is addictive.

The food here is Culinaire is indeed delicious. Seafood could do with a little more care, but overall I definitely plan to order from here.

Ratings (Out of 5)

Food: 4.0 | Ambience: 4.0 | Service: 4.0 | Value: 4.0 | Overall: 4.0

Meal for two: Rs 1200 | Alcohol: No | Credit Card: Yes | Wheel chair friendly: No

Address: SF 34, Galleria Market, 122002, DLF Phase IV, Gurgaon, Haryana. Tel: 095553 40340