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.

Aerocity seems to be the address all restaurants are rushing to. Haven’t figured out where the customers are coming from. There are offices of aviation majors in the area but the jury is still out on how many foodies will flock this address.

An unusual addition to the melee of brands that have opened up there is Monsoon, from the people who run Gurgaon’s own Roots café, as well as Café Lota at Pragati Maidan and the revamped Triveni café at Mandi House in Delhi. So when Udit Maheshwari, the man running these restaurants invites me to taste the food from their latest restaurant, I am super eager to do so.

For a first timer, locating the restaurant can be a trifle daunting at first, but the friendly guards at Worldmark complex are kind enough to guide me. I meet the lawyer-turned-restaurateur Udit at the restaurant that has slick interiors that look very different from the other three eateries. The ethnic outdoorsy vibes are replaced by what is as indoorsy as indoors can be. But that does not take away from the magic of the food though.

I start by tasting the latest rage in the west – drinks with infused vinegars.   The first one is a mix of organic coconut vinegar, pineapple, green chilies, curry leaves, tonic, and jaggery (Rs 250). It is healthy and refreshing. Also refreshing is the second one that I try is organic jamun vinegar, thyme, gondhoraj lebu, and elixir (Rs 275). They are pleasant though I would have them only when I really want to feel invigorated.

On to the food now. I am captivated by the first dish I try. Buckwheat Pancake (Rs 325; Gluten Free) are thin buckwheat (or kootu that those of you who observe navaratris would recognize) pancakes topped with chopped mushrooms, spring onions and organic zarai cheese are simply delicious. The pancake defines “moreish” – you just can’t stop at one. Though very vegetarian the pancakes have a delightfully meaty bite. Keema gujiya (Rs 360) has an orange-scented, spiced goat mince encased in a spinach short-crust pastry & served with an amla and tamarind chutney. It is an interesting interpretation of gujia, though it would need to have a flakier crust to give the same mouthfeel.

Jackfruit from Coorg (Rs 350; Gluten Free) as per Udit is inspired by the Coorgi pandi curry. It has jackfruit marinated in kokum, honey and spices, served with a ragi appam. Given that jackfruit can never replace the pandi (pork) of pandi curry, this is a distant approximation of it. But if one does not compare it to the original porcine delight from the region, it is a good dish.

Jau and Meat Stew (Rs 480; Gluten Free) with boneless goat meat cooked with spices, barley and pulses is a delicious cross between Scotch broth and Muradabadi haleem. The Kulcha with goat meat and bone marrow (Rs 450) is really toothsome, especially when one lathers it with fresh while butter served with it. Mint garlic raita served with it reminds one of the iconic burhani raita.

Coming to desserts, Kheer (Rs 260; Gluten Free) has barnyard millets cooked with reduced milk and topped with a salted caramel made with jaggery and roasted almonds. It tastes yum and the combo of salted caramel with our humble kheer just elevates the dish! Chocolate Torte (Rs 300) on a crispy pearl millet base is a chocoholic’s heaven, and the perfect way to end a meal.

It is worth driving down to Aerocity to try out this gem. I will certainly be back to taste the rest of the menu.

Ratings (Out of 5)

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

Meal for two: Rs 2000 | Alcohol: No | Credit Card: Yes | Wheel chair friendly: Yes

Address: R4-Lower Ground Floor, World Mark, Aerocity, New Delhi Tel: +91 9811021428