Paranda, the Indian restaurant of Taj Vivanta Surajkund is situated right where Dhaba by Claridges used to be there when the hotel was called Clardiges. Taj has decided to continue the same theme and in fact the same truck parked outside, with their restaurant, serving robust Punjabi food.

                                    Paranda's Open Kitchen

I am here at the invitation of Taj Vivanta, Surajkund for a food tasting at Paranda. I am welcomed by their restaurant manager Pankaj Kumar. I start with trying some earthy cocktails. Santa Banta (Rs 600), a delicious mix of Tequila, tamarind extract, cointreau and lime really hits the spot. 

                                         Santa Banta

Mauja hi Mauja (Rs 750), a white rum based jal jeera with chunks of lime, sharp ginger and fresh coriander garnish pales in comparison.

                          Mauja hi Mauja

Sous Chef Rajat Sinha has put together a thali with small portions of many dishes, some of whom are truly delicious, some just competent, and a few disappointments. Let me start with the delicious ones.

                                                The Surajkund Thali

Mehnge macchi wale di karari macchi (Rs 825) is spicy fried sole crusted with semolina and is cooked and spiced just right, making it a delicious dish. Tandoor roasted baigan bharta (Rs 525) is smoky, spicy and perfectly balanced. It goes very well with the expertly made Khameer ki roti (Rs 110) and the indulgent Amritsari kulcha (Rs 140).

Coming to dishes that are merely competent are Ludhiana murgh bati tikka (Rs 725) which has been marinated in pickling spices. Maybe using the dark chicken parts will make it taste succulent, which it is not. Sector -7 ka mutton tari walaa (Rs 875) has enjoyable gravy but the meat is too tough to enjoy. Sood de dhabey di dal (Rs 425) is good but not memorable. Jeera pyaz ka pulao (Rs 375) is ordinary, as are chur-chur naan (Rs 110) and pudina paranta (Rs 110).

                    Chur-chur Nan                                   Pudina Paratha

The disappointments all come from paneer based dishes. Punjabi paneer tikka (500) is not really edible because the paneer is hard and not really fresh. It also ruins matar paneer (525 ) which otherwise has a light, fresh gravy. Rasmalai (300 ) lacks the customary sponginess and is fairly avoidable.

                                            Chutneys

Food at Paranda is by and large good (if you avoid paneer) with some dishes showing sparks of brilliance. It is a good option if you happen to be at the Surajkund mela or live in Faridabad.

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.

Ratings (Out of 5)

Food: 3.5 | Ambience: 4.0 | Service: 4.0 | Value: 3.5 | Overall: 4.0

Meal for two: Rs.2500 | Alcohol: Yes | Credit Card: Yes | Wheel chair friendly: Yes

Address: Vivanta by Taj – Surajkund, Shooting Range Road, Faridabad 121001| Tel: 0129 419 0000