The Schengen Area is the area comprising 26 European countries that have abolished passport and any other type of border control at their common borders.  Schengen Bistro at Malcha Marg aims at serving food from these 26 countries but right now focuses on Italian with some sprinkling of Greece and the Balkan states. Piyush Jain, corporate chef, Schengen meets me and says they are going to take care of these missing gaps through frequent food festivals.

                                        Outside Seating

A lot of food is tasted with some excellent dishes. I start with a hearty Bulgarian sour lamb soup (Rs 325) which hits my meaty spot rather well. Mushroom & halloumi kebabs (Rs 425) are skewered shitake mushroom, button mushroom and halloumi marinated in chili oregano oil. After a long time I taste good quality halloumi cooked just right. The Greek vegetarian classic Spanakopita (Rs 355) with phyllo wrapped spinach, feta, onion and ricotta rolls served with tzatziki is one of the highlights of the meal, with its crisp exteriors and creamy, melt in the mouth insides.

          Mushroom & Halloumi Kebabs                            Spanakopita

Ratatouille Provencal (Rs 455), served with garlic flavored spaghetti is made correctly, with fresh vegetables. Pan fried prawns with citrus salsa (Rs 725) has plump and juicy prawns.

                  Ratatouille Provencal                             Pan fried prawns

Schengen Style Tiramisu (Rs 275) is a rigid looking version of the Italian dessert, but captures the taste of tiramisu accurately. Red Velvet Cake Slice (Rs 245) served with cream cheese and crushed macaroon is sinful and amazing.

                        Tiramisu                                          Red Velvet Cake

Among the cocktails, Razzmatazz (Rs 325) with vodka, cointreau, grape juice, kaffir lime leaves is excellent.

                                      Razzmatazz

                                              Sangria & Cocktails

Among the dishes that don’t work is the Russian inspired wild mushroom solyanka cappuccino (Rs 255). Here the meaty umami taste of mushrooms is totally overshadowed by the liberal use of cream. Butter garlic tossed prawns & scallops skewers (Rs 725) is a dish I have been eagerly looking forward to but am disappointed to find micro mini sized scallops here.

   Wild Mushroom Solyanka Cappuccino          Prawns & scallops Skewers

Braised Lamb Shank (Rs 995) Australian Lamb and spicy spare ribs (Rs 625) both could have been cooked more to have them fall of the bone, but they are not. Here they are somewhat tough and chewy.

                 Braised Lamb Shank                           Spicy Spare Ribs

Hungarian fish goulash (Rs 695) does not work. Fish is fish and goulash is goulash, and never the twain shall meet.

                            Hungarian Fish Goulash

Schengen is a fascinating concept – the place is imaginatively done up and the food here has immense possibilities. The restaurant serves some enjoyable dishes, and I look forward to the restaurant including the rest of Europe too in its menu.

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: 3.5 | Service: 3.5 | Value: 4.0 | Overall: 3.5

Meal for two: Rs.1500 | Alcohol: Yes | Credit Card: Yes | Wheel chair friendly: No

Address: 22/48, Malcha Marg, New Delhi| Tel: 011 33105778