Some great, some disappointing Hyderabadi dishes
Restaurant: Sassy Begum
Reviewer: Aalok Wadhwa | 19th February 2020 | Reviewer Rating (Out of 5) 3.75

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 extra attention the delivered food got from the chef.

I confess I am not overly excited or eager to review Indian food because mostly it tastes the same wherever it comes from. But this time it was the name and the kind of cuisine served got me enthused into agreeing to taste their food. Sassy Begum is an evocative name and a Hyderabadi menu promises good food.

The food arrived broadly at the requested time and the packaging was effective in keeping the food in, though opening it required a bit of struggle. Food by and large was competent. The taste ranged from wow sassy to not so good, though all dishes were edible. To make this review actionable to those who may want to try this place out, let me divide the dishes I tasted into great, competent and needing improvement.

The best dish of the entire tasting is Dum Ka Murgh (Rs 465), a Hyderabad delicacy with a charcoal smoked and cooked in a traditional 'Dum Style'. The smokey taste makes the dish addictive. Hyderabadi Haleem (Rs 645) here is among the best that Gurgaon serves, with meaty tenderness and lovely fragrance.

   

Mirchi Ka Saalan (Rs 345) is straight out of the streets of Hyderabad.  Among the competent but not so memorable dishes are a distinctly south Indian Begum's Prawn Masala (Rs 525) with prawns stir fried with curry leaves, pepper and lime juice. 

 

Chicken Dum Biryani (Rs 475) is good though not superior to what is already available in Gurgaon. Dal Makhni (Rs 345) is again average. 

  

Nawabi Aloo (Rs 295) or baby potatoes tossed in achari tamatar paste are a decent chakhna though perhaps not worth the price. Burani Raita (Rs 145) is forgettable.

  

Now to the dishes that could do with improvement. Paneer Tamatar Ka Kut (Rs 365) is not like the iconic Hyderabadi tamatar ka kut. It is not light and tangy but is more like shahi paneer. Chicken 65 (Rs 350) can be a great dish, if the tomato used in the chicken can be toned down and dish made crispier – like what the tipplers in Hyderabad would go for. Also, the chillies at the bottom do not impart any taste to the dish and are there just like reluctant relatives attending a wedding.  

 

Mutton Shikampuri Kabab (Rs 425) is one of my favourite kababs. They look like shami kababs but are completely different in taste and texture. Alas not so here - what is missing in the kabab is the stuffing in the center of the kebab made from boneless pieces of mutton leg, which gives the kabab its delicious dual texture – shami kabab like on the outside and not unlike the texture of Haleem on the inside. Instead this kabab tastes like an average galauti kabab.

While some of the dishes could do with improvement, there is enough of good food to try here. So, consider it whenever you are in a mood Hyderabadi!

Ratings (Out of 5)

Food: 3.5 | Packaging: 4.0 | Delivery: 4.0 | Value: 3.5 | Overall: 3.5

Meal for two: Rs 1200 | Alcohol: NA | Credit Card: Yes | Wheelchair friendly: NA

Address: House 16/6, Flat 20, Sikanderpur Goshi, DLF Phase 1, Gurgaon. Phone Numbers 0124 4562601; +91 9717087757

About the Author
Aalok Wadhwa Aalok Wadhwa
Restaurant Information
Sassy Begum Sassy Begum
House 16/6, Flat 20, Sikanderpur Goshi, DLF Phase 1, Gurgaon.
Telephone: 0124 4562601; +91 9717087757 view on a map
Opening Hours:
Cuisine: Andhra
Average Price: Rs. 1000 - 1200