Delhi Food- Bukhara and Spice Route and others- views?

Iestyn

I am looking forward to my first trip to India. I really love food and am looking forward to trying as much as I can of what North India offers. Obviously this will include unexpected suprises, and hopefully great meals at low prices. But, I also want to try the high end stuff.

I am interested to hear any views on the above restaurants- are they worth it?

Also any recommendations you think are as good or better?

Finally, I'm not realy going for western style cuisine, but I gather there are a lot of restaurants offering european style food now. Any that anyone thinks I really ought to try?

Thanks.

PeakXV

Bukhara get two thumbs up from the Great White North!

Daal Bhukhara and the giant naan bread(thought they bringing out another guest table and it turned out to be our bread )was enough to do me in ..... but the food just kept coming .... and we just kept eating.

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

hawaiiyogagrl

We went to the Spice Route in June- it was extremely good. They had a tasting menu that highlighted mangoes. We were duly impressed.
(ps I highly recommend the white chocolate martini for dessert)

nedhopkins

My son and I ordered the "President Clinton Special" at Bukhara. It was fabulous: appetizers galone followed by a huge platter of meats -- tandoori chicken and lamb, sausages, and more. I got through less than a fourth of the plate; my big-eater son made it to perhaps a third. We had gorged ourselves to the point we declined the (free) dessert. Bukhara is, in a word, fabulous.

Ann

Even i prefer food from Bukhara... the taste of food is gr8 . the way they serve in traditional manner like dal in handi are simply gr8.

i know its expensive but worth to have once or twice in a year.

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ba9rn

Spice Route is great, but it is hardly Indian cuisine (it's Thai based). As you are no doubt aware, it's very expensive, but the decor makes up for that! The food is excellent too, but probably overpriced even by Western standards. Really enjoyed it though - as has been said; no harm in splashing out once in a while!

By the way, we had an even more expensive meal at the 'Zodiac Grill' in the Taj Palace, Mumbai. This was our last meal in India this time, and our wedding anniversary. It was arguably the best meal I've ever eaten - anywhere in the world. The restaurant has a French influence; so again non Indian!

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shashank.aggarwal

Spice route is not Indian Cuisine, but not Thai either..its a mix of cuisines that 'fell' on old spice route...A three course meal without liquor should cost in range of Rs.2000-3000 for a couple..its particularly famous for its decor..and I guess it took seven years for the interior part to be completed of the restaurant..

Give a shot to Dum Pukht located in Maurya Sheraton itself..its not as fancy or flashy as its big brother Bukhara, but you sure don't want to miss its food.

The other option would be Masala Art in Taj, next door or Sheraton.

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Random Reviews

Iestyn

Thanks for these replies. They sound like they are worth trying, especially as I probably wont be going anywhere expensive outside Delhi. Final question- do I need to book ahead and how far in advance? Thanks again.

nedhopkins

Reservations are advisable for Bukhara -- probably essential for dinner, though not for lunch.

jyotirmoy

Reservation is a must for dinner at Bukhara. Even if you plan to go for lunch I would recommend advance table reservation.

anubisgrau

how much is an average dinner in bukhara for 2, with just a plain water (both of us are non-alcoholic in india)

Iestyn

Thanks for the replies. I had a great time in India. Iwas impressed by Spice Route, the food was good , I've had better but there was plenty of interesting ideas, good combinations and the setting was superb. I think we paid about £25/$50 a head, so it was expensive for India but a bargain by western standards for the very upmarket atmosphere.

I was much less impressed by Bukhara. It wasn't poor by any means but didn't meet the hype. We ate better for less. As far as the cost question is concerned, I converted it into UK in my head, we only had a beer each as alcohol was very expensve, we didn't go balls deep and it was still £30 a head. Thats $60 if that helps. Too much in an Indian context, to be honest I don't think I'd go back in London at that price. Also its full of expats on expense account being loud, and there's something bizarre about eating notionally authentic food in a faux authentic restaurant when you could just have the real thing for a 30th of the price.

anubisgrau

would you care to mention some names you meant by 'i had better for less'......

kristinm

We didn't end up getting a booking at Bukhara, we had a really lovely meal in Connaught Place though - Sagar Ratna (?), I'd have to look in the book to see the correct spelling.. South Indian, very good and lovely Rassam too.

mmmmmjenny

Twice I've been to Bukhara and twice I've gotten sick afterwards. I went to Dum Pukht once (located in Maurya Sheraton) and it was excellent. They had several dishes that I'd never seen elsewhere.