Karims in Delhi

sharm · Sep 12th, 2006, 19:22

Visited Delhi recently and went to Karim's for lunch. It was recommended by many books, people, even BBC!!!!!!!!

We were very disappointed. May be we did not order the right dishes. We had ordered Mutton Biryani, Kadhai Ghost, a daal, rotis and Mughlai Chicken. Only the chicken was flavoursome. The biryani was tasteless. It was basically rice with some meat in it. No masalla whatsoever. Did we order the wrong dishes?

cyberhippie · Sep 12th, 2006, 23:00

Ah finally someone else who was sadly disappointed with Karim's, I was also sadly underwhelmed!!

Karan321 · Sep 13th, 2006, 02:44

Ditto....I was there a couple of weeks back and the food was disapointing to say the least. Only the mutton quorma lived up to its reputation.

cyberhippie · Sep 13th, 2006, 02:48

Is there a time to get there by??? I can't believe this is all hype, my Delhi food guru swears by the place!!

crvlvr · Sep 13th, 2006, 03:31

I think most of authors of guide read other guidebooks and end up going to the same places and giving it the same reviews. IMHO, the best food joints are unassuming, have no advertising and are not listed in guide books.

sharm · Sep 13th, 2006, 22:07

Thanks everyone. Glad to note we were not the only ones to be disappointed.

beebah · Sep 13th, 2006, 23:48

I quite like Karims biriyani - I thought that mughal biyani was supposed to be quite subtle, no? ANyway if you're after a zingy biryani you a\hve to go to Andhra bhavan on a sunday for a an Andhran style biriyani - fantastic!

jyotirmoy · Sep 16th, 2006, 12:17

1. Biriyanis belong to different schools. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari there are hundred types of Biriyani. The Biriyani sereved at Karim is one type where minimum spice is used & yes when compared to Biriyanis from Andhara it is "tasteless".
2.Kadhai Gosht is a Punjabi preparation which Karim makes for those customers whose knowledge of gastronomy extends only up to this. Hardly any body orders this.
3. I still do not know why Karim makes dal; may be for some unfortunate vegetarian guy who has been compelled to accompany his non-veg buddies. Viany reading this?

My suggestion is:
For starter have Seekh Kabab with Roomali rotis. Move on to Mutton Barrah. For main course have Mutton stew & Qorma with Tandoori rotis. End your meal with Sheermal.

ddutta · Sep 16th, 2006, 13:00

For more details about Karim's :-

http://www.karimhoteldelhi.com/index1.html

jyotirmoy · Sep 17th, 2006, 12:31

ddutt,
This menu card is probably used in their outlets in south Delhi or Noida. At their original place in Jama Masjid people seldom ask for a menu card.... they simply rattle off like.." Ek plate Burrah, do Sheek, half ishtew, teen roti aur half Quorma bhee lao...."

cyberhippie · Sep 17th, 2006, 18:12

Next time I'm there and there will be a next time I'm just gonna ask for what Jyoti Da usually orders...........problem solved!
If I'm disappointed again (though I probably won't be) there are a 101 kebabs to choose from right outside the door!

jyotirmoy · Sep 17th, 2006, 18:35

Brother Cyber satisfaction assured or money back.**
** Conditions apply.

My suggestion is go for mutton instead of chicken at this kind of eatery. Bland white broiler chicken is not ok for this kind of cuisine. Game fowls are ok though but not available.

That 101 Kababs outside the door intrigues me !!!!

jenk · Sep 18th, 2006, 08:16

[quote=jyotirmoy]
My suggestion is go for mutton instead of chicken at this kind of eatery. Bland white broiler chicken is not ok for this kind of cuisine. Game fowls are ok though but not available.

QUOTE]

jyotirmoy, you got me interested - any Delhi restaurant you recommend where game fowls are prepared?

onajourney · Sep 24th, 2006, 09:12

Will Karim's be open at all during Ramadan?

K53 · Sep 27th, 2006, 21:41

Yes onajourney - I had lunch there during Ramadan last year. Of course there were mainly only tourists there. It was OK but nothing special, & for non-meat eaters it had little to offer.

Sep 12th, 2006, 19:22	#1
sharm Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Surrey U.K Posts: 116	Karims in Delhi Visited Delhi recently and went to Karim's for lunch. It was recommended by many books, people, even BBC!!!!!!!! We were very disappointed. May be we did not order the right dishes. We had ordered Mutton Biryani, Kadhai Ghost, a daal, rotis and Mughlai Chicken. Only the chicken was flavoursome. The biryani was tasteless. It was basically rice with some meat in it. No masalla whatsoever. Did we order the wrong dishes? __________________ *Sharm*

Sep 13th, 2006, 23:48	#7
beebah Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: london/india Posts: 124	I quite like Karims biriyani - I thought that mughal biyani was supposed to be quite subtle, no? ANyway if you're after a zingy biryani you a\hve to go to Andhra bhavan on a sunday for a an Andhran style biriyani - fantastic! __________________ Food and other interesting things- a blog.

Sep 16th, 2006, 13:00	#9
ddutta Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: kolkata Posts: 803	For more details about Karim's :- http://www.karimhoteldelhi.com/index1.html __________________ "If you smile at me I will understand, because that is something everyone everywhere does in the same language"

Sep 17th, 2006, 12:31	#10
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,659	Menu card ddutt, This menu card is probably used in their outlets in south Delhi or Noida. At their original place in Jama Masjid people seldom ask for a menu card.... they simply rattle off like.." Ek plate Burrah, do Sheek, half ishtew, teen roti aur half Quorma bhee lao...."

Sep 17th, 2006, 18:35	#12
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,659	Mutton Brother Cyber satisfaction assured or money back. Conditions apply. My suggestion is go for mutton instead of chicken at this kind of eatery. Bland white broiler chicken is not ok for this kind of cuisine. Game fowls are ok though but not available. That 101 Kababs outside the door intrigues me !!!!

Sep 12th, 2006, 23:00	#2
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	Ah finally someone else who was sadly disappointed with Karim's, I was also sadly underwhelmed!!

Sep 13th, 2006, 02:44	#3
Karan321 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 232	Ditto....I was there a couple of weeks back and the food was disapointing to say the least. Only the mutton quorma lived up to its reputation.

Sep 13th, 2006, 02:48	#4
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	Is there a time to get there by??? I can't believe this is all hype, my Delhi food guru swears by the place!!

Sep 13th, 2006, 03:31	#5
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,498	I think most of authors of guide read other guidebooks and end up going to the same places and giving it the same reviews. IMHO, the best food joints are unassuming, have no advertising and are not listed in guide books.

Sep 13th, 2006, 22:07	#6
sharm Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Surrey U.K Posts: 116	Thanks everyone. Glad to note we were not the only ones to be disappointed.

Sep 16th, 2006, 12:17	#8
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,659	1. Biriyanis belong to different schools. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari there are hundred types of Biriyani. The Biriyani sereved at Karim is one type where minimum spice is used & yes when compared to Biriyanis from Andhara it is "tasteless". 2.Kadhai Gosht is a Punjabi preparation which Karim makes for those customers whose knowledge of gastronomy extends only up to this. Hardly any body orders this. 3. I still do not know why Karim makes dal; may be for some unfortunate vegetarian guy who has been compelled to accompany his non-veg buddies. Viany reading this? My suggestion is: For starter have Seekh Kabab with Roomali rotis. Move on to Mutton Barrah. For main course have Mutton stew & Qorma with Tandoori rotis. End your meal with Sheermal.

Sep 17th, 2006, 18:12	#11
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	Next time I'm there and there will be a next time I'm just gonna ask for what Jyoti Da usually orders...........problem solved! If I'm disappointed again (though I probably won't be) there are a 101 kebabs to choose from right outside the door!

Sep 18th, 2006, 08:16	#13
jenk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Brooklyn NY Posts: 106	[quote=jyotirmoy] My suggestion is go for mutton instead of chicken at this kind of eatery. Bland white broiler chicken is not ok for this kind of cuisine. Game fowls are ok though but not available. QUOTE] jyotirmoy, you got me interested - any Delhi restaurant you recommend where game fowls are prepared?

Sep 24th, 2006, 09:12	#14
onajourney Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 69	Will Karim's be open at all during Ramadan?

Sep 27th, 2006, 21:41	#15
K53 Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Melbourne Posts: 86	Yes onajourney - I had lunch there during Ramadan last year. Of course there were mainly only tourists there. It was OK but nothing special, & for non-meat eaters it had little to offer.

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