Historical events such as invasions, trade relations and colonialism have played a role in introducing certain foods to this country . The Columbian discovery of the new world brought a number of new vegetables and fruits to India. A numbers of these such as potatoes, tomatoes, chillies, peanuts and guava have become staples in many regions of India.
Indian cuisine has shaped the history of international relations ; the spice trade between India and Europe was the primary catalyst and Europe's Age of Discovery. Spices were bought from India and traded around Europe and Asia .
Delhi is an ideal place to indulge in the riches of Indian cuisine, characterized by creamy curries and meat usually cooked in a traditional clay oven. Delhi has the most sought after Indian Restaurant offering delectable delicacies, here’s a list of a few of them:
1. Bukhara Restaurant ( Diplomatic Enclave ) -: Bukhara is undoubtedly the best Indian restaurant in Delhi and has a string of awards to its name, including being voted "Best Indian Restaurant in the World" and "Best Restaurant in Asia "It is renowned for its rustic yet chic space, open kitchen and to-die-for kebabs. The massive naan bread and Dal Bukhara have attained legendary status. This place has mastered the art of Indian cuisine and is touted to be a beacon of culinary excellence.
2. Dum Pukht -: The ITC Maurya has another of Delhi's best Indian fine dining restaurants Dum Pukht, which is essentially a style of slow cooking where the dishes are prepared gently in steam (the Dum). This restaurant delivers a regal dining experience, resplendent with marble, chandeliers, and one of the most refined forms of cooking from the royal Mughal kitchens in India. A mild instrumental background score and luxurious treatment was adding a royal feel to it.
3. Varq -:
Varq offers traditional Indian cuisine a contemporary twist with unusual pairings, innovative presentations, and use of organic produce and spices. It purveys a modern Indian gourmet dining experience offering the authenticity of taste and artistic presentation and is one of the first to hone the concept of pre-plated Indian food. The menu engages with all the five senses with visually stunning dishes, a delight on the palate and aromas of Indian spices and has set a benchmark for contemporary Indian cuisine.
4. The Imperial Spice -:
The Imperial Spice takes pride in offering exemplary hospitality and culinary expertise and is touted to be one of the best Indian restaurants in Delhi. It offers a creative blend of the North Indian and European cuisine. The dining experience is exemplary as delectable food is served in an aesthetic ambience. It is a warm, inviting place in the heart of the city with cool, subdued interiors and offers a soul-satisfying experience.
5. The Dhaba Claridges -:
Dhaba is just the place where one can delight their taste buds with authentic North-Indian food straight from the land of Punjab. The food menu is no nonsense, simple collection of north Indian recipes that have been the favourite part of every Indian kitchen.
Dhaba recreates the ambience of a Punjabi highway eatery with a sophisticated flair, making it one of the best Indian restaurants in Delhi. The management has left no stones unturned to bring life into the design with mounted tyres on the walls, khaat style chairs, kites and the focal point of the restaurant, a huge truck!
6. Gulati ( Pandara Road ) -:
One of the legendary restaurants of Pandara Road, Gulati has been in the business Since 1959, when it is Started out as a modest Dhaba ( roadside eatery ). Although Pandara Road has become upmarket now, at the time this was an unremarkable neighborhood with government staff housing near India Gate. Gulati flourished providing lunch to the office workers, especially after the owner prefect making the butter Chicken.
The restaurant has a daily buffet lunch with an enticing variety of Dishes. It also hosts special food festival , such as a biryani and Kebab festivals. The kebabs festivals are a highly recommended and you can order a kebab platter to get a mix of the different ones.
7. Moti Mahal ( Dariya Ganj ) -:
No doubt you've heard of the Butter Chicken. After all, it's on the menus of the Indian Restaurants worldwide. However, this restaurant is credited with actually inventing the Dish of Moti Mahal was established in 1947 ( In the year of Indian Independence ) by three men of Peshawar , who fled to Delhi after the partition of India. They set up tandoor in the center of the restaurant and started churning out delicious tandoori Cuisine that people couldn't get enough.
In that, time seems to have stood still a restaurant, which is an old as Independent India. Its decor is distinctly nostalgic and the walls are lined with the awards.
8. Parikrama - ( The Revolving Restaurant ) C.P -:
For a sweeping 360-degree bird's eye view of the city, dine at India's highest revolving restaurant ( and they was one of the one in the New Delhi ), 240- feet up on the 24th floor. You'll be able to see many monuments such as the Red Fort, Jama - Masjid and Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Restaurant takes 90 minutes to complete one revolution, which is about the duration of a leisurely meal.
There's also a lounge bar on the 25th floor, but this always be the stationary. The menu focuses on North Indian Cuisine but offers Chinese and Continental as well. Food is the pricier side because of the Restaurant's Uniqueness.
Delhi has an umpteenth number of fine quality Indian restaurants. If one’s a foodie and loves fine dining, Delhi is an excellent place to experience the best of Indian cuisine.
Indian food is as diverse as those who eat it and the capital city boasts some of the most sought after Indian restaurants that do justice to this nuanced cuisine. Whether one’s craving local favourites entrenched in tradition, to more contemporary establishments that add an exquisite twist to the cuisine, these beautiful restaurants have it all !