With IPL getting close to knock-out stages, what could be better than watching the matches live on giant screens with friends? But to choose from numerous restaurants which offer this service is a tough ask. Being a foodie, I prefer a place which might offer me some tasty food as well. I also don’t mind checking out a new joint.
So the newly launched Salotto 44 café & bar, one of the newest entrants in the Hauz Khas market in New Delhi, comes to me as a good option. It serves multi cuisine and has a nice giant screen.
On entering the café, I reserve my seat right in front of the screen. The café manager asksif he should play some music for me. I reply, let’s go for Danny Morrison instead of Jim Morrison.
The ambience of the café is nice, comfortable seats and lights adequately dim. The chef starts with a soup, serves a seafood bisque. It seems pretty ordinary to me but another soup that lands at my table, a chicken and lemon grass brew, has a nice flavour.
Also comes som tam salad, a chilli, lime and jaggery dressing with raw papaya — tasty. Topped with peanuts, the salad has a nice crunch.
Though I would say, some of the appetisers are the USP of the cafe. Like the crispy mozzarella cheese fingers paired with some colourful mocktails. The Italian import, bruchetta, is another.
Then there is dahi ki sholey. The chicken pesto on skewers are delicious too.
But one dish which needs a special mention is the prawn mehrunnisa made with a chilli and saffron marinade. The tender prawns will just melt in your mouth. The kalmi kabab is again tasty here and has a nice earthy aroma of charcoal. Chapli kabab though is way far from the original.
To change the flavour in my mouth, I ask for risotto — not anything to rave about. The ratio of cheese and rice seems imbalanced.
From the grill section, go for the herbs crusted grilled chicken, flavourful.
In dessert, there is cinnamon carrot cake, disappointing. Go for chocolate mousse instead, refreshing.
Meal for two - Rs.1500
