It was always a trouble for me to shop at the Sarojini Nagar market and walk with heavy bags to find a place to eat. I would invariably end up at one of the restaurants in Dilli Haat. But I got a chance to make amends recently after getting an invite to review the new outlet of Rang de Basanti Dhaba (RDBD) in DLF South Square Mall, Sarojini Nagar. Once I reached my favourite market I realised that the entire scene had changed. I would have never imagined a mall with a plethora of restaurants just next to the market.
I entered Rang de Basanti Dhaba and was immediately impressed. Unlike its South Extension outlet, this one is huge and spacious. Its trademark tractor is right at the entrance and helps parents enjoy their dinner peacefully while the kids play around it. The place has an earthen feel to it, and an ambience befitting a dhaba. But it’s the food that’s most impressive here.
The menu has a couple of a new variants too. I ordered a dhaba chicken soup to start with. It was served quickly and was well seasoned. It was a bit spicy, however, and started hitting my throat after a couple of sips. But its flavour kept me going.
With plenty of options to choose from, ordering starters at RDBD can get a bit tricky. I left it to the chef to prepare a platter of his signature dishes. Within minutes my starters were served.
Tandoori pomfret on a sizzler plate opened the innings. The medium sized fish was spicy and loaded with traditional dhaba style flavours. It was tender and moist from inside. Kesar kali mirch ka tikka was succulent and had the subtle spiciness of black pepper. Mutton champein, a close replica of burra, just melted in my mouth. Its soya version, which had a rich creamy texture, was also delicious and easily one of the best a vegetarian could taste here. Curries were also worth trying, especially the ghobi wadi gosht and nimbu meat.
Wadi were deep fried and gave a nice crunch to the gravy and a robust flavour. Biryani was also good, and made in typical Punjabi style. I would suggest ending your meal here with flavoured kulfis in desserts. Also, don’t miss the jamun and chiku flavours.
Meal for two costs Rs. 800 plus taxes
