One cuisine on which I have grown up is definitely Mughlai, which has resulted in two things — first, that it is close to my heart, and second, that I am a stickler for the right flavours.
Everybody believes that in the Capital, the only place for good Mughlai food is Old Delhi, the reason being its place in history and the fact that it is home to a large number of Muslims. Also, Karim ranks high on the list of Mughlai food lovers in Delhi. But recently I was invited to review a restaurant in Okhla, another area with a large number of Muslims. Mughal Cuisine Restaurant is located conveniently on the Kalindi Kunj Road going towards Abul Fazal, with Thokar No 3 as a landmark. The restaurant has well thought out interiors with huge portraits of Jodha-Akbar lending that Mughal touch.
The owner Rizwan ul Hasan says they also take special care of families who want to eat in a private area. The extensive menu has every dish one could imagine in a Mughlai restaurant. I began with a soup, which was well-seasoned but lacked the aroma of a Mughlai soup. Following it with a platter of non-vegetarian starters was a perfect idea, as paneer is the only option for vegetarians. The starters were served on a sizzler plate, which didn’t make any sense to me, at least in a Mughlai setup. The tikkas and kababs were perfectly marinated, specially the mutton burrah. In the main course, chicken dhaniya adraki and mutton qorma were exceptionally good. They had everything which a Mughlai delicacy should have. The chicken changezi was too tangy though, and I doubt any Mughal would have liked it. Among desserts the choice was limited, which was disheartening. Kheer and firni are the only options available and they tasted more or less the same.
Meal for two – Rs.800
