Whenever I am in West Delhi I struggle to find a restaurant which doesn’t serve Punjabi or Mughlai cuisine. But being a regular to Hilton Janakpuri I thought of giving Pomodoro, their Italian restaurant, a try.
As I entered Pomodoro I was greeted with the nice aroma of the wood oven right next to the entrance. The decor consists of earthy wooden furniture and walls. There were big leather couches which one could comfortably sink into. The menu is brief but well curated and every dish seems worth a try.
Since I love Italian zuppa, I started with a nice seafood soup. The fresh squids, salmon and shrimps in a tomato broth were well seasoned and tasty, and the accompanying garlic crouton went well with the thick soup. Complementary foccacia with a nice creamy eggplant dip was fresh and good to munch on.
I followed my soup with an assortment of antipasti. I tasted two variants of bruschetta — one with mushrooms and the other with sundried tomatoes topped with Fontana cheese and finely chopped walnuts. I found the latter delicious. Even the Tuscan bread base was perfectly grilled and had a nice crunch. The warm prawns and squid salad had the perfect balance of spices, though the squid was a bit chewy.
After these, it was time to try out some of the delicacies without which an Italian dinner will always remain incomplete. Yes I am talking about the thin crust pizzas and creamy risottos. Most of the dishes had traditional Italian flavours but one of the fastest moving pizzas had got a West Delhi influence to it. I was served a chicken tikka pizza. The shredded tikkas complemented the caramelized onion nicely. I loved the consistency of the dough and the texture of melting mozzarella. Mushroom risotto with four variants of cheese was filling and delicious. But it was the chicken tortelloni which stood tall amongst the rest. Tossed in white sauce, it was a dish to remember.
Before tasting the desserts I had their pan seared salmon and chicken piccata. The chicken breast had a subtle flavour of thyme jus and tasted good. My tummy was full and the only place left, demanded to be occupied by the famous Italian dessert tiramisu. Served in a coffee mug, it was cool and refreshing.
Meal for Two: Rs. 4000
