Some restaurants set a benchmark in the industry. I remember the time I would hangout at Shalom in N block market of GK-I with friends after college. Those were good times. Now, years later, when I visit Shalom in its re-launched avatar — S-Bar and Restaurant — it is good times again.
It has a cozy ambience spurred by a well-done décor. The restaurant has three levels — the first being a fine dining space, the second a lounge, and finally the beautiful open terrace. (I opted for the first.)
The menu is a sprinkle of the new, and generous helpings of the old, with a vast expanse of all that typifies the best of the Arabian desert and the Middle East. Pita and hummus, something you find in every other restaurant, is done to perfection. There’s babaghanoush, too, if you like.
In the non-vegetarian platter, lamb kibbeh, made of finely minced meat, is flavourful and has a nice texture. But it is the kabab platter at S-Bar that is worth trying. A nice variation of true Middle Eastern kababs, I liked the way they are presented at S-Bar — stuffed inside pita bread, which makes it a wholesome meal. Classic Iranian delicacy Jujeh kabab is served with a spicy tahini dip. Chelo kabab, one of my favourites, came marinated in sumac and saffron, and tasted divine. Pizzas are also served at S-Bar, but with a difference; the dough is of pita, which makes it a healthier option. Apart from my favourite lamb tagine I was served gallina peppitoria and prawn piri piri. The former, a nicely balanced dish where chicken is stuffed with cheese and served alongside rich saffron almond sauce, stood out among the two.
A good baklava capped off the experience.
Meal for two: Rs. 3000
