Looks like Hauz Khas Village in New Delhi, known for its chic fashion stores and art galleries that attract as many expats as Delhiites with deep pockets is now turning out to be a foodie’s delight as well. There is hardly any any cuisine left which a foodie will not come across in its restaurants. Continental, Mediterranean, Oriental, French, English, name any cuisine and you will get it here. One such name is De Villa, a restaurant owned by Bhanu Nehra, better known as the brother of the Indian speed star Ashish Nehra. De Villa has an extensive menu with selected dishes picked from across the world, besides Indian delicacies.
Chef Satinder, at De Villa, helps me pick the best dishes. Being a Mediterranean food lover, I am advised to optfor its non-vegetarian platter that comes with lamb kibbeh, meat fatiyaar, chicken wings and pita bread. All are is served with the traditional four dips —hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh and tzatziki. The chef gives the dish an Indian touch as well with some finely minced onions and coriander leaves as garnish. The lamb kibbeh, as lamb kibbek should be, is tender and goes perfectly with the hummus dip.
I then go for an interesting dish, Miga De Pollo Frito Picatta, crumb-fried chicken picatta accompanied with chilli mayonnaise and house fries. In one word, the chicken was juicy. Sikari murgh, chicken thighs marinated with Indian spices, is next on my plate. It is cooked to perfection and has that aroma of being grilled on charcoal.
In the main course, I have some yummy Barbados grilled prawns served with wilted greens, buttered vegetables and burnt caper butter. Veneto’s chicken steak, where the large chicken breast is stuffed with cheese and herbs and served with the traditional combination of potato mayonnaise, buttered vegetables and pepper, is a great choice at De Villa. Cut the chicken piece and gooey cheese oozes out. Yet another dish I try out here is Fillet de Lubina, a French classic dish presented beautifully with the layer of potato olive cake dipped in beurre blanc sauce under the leek wrapped fillet of Sole fish.
De Villa also has its in-house NaZaa’s, a combination of tandoori naan and pizza. It’s a healthy option as the dough is wheat-based.
Its cold and sticky chocolate pudding is the best option to end your gastronomic journey here. Fruit lovers can try the fruits frais de saison, a platter of beautifully carved fresh seasonal fruits.
(De Villa, 8A, Hauz Khas Village. A meal for two costs Rs. 1,500, approximately.)
