With winters in full swing as a matter of policy I make it a point that my every meal should be non-vegetarian. But when an iconic brand like Shiv Sagar makes a debut a cheat meal for a day is worth.
Brought to Delhi by smart entrepreneurs Varun Puri and Vidur Kanodia, Shiv Sagar at the moment is attracting Delhiites in huge numbers as if the food is available for free. I also went to try and witnessed a waiting line of 30-odd people till the time I left after having my meal.
All said and done I started with a Mumbai style sev puri which had all the core flavours intact. Next to follow was one of my favourites, vada pav with that lassan (garlic) powder which reminded me of my days in Mumbai. I must say the quality of laari pav was excellent and when I said this to Varun he promptly replied: “We get them by flight on a daily basis.”
Asked which is the fastest moving dish so far, Varun said, “Just see every table and notice that a plate of pav bhaji is must. We sell more than 400 pav bhajis a day.” But somehow the bhaji did not appeal much to me as it lacked the zing and kick of a Chowpati master dish, though a couple of fusion dishes such as the chilli idli and Chinese bhel were good. I must say the Chinese bhel with all those crunchy noodles gave a nice body to the bhel and the crackle inside the mouth gave a nice texture.
One thing which is very typical of Mumbai is the sandwich which Shiv Sagar has really done justice to and is able to replicate the taste and essence of the street dish.
Apart from the food even the shakes and juices were worth a try at Shiv Sagar as they were fresh and served innovatively in test tubes.
Shiv Sagar had interesting main course delicacies as well but I opted to sign off with some local and popular dishes such as the Delhi matar kulcha and bedmi aloo with methi dana chutney. The bedmi aloo was very good specially the chutney and that’s one thing after their vada pav which will bring me back.
I ended with a Haji Ali style kulfi falooda and some variant of a pan kulfi which left me with a refreshing after taste.
Meal for two
Rs.600 plus taxes
