Nando's - Definitely not the place to eat

After planning it for weeks, a few friends from office decided Nando's was the place for a get together lunch. Little did we know what a disaster it would turn out to be!

A nice, big place spanned over two floors in the heart of the Capital, the eye cannot miss (though my taste buds would have wanted to). With large wooden tables, comfortable seats and lovely music, the ambiance is no doubt very impressive.

We started by ordering coffee and hot chocolate. After like 25-30 minutes (no, I am not exaggerating with time here) the waiter somehow realised they had no hot chocolate. So, we ordered another coffee. We waited another 15 minutes for the coffees to turn up.

Caesar Chicken Salad

I am not a coffee drinker so won't comment on the taste, but my friends found it ok, nothing special. We next ordered Caesar chicken salad, which was, for a change, great to taste. With chunky pieces of nicely marinated, tender and juicy chicken, loaded with blocks of cheese, which would just melt in your mouth, the salad made me rethink about the place. If the food is good, the place is a hit, no doubt.

Peri Peri Chicken with rice

Next we got their specialty: the Peri Peri Chicken, which  the joint claims to be the hottest ever. Well, hottest in India? Anyway, the chicken was no doubt among the best I have had. It was hot, well-grilled, tender, still intact with the juices, but the rice it was served with, made me want to throw up. That rice felt like I ordered turmeric powder. Whatever good the chicken was, the 'turmeric powder' made sure to spoil every bit of it. The french fries were no good either.

French Fries

The different hot sauces need a mention here. You can try all but trust me even the 'hottest' chilly sauce is not that hot.

What really blew the lid off was the service. The staff had no clue what was happening, or what we had ordered. They were completely lost and clearly had no idea what courtesy means. They also seemed to think that you don't need plates to eat. Had to ask four times for plates, even explained one of the waiters what a plate looks like!

Clearly, opening a joint in a posh area like CP does not mean the service will be any better.

Learned it the hard way: All that glitters is not gold!

© 2015 Nasreen Ghani

The real taste of seekh kebabs

© Nasreen Ghani

When it comes to non vegetarian food, people love going to Old Delhi but prefer to stick to Karims or Al Jawahar. We don't ever give it a second thought, but may be we should.

So, this one's for kebab lovers. People who have been to all the renowned places and still not found the taste they have been looking for. And I promise, it wouldn't burn a hole in your pocket!

Not many know about this place, since its a small, really small outlet located at a corner of a lane in Old Delhi's Lal Kuan area. Doesn't even have a name, but the long queue speaks for the place.

Run by two men, one manages accounts, serves and packs seekh kebabs, while the other cooks them on an open grill. Priced at Rs 10 per kebab, which is way cheaper than any restaurant or outlet you will find in the Capital, the kebabs are best you have tasted till date.

Served with onion rings, green chilly, a hot, spicy green chutney and lemon slices, the very first bite melts in your mouth with a burst of spices and tender, juicy meat.

I wouldn't boast about the place when it comes to ambiance and the sitting arrangement because there isn't any arrangement to sit, you either have to stand on the roadside and enjoy your kebabs or take them home. I would suggest you have it fresh because nothing tastes good if its not fresh plus you have the Old Delhi charm working for you right there.

One drawback, not really a drawback though, they only start serving after 6pm.

How to reach: Get down at Chawri Bazaar Metro station. Exit from Lal Kuan/Chawri Bazaar side. It's a 10-minute walk from there or you could take a rickshaw for 20 bucks. Get down at Gali Qasimjaan's turn and well.. you can't miss it from there. Its located at the entrance of  the street.

Enjoy!

© 2015 Nasreen Ghani

'Bhook ke time pe no masti'

A friend, who is a cartoon artiste, made a cartoon describing me. He is working with a leading newspaper in Delhi. Sharing his work here. This is a copyright image folks :)

© Yatish Asthana

Your sole destination for shawarmas

An employee prepares chicken shawarma at Al-Bake

Located in the heart of New Friend's Colony, Al-Bake is one place you will always find crowded. Not that it offers a fine dining experience or a good crowd to be around, but the food you get here will make you visit again and again.

Well-known in the Capital for its finger-licking shawarmas, Al-Bake is the only joint (not restaurant) that offers shawarma the way it should be -- soft, juicy and tender! Take a bite and it all melts in your mouth.

Chicken slices cooked over a rotary flame, seasoned with lemon juice, tomatoes and lots of coriander is rolled inside pita bread and is served with freshly-prepared white mayonnaise with a hint of garlic. No packed sauce is a match when it comes to Al-Bake's mayo, which is pure divine. A small amount of dahi is also served, if you ask for it.

I haven't had the veg shawarma, just doesn't sound right. The place is better known for the chicken one. A plate of shawarma will cost you Rs 90, which has two rolls.

The place isn't that great to sit and enjoy food, flies and men will not really let you eat in peace. But you always have the option of a take away, which is not too bad. 

Al-Bake offers a wide variety of non vegetarian food including fish tikka, chicken tandoori, Chinese dishes, etc. (will upload the menu card later). I decided to settle for fish in hot garlic sauce. It was spicy and left me with a runny nose but the taste was worth it. Rumali roti was a turn off probably because it was not fresh. I carried some fish for my colleagues and it was an instant hit with everyone. Trust me when I say this: I was glad I ordered fish!

Anyway, hungry or not... order a few plates of shawarmas and you are good to go, be it night or day!

© 2014 Nasreen Ghani