The months-long wait to dine at your favourite restaurant in Delhi is finally over as they open up with guidelines such as thermal checks, social distancing, contactless dining where you order and pay online and even disposable crockery at some places. While each day more restaurants are opening to welcome you back, here is our pick of where to step out for a meal with safety assured.

Farzi Café

A toothpick to press the lift buttons, temperature checks, menu via the QR code scan, based on your table number-place the order and get billed; this is the new normal at Farzi Café. What remains intact is the taste and flavour. The butter chicken bao was as delicious as before. Even though it is not easy for restaurants to make money at this stage, they are hopeful. “We are optimistic. I think Indians will start going out and socially engage before most other places,” says Zorawar Kalra, Founder & Managing Director, Massive Restaurants.

The Grammar Room

While the menu at The Grammar Room has shrunk, we are happy that the popular truffle, parmesan and garlic fries are still there. It is now limited to less than ten dishes although their delivery/take away menu is much bigger. The shrimp Benedict with chipotle hollandaise and banoffee waffles will fulfill Sunday brunch dreams at this charming cafe.

Leo’s Pizzeria

When Leo’s opened in December 2016, it quickly climbed the popularity charts. The reason, their crusty woodfired oven pizzas are an experience not to be missed. Pepperoni, bacon & onion and burrata pesto are what we recommend. Only 24 people are allowed to dine at the restaurant, so make a reservation before going.

The Big Chill Cafe

The first bite of this delicious fusilli and pepperoni pasta after four months was heavenly. I closed my eyes and relished the taste that I’d been yearning for during the lockdown. It was intact, and this is what I love about The Big Chill Cafe, no matter where you go, the flavour of the dish never changes. I missed the huge menu that they had earlier, after all, the PDF versions can never replace paper. But that’s a small price to pay to get back to my favourite restaurant.

Cafe Delhi Heights

Delhi’s much-loved, big fat Juicy Lucy burger is back as Cafe Delhi Heights has opened at several locations across the city. The menu is trimmer but they have retained popular dishes including Rajasthani laal maas, Moms buttered chicken masala, grilled chicken breast, pastas and pizzas.

Plum By Bent Chair

Spicy barbequed chicken bao, smoked chicken dumpling and butter garlic black rice – made my Sunday. What I loved was leafing through the pages of an actual menu, although I missed sipping a cocktail with my meal here at Plum By Bent Chair. Nonetheless, it was satisfying. Priyank Sukhija, MD & CEO of First Fiddle Restaurants feel footfalls will increase when the government gives the nod to serving alcohol. “If people can sit at the table with social distancing norms in place and have food then why not cocktails. Most of the people do not want to come, primarily because of alcohol.”

Kampai

Kampai, a posh restaurant serving the best Japanese in Aerocity is back in action. The advantage of dining here is that social distancing becomes easy due to the several private dining areas around the restaurant. They even give you the option of disposable cutlery and crockery. The menu has not changed, so order those irresistible ramen bowls and sushi platters.

Burma Burma

Burma Burma needs no introduction. If you’ve been a fan, you’ll be happy to hear that it’s open. This vegetarian paradise for Burmese food is welcoming you by keeping hand sanitiser sachets on every table and if you want to be extra cautious, then they have disposable crockery and cutlery as well. Order those baos and khowsuey and let the feasting begin.

Tres

Tres is one of the few restaurants that has marked down prices by about 15% and added a few new dishes like burgers, flatbread, risotto as well. This trendy restaurant that offers European food used to depend a lot on imported food, but they are focusing more on local and seasonal produce now. Apart from regular sanitising protocols, even their bathrooms have been renovated to incorporate new sensor-based technology, so that the contact is minimal.

Punjab Grill

Now nothing can stand between you and that legendary butter chicken. This Indian fine dining restaurant has introduced a few new dishes such as lal maas, ajwani mahi tikka and four kulchas including butter chicken and duck gassi. Chef Sareen Madhiyan says, “We have reduced the menu size up to 20% and made it crisp. The revised menu has all Punjab Grill signatures along with some exciting additions.”

Pallavi Pasricha is a New Delhi based travel and food writer. With more than 13 years of experience she writes for leading travel and lifestyle publications in the industry and was the former Digital Editor at Lonely Planet India.

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