Spicing up north Delhi

It isn't always easy to find good food in this part of Delhi but this joint at least offers excellent ambience

North Delhi, except for the Delhi University campus and a few small corners tucked here and there, doesn't evoke much interest in me. Well, that might sound like very partial judgment but guess one is entitled to opinions, until something comes across and changes it all. My moment of truth was when I stepped into Yellow Mirchi, an Indian-Chinese restaurant at City Park in Pitam Pura.u00a0


Here, you can see your greens and eat them too

I had not expected that the place would be essentially green, with lawns and a few miniature fountains sprinkled around the property. The sliding doors at the hotel's entrance, well let's just say reminded me of the liars of Bollywood villains (add Shahrukh Khan's Don to that). I just loved the drama.

Wrong bandwidth
I took a humble corner table trying to avoid the restaurant's band, which was playing its own version of ghazals and a few sad numbers. All I was hoping for was a quite candlelit affair. Perhaps it could have been so if only the male vocalist of the band hadn't decided to go Atif Alam all the way and rip apart my share of tranquility.

Vibrant start
Thankfully, the waiter arrived with colourful platter of veg and non-veg starters. I gorged in. The mutton seekh kebabs named chandi kaliyan looked distinct and tasted reasonably good with the regular green chutney. The chicken hara bhara kebabs looked appetizing enough on the plate but were a little over roasted to bite into.

Out of the veggie lot, the mushroom kurkure, which is basically button mushrooms batter fried with pepper and cheese was tastefully done however the Stuffed Potatoes were a little over done for my taste.u00a0 The panner tikka was thankfully green and light, unlike the usual heavy on the stomach Punjabi fare. The starters were washed down with a strawberry daiquiri that was a decent mocktail. They had skipped the rum to make a mocktail out of it but sugar was added a little to generously to compensate it.

Steamy affair
The starters were filling so I had to while for before I was ready for the main course adventure. The murgh makhni was served hot, and yes, it looked wonderful sitting there on my table all steamy and spicy but alas! My castle came tumbling down when I sunk my teeth into it-It was bland. The mixed-veg and the kadhai paneer too were just alright.

The methi murg however was out rightly awesome. the chef's secret here lies not in the spices but the magic he does with the methi, a trade secret he won't part with so easily.u00a0

The yellow dal tadka would have been better, had somebody chosen not to be liberal with the salt. The kesar kulfi for dessert however was decent.u00a0

The food left a mixed feeling in my mouth but the ambience winds hands down when it comes to finding a scenic place to grab some grub in north Delhi, if only Mr. Talented had not crooned his Atif Alam numbers.
Where: Pitam Pura; New Delhiu00a0

Yellow Mirchi
Food: Average
Service: Attentive
Ambience: Nice
Timings: 12.30 to 11.30pm
Ring: 27310101
Meal for two: Rs 900