The Coffee House, Majnu ka Tila
How to get there: Take the Metro to Vidhan Sabha. The market
is one marauding e-rick ride away.
The Coffee House is a cozy little place, seating 10-12
groups at a time. Though it’s primarily for breakfast (served between 10 and 12
am), the fact that it’s tucked away in the basement of a building means that it
is quite dark and must resort to…well..electric lighting. It’s nicely decorated,
with a large display for the food. The waiter will offer you a menu and a tiny notepad
to scribble your order in. The only other place I have seen this is Bhutan
(yes, I am quite well-travelled that way).
Incidentally, Bhutan’s where I had tasted my first pancake.
That however had made me question the foundation of my love for American
television programming (You get points for guessing which show I am talking
about).
All that changed with one bite of the Coffee House’s hot pancake
covered with the classic maple syrup-it was like biting into a piece of cloud*.
We also ordered a pancake with chocolate sauce, which was equally good, but if
you are going alone or with only one other person, you might want to finish the
first one before you order seconds. Those
things are filling. Though that might also have something to do with the two
rounds of ice-tea we ordered. Because, oh my god, what ice tea!
Meal for three: Don’t remember for sure, but it was less
than 500 rupees. Tips have to be deposited separately in a jar kept by the cash
counter.
USP: The bliss you feel after that first bite of the pancake.
Cafe Lota, National Crafts Museum
How to get there: It’s a longish walk from the Pragati
Maidan Metro station. Either choose a pleasant day or over-pay for an auto
ride.
We reached there at peak lunch time, when we were famished,
and going by how full the place was, so was much of upper class Delhi. We were
made to wait for at least half an hour, but we couldn’t leave after seeing just
how beautiful the cafe was. It’s well lit (naturally), the furniture is easy on
the eye and there are big potted plants as decoration. We first ordered aam panna and mint nimbu
pani (I am not sure actually-it was green and in a tall glass-brilliant food
reviewer I am turning out to be). The latter drink was nicer of the two, though
both were refreshing. The Konkan Fish Curry with red rice was in dire need of
some seasoning. The Goan Chicken was served with spinach paav (which tasted like normal paav but was a revolting shade of
green-props for the novelty though) and channa (chick-peas). Eaten together, as
insisted by Masterchef, it was quite nice. The servings are really small
though.
Meal for three: 1500 rupees (inclusive of taxes and tip).
USP: The ambience. Plus if you go towards the end of lunch
time, they let you sit for as long as you want. The waiters don’t even hover
about your table.
Triveni Tea Terrace, Triveni Kala Sangam
How to get there: Get off at the Mandi House metro station.
It’s a three minute walk from there
It’s not a restaurant really, more a canteen for the
institute’s students, but most likely the prettiest canteen in any of Delhi’s
colleges. There’s indoor as well as outdoor seating. However, if it’s raining,
no matter how nice it looks, choose to sit inside-the tarp that serves as the
ceiling for the terrace is torn in places. The menu’s fixed on a day basis. I
went on a Saturday, when they serve Kadhi or Chicken curry. I had the latter
with roti. It’s unpretentious, home style cooking. Plus the place actually
caters to art students (and craftspeople?), rather than the poseurs who
frequent Cafe Lota. No that’s not ill-founded stereotyping.
Meal for one and a one-fourth person (who only drank
nimbu-pani): 180 rupees. Who tips at a canteen?
USP: The very efficient staff.
*Sorry Lakshita, that description was too good to not
appropriate.
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