Category Archives: gurgaon

Best Places to Eat in Gurgaon

The name of the post is pretty self explanatory so without further adieu here’s a curated list of my favorite places to eat in the Millennium city (err….) Gurgaon (to be read as Gurugram as per personal preference).

While a few of these might be obvious choices, I hope you enjoy them nonetheless:

Di Ghent- As the name suggests, the place gets its name from the city Ghent in Belgium and so the entire cafe is themed around Belgian food with hints of Austrian in between. The menu is extensive and one is really spoilt for choice. What I particularly love about this place is how quaint it is. The interiors are thoughtfully done and the whole cafe gives a very European vibe. I have had my fair share of food experiences in Di Ghent and my favorites here include a good old cappuccino with an evergem bagel and livinus waffles. I usually end up ordering a lot of waffles and pancakes whenever I go here because they are so good! The only downside here is a slightly higher model of pricing but it turns out okay if you visit it in a couple of months.

-Roots- Cafe in the Park: Roots is my favorite place in Gurgaon. Yes. Located in the lap of nature away from the hustle bustle of the city, it has a huge green belt hugging it closely. It is a different side of Gurgaon not known to many and one may quite feel closer to nature. You can even feed squirrels who have an eye on your food constantly. It has a roofed as well as an open seating area. I always chose the latter for obvious reasons- I love sitting in the open especially after six in the evening once it is beautifully lit up.

At Roots, the lightest of meals give you a break from the usual heavy chicken tikkas, over loaded pizzas and thick creamy chocolate shakes. It is a place where you can sit for long peacefully and have great conversations. My favorites here include traditional Indian food, bun omellete, a wonderful innovation in the form of the Wai Wai Bhel, regular tea, vegetable biryani and poha. The poha is probably my favorite because it is loaded with vegetables and cooked without haldi (turmeric) that makes it look fresher. I have also loved their Willingdon Kejriwal sandwich which is enjoyable with a perfectly made Sunny side up.

Impromptu: There are very few places in Gurgaon that come under the “WOW” category of Gurgaon’s nightlife. Impromptu is one of them. Definitely not your average run in the mill place, Impromptu is a rare find of space. It is chic and tastefully done with subtle lights at the entrance, the cool interiors clubbed with outside sitting makes it a win win!! My favorites here include the quintessential Italian Martini, Soya Kebabs and Crunchy Caprese Pizza. We would definitely recommend these dishes to everyone and to try Impromptu. They even serve buffet.

IMG_2080

The Pasta Bowl Company: If you are looking for the best Italian meal in Gurgaon, The Pasta Bowl Company is the winner hands down! It will give you instant Italian Foodgasm with its authentic fresh flavors and seasonal menu. The staff here is very kind and accommodating to your tastes. What I love the most here are several dishes but my most favorite are the truffle oil Bruschetta, tagliatelle and amatriciana pasta. You can add as many vegetables or meat you want as they offer customized pasta options. I also love their panna cotta and cannoncini.

The Italian Dream

Bellissimo!! One of the few words that I know from the Italian language and one of the first words that came to my mind when I had a lunch at The Pasta Bowl Company. The food and the place are simply beautiful.

If you are looking for the best Italian meal in Gurgaon, The Pasta Bowl Company (TPBC) is the winner hands down! Located in the Cross Point Mall, TPBC also scores additional points because of it’s central location, proximity to the Galleria Market and a comfortably accessible parking.

 

 

It had been more than a year since I had been hearing about TPBC, (and all good) but somehow could not visit the place. This time when my friends and I finalised TPBC as the venue for lunch, it was a happy happy day.

On a weekend, as I sat gazing different food pages on social media, I came across this Instagram post on the official handle of The Pasta Bowl Company introducing the late lunch menu ‘Cucina Con Amore’ which means Cooked with Love. So I dialled up my friends number and we decided on the ‘happy day’. The new menu offers a three course meal for late lunchers especially aimed at the corporate sector.

We arrived just around noon. I believe it was such a great choice of time because it made the place look beautiful with the natural light peeping in from every possible opening. The brick wall interiors just give you a sense of calm and you can not ignore the huge clock on one end and small sports cars on the opposite end. TPBC also have an open kitchen which gives you a good view into live cooking. A very special and cute attraction is the fresh grown basil right on the kitchen shelf.

 

 

We started with the ‘Primo’ which was Bruschettas and ordered the Pomodoro and the Funghi E Olio Di Tartufo. The latter had pesto sauce and cherry tomatoes. For me anything with authentic pesto is a winner. Additionally, If you also add Truffle Oil to the dishes on my plate, you are not an ordinary winner but you are a champion. Both the Bruschettas gave this place a head start in the championship. TPBC is known for using ingredients imported from Italy. This can be experienced through the Truffle Oil Bruschetta. The chef made sure that the truffle oil is used in right quantity and does not over power your taste buds. We were left wanting for more.

 

 

Then came ‘Secondo’, that is the second course, offering a choice of pizza or a pasta. I ordered the Pizza Ortaggi Siciliani and my friends ordered the Fusili Bianca. Both theses dishes took me to Italy for a while…… They were not the usual Italian food that we are used to in India with cheese overload. The pizza had a very different shape and was topped with fresh and colourful vegetables. It was both a visual and a gastronomic treat. The Peperoncino Chilli stood out distinctly both in taste and appearance. Whenever I think of the meal at TPBC, I always think of freshness. It was just the way I experienced as I enjoyed my meal!

IMG_20170621_131740_090

Coming back, the Fusili Bianca made me change the way I cook pasta at home. It was very light and mild on flavours. The Parmesan, cream and parsley were added in quantities which allowed me to relish the texture of the pasta as well. The pasta and cheese were very well balanced. The objective of cooking pasta highly rich in cheese has now taken a back seat for me.

 

The final stages of foodgasm had almost set in as I flipped through the menu to see what is next. Dolce Vita (Life is Beautiful and luxurious) when desserts are on the way……Ah!! The third course named ‘Dolci’ offered a choice of Cannoncini and Panacotta della Stagione. My mouth is watering as I write about the Cannoncini. The texture of the lemon cream was amazing. You could feel the flavour bursting on the palate slowly and in a smooth manner. What surprised me was  the taste of the Brioche because I was not expecting it to have that delicious taste and was extremely soft. The Cannoncini brought out the kid in me as I relished it in a manner I have enjoyed cream rolls during my childhood.

IMG_2614

Hold your breath to read about the most delicious dessert I have had in a long time. The Panacotta della Stagione which luckily for me was the Mango Panacotta. With every bite I took I wanted more of it. I wish it was served in a magic plate that would refill every bite of it. The gooey texture, the right temperature and the appropriate amount of sweetness made it very very delectable.

IMG_2616

The entire experience of eating here became more interesting when you have Chef Om and his team ready for a chat on everything Italian. We also had a chance to learn a lot of Italian words and one word that comes to my mind after the lunch at TPBC was ‘Grazie’.

An ‘Impromptu’ evening

Not always is an impromptly planned evening such a wonderful experience as this one turned out for us.

When in Gurgaon, we all are quite used to the routine pattern of lifestyles. From the start of the day where we can see the suave and the crisply dressed millennials deboarding the cabs and boarding the elevators, to the regular exchange of emails throughout the day. It is all in the routine. Lately, even the patterns of recreation have become robotic. Most of the office goers take a flight down the office stairs and land up for a couple of drinks. A few decide to drive across the ‘valley’ for some ‘leisure’ time.

IMG_2026

Apart from these usual places, there are very few places in Gurgaon that come under the “WOW” category of Gurgaon’s nightlife. Impromptu is one of them. Definitely not your average run of the mill place, Impromptu is a rare find of space and a little gem in the middle of Gurgaon. As I crossed the roads of Golf Course Road and entered the place, sexy is what came into my mind. That’s how the place is. It’s so chic and tastefully done with subtle lights at the entrance, the cool interiors clubbed with outside sitting makes it a win win!! A bonus is the huge flat screen make you want to sit there for hours. ( Cricket lovers!!)

My partner and I were super impressed and wondered why we didn’t try this place in the past 2 years. It was just our type of the place with the coolest music playing and most importantly at the right volume. Helped us have a good conversation over some amazing drinks and food.

Our first order was cocktails and we went with the quintessential Italian Martini and a cocktail called Rusty Nail. The Rustic Nail was made using a Drambuie. It was the first time that we tried the Drambuie. Drambuie is a liqueur made of Scotch whisky, honey, herbs and spices. The service was very polite and not at all overbearing and all our food was ordered as suggested by our server Vikram.

 

We started with the Soya Kebabs which were very delicious and tender. We also ordered a Shish Taouk which was a chicken dish inspired by Lebanese cuisine which was followed by a Crunchy Caprese Pizza (not salad but pizza) which was quite different loaded with cheese. The best pick of the evening was the Keema Pao so flavourful and probably competing with soya kebabs 😉 We would definitely recommend this dish to everyone. Rich in flavours and the soft pao was a delight. It was almost 1130 when we ordered the dessert. Time passes so quickly when you are having fun no??

Dessert included their house special which was flourless chocolate cake with ice cream. It melted in the mouth and was extremely extremely soft. Thank you Impromptu for a great evening. This is a place that shouldn’t be missed and I would go there again and try their buffet which runs all week.

Cost on the Pocket – Rs. 2000 for 2

Where – Vatika Towers, BLC-143, Golf Course Road, DLF Phase 5, Sector 54, Gurugram, Haryana 122002

Raising a Toast to the bravehearts -Bunker, Gurgaon

Goosebumps!! I feel it  every time I hear Jana Gana Mana playing around me.

Blood Rush!!! I feel it every time I am at the stadium watching an Indian Pakistan Match and the crowd chants out loud “Bhaarat Mata kiiii…..Jai!!!!”

Patriotism, nationalism and love for the nation are common on these occassions. The above feelings are just so natural in the above mentioned situations.

The last weekend was something new for me. The same feeling while sitting for dinner. For the first time I was visiting a place that pays homage to the brave and selfless soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces. Bunker, which is owned by a former Army official, is the place where you feel hungry and patriotic at the same time. The cafe is completely dedicated to the Indian Army.

IMG_1990

That’s how they serve French Fries 😉

IMG_1971 (1)

The Bar

IMG_1984

#Patriotism

The food and drinks are named on all things “Army” and the decor will make you feel as if you are no longer in the Millennium City. You enter a different world here when you see trivia about the forces, their weaponry, the order of precedence in all the forces and even uniform blazers hanging in the cafe.  The first signs are visible as soon as you look at the door which has a gun shaped metal handle. Enter and you have multiple TV screens sharing facts about the defense forces and showing clippings from the war zone.

IMG_1988

Pistol and Soldier Salute

As we started with our dinner, the most confusing part of a dinner turned into the most entertaining part for my partner and me. Yes, I am talking about the time when we were handed the menu cards. Everything is so uniquely named. Very innovative and entertaining for me.

To start with, we ordered drinks named Pistol and Soldier Salute. Both the drinks were innovative with different alcohols and flavors. Pistol was more strong while Soldier Salute slightly more refined as it had wine in it. We loved the quantity of the drinks. They were ‘Fully Loaded’ 🙂

IMG_1989

IMG_1994

Chicken Strips

IMG_1996

Cheese Torpedo

Next came good old French Fries which were tasty and crisp served with a red plastic gun (don’t get scared) that had the ketchup inside. Again, Quite innovative! For a moment it brought out the kid in me. I immediately wanted to pull the trigger and run around mimicking the rattling sound of a gun. Those were the days 🙂

We were ready to eat more so we ordered Cheese Torpedo, slightly spicy for us. Our favorite were the Chicken Strips because of the delicious accompaniment of the pepper sauce. It was cooked to perfection!

IMG_2006

Bunker Special Pasta

Our snacks were delicious but we were not yet “Fully Loaded” and wanted something more. Next came the Bunker Special Pasta which was spaghetti in meatballs. Tasty pasta and definitely not overcooked which usually happens when you eat outside.

If guns fascinated me as a kid, my present day fascination lies in drones. How could I miss laying hands on one at Bunker. We ordered Bunker’s signature dish which was the Drone Pizza- an octagonal shaped  pizza filled with juicy vegetables and served with a mint sauce. The pizza was so different (Take a look) and delicious (Take a bite) that the pasta felt left out for a change.This should be tried for sure!

IMG_2003

Drone Pizza

IMG_2004

Signature of Bunker

We ended our evening with a delicious dessert filled with three different flavors of ice cream and gems and jellies. The creativity in the names was on point. This was named ‘The Battle Tank’ and this one surely came towards us ‘All Guns Blazing’. Phew!!! Was I stuffed or what. Still tempted to hog, hog and hog more.

IMG_2012

IMG_1982

Overall, we loved the place and would definitely go back. It is a welcome change from the cafes and joints of Cyber Hub and Sector 29. The service is exceptional and the manager here is very welcoming and polite as is the rest of the staff. Music was on point… especially after 830!

Jai Hind!!!