An Aura Of Great Food At Auro...

Auro Kitchen & Bar is one of the popular restaurants located centrally to, as its name suggests, Aurobindo Place, Hauz Khas. I had heard quite a few compliments about them from my colleagues and decided to pay them a visit for lunch a few days back.

Auro is quite prominent to spot in the DDA Shopping Complex. They have a nice way of building the appetite for patrons who wish to dine here, as they make them climb the two-floor-long flight of stairs that end at the rooftop restaurant that Auro is.

The outlet is spread over a relatively large area that bifurcates into indoor and outdoor spaces, and it also supports musical gigs over the weekend too. Intentionally or not, the outdoor space marks itself as a smoker's zone.

Here's listing some of the must-try dishes at Auro...

Beverages:

Flower Power had a hint of chamomile, honey, and lime.

Orange Thyme, as the name suggests, was an orange-based mocktail with a thyme garnish.

Yuzu Limeade was prepared using Yuzu which is a Japanese lime.

Jungle Juice was a concoction of orange, pineapple, and lime.

Salad:

Mint and Pomegranate Quinoa Salad had a refreshing lime flavor with an appreciable garnish of fresh mint. Quinoa being the healthy grain, is in vogue, and this one is a nice bet at Auro.

Appetizers: 

Paneer 65 Slider came in a portion size of two sliders served alongside crisp potato wedges. The cottage cheese had been prepared nicely with a mildly spicy touch.

Char Grilled Baby Potatoes were served with a layer of melted cheese on top, a garnish of micro greens, and rocket leaves on the side.

The Mushroom Ranikhet is Auro's signature half 'n' half Pizza.

Truffle Kulcha and Wild Mushroom Seekh was soft and melt-in-mouth.

Main Course: 

Lentil and Vegetable Curry was paired with Lemon Rice, Malabar Prantha, and Appam on the side.

Masala Cottage Cheese went well with Milk Prantha, which was softer than regular preparations.

Desserts: 

Chargrilled Gulab Jamun with Rose Mascarpone was served on a bed of crisp vermicelli, which made it seem like a brown haystack at first, but it was nicely done.

Old Monk Chocolate Fondue had sliced kiwis, bananas, and apples, and some marshmallows to go along.

On the whole, Auro sports a chilled-out vibe and comes across as a hangout place fit to visit with friends or colleagues on a weekend over a delicious spread.  

Cibo Buono At 28 Capri Italy...

What if I told you that a culinary sojourn to Italy was possible in the heart of Delhi? That too, to a place boasting of a solid foundation of a decade and more?

I am referring to 28 Capri Italy situated in Defence Colony, which once used to be Little Italy. I had a chance to try the authentic Italian fare offered by them recently. I found its brand name similar to 38 Barracks, where the number hints to the location of the outlet.

The outlet is spread over a spacious two floors - second and third - former moderately lit while the latter has natural lighting and a well-designed balcony with provision for outdoor seating as well, with cages retaining fairy lights.

The Menu has a touch of Italy too, and why not, it being a restaurant that caters solely to Italian Cuisine, though going beyond just Pizza and Pasta. Each dish is also explained in a verbose two-liner for patrons to garner what they should expect when the dish arrives at the table. 

Here's what would be some of the must-try dishes from an extensive variety elucidated in the Menu. 

Soups: 

Minestrone is a classic with veggies and pasta going into its making and was done just right.

Zuppa Di Pomodoro Basil, which translates to the classic tomato and basil broth, was served alongside a portion of garlic bread.

Meat Ball Soup had a creamy texture and herbs to complement the meat balls.

Appetizers: 

Chicken Involtini was a Chef's Special with a cheese stuffed chicken skewered, garnished with bell peppers and served alongside French Fries.

Prawn Chraime was tangy and a bit spiced served with a portion of Cous Cous salad and fries.

Fungi Trifolati had sliced and sauteed button mushrooms served with Creme Di Fungi broth.

Pizza: 

Half 'n' Half Pizza was the best of both worlds with Go Crazy Crazy (V) and Seafood (NV). It was prepared well and had ample, flavorful toppings.

Risotto: 

Broccoli and Spinach Risotto was creamy and garnished with sliced baby tomatoes.

Main Course: 

Cottage Cheese Medallions were grilled nicely and topped with an in-house tomato sauce garnished with olives and served with garlic bread.

Grilled Panko Crusted Pesce was prepared well, and had a Mushroom Risotto and lemon herb sauce on the side. Quite a burst of flavors there.

Desserts: 

Tiramisu is the classic Italian 'Dolci' though the rum was a bit overpowering in its preparation.

Creme Caramel was the perfect conclusion as a stellar custard. This one can be praised with eyes closed.

On the whole, 28 Capri Italy comes across as a nice option to relish some fantastic Italian delicacies with family or friends. :)

Chugging It With Good Food!

Chug It is located on Club Road, Punjabi Bagh and is a quaint place packing a big punch. The party never dies down here, and why should it given the most exceptional presentation and taste of food accompanied by impeccable hospitality?

My visit to Chug It came about as a consequence of a review opportunity. And I must say it is an unexplored gem in the heart of West Delhi. With #LoveToChug, my evening was made.

Quirky wall decor, minimalist lighting, social-media savvy ambiance reflected by their FB Wall and the first restaurant that I have seen being NFC enabled in India. Commendable fine details being taken care of. :)

Chug It is a term used in correlation with drinks and having them bottoms-up. Even though the name of the place leads one to believe that it is a whole and sole Bar/Drinks/Hukkah place, it is not so.

Being a teetotaler, I refrain from intoxicating beverages but other than such items, I can say for sure that Chug It knows their food and beverage game better than some of the other well-known, hyped places in the food circuit.

Even though the outlet is spread across just one floor with provisions for indoor and outdoor seating, with a pepped up DJ and Bar to rock those Friday Night Outs, this place is exceptional with its hospitality, preparation, presentation and taste of food.

Not one shortcoming could I find, to point out to the sole owner of the place, Ankit, when he asked us about our experience and feedback post our meal.

Went on a Thursday evening. No fuss, one or two other tables occupied when we arrived.

Begun with their mocktails, Kiwi Delight and Chug It Punch, which stood out in their distinct flavors.

For appetizers:

*Mayo Polo - Fried Chicken Strips cooked to perfection.

*Peshawari Chicken - Boneless Chicken Tikkas char-grilled to perfection.

*Peri-Peri Skewers - Chicken skewered and sauced.

*Bhatti Ka Murgh and *Bhatti Ka Paneer - Unique preparation with the distinct flavorful mustard which was pleasant.

*Mozzarella Biscuit - Melted pull-apart mozzarella cheese fried in a triangle.

*Dahi Ke Kebab and *Mushroom Ki Galouti - The Must-Must-Have Preparations at Chug It. Melt-in-mouth and just too good to be true with the creamy texture of the Dahi and mushroom bits in the perfect Galouti! :)

All the appetizers were accompanied by well-suited dips and salad portion plated alongside.

Also tried their shakes, Stairway To Heaven and Chug It Cold Coffee. Both were thick and had the right consistency.

For Mains, we proceeded with the following:

Half 'n' Half Pizza - Mad Veg and BBQ Chicken, unique combo and flavorful halves, each complementing the other.

Chicken Penne Arabiatta Pasta, served with Garlic Bread.

Veg Nachos, with an overload of melted cheese layered on it.

Amritsari Fish and Chips - Fusion dish, with Indian Fish Tikka and American Fries.

Wrapped up the flavorful meal with Walnut Brownie and Ice cream, generously topped with chocolate sauce.

Looking forward to a second visit at the soonest, because I had a wonderful time at Chug It and would like to congratulate the entire Team for keeping up their spirits and chugging it with their dedication! :)