Satisfying experience in Old Delhi !

Rating – 4/5

This is one of those places serving traditional Mughlai preparations that have stood the test of time unlike their much famed and fancied neighbors who have seriously lost it big time.

This is not a place that has got anything to do with ambience or the service one usually associates with a fine dining restaurant. So it’s better not to have those expectations in the first place, however you’re guaranteed a place to sit and may have to wait at most for 10-15 minutes even during peak hours unlike Kareem where the waiting time can be excruciatingly painful.

Coming to the part where they score the most is their food 🙂

Items that you just cannot miss are their moist and succulent seekh kebabs.

Chicken Jehangir and Chicken changezi, their mutton korma with rich gravy and sheermal is a deadly combination and is literally to die for, oh well I am craving for it as I write about it around 1600 km away from Delhi ) :

Mutton achari Biryani is a different take on my favourite dish and it was fairly alright however as far as Biryanis are concerned it’s nothing outstanding to say the least.

Don’t miss this for some of the most tender and heavenly kebabs that you would ever have and some of the finest gravies in town.

Took one rating out for the ambience or the lack thereof and the chaotic scenes in terms of crowd and the overall location of the place but just for the food it’s an awesome experience ?

Not so good anymore !

Rating – 3/5

The surroundings are chaotic near Jama Masjid in Old Delhi and the first milestone is to reach this place safe and sound, can be very troublesome during Summer due to the heat and crowd. Anyway it’s not the Restaurant’s problem though as the thirsty have to come near the well and not the other way round and I am ever so thirsty for a well cooked and spicy Biryani 😉
The first time I went there was in 2005 and the place absolutely rocked with amazing Mutton Biryani. It was so good that I packed it and traveled with it 200 Kms back home to Agra to ensure that folks at my Home could savor the taste as well !
However over the years this place has slowly lost to the hype created about it’s ancient history and people serving at this joint are irritated most of the times and it seems they are doing a real favor if they’re serving you i.e. if you manage to get seated during peak hours.
Their Mutton Biryani unfortunately has lost it’s spices (really literally), now it’s a mess of totally bland rice with very mildly spiced pieces of mutton here and there.
Things from which one can still find some satisfaction are the Seekh Kababs – almost melts in your mouth, Burra Kabab – very juicy and spiced in a subtle manner, Mutton Korma and Nalli Nihari. It’s because of these few delicacies I can still sometimes make it to this place whenever I am in the Food Capital. However one word of advise, if you want to taste Karim’s have it here instead of visiting those useless franchises, this place is still good but of-course on the Biryani front I am completely heart-broken to say the least and I don’t order it anymore ):