Restaurant Review: Amreli, Hotel Diplomat, Delhi

In the leafy environs of Lutyens Delhi lies a culinary gem called Amreli in Hotel Diplomat. The Hotel itself is so understated that it is easy to miss but once inside it is a as cosy a place as there can be in Delhi. The menu has been created by Chef Saby (Sabyasachi Gorai) and is quite eclectic. Continental and American food sits side by side with a great Indian menu so that you keep coming back to Amreli even if you have a craving for different cuisines.

We began our mean with a caesar salad along with mutton seekh kebabs and sizzling gambas. The sizzling sambas or prawns were sizzling alright – in the juices of wonderful cherry tomatoes, garlic, olives, mushrooms and rosemary (among other herbs). Needless to say they were smashing. The prawns were cooked perfectly and were coated enough in those heavenly juices to provide a taste contrast.

The Diplomat Caesar salad was amped up with peppers and zucchini and the seekh kebab was great as well.

For mains we ordered crispy filo raan, chettinad chicken with malabar paratha and a Louisiana chicken sandwich.

The chettinad chicken was highly recommended and it was my favourite dish of the day. The chettinad here has become my favourite chettinad chicken in the city. This version is more refined than the punchy Chettinad chicken you get at other restaurants but the balance of flavours and the liberal use of coconut won me over. The wonderful tang in the sauce lingers on you r taste buds for very long and its a very pleasant taste indeed.

The filo raan is a meat eaters delight, although I found the filo quite oily. Maybe a thicker wrap could have absorbed more oil and made it taste better, but that is a personal choice.

The Louisiana chicken sandwich was quite tasty and the spicy chips made the sandwich quite special.

The desserts were classic desserts – baked cheesecake, chocolate fondant and creme brûlée. The creme burlee was the best dessert by a distance. It had perfectly hard caramel on top that crackled and the custard was as it should be – creamy, smooth and luscious.

The fondant was made well but it was slightly let down because of the chocolate used, as it left a slight aftertaste.

The baked cheesecake was quite decent too.

In summation , I loved my time at Amreli. I came with my friends for a quick meal but it turned into a leisurely lunch as we sat and chatted away as time went by. A charming restaurant with great food often does that to you.