North Campus is no longer what it used to be in the days of yore. No more do you have to limit your meals to college canteens. Today, it is literally flooded with a new breed of eating joints that bring interesting dishes on your plate. The food is great, the ambience is appealing and you have a plethora of cuisines to choose from without even letting it take a toll on your monthly budget. And some of these are equipped with play-stations and pool tables to help you unwind with friends, and a few even serve hookah.(The Ultimate Fresher's Guide to Delhi University: Best Student Friendly Eating Joints in North Campus)
After three years of graduating, when I revisited North Campus to meet an old friend, I was astounded at the extent to which the food scene has transformed in the locality. There were a few popular restaurants during my time as a student, but today there seemed to be a sea of new-age eateries - all young, hip, vibrant and full of spunk - exactly like the college goers that frequent them.
So without any further delay, here are some of the most happening eateries in and around North Campus. We have tried the food at each of these and recommend you do too.(In Old Delhi, Street Food with a Whiff of History)
Top Cafes and Restaurants
1) The Hudson Café
One of the most popular names around, its reputation and popularity is well justified. The interiors blend antique furniture with vibrant colours complemented by an interesting ceiling done up in mirror-work. The place is usually jam-packed with happy faces and everyone seems to love the music.
A quick chat with regular diners at the place helped us learn that the oriental meal is quite popular here. Mekhala, a second year student of Ramjas College shared that she prefers to visit the place with her friends as much as she does with her family. "Whether it is a friend's birthday party or a casual dinner with my family, Hudson is just perfect. My favourites would be their Oriental Bowls and Cherry Fizz."
We Recommend: Malted chocolate shake
2524, 1st Floor, Hudson Lane, Delhi University-GTB Nagar, New Delhi
Meal for two: Rs. 700(Delhi's New Breed of Independent Restaurants, Bars and Clubs)
2) The Vintage Avenue
As soon as I stepped inside this restaurant I was pleasantly surprised. It revealed a spacious three-storied space with multiple seating arrangements. There's a huge lounge area where you can relax with your group; if you wish to get too comfortable, you may even choose to lounge on the beds with a big bed table in the center.
The menu is pretty extensive with items ranging from Saksuka, detox shakes, risottos, frappes to kebabs, momos and much more. They even had a floor dedicated to play-stations and a pool table which was under renovation when we visited.
We Recommend: Wood-fired pizzas and momos
2516, Hudson Lane, GTB Nagar, New Delhi
Meal for two: Rs. 900(225 Year Old Legendary Sweetshop Ghantewala Shuts Down)
3) Ricos
I had to wait for a good twenty minutes before I could get myself a seat at the Rico's. Yes, it is that popular. A friend who lives in the area and is a regular here says that is a common situation here, but in the end, it is worth it. "Their pastas and pizzas are really good, and of course, you can't get out of here without giving their waffles a try," exclaimed Ritika, a final year M.com student.
Image via Zomato
The place is small yet hip. Almost everything on the menu looked appetizing and delectable. Since I love eating eggs anytime in the day, their 'All day Egg' section was extremely tempting. The restaurant calls itself a 'World Street Food Café' and lives up to the same. The menu includes soups, salads, pastas, sandwiches, quesadillas, enchiladas, shawarmas, coffee, smoothies, shakes, herbal teas and much more.
We Recommend: Rosemary infused chicken steak; Harissa grilled prawns; apple pie shake
1st Floor, 2526, Hudson Lane, Kingsway Camp, Delhi University-GTB Nagar, New Delhi
Meal for two: Rs. 1000(The Samosa Trail Across India: From Kolkata's Singara to Gujarat's Patti Samosa)
4) QD's
This is probably one of the oldest eating places in North Campus. It was earlier situated in one of the narrow gullies of Kamla Nagar and very recently opened up in GTB Nagar. They also have a branch in Satyaniketan to cater to the South Campus junta. QD's doesn't rate high on ambience or the overall vibe of the place but enjoys a loyal fan following like none other in the vicinity. The restaurant essentially serves Indianized Chinese food with a dedicated section for Indian preparations, combos and thalis.
Image via ZomatoWeRecommend: Tandoori momos
2520, 1st Floor, Hudson Lane, Kingsway Camp, Delhi University-GTB Nagar, New Delhi
Meal for two: Rs. 600(Food Trail: Our Hunt For The Best Chole Bhature in Delhi)
5) Big Yellow Door
Arguably, BYD (Big Yellow Door) was the one restaurant that initiated this wave of new and experimental eateries in the Campus area. With a bright yellow exterior and an equally vibrant interior, BYD quickly gained popularity and became an instant favourite. It is a small (even cramped, with tables too close to each other), peppy place which serves delicious café food and is known for its excellent customer service.
Image via Zomato
We Recommend: BYD cheese BOMB burger; Baked nachos, Rocky road shake
H 8 B, Near GTB Nagar Metro Station, Opposite Hudson Lane's NDPL Office, Vijay Nagar, New Delhi
Meal for two: Rs. 600(Capital's delight: Food options in Delhi)
Bakeries and Beyond
Just in case you are one of those who battles a sudden sugar craving every now and then, the Campus seems to have a quick and perfect fix for the same. Apart from the classic Sethi's bakery in Kamla Nagar, there are a couple of other bakeries that are my personal favourites and offer some seriously mouthwatering, decadent desserts.
- Mr. Crust Bakers has a live kitchen and apart from its sugar laden delights, it offers you some great sandwiches, burgers, wraps, salads, pastas and pizzas.
We Recommend: Apple Danish, Chocolate croissant, cinnamon rolls
B 29/B, Opposite Mother Dairy, Vijay Nagar, New Delhi
Meal for two: Rs. 300
Image via Zomato- For God's Cake
This small little place is dedicated to dessert lovers. As soon as you enter the eatery, their exquisite collection of sweets and desserts will not fail to tempt you. They also have a small, pretty place for you to sit, order and relish your food in peace. The dreamy setting, lit with fairy lights and its quirky décor lends to its charm. They have shakes, cakes, pancakes, waffles, burgers, sandwiches, salads, chicken satay, quesadillas, hummus and pita, and a lot more.
We Recommend: Cake jar, pudding jar, hazelnut chocolate pastry
2521 Hudson Lane, Delhi University-GTB Nagar, New Delhi
Meal for two: Rs. 500(Rocky, Mayur visit Hindu College in Delhi)
The Popular Choice
We must also mention a few eateries in GTB Nagar that are quite popular with the college going crowd. Kori's is a quaint Korean place which has a fairly limited menu consisting mostly of burgers. However, you should give their Ramen, Kimbabs and Kimchi fried rice a try. Touchdown CoffeeHouse serves spellbinding beverages - the Hazelnut cappuccino is the best I've had so far. If you want some authentic North Indian food, then Indus Flavour is where you should head to.
"My all time favourite shall always be the Crispy Chicken Wings in BBQ Sauce at Mood Swingers Café. If you go there you should ask them to serve you some crispy onion rings as well. It is not on the menu, but if you ask for it, you will get it," shared Vipul Goyal , an IIT Kanpur graduate who is currently a fellow with Teach for India.
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