I am normally prone to being quite liberal and forgiving in my views about the world at large. And that sentiment extends to restaurant food too. If a meal is below par, it could be a bad day, the chef's bad mood, or just simply, bad luck. So if you're fair, my belief is that before you give your verdict, you should go back and give it another shot. The Smoke House Deli at the DLF Promenade is a place that has an unparalleled ambience. Where else in Delhi do you have Bellagio fountains playing to music, al-fresco seating, and a giant TV screen outside? It's like a slice of Italy carved out of the center of Delhi.But when the food just doesn't match up to the ambience, there is a dilemma. And when that happens time and again, it's even worse.
To get a wurst hotdog right is not proof of a good kitchen.But to not get the sandwiches right in a Deli is unforgivable.After much back and forth with the waiter, he was finally successfully persuaded to get me a whole wheat bread that wasn't too thick. The sandwich had masses of mayonnaise dripped in lettuce that was soggy and the flavours of the balsamic chicken filling didn't come through. Forget about extras like olives, or jalapenos, they didn't even serve the mandatory mustard. No wonder the menu has a separate section called EXTRAS. They offer so little, the restaurant feels the extras will eventually become essentials!As for the steak, it was dry and chewy, even though we asked for it to be well done. There was no sauce on the menu, fair enough. But most restaurants whip one up for you if you so wish. Not this one.My next crib - I have had the Basa fish here which has an excellent texture, but the orange sauce was quite bland, and no one offered to grind fresh pepper on top.Now for what works here. Almost all the desserts are great. The tiramisu is gooely divine, the oreo shake is enough to put the kids on their best behaviour and a pastrami sandwich is rare to find in India.
While I am so very fond of the food at the original Smoke House grill at Greater Kailash, one cant help feeling that a large part of the problem with the Promenade branch is the service, and the final "coming together" of the dishes. They are not stingy with the quality of their ingredients. They have a decent breadbasket, and they even serve you flavoured water, unlike most restaurants who try and ply you with bottles of mineral water even before you open the menu. But somehow the main course seems to fall short of expectations.Throughout the winter I saw this place overflowing with people, and there is no doubt in my mind that it was the ambience that made the flocks gather. Also there is a cumulative effect that crowds have on a restaurant.; how many times have you passed a restaurant packed with people and felt tempted to try out the food. But here's my verdict. Restaurants can get only this far when it comes to the frills. Eventually the food has to speak for itself, and maybe that's why in the last month or so, I am seeing the numbers at this Deli dwindling.
To get a wurst hotdog right is not proof of a good kitchen.But to not get the sandwiches right in a Deli is unforgivable.After much back and forth with the waiter, he was finally successfully persuaded to get me a whole wheat bread that wasn't too thick. The sandwich had masses of mayonnaise dripped in lettuce that was soggy and the flavours of the balsamic chicken filling didn't come through. Forget about extras like olives, or jalapenos, they didn't even serve the mandatory mustard. No wonder the menu has a separate section called EXTRAS. They offer so little, the restaurant feels the extras will eventually become essentials!As for the steak, it was dry and chewy, even though we asked for it to be well done. There was no sauce on the menu, fair enough. But most restaurants whip one up for you if you so wish. Not this one.My next crib - I have had the Basa fish here which has an excellent texture, but the orange sauce was quite bland, and no one offered to grind fresh pepper on top.Now for what works here. Almost all the desserts are great. The tiramisu is gooely divine, the oreo shake is enough to put the kids on their best behaviour and a pastrami sandwich is rare to find in India.
While I am so very fond of the food at the original Smoke House grill at Greater Kailash, one cant help feeling that a large part of the problem with the Promenade branch is the service, and the final "coming together" of the dishes. They are not stingy with the quality of their ingredients. They have a decent breadbasket, and they even serve you flavoured water, unlike most restaurants who try and ply you with bottles of mineral water even before you open the menu. But somehow the main course seems to fall short of expectations.Throughout the winter I saw this place overflowing with people, and there is no doubt in my mind that it was the ambience that made the flocks gather. Also there is a cumulative effect that crowds have on a restaurant.; how many times have you passed a restaurant packed with people and felt tempted to try out the food. But here's my verdict. Restaurants can get only this far when it comes to the frills. Eventually the food has to speak for itself, and maybe that's why in the last month or so, I am seeing the numbers at this Deli dwindling.
Advertisement