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PIZZA EXPRESS – 50 YEARS CELEBRATION

PIZZA EXPRESS – 50 YEARS CELEBRATION

By Ritika Dhawan

Pizza Express hosted a blogger’s night, to celebrate its 50th anniversary and the launch of its new menu, at its recently opened outlet at Ambience Mall, Gurgaon. Established in 1965 in London, by founder Peter Boizot for the love of real Italian pizza, Pizza Express has mapped its journey with over 500 restaurants in 14 countries across the globe. Every outlet is uniquely designed, with its inspiration drawn from the location of the outlet.

A warm welcome and an assorted non vegetarian platter marked the start of the evening. Antipasto Pollo e Gamberro – an assortment with pesto marinated chicken, prawns on skewers, roasted tomatoes, fresh buffalo mozzarella served with basil pesto, pesto rosso and dough sticks baked with emilgrana (a dehydrated hard cheese). Each item on this platter complimented each other, as explained by the chef the buffalo mozzarella cleanses the palate so as to ensure that we can enjoy the individual flavours of each assortment. Also we were served a drink which was a blend of watermelon, mint and lemon- it was as refreshing as it sounds.

Picture1Next was the star of the night – The Pizza !! The chef prepared their signature pizza from scratch; he explained to us every minute detail and walked us through the process of creating this Italian wonder. The importance of evenly stretching the dough, not overloading the pizza with the toppings so as to let the flavour of the base stand out, every tip and trick was shared. The fun was tripled when we got a chance to create our own pizza under the supervision of the chef.

 A thin and crispy Romana base, layered with their signature tomato passata sauce which is imported from Italy, topped with fresh basil, buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, flavoured with salt and black pepper and finally drizzled with olive oil was the highlight of the evening. The pizza was not at all heavy, the base maintained its crunch and one could have countless slices of it- a must try.

For a perfect end to a meal, a baked vanilla cheesecake served with your choice of gelato, cream or mascarpone(a soft cheese) delighted the senses.

A place that promises quality and will surely continue to maintain its legacy; if pizzas define Italian food for you, head to Pizza Express now and indulge!

 

 

 

 

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Dilli 6 Festival at Level-2 Radisson Blu

Dilli 6 Festival at Level-2 Radisson Blu, Paschim Vihar

By Anubhav Sapra

Being a strong street food freak, I try not to miss any festival that celebrates the Delhi’s rich street food culture. To me, it seems that Dilli 6 is the epitome of street food of Delhi and has also inspired chefs to reinvent the street delicacies to be served in the restaurants.

DSC_0063Level-2 Radisson Blu is hosting a street food festival till 30th August. The lunch buffet is priced at Rs 999 + taxes and Dinner buffet at Rs 1299 + taxes. On offer are the famous street delicacies of Dilli 6- Golgappe,  chaat, Dahi Bhalla , Gol Gappe, Kanji Vada, Bhel Poori, Moonglet, Lassi Kulfi, Chai, Allo Tikki, Panathe, Tawa Chicken,Lassi Kulfi, Moong Daal Ka Halwa, Pineapple Halwa and many more.

The ambience is nicely done with live counters of the dishes. Cutting chai counter, however, is worth mentioning – there was a thela (pushcart) with a tea-vendor making tea. There were also the jars of in-house made fen, rusks, and matthi.

The day I visited, I tried almost all the dishes that were there on the Street Food Menu. The highlight of the visit was Aloo Matar tikki (Potato and green peas patty), Rajbhog and Cutting Chai with fen. The aloo matar tikki was crisp and garnished with yoghurt and spicy coriander mint chutney and sweet saunth chutney. I liked it so much that I couldn’t stop asking for another helping; without any sauce-just the tikki. It was simply delicious. Rajbhog consisted of soft bhallas with raisins, cashews and pepper blended with yoghurt, saunth and green chutney. In the main course, I tried the only non vegetarian dish available in the menu- Tawa Chicken and parantha, which was fairly good.

The only missing link was the lack of options for non-vegetarians. I found the kebabs, kormas and biryani which forms the intrinsic part of Dilli-6 missing. However, one can enjoy the regular non-vegetarian dishes available in the buffet at Level-2.

I ended my Dilli 6 journey with pineapple halwa and two cups of masala chai with crisp and layered fen.

 

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Onam Sadhya in Delhi

DELHI’S TAKE ON ONAM SADHYA

By Ritika Dhawan

Its this time of the year again, when festivities, colours, feasts and culture take over Delhi.  Every festival irrespective of the religion associated with it, is celebrated with enthusiasm and fanfare. It becomes difficult to define the culture of Delhi.

1240037_531653683585184_678686928_nJust around the corner is Onam, a Hindu festival celebrated in Kerala, India. On 28th August, Friday, not only Kerala but also Delhi will immerse in the beauty of the cultural elements of Onam. An indispensible part of this ten day long festival is the OnamSadhya ;sadhya means feast. A banquet of pure vegetarian dishes served on a banana leaf which is folded and closed once the meal is finished. Closing the leaf towards one self signifies complete satisfaction with the food. The usual items served in this wholesome and hearty meal areand yogurt Rice,Banana and Jaggery Chips, Sambar-a thick gravy made of lentils flavoured with traditional mild spices and tamarind, Aviyal-a thick mixture of various vegetables, and coconut seasoned with coconut oil and curry leaves, Olan-a preparation of pumpkin, coconut milk, and ginger seasoned with coconut oil, Kaalan- yam flavoured with coconut and yogurt and traditional condiments like Achaar-pickle, Puliyinchi-a paste made of ginger, tamarind, green chilies, and jaggery, followed by Pappadam- lentil flour crisps and desserts like Prathaman and Payasams.

If you are wondering where you can steal a taste of this lavish yet traditional feast, here is a list of places in Delhi that are serving authentic OnamSadhya.

28th August 2015

  • The Toddy Shop at My Square, Select Citywalk, Saket, New Delhi (12pm to 4pm)
  • Kerala House, 3, JantarMantar Road, New Delhi (on 27th, 28th and 30th)
  • Kerala Express, Lower Ground Floor, Epicuria Mall, Nehru Place, New Delhi (12:30pm onwards)

29th August 2015

  • Mahabelly, MA A-05, Restaurant Block, DLF Place Mall, Saket, New Delhi, India

DIG IN!!

 

 

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Chaayos

     

                                                                  CHAAYOS

           By Ritika Dhawan

With all the quirkiness surrounding Hauz Khas Village, there is a new member in the neighbourhood – CHAAYOS. It has just been a month and  people are already loving this place which promises to serve a good cup of tea every time you walk in .

   As you start walking into the colourful lane of Hauz Khas Village, on your left a bright big green door catches your attention and the minute you walk in, a characteristic aroma of freshly brewed tea will greet you. Sack cloth covered seating , big windows, ‘for the love of chai’ posters gracing the walls and lampshades made out of traditional chai glasses add up to the great ambience.

Picture1As you start going through the menu, you are spoilt for choice as they have a variety of teas- speciality teas, classic teas and the best one ‘meri walli chai’, which gives you the option to customize your tea according to your taste. There are 12 add ons for the ‘meri walli chai’ alone. Classic teas include the green tea, English breakfast tea , Darjeeling first flush and many more. The speciality teas range is something to look out for, with flavours such as Moroccan mint and aam papad chai, they truly stick up to their motto ‘Experiments with Chai’.

The people behind this creative venture are  Nitin Saluja and Raghav Verma, two IIT graduates who wanted to preserve and flourish the heritage of chai addas. Be it tulsi chai, paani kam chai, adrak wali chai or even a hari mirch chai, they make sure that everyone can sip a perfect cup of tea in a cosy environment. With their increasing popularity, they are set to open many more outlets in the coming months. Talking about their favourite cup of tea, marketing and business development head Raghav Verma loves his hari mirch(green chilli) chai. These ever smiling faces of the owners show how proud they are of their creation.

Picture1If chai is not enough for you, they have a variety of delectable sandwiches available for you to binge on. A highly recommended item on their menu is the Chocolate Bun. A crisp, toasted bun layered with chocolate hazelnut spread will make you drool and leave you asking for more. Their hari mirch chai is worth trying, when you take a sip the flavours of adrak, cinnamon and elaichi take over your senses but suddenly you get this kick of green chilli which makes this chai a master creation. We recommend that with every visit of yours to Chaayos, try every combination on their menu and be experimental with this favourite beverage amaongst Indians.

Looking for a place with a cosy environment, to sit and chat with your friends over rounds and rounds of chai – Chaayos is a pit stop.

 

                                             

 

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HARD ROCK CAFE

FIESTA – A LATIN EXTRAVAGANZA @ HARD ROCK CAFÉ

By Ritika Dhawan

Hard Rock Café is all set to rock your senses with a month long Latin Fiesta, a perfect menu of tequila cocktails and lip smacking Latin American food which will be served from 7th August to 6th September.  This place has its reputation and never fails to surprise the foodies. Every item on this Latino menu is amazing.

Picture1I started with a semi frozen cocktail, which was a fusion of tequila and kiwi pulp, as unique as the combination sounds, it tasted even better. Kiwi was smoothly infused and gave a sweet taste to it and the tequila gave it a kick. Very refreshing and not too strong, one can have rounds of this cocktail. Next in line was a lime, cranberry, orange , white wine and tequila cocktail, this was a bit tangy , very smooth and beautifully presented in a salt rimmed beer jar. The best things should be saved for last; truly living up to this quote was the Mexican Ice Cold Bulldog Margarita- beer slowly flowing into a frozen margarita ; a cocktail crafted to simply blow your senses.

Turning the pages of the menu and now ready to binge on Latin American food, I started with some Char Grilled Chicken Skewers, they were mildly spiced and a little tangy in taste which perfectly complimented to the flavours of the honey mustard dip which was neither too sweet nor too pungent as the use of honey was perfectly balanced with the mustard. For vegans they had Brazilian Barbeque Veg Grill Skewers served over chimichurri spiced fajita i.e. a mix of herbs and spices combined with oil and vinegar which is used as a sauce for grilled meats and vegetables. For all the veggie friendly foodies this is a must have.

Picture1Tijuana Chicken Sub Role – a hearty dish that is bound to satisfy all cravings; is a char grilled smoke chicken frankfurter, topped with cilantro, chillies, salsa and laced with cheddar cheese sauce will leave you drooling and asking for more. If this was not enough to satisfy your taste buds; they serve it with some cajun spiced fries – could it get any better? Keep the calorie count aside and just dig in!! A burst of flavours with every bite guaranteed.

The last dish and the star of the night were fresh and perfectly cooked orange tequila prawns. Served in a crisp taco shell, topped with a tangy, spicy orange reduction it gets the taste buds tickling. As you bite into the prawns, the reduction squirts out and hijacks the senses. After devouring the prawns, shamelessly start munching on the taco shell and the leftover orange reduction- heaven on a plate!

I highly recommend every foodie to visit the Hard Rock Café for a taste of the Fiesta as a lot of effort has gone in bringing such authentic flavours to your table.  So leave everything, enjoy the Latin spin , spread and scream ole!

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Best Parsi Food in Delhi

Parsi food in Delhi

By Anubhav Sapra

There are only few places in Delhi where one can experience the delectable Parsi Cuisine. However, I believe Mrs. Bagli’s kitchen (at Parsi Dharmashala) to be the one serving authentic Parsi dishes. Mrs. Bagli and her family has been managing the dharamshala since 1950. Her son is the priest of the Parsi temple and her daughter-in-law takes care of the kitchen.

11870891_915747641842451_2974723570395677039_nDelhi Food Walks feels blessed to be celebrating Navroz (for the last 3 years) at Bagli’s Kitchen. And every year, we have witnessed slight modifications in the menu to include some of the new dishes. The menu for this year was Parsi pulao, Dhansak (slow cooked dal), Keema patties (mashed potatoes with minced meat filling), Chicken Farcha (an equivalent of KFC fried chicken, I call it PFC- Parsi Crispy Fried Chicken), Patra fish (fish  coated with a coconut chutney, wrapped in banana leaf and later steamed), Jardaloo boti (lamb cooked with apricots), Kachumbar (salad), lagan-nu-custard (thick mixture of milk and sugar, baked with egg and garnished with chironji and kismish) and Parsi kulfi.

The food is excellent here. What is more fascinating is the warmth and affection with which Mrs Bagli serves the food. You can locate Mrs Bagli’s Kitchen on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, opposite to the Ambedkar Stadium Petrol Station.

The food served at Bagli’s kitchen has to be ordered beforehand. You may place  your order by calling on this number 011-23238615

Navroz Mubarak from Delhi Food Walks!

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Shri Banke Bihari Brijwasi Rasgulle wala

Shri Banke Bihari Brijwasi Rasgulle wala
Find it here: D-128, Kamla Nagar
Ring it here: 011-23842116

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With a menu ranging from snack bites to a full-course meal- this is a heaven for travellers wishing to try outlandish traditional cuisines in their authentic temperament.

The shop traces its origin to the decade of independence, around the year 1957. Rajiv Brijwasi, one of the three brothers in the third generation of owners, proudly proclaims, “Vrindavan’s authentic taste cannot be found anywhere else, our ingredients are all pure and original.”

It is fascinating how this now-famous shop was initially operated out of a shack at the corner of the street for six years by his grandfather Shri Lala Ram Prasad. Then it graduated to a shop where the magic of cooking took place when his father, late Shri Lala Shyam Lal was incharge, eventually establishing itself at its current location. To the people here, the shop has been here forever- and they keep visiting it time and again.

What sets this place apart is the fact that the recipes have stayed true to tradition, and none of the delicacies use onion or garlic, two household ingredients, in their preparation. They end up tasting better than they could ever have tasted with onion. This could partly be because of their other USP i.e. the use of only and only pure desi ghee in cooking.

A tasty Indian meal is said to have a balance of six flavors: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, spicy and astringent. And this place harbours the accurate balance in its decades-old walls.

For breakfast, they prepare Puri Bedmi and Kachori that make up for two of the most irresistible and filling breakfasts. For lunch, we recommend having a thali consisting of Paneer, Dal, Raita and 2 paranthas.

A very quirky and interesting fact to note is that the best known food that they sell are desserts (they practically owe their fame and name, literally, to sweets), and while Rasgulla has been a specialty for as long as its existence, the enticingly creamy Rasmalai, Raj Bhog and Gulab Jamun have been relatively recent additions. These desserts reek of authenticity and you cannot help but savor them through and through.

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Verdict: Visit this place as much for their spongy Rasgulla as for the unalloyed, divine experience of Vrindavan in Delhi.

Must Try: While all the items are such glorious relics of authentic street food, you have to try the desserts, especially Rasgulla and Rasmalai.

 

A collaborative Project of Delhi Food Walks and Spoon University on Delhi Street Food Series that brings you the best of both worlds- expertise and love for food.

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CARLS JR

CARLS JR IN INDIA

By Prakriti Bhat

The burger lords seem to be in a good mood! This is quite evident from the opening of major burger chains like Fatburger, Burger King, Johnny Rockets and Wendy’s in Delhi over the past few years. And another blessing has been the recent launch of popular burger brand, Carls Jr in the capital. Known for their lip smacking char-grilled burgers, they are here to wow you with their enormous burgers. Their first outlet in India was opened on 8th August, 2015 at Select Citywalk Mall, Saket.

20150807_152520A blogger’s meet was held on 7th August, 2015 as they introduced us to the brand and its delicacies. It is located right next to Khan Chacha. The outlet is done up in hues of red and white. The ceiling has a big metallic star symbolizing the brand logo, from which hanging lamps illuminate the place. It’s quite spacious and the staff is affable. Every staff member was wearing a Carls Jr T-shirt with witty one liners. With beer on tap and free cold drink refills, it is definitely going to be a crowd puller. Carls Jr seems to have put a lot of thought into the designing of their menu since they have tailored it to suit the Indian palate.

20150807_161033To begin with, India is the only country where Carls Jr offers vegetarian burgers. So the vegetarians need not worry. The Paneer Tikka Burger is simply awesome. A Slice of cottage cheese is excellently marinated and grilled till scorch marks are visible. Unlike a few other burger brands which use spreads very sparingly, the sauces and spreads in the burgers here are quite liberal and appetizing. Their signature dish, Mango Jalapeno Burger has a piquant flavor and seems to be an ode to our ever growing love for mangoes. Because “aam ka season kabhi nahi jata!”

For the non vegetarians there is a plethora of dishes to choose from. I tried their Tandoori Pepper Chicken Tikka Burger. With a delectably seasoned char-grilled chicken fillet served in a multigrain bun, this burger is quite filling. You won’t need any ketchup with this since the spreads and sauces already have the required zing. Another of their signature dishes is the hand breaded tender chicken. Though they were quite succulent, I would still prefer KFC’s hot and crispy chicken over this. The Mile High Chicken Burger stays true to its name as it comes fully loaded with onion rings and chicken fillet. This is one flavorsome adventure you do not want to miss!

In other countries like the U.S., Carls Jr is quite popular for its hand scooped shakes, mini beef burgers called sliders and bacon cheeseburgers. While beef items are not included in the Indian menu, they do have hand scooped shakes. A lover of Tiramisu, I decided to try their Tiramisu Shake. This was the only low point in my meal. It tasted more like a Vanilla shake and the flavour of Tiramisu was very fleeting. For me, a burger-licious experience is incomplete without fries. Carls Jr presents a unique blend of American fast food and Chinese cuisine by introducing Wasabi Fries. Your regular fries are accompanied by a wasabi flavoured masala (tastemaker). It tastes exactly like Wasabi, sans the pungency; a very innovative idea. Mr. Sahil Baweja, Director of Cybiz Bright Star Restaurants explained, “We realize the need for spices in India and that prodded us to introduce Wasabi Fries. Yes, we Indians love spices, but it need not always be chillies.” The brand also serves hand breaded onion rings. They, further, plan to open 100 stores across India.

Burger chains seem to be mushrooming all over the country. This is owing to the fact that burgers are a part of finger foods which are easy to consume. You can have a burger easily while driving or rushing for a meeting. The same can’t be done with a slice of pizza or a noodle box. Moreover, burgers are hassle free; they don’t spill and are wholesome.

The burger war has begun and Carls Jr is the latest entrant. Only time can tell how it will fare!

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Ashwini ji ke Peepey wale Chole Kulche

Ashwini ji ke Peepey wale Chole Kulche

By Anubhav Sapra

IMG_20150730_141726I remember, once while reading the newspaper I came across this article which said that there are almost 250 cafes and restaurants in Connaught Place. Many come and shut down after some time and the shutters remain unnoticed. In midst of that, there are a few street food joints selling amazing dishes uninterruptedly for many years. One of them is Ashwini’s chole kulche (Mob. 9953085746) at the corner of MCD’s Anti Malaria office. The location might not sound attractive but his chole indeed is worth relishing.

It was Ashwini’s father, Late Prakash Sharma who set up this shop in CP. Ashwini ji used to accompany his father every day and assist him. In 1988, while he was pursuing the graduate program from Delhi University, his father passed away and he took over the shop to make both ends meet .From 1988 to 2007, the Committee staff was against him for running this shop. However, he filed a case in court and eventually got the permission to operate his shop.

IMG_20150730_135357Interestingly, the chole is cooked in Lahori style, without oil. The chane is boiled in ghee ka kanaster and then homemade spices are mixed into it. It is famously known as Peepee wale (cans of ghee)chole as the chole is boiled for almost 5 hours  in empty ghee cans on slow wood fire. The can is changed every 15 days as “the quality of the cans is not up to the mark as it used to be” remarks Ashwini ji.

The shop is open from 12 noon to 4 pm. Ashwini ji pedals his cycle for two hours in the morning with a big aluminium can filled with hot Chole from Wazirabad and reaches the spot at 12 noon. A plate of chole with three kulcha’s costs Rs 20/-. You can ask for bhaturas as well.

The chole is mixed with brown pudina ka paani(thick mint water). The mint leaves are sourced from Chintapurni, hometown of Ashwini ji in Himachal Pradesh. They are dried and grounded to powder form so as to later add it in the chole. Finally, the chole is garnished with onion and lemon juice.

The concoction of all these makes the chole a bit spicy, but that’s how the locals like it. The gravy was just perfect to be mopped up with fluffy kulchas. I liked the lahori style chole with thick gravy and a punch of mint water. I relished it to the core!

What intrigued me the most at his shop was that people from different sections of society ranging from homeless citizens and shoe polishers to office guards to college students and office goers, all relishing chole kulche, at one place. It seemed to be a perfect example of the equal world which we all wish to see.

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For God’s Cake

FOR GOD’S CAKE

By Prakriti Bhat

The ever bustling Hudson Lane has a lot of options to satisfy your rumbling tummy. But one just can’t ignore the occasional sweet cravings. Till now Cent Percent was the only bakery in the area, and a good one too. The newest bakery in vicinity is For God’s Cake helmed by Divine Spaces, the creators of Wood Box Café and The Vintage Avenue. Opened in June 2015, it’s only a month old but is quickly gaining popularity among the college crowd due to its eclectic décor and cost effective menu.

For God’s Cake is not just a patisserie but also a café; as is written on the signboard. It’s a ‘bakery café’ and thus also serves pastas, sandwiches, shakes and pizzas. The best part about this bakery is that they don’t have a fixed carte du jour. They keep making additions to the food and bakery menu. Following the wooden interiors of Wood Box Café and floral décor of The Vintage Avenue, the makers have made indulgent use of wood here too. The picturesque interiors are a blend of both these places and scores high on concept. Miniature buckets hold napkins and straws. There’s a tiny windmill attached to the wall. Lilliputian bird cages are hung from the lampshades while elfin flower vases are decorated within wooden French windows joined to the wall. The tables and ceiling are covered with beautiful calligraphy and sketches.

20150716_143202I was invited for a luncheon by co-owner Manika Jagdish Pahwa. The place is divided into two sections. One is the bakery section while the other has seating arrangement. The menu has myriads of options extending from sandwiches to pizzas. The Belgian delicacy, Waffles are available in different combinations. One can choose to have it with whipped cream or Nutella. Pancakes are beautifully served with maple syrup and a variety of other sides, instantly transporting you to the colonnades of Rome, where they were first made. We ordered a Chick-o-nara Pizza, Snicker Bar Shake and High Protein Veggie Burger. The Snicker Bar shake was delicious and you can actually feel tiny bits of chocolate in your mouth. It was served in a recycled Jam jar. The pattern made by chocolate syrup was visually appealing, as always.

The pizzas served here are oval shaped which is a very innovative idea. I am a big fan of sausages and salami and the Chick-o-nara pizza satisfied my longing for both. It reminded me of the Chicken Tikka Naanza served at Eatopia, India Habitat Center (which is a bit spicier). Addition of a bit more spices to this pizza would make it even yummier for spice lovers like me. For all health freaks out there, you too can have your share of fun with their high protein burgers. Choose from their veg or non-veg versions that are sure to whet your appetite while keeping a check on your calories. The veg one has a savoury patty made from sprouts served in a multigrain bun. The dishes were presented in wooden trays.

20150717_192415You can’t come to a bakery and leave without trying the sweet dishes! For dessert I tried a Red velvet cupcake, a slice of Rainbow cake, Hazelnut cake and Caramel cake each. The cupcake was absolutely fantastic. It wasn’t too creamy or too dry and had a slight tang of walnut. It looked adorable in a pink wrapper. The Rainbow cake enticed me with its multi-coloured layers promising a burst of flavor and it surely did that. The Caramel Cake had a glazed surface and was sweeter than the Hazelnut cake which had a criss-cross design on its surface. Another dessert that looked very vibrant and alluring but was too much for my already full tummy was their Cake jar in a variety of flavours.

Still new in the bakery business, they are slowly learning the ropes of the trade. Visit their outlet and fulfill your sinful craving!

Address- 2521, Hudson Lane, GTB Nagar

Contact No.- 01133016122

Cost for two- Rs. 500