FINE DINING IN NEWDELHI

Eating out has always been a passion with most of us. But in recent years, it has turned into a revolution - an overpowering collective passion. The urban Indian is eating out more than ever before. After all, isn't variety the spice of life? The emergence of a new class of willing-to-experiment food lovers is now official.

A countrywide food survey conducted by McCann Erickson in 2000-2001 as also the more recent Outlook survey reveals that the cosmopolitan Indian is now eager to explore new tastes and absorb global trends and is no longer limited by geographical or cultural boundaries in his gastronomical search for excellence. India can boast of several thousand multi-cuisine eateries that dot our cities. You can have Italian, Thai, Chinese, Arabian, Mexican, Cajun and French food for the asking, to name just a few, apart from the regular North Indian, South Indian and other regional cuisines. Statistics show thatover 80,000 pizzas are consumed every weekend in the major metros.There are more than 22,000 registered restaurants in India today worth a whopping Rs30,000 crore! And dozens more are launched everyday. But this is not all - there are, in addition, the odd roadside dhaba, the tiffin room next door, the innumerable fast-food 'joints', the local tea 'n snack bars, etc. etc. In fact, you could confidently say, India is the epicurean's delight.

This urban melting pot that India has turned into has given rise to fusion foods. The traditional south Indian idli has incorporated paneer and been rechristened paneer idli, not to mention the paneer dosas. Pizza paranthas is another example of fusion food. Vada pav is now served with coleslaw at McDonald's outlets in Mumbai and Chinese bhel - the evergreen snack present on all metro sidewalks.

To celebrate this great Indian 'eating-out' revolution, here are Delhi's Top 4 Restaurants. They have been handpicked for their food, decor and service by a cross section of our top Indian celebrities. They appear in no particular ranking order, but have been shortlisted from a list of 100 eating places.

Yellow Brick Road

This conveniently located, 24-hour coffee shop of Ambassador Hotel, with its bright and sunny decor - all wooden and yellow - is more than warm and welcoming to joggers, shoppers, tourists, executives and mediapersons at all hours of the day and to bleary-eyed disco goers that wind up in the wee hours of the morning.

What makes this place tick? It's down-to-earth prices, quick service and no-nonsense choice of dishes ranging from Anglo-Indian, Thai, Continental and good ole desi.

Meal for two: Rs 500/-

Imperial Garden

Just 18 months old, but a roaring success from day one, Imperial Garden has succeeded in making Delhiites forsake Punjabi Chinese for pure Cantonese. Not surprising, considering Baba Ling's background - he has a generation of experience in running successful Chinese restaurants. Not only his culinary prowess, but also his powers of persuasion have earned for Imperial Garden an enviable clientele in Delhi today.

Every client is urged to try out unusual and exotic dishes like lightly steamed mushrooms in crab sauce, crisp green vegetables sweet with their own juices and fillet of fish with just a dash of garlic and red chillis.

Meal for two: Rs 1,000/-

Sagar Ratna, Lodhi Hotel

The age-old favourite of all Delhiites, Sagar Ratna attracts foreign tourists, busy executives, shoppers and even traditional families who normally never eat at restaurants. Its generous helpings, reasonable priceline and above all the unwavering quality, purity and freshness of the ingredients used, keep its clientele coming back for more.

The hot favourites here are the Mysore masala dosa, dahi vadas and South Indian lassi, deliciously laced with ginger, mustard and curry leaves.

Meal for two: Rs 200-250/-

La Piazza, Hyatt Regency

Authentic Italian fare in a warm Mediterranean ambience is just what La Piazza is all about. This is one place that has its success formula all worked out - a fixed lunch and an a la carte dinner. It does thrice as much business on any given day as any of its five-star Italian competitors, for the simple reason that it understands and appreciates authentic Italian fare.

Lunch offers an appetizing spread of antipasti (starters) loaded with colourful salads, paper-thin cold cuts, cheeses and grilled veggies. This is followed by a main course and dessert. The a la carte menu offers all time favourites such as carpaccio (marinated shavings of raw veal), penne arabiatta (macaroni in rich tomato sauce) and spaghetti tossed in a garlic-chilli oil.

Meal for two: Rs 2,000/-

Source: The Outlook and India Today