Bhawan

The 38 Best Restaurants in New Delhi, India | Eater

"Price Range: $$$ After a major pandemic-induced setback, Bhawan opened in 2022 as a way to bring street-food classics to a restaurant setting in Gurgaon, the business district and tech suburb outside Delhi. Usually, “canteen-inspired” restaurants are suspect even if they’re popular (think Dishoom), but the team behind Bhawan — Kainaz Contractor and Rahul Dua bring enthusiasm, experience, and rigor to this spot. It’s a warm, simple choice, with a “something for everyone” vibe. Cocktails are imaginative, like the Kokumsteen (made with gin and kokum, a souring agent used on India’s west coast) and the Bael Trail (featuring gin, wood-apple syrup, and ghost chile tincture). The restaurant’s far-ranging collection of chaats — like karela (bittergourd chips) and kurkuri (crispy okra) — makes it a useful way to “travel” India’s staggering breadth, otherwise quite challenging to do for real. Mains are consistently good, but especially noteworthy are the fish tikka grilled with a smoky Bengali lemon named gondhoraj; the summer koftas; and the tamarind-laced puli-inji prawns. Best for: A gift box of in-house sweets to take home as a souvenir." - Sharanya Deepak