7 new restaurants in India that should be on your radar

Deciding where to go out to eat is an age-old conundrum, but these brand-new restaurants across Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, and Chennai make it easier. Be it an all-American spread or hidden gems from Peranakan cuisine, rest assured that whatever you choose, a memorable meal awaits you. 

Mumbai
The Conservatory

Juhu has a swish new restaurant that has brought the lush outdoors in with its lounge-like interiors. The South-East Asian food too, emphasizes on the freshest produce. A raw bar features dishes like tom kha ceviche, Phuket bhel, and wasabi salmon tartare. If you’re someone who likes their food piping hot, then the freshly-baked pides and pizzas made in the wood-fired oven will be right up your alley. A line-up of bold cocktails pair perfectly with the dishes on the menu. 

One8 Commune
 

Virat Kohli’s culinary venture, One8 Commune, has finally come to Mumbai, and it has Bollywood icon Kishore Kumar’s bungalow as its setting. While the menu does feature healthy sides and salads in ‘Virat’s favourites’ section, in line with the cricketer’s sports lifestyle, there are also plenty of indulgent options to choose from. 

Poco Loco—new branch

Mumbai’s Poco Loco has a new address at Hughes Road, Chowpatty, and is bringing its much-loved experimental Spanish and Mexican food to the south of the city. Dig into dishes that range from sopas and ensaladas, to pizzas and tacos. If you have dietary restrictions, then you’ll appreciate the menu that has detailed vegan and Jain options.  

Delhi-NCR 

Noche 

Indian signatures get a European makeover at Noche, Delhi’s newest restaurant. With the food menu helmed by award-winning chef Priyam Chatterjee, the progressive spread includes dishes like Coorgi pork ghee roast and achari lamb shoulder pibil. The drinks, too, reflect the fun and contemporary vibe—the bar menu features artisanal cocktails that will surely go down easy. 

Loya

Loya by Taj Palace is New Delhi’s newest restaurant and promises to take you on a culinary adventure through the food of the Himalayas, Punjab, and Kashmir. The menu celebrates traditional cooking techniques of the Northern region, like dhungar or smoking; baghar, which is a method of tempering spices in oil; and dum, which is all about slow cooking. The dishes have favourites like lamb biryani, Kangra mutton curry, and dal jhakiya (a pahadi-style preparation of lentils), and wild mustard (jakhiya). To complement your food, sip on cocktails like Masala whiskey and the Loya Manhattan. 

Chennai 

Pandan Club 

Sashi Cheliah, MasterChef Australia winner and owner of the popular Gaja by Sashi in Adelaide, is venturing into Indian waters with his new Chennai restaurant—Pandan Club. Cheliah’s latest offering will offer the city’s diners a taste of Peranakan cuisine, which has a mix of Chinese, Malaysian, and South Indian influences. The extensive menu spotlights stars from the micro-cuisine like crispy spring rolls with black bean curd, fried chicken marinated with shrimp paste, and rendang, a spicy curry-based dish. 

Pune 

Tsuki 

Three culinary powerhouses—chef Seefah Ketchaiyo and chef Karan Bane of Mumbai’s Seefah, along with chef Harsh Dixit, who is known to cook for celebrities, are behind the pan-Asian restaurant Tsuki in Pune. The chic new address transports you straight to Bali, with both its décor and food. The menu is a mix of Cantonese cuisine (think three chilli chicken dumplings and onion brie baos), Japanese fare like yakitori, and Thai dishes. 
 

Lead image: Poco Loco