MOTI MAHAL DELUX

Moti Mahal Delux first opened in 1920 as a modest restaurant in Peshawar in the pre-partition era, reopening in Delhi in 1947, and its signature recipes and smoky Frontier flavour soon acquired legendary status. Among the discerning diners were Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Former American President Nixon and Shah of Iran. So, when I heard the restaurant had begun home delivery, I quickly placed an order. I knew it would be a memorable meal that lived up to its tagline — Moti Mahal is not a restaurant, it is an experience. It sure was! The team's ability to prepare Frontier delicacies is defined by rich heritage and local craftsmanship.

Coming to the meal, I ordered classics i.e. 'Dahi Kabab', ‘Chicken Malai Kabab' 'Dal Makhani' and ‘Gulab Jamun'. The dahi kebabs were tender and flavourful with melt-in-the-mouth texture and the chicken kebabs were smoky and spicy. So it's no wonder the kebabs, which we relished with dal makhani, were polished off within minutes! Fresh, flavourful and perfectly paired with assorted breads. My parents and I relished the textural quality of rich aromatic kebabs, and though we were stuffed with the generous portions, we couldn't resist ending the meal on a sweet note with warm gulab jamun. The purr-fect winter dessert.

Reminiscing about dinner, I highly recommend ordering from Moti Mahal Delux. It has carved a niche since a hundred years, satisfying cravings for fresh flavourful kebabs and entrees — and comes well packaged.

— JASMEEN DUGAL