Ambiance Ambiance Ambiance - Lodi The Garden Restaurant center of Botanical Surroundings is absolutely magical . Which ever city i travel to first thing i do is look for places which aremade in natural open spaces - yes so far have been successful in most of the cities . The feeling of dinning in open natural a surrounding is totally divine.
Dim Lights , light music , pebble floor , candles ,alfesco setting, bright cushions , cane chairs , beautiful lamps hanging from trees , a glass house with a fantastic terrace to sit out .. its definitely the most romantic spots in meri dilli .
They have a Sea Food Festival running with a pcs tof Rs.1600 for two appx . They are known to use organic raw vegetables from their own Sewara Farms and they change their menu every season - which is just my way of thinking - I believe that you should always eat the vegetables of the season and those kept in cold storage's . We are blessed to witness different vegetables every season brought to us my mother nature so why not enjoy them attheir freshness .
A very simple yet classy menu ... a bot of Indian , french and English cuisine mix .
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| Chef Elan |
Chef Elan belongs to Uttranchal - has great experience of European Cuisine behind him , he was with Le Meridien . A very basic simple Man with passion and interest . Was wonderful interacting with Chef .. he loved the fresh vegetables from their own farms - he was proud to be organic .
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| Bouillabaisse - Soup |
Its not as simple as it looks - the original Bouillabaisse is a traditional Provecal Fish Stew originating from the port city of Marseille. Traditionally this stew is made from Bony Fish and a particular defined type of fish and other sea food is added to it separately post cooking . Beautiful tomato based stew with fennel,leek and loads of garlic . It is normally served as two dishes along with bread - the stew separate and the sea food in a separate bowl . The stew is poured over bread . Lodi has done a good version of the same their style with locally sourced ingredients . Loved it .
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| Rockket Beet and freta salad |
This was not a part of the Sea food festival - was specially recommended by the Chef - Farm Fresh Organic Rockket leaves with Freta , Beetroot , Pine nuts with Honey lemon dressing . Actually the leaves were fantastic very different from what you get in the market ... the crunch of the leaves with the pine nuts , the acidity of the Freta and the sweetness of the beetroot - made my palate droooool . Yes this is my fav healthy salad .Highly recommended
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| Fritto Misto - Starter |
Assorted Sea Food basket with house Remoulade .... Batter fried sea food - light batter not over powering the flavor of the sea animal .. The Remoulade is almost like a Cocktail sauce served with a prawn cocktail - mayo based with capers ... squids ,prawns,fish,calamari .
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| The Very Talented Courteous Gentleman |
I admire restaurants who encourage their team to understand the food , spend time on their grooming , who stress on bed side manners .. this gentleman is one of them - attentive , patient and knowledgeable. Kept refilling the glasses hic hic and explained each dish to its elements.
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| Herb Crusted Cod |
I did not know Cod Melts - yes yes it melt ... not a fishy person always reluctant in eating fish - enjoyed the Cod , the skin the herb crust , the spinach .. but not the mash potato , could have done without them . Perfect cooked fresh Cod always a delite and the best part was that the fish was not over powered by the herbs - I hate it when my palate is taken over by these herbs ...
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| Char Grilled Prawns |
Lemon and Desi spice marinated Jumbo Prawns with mint and coriander chutney. Jumbo Yes really Jumbo perfectly marinated in desi tandoori masala .. only downer was that they went cold really fast . the distance between our table and the kitchen was a bit and since we were seated in the open it was bound to happen . But Jumbo prawns are jumbo prawns .. loads of nimboo , just right masala .. maza agaya. Gone are the days when prawns were a part of the paisa basool items ... now it is freshness of the sea animal that we see.
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| Char GRilled - Whole Pompfret |
Mustard Ginger and Yoghurt marinated whole pomfret served with roasted tomato chutney very Nepalese style . The Fish was a good size with the eye looking at you hahahaahahah.... im not good at deboning the fish so asked for Help ..... was amazed how easily the manager deboned the fish for us ... marination i thought was almost the same as the prawns but the Chef said it was with more mustard and ginger than the regular tandoori masala used in the prawns .. the timatar kee chutney was delicious - very north eastern style with roasted tomato ,coriander garlic and green chilies - a killer and a grat combo withthe char grilled fish .
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| House Braised Lamb Shoulder with Rosemary |
Marinade with rosemary and chilli paste overnight .. awesome dish - the meat was so well cured that it shredded on its own , easy to chew , full of simple meaty flavors with fresh veggies from the farm yet again organic ..... great dish to try and share between two .
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| Almond Bread Pudding with Toee Suace and Fig Ice Cream |
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| Eggless Chocolate True |
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| Banofee Pie |
Over All Tigers Experience :
Ambiance - Im sold out on this - nothing could be better
Food - Very well prepared dishes , Presentation and plating needs to be improved . More so to match the cuisines origins , was not impressed. Have told the Chef to do some magic . the dish has to look pretty to taste awesome . First impression is not the last impression when u see a dish but your mind starts drawing conclusion on the flavors . Also one more recommendation to the chef was that since you are serving food in the open area where there is a nip still , cover the food and get it to the table , then serve . hate cold sea food .:( . The sea food festival has simple dishes made in understandable sauces marination's and its fresh .
Service- Very good , Attentive, well informed team
Value for Money - You are paying for the ambiance , so why worry . food is priced on the higher side.
Down side - I never do this but have to mention this for the well being of the restaurant - The crockery and cutlery is ugly - old , chipped and not matching the ambiance at all - plain white plates nah nah not happening , cutlery old style forks and knives .
Going Back Again : Yes yes to enjoy a cup of coffee under trees .. its an amazing feeling
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