Al Jawahar (Delhi)

The Joker in the Pack

For years Al Jawahar has been known as 'the restaurant across the street from Karim'. It is where people go for lunch when Karim is jam-packed. Perhaps the time has come to debunk this myth, because what Al Jawahar serves up is delicious. Let us list the negatives first. The menu at Al Jawahar looks like a carbon copy of that of Karim. Service, though quick, can be frustrating at times, as stewards often forget your order and either get you something else, or nothing at all. With the kind of food they serve up, there's not much that can be done except piling it on a plate. Finally, there is no ambience to speak of, as you might have to share your table with complete strangers who make a mess of the place and chew their food with their mouths open. However, when that first morsel of Al Jawahar's food enters your mouth, you feel like a guest at Emperor Jahangir's feast (not that I know what that was like, but let's use a little imagination, huh?). The Brain Curry is the pick of the menu - rich, mildly spiced, and a truly 'brainy' dish. The Mutton Korma plays Izzy to the Brain Curry's Slash, and together, they play a power-packed riff. The kebabs are divine, and for lack of adjectives, i insist on calling them luscious. If you have a sweet tooth, go for the Firni after you are done with the meat. However, just as the Justice League is incomplete without Superman, this combination of delicious dishes is held together by the massive, sweet Shirmaal. Let us just say that I never thought bread could taste, well, orgasmic. As I write this review, I suddenly start to hate two things about the format of reviews on this blog - 1) It is mandatory to rate each restaurant reviewed on all four categories, and 2) I cannot award more than 5 stars under any circumstances. Enough said. If you're in Delhi right now, drop whatever it is that you're doing, get on the train to Chawri Bazaar, find Al Jawahar, and trust me, you will be happy.

Ambience                ★
Service                    ★★★
Presentation            ★
Taste                      ★★★★★


http://delhi.burrp.com/listing/al-jawahar-restaurant_jama-masjid_delhi_restaurants/1275599782

(Reviewed by Anubhab Dasgupta)