New Sher-e-Punjab (Delhi)

The Dirty Picture

There are dhabas like the Azad Hind Dhaba in Kolkata which have gone all out to debunk the myth that dhabas are meant to be open-air eateries and look shabby, and there are other dhabas located along the National Highways which try to accentuate that rustic charm by providing the customers with charpoys, open kitchens et al. New Sher-e-Punjab is among the third kind, which probably tried to go the classy way, felt it would be too much trouble, and then decided to stick to the rustic look for the parts of the restaurant which had not been modernized. What is worse is that the place hinges on being extremely unhygienic, as tables are not cleaned unless specifically asked for, and plates often have traces of the previous customer's meal left behind on them. Coming to the food, the menu sounds good, but the execution often falls short of what is expected. The Afghani Chicken and the Sher-e-Punjab Special Haandi Chicken are the heroes on the menu, as they cannot be criticized on any grounds. The Mutton Rogan Josh however, is too oily, and the mutton is not tender enough. The Paneer Lababdar is too bland to enjoy and the Naans are too chewy when warm, and almost wafer-like later. Service however, is quick. The mains look quite repulsive, and if you add to this the fact that the utensils are stained and the cutlery is available only on request, presentation takes a heavy hit. Overall, this dhaba gives you good value for money, but could perhaps have stuck to a smaller menu and given the attempt to 'improve' its ambience a miss altogether.

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


http://delhi.burrp.com/listing/New%20Sher-E%20Punjab/1715766138

(Reviewed by Anubhab Dasgupta)