Shiv Sagar, Delhi (Aye!)

All the Bombay vs Delhi debate doesn't work for me. Nor does the Mumbai vs Bombay. Dilli vs Delhi neither. What a Pani Puri with hot ragda can do for a resident of Maharashtra, the Delhi girl in me could not understand in my few years in that part of the country.
When I arrived back in Delhi, I loved what the good old Delhi Golgappa with cold, boiled potatoes and chickpeas and teekha pani did to my tastebuds. In Delhi, for sometime now, I find myself craving Pani Puri, the Maharashtrian way at times, and the Vada Pav very often. If there is any difference at all between the two cities, that I'd readily admit, it is the pricing. Bombay food is cheaper. Period.
When one of my favourite Bombay eateries opened up in Delhi, I decided to give it a try. Shiv Sagar, of Bombay fame has a Janpath address now. #Win


The ambience is welcoming. A Bombay person would easily connect. Start your meal at Shiv Sagar with a pineapple or watermelon juice, as I recommend them for their taste and freshness. Ask for a no-masala version, if you please, else they add it by default. I had a sample of 6 juices they offer on a sci-fi test tube platter, all of which I enjoyed. The sev puri comes recommended too. Papri topped with potatoes, a medley of chutneys and spices, finished with a generous helping of sev and pearls of pomegranate. Street food, the hygienic way, served up on the table. I'd have preferred it a bit more spicy. 

Shiv Sagar also manages to do justice to the quintessential Maharashtrian street food, the Vada Pav. The chilli garlic powder on the side is amazing too! If you are in the mood for something tangy, go for the chinese bhel. It is neither Chinese nor Bhel, but crispy fried noodles tossed in a sweet and sour sauce and topped with onion and coriander. Yum!

Last but not the least, do not leave Shiv Sagar, Delhi without sampling their Pav Bhaji. Doused in butter, it is the nearest you can get to the Bombay version. Other offerings at Shiv Sagar that one should try are the Veg Makhanwala, Veg Kolhapuri, Biryani with Raita and the cheese grilled sandwich. Icing on the cake? They are gonna turn into an all-day dining, just like Bombay. And the prices will make every Delhiite smile on their way out. Very pocket friendly! An average meal would cost about Rs 800 for two.

The Pop Up

After trying out many a new cuisine and variations of the same, Delhi dining is steering towards out-of-the-box concepts or so it seems. Take The Pop Up as a case in point. This new refurbished restaurant replaces the erstwhile Tonic at Siri Fort complex, albeit for three months. The chefs at the very successful Tres in Lodhi Colony, Jatin Mallick and Julia Carmen Desa, are behind the kitchen counters. And here's a teaser of what you can expect at The Pop Up.

Finger-licking good tomato jam and chilli oil keep you busy till you are ready for your order. Do not miss the awesome plating.

Skeeter started with an Undressed tart of sundried tomatoes with goat's cheese, caramelised onions, bell peppers, salad greens and tomato infused balsamic (Rs 400). The dish balanced the myriad flavours well and set the tone for the evening, leaving me curious about the next dish, but the presentation got a thumbs down.

Our next order was the Kashundi and dijon baked button mushrooms on a crispy croute (Rs 375). The mushrooms came HOT on the table, we loved the temperature and the taste. This dish would've lost all glory had it not been served at that temperature. The explosion of mustard in the mouth satiated us. The croute beneath was not crispy though and that is hardly a complaint because beneath the bread we found to our surprise some Oyster mushrooms!!! So we are not sure if it was deliberately not mentioned on the menu (like it was supposed to Pop Up as well?) or what but we loved what we ate!

For the mains Skeeter had a Doh'nut burger with Pan roasted winter vegetables and Shiitake mushrooms and cheese (Rs 450) which came topped with water chestnuts that looked like little square chunks of cheese. Two doughnut buns replaced the regular big fat burger bun, so this could easily be shared. It tasted great and I believe it was the chef's take on a meatless burger with lots of oomph and texture. A big hit on the table. The icing (or cheese?) on this burger was that the waiters are well-informed and had forewarned about how the Doh'nut burger has two portions and can be shared. A big thumbs up to them.

The portions at The Pop Up are very generous. Knowing that, I still went ahead to order a side of Hand Cut Double Cooked Fat chips drizzled with a blue cheese sauce. At Rs 150, they easily are the winners of the best deal for fries in town and that it is winter, only helps!

A refreshing cucumber lemonade was a welcome break from the regular soft drink suspects on the menu.

The Tian of Dark and White chocolate mousse with a layer of wine jelly was only a befitting end to a superb meal. Rush to The Pop Up while it lasts :)