Cafe 9, Galleria, Gurgaon: Arabic

[Rated: 3.0/5]

ExteriorWith so many eating out outlets in Galleria, restaurants can hardly afford to slip on the quality. Rather they have to come up with something new every time to excite their guests. Café 9, a new Mediterranean restaurant is trying to do just that.

ShawarmaA small 12-seater outlet with open kitchen has an extensive menu but the seating is trifle comfortable. The original Shawarma (Rs 99) was served in a jiffy. A version of kathi roll, it is served with juicy grilled chicken. A good start! Our drinks, TEN (Rs 65) which is similar to our Chaach having strong flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and cumin was equally good while Pink Ginger (139) drink was refreshing with rose and grenadine mix.

falafalNext was the falafel (Rs 109); deep fried chickpea puree. They tasted as well but the hummus served along was like a paste rather than a little coarse. The restaurant agreed, and said that they have given to the feedback from customers who want it finer.

Grilled fishShish Touk (minced chicken tikka served as satay and shish mishwi (minced mutton seekha) were brilliant. The pita bread, muhammara (Red pepper with walnut dip), tahina (roasted sesame seeds dip) &turshi (Arabic pickle) that were served along made it a complete meal. The grilled fish (Rs 349) faded in front of the nice fare being served by the restaurant. It should have been a cooked for a lesser time to retain the juices.

lamb mandiIf you like biryani or even if you don’t, you will love the lamb mandi (Rs 399; mutton rice). Cooked with saffron, mutton stock and vegetables, this was by far the best dish served in liberal quantity which is enough for two. Important to say that I am not a big fan of biryani but I still finished this to the last grain.

Desserts disappoint as much as service which can be a long wait between dishes as most of the stuff is prepared fresh.

Ratings:

Food: 3.5/5 | Ambience: 2.5/5 | Service: 2.5/5 | Overall: 3.0/5

Meal for two: Rs 800 | Credit cards: Yes|Alcohol: No

Address: Café 9, SF 94, Galleria Shopping Complex, Below Crazy Noodles, Phase IV, Gurgaon | Tel: +91 124 4287342

pawansoni

Food Critic and a Marketing Wizz who had a high profile career with leading MNC’s like HSBC, GE Capital etc, Pawan Soni comes across as a quintessential corporate employee. He left behind his successful career as the Vice President of an MNC... all for his love for food. He a WSET Level II wine connoisseur and a foodie who loves to eat anything under the sun. Besides being a food and travel writer for various food forums and magazines, he is the Founder and CEO of Indian Food Freak. As one of the initial bloggers who started his blog over a decade ago, his website www.indianfoodfreak.com is currently one of the biggest food and travel blogs in the country. Pawan also conducts highly successful restaurant awards and recently concluded the 9th edition of The Big F restaurant awards. He has also won the best influencer awards in India by BBC Food Food Awards in 2018

5 Comments

  1. It’s great that dishes like the mandi are coming to Delhi, Pawan. The mandi, majboos and kabsa are all from the same family of arabian dishes. Very different from the biryani. The original mandi is made underground after lighting a fire with wood and placing the vessel on top. Then covered with a lid and sealed with wet mud from the top. And slow cooked for 3-4 hours.

    1. Interesting. Had Lamb Mandi for the first time, and yes you are right it is not biryani but to explain it was the closest word that came to my mind which can be easily understood by all. And I don’t think this one was made underground, however it was still very delicious. Hope to taste the original Lamb Mandi soon. Any place you suggest?

      1. Hyderabad is the only place I know of. Restaurant caleed Mataam al arabi does good Mandi and majboos, in the area of Barkas, which like a mini Arabia.

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