Queens of The Sea at Le Cirque, Leela Palace, Delhi

Most seafood menus try to impress you with ingredients. This one at Le Cirque wins you over with how those ingredients are treated.

Even before the first course arrives, the space sets the tone. Warm lighting, plush seating, white table cloth, and that open kitchen quietly at work. It feels luxurious without trying too hard. Add to that one of the most thoughtfully stocked wine lists in the city, and you know you’re in for a proper, unhurried dining experience.

The “Queens of the Sea” tasting menu does not shout for attention. It builds it, course by course.

The Sea Urchin and Fennel Crusted Tuna Carpaccio is a confident start. The anchovy ice cream could have easily been overpowering, but instead it adds a soft, savoury depth. The fennel keeps everything light and balanced.

The Spanish Chicken Cotoletta might seem like a detour for a seafood menu, but it works. Crisp, indulgent, and elevated with Oscietra caviar and anchovy, it acts as a comforting pause before the seafood returns.

The Linguine with vongole and sea urchin is where things get indulgent. Some of us may find it a bit low on salt but this is exactly how it is served internationally. Silky, rich, and deeply flavourful, with confit garlic adding just the right amount of warmth. This is a dish you linger over.

I have never been a fan of abalone as I find it a bit chewy. However Chef braises it well to keep the texture without making it too chewy. The Braised Abalone with Chilean seabass delivers exactly what you hope for. Perfectly cooked fish, delicate and buttery, paired with the distinct texture of abalone. The oyster mushroom jus adds an earthy layer that ties it all together.

Dessert keeps things interesting. A Single Origin Chocolate Mousseline with sea salt and a touch of caviar. It sounds unusual, but it works. The salt sharpens the chocolate, and the caviar adds tiny bursts that keep each bite engaging.

What stands out is the restraint. With ingredients like caviar, sea urchin, and abalone, it is easy to go overboard. Here, everything is measured, elegant, and quietly confident.

At INR 11,000 plus taxes, this is clearly an indulgence. But between the food, the setting, and that wine list, it is the kind of meal you plan an evening around.

Available till 25th April. Definitely worth making time for.

Address: Le Cirque, Leela Palace, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi