Indian Food Freak

    Reviews & Stories

    Restaurant reviews, recipes, columns and food stories from across India

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    Vicoli Gurgaon: European Flavours, Warm Service and a Memorable Celebration
    2 min read

    Vicoli Gurgaon: European Flavours, Warm Service and a Memorable Celebration

    Last evening, we celebrated our daughter’s 18th birthday at Vicoli, a recently opened European restaurant. The name, which means alley in Italian, is reflected thoughtfully in the restaurant’s design. A long, alley style entrance leads into a spacious setting with high ceilings, a prominent bar,…

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    Raifu: Authentic Japanese restaurant at Gurgaon
    3 min read

    Raifu: Authentic Japanese restaurant at Gurgaon

    When you see a room full of expats and only a handful of Indians at a restaurant, two things usually stand out. The food is authentic and the place is still a quiet secret. Raifu fits that description well. It is a Japanese restaurant that is very reasonably priced and the food is mostly enjoyable.…

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    Pendulo Delhi: Chef Led Mexican Indian Experience
    4 min read

    Pendulo Delhi: Chef Led Mexican Indian Experience

    We were driving back from the market in Delhi when hunger struck. I had heard that Pendulo near Qutub Minar serves Mexican and Indian flavours curated by Chef Megha Kohli, formerly of Lavash by Saby which once stood at the same location, and Chef Noah Barnes of Tabula and Miss Margarita. I walked…

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    Twelve Years Strong: The Big F Awards 2025 Showcases the Best of Delhi NCR’s Dining Scene
    4 min read

    Twelve Years Strong: The Big F Awards 2025 Showcases the Best of Delhi NCR’s Dining Scene

    New Delhi, October 3rd: The 12th edition of The Big F Awards, hosted by food critic Pawan Soni and presented by Indian Food Freak, lit up Le Meridien New Delhi last evening as the city’s most celebrated chefs, restaurateurs, and food personalities came together to honour excellence in the dining…

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    Organic Bistro, Khan Market, Delhi: Hidden Gem for Clean and Delicious Dining
    4 min read

    Organic Bistro, Khan Market, Delhi: Hidden Gem for Clean and Delicious Dining

    I sell only what I eat, says Kuldeep Gupta, the man behind an organic store in Chandigarh. Recently, he brought his passion for clean eating along with his son Arjun and daughter Saru to Delhi by opening Organic Bistro in Khan Market. During my visit, he proudly showcased the organic ingredients…

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    Matram, Dwarka: A New Regional Indian Restaurant with Pan-India Flavours
    3 min read

    Matram, Dwarka: A New Regional Indian Restaurant with Pan-India Flavours

    These days, there’s no dearth of restaurants, and most of them not only look and feel the same, but their menus are so interchangeable that you could swap one with another and few would notice. Matram, a new entrant in regional Indian cuisine, stands apart. From its traditional aesthetic to a men…

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    From a Star to a Stain: My Disheartening Stay at Sahara Star, Mumbai
    4 min read

    From a Star to a Stain: My Disheartening Stay at Sahara Star, Mumbai

    There was a time when Sahara Star, with its iconic dome and enviable location near Mumbai Airport, was among the city’s proudest hospitality offerings. A favorite of many visiting the city for business or leisure, it carried a promise of elegance, comfort, and good food. That star, sadly, has fad…

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    Royal China, Chanakya, Delhi: Unlimited Dimsum Lunch & a Royal Feast to Remember
    4 min read

    Royal China, Chanakya, Delhi: Unlimited Dimsum Lunch & a Royal Feast to Remember

    Royal China at The Chanakya, New Delhi, has long been a favourite for those who take their Chinese food seriously. On a recent afternoon, I revisited this elegant 100-seater to catch up with an old friend over lunch—and left reminded of why this restaurant continues to hold its place among the ci…

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    Peng You Quan: A Taste of Authentic China in Gurgaon
    3 min read

    Peng You Quan: A Taste of Authentic China in Gurgaon

    We had set out to dine at a Japanese restaurant at South Point Mall, but a timely suggestion from my friend rerouted us to Peng You Quan, a Chinese restaurant tucked away in the same complex. I’d heard about this place before and even made a few half-hearted plans, but somehow they never came thr…

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    Kioki Gurgaon: Affordable Japanese Izakaya-Style Dining at 32nd Avenue
    3 min read

    Kioki Gurgaon: Affordable Japanese Izakaya-Style Dining at 32nd Avenue

    I’ve often found myself fretting over the steep pricing of dishes across most restaurants in Gurgaon. It feels like everyone’s serving fine-dine fare, and for regular diners like me, it really hits the pocket. Whatever happened to those simple, sit-down restaurants (not talking street food carts)…

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    The Pit Brings Authentic Barbecue Flavors to Gurgaon’s Global Foyer Mall
    4 min read

    The Pit Brings Authentic Barbecue Flavors to Gurgaon’s Global Foyer Mall

    I’ve just returned from an unforgettable evening at The Pit, a new barbecue and grill restaurant that has set up shop at the Global Foyer Mall on Golf Course Road, Gurgaon. And if there’s one thing I can’t stop doing—it’s raving about the experience. For a city like Gurgaon, which has been yearni…

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    XO and Mi at Le Meridien Delhi: Asian Fine Dining with Stunning Views of Lutyens
    3 min read

    XO and Mi at Le Meridien Delhi: Asian Fine Dining with Stunning Views of Lutyens

    There are restaurants that serve good food, and then there are restaurants that craft experiences. The newly opened XO and Mi at Le Meridien New Delhi confidently falls in the latter category. Nestled on a higher floor of the iconic hotel, this Asian dining destination offers not just a menu of w…

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