Home away from home

Dining in South Delhi and that too on a weekend amidst sticky rain and jam packed crowd did not seem like an exciting proposition with heavy traffic adding to my woes! Due to its maze-like contour, cars are usually not encouraged, which means a long walk to reach one’s destination. The only breather that was worth taking all the troubles was reaching my stop, a cosy Kashmiri restaurant cum home, located in the not-so stuffy by-lines of Greater Kailash 1, fondly called as Samavar.

With its location on the main thoroughfare of the area, finding Samavar without any guidance was overwhelming. I did spot the restaurant’s signboard at the start of the alley making my job easier and profusely thanked my stars for its location unlike other GK-1 eateries infamous for inciting nausea! 

With an aim to revive Kashmiri cuisine for the hungry migrants of Kashmir in Delhi, which evolved in the Valley several centuries ago, this restaurant has retained a distinct personality of its own. If there is one place in Delhi which can be credited with serving the most authentic Kashmiri cuisine, it is undoubtedly Samavar. The place gets hundred out of hundred for the authenticity of its Kashmiri menu.

Great food combined with a mesmerising ambience and prompt service is what makes it stand apart. How did the idea of starting a Kashmiri cuisine restaurant come up, I asked Ramesh Kitchloo, the man behind giving Delhi some authentic flavours of Kashmir. “Food in Jammu and Kashmir is treated as an extension of our vibrant culture. I could see a sense a frustration among my Kashmiri friends and family. Since the time people migrated from the valley, they craved to relish the real flavours of Kashmir. My intention was just to provide them with a place which they could call home.”   

In an effort to adapt some delightful elements of the Mughal art of cooking, he added: “Exclusively for Kashmiri Hindus, we do not use onion or garlic in its entirety and prefer to keep the real flavours alive.”

So what are you waiting for? Go unwind while having some of the best cuisines of Kashmir.

Kudos to Samavar for the most amazing culinary experience to what is called the “paradise on earth”.

Chicken Krant, Nadur Churma (lotus), Chicken Rogan Josh, the yoghurt filled Chicken Yakhni amongst all the kababs.

Cost for two: Rs 1200