Hot Hilton

The Hilton Garden Inn,a 114-room hotel by the Hilton Group that opened two months ago at DLF Place Mall,Saket,has got its first restaurant — India Grill. Accessible from the mall’s lobby as well as the second floor,the place is open to the public. But don’t let the name lead you to expect some culinary drama in the form of table grills and fire-spitting ovens. The 140-cover restaurant restricts its histrionics to an open kitchen where Italian,Mexican,Indian and Chinese dishes are sautéed and simmered. The grills are just part of the multi-cuisine spread the restaurant serves.

Going multi-cuisine,it seems,has its benefits; the day we went there was businessman Robert Vadra forking out salad at one table and a troop of expatriates cheerily dining at the other. Our meal began with Broccoli and Green Pea Soup (Rs 225),with the lush green broth tempered with mustard and curry leaves. Such clever nips and modern tucks are a highlight of the kitchen here. For instance,there were Anjeer Aur Hare Moong Ki Seekh (Rs 425),which was deliciously textured with spices,and Kacchi Mirch Ki Seekh (Rs 525) embossed with pink peppercorns in brine. Macher Paturi (Rs 525) offered steamed fillets with supple flavours of freshly ground mustard.

Pizzas were strongly recommended by the staff and the Four Cheese Pizza (Rs 425) was thin-crusted without the regular smear of tomato sauce. Instead,it slapped out a fine base with parmesan and mozzarella. The restaurant also rolls out a variety of burgers and steak sandwiches (beginning at Rs 375). Desserts too are artily presented — gulab jamuns are sliced and speared on small wooden sticks and phirni came in a shot glass.