Roman Interlude

After her successful Italian restaurant Diva,this is Dalmia’s latest intimate bistro offering in the city’s posh GK-I N-Block market. This 40 plus cover café has warm brown interiors with earthy tones of terracotta,tanned upholstery,a wall filled with black and white profile shots of happy people,and the most engaging of them all,the kitchen that has on display fresh veggies and fruits and cheese bowls. You find it easy to work up an appetite in such a relaxed atmosphere.

While the cafe specialises in Italian food,there’s a smattering of other cuisines too,including German grilled bratwurst (Rs 470),Goan chicken kafriyal curry with rice (Rs 430) and the like. The salad list is also impressive,with lovely toss-ups to choose from,like watermelon and feta salad (Rs 380),the Asian sesame chicken (Rs 360) and La mia Preferita (roasted beetroot with warm French goat cheese and mixed greens (Rs 450).

We kickstarted with a potato and leek soup (Rs 240) which warmed us up just right. Simplicity being the key to any good Italian dish,we asked for another staple from the small plates section— a potato gnocchi with cheese sauce and ham. The cheese-heavy serving melted in our mouth,leaving us satiated. Our next stop was the parma ham pizza (Rs 490). The wood fired thin crust pizza arrived charred just that little bit around the edges,adding to its crispiness. The ham slices glistened under the generous sprinkle of rocket leaves while the tomato base was sweet without being overwhelming. The pizza can definitely by itself call on for an excursion to this cafe. The buffalo mozzarella and tomato panini (Rs 360),on the other hand,was a tad disappointing as the bread was a bit too dry.

Café Diva has an easy going air about it,making it just the perfect place to meet up with friends or cosy up for a twosome dinner. A small tip: plonk yourself on the bigger sofas,the leather chairs are a bit slippery. The dessert list at the cafe changes daily,so do ask for the specials. The beverage section serves up only smoothies and shakes so far as it awaits a liquour license to serve up the wines.

Cafe Diva
Meal for two:Rs 1,600 plus taxes
Address:N8,N Block Market,Greater Kailash Part I.
Contact:41011948.