Rating: 4/5
Not all spin-offs are created equal: The best retain what you loved most about the original, with enough new material to keep things fresh. Luckily the Chatter House in Khan market is just that, a happy breeze of appropriate evolution of the form.
In the land of ever increasing bars like delhi you don’t often walk into one where the food is equally spectacular as the cocktails and the night vibe.
Chatter House is one big culinary delight for all you foodies who do not like to eat shitty food with their drinks.
A pioneer in the current mania of craft cocktails, don’t be just swooned yet, because your taste buds are up for a jolly ride!
The staff is happy to talk you through any libation on the menu, or suggest other items. They are attentive and warm. It’s that kind of dedication that makes coming here worth the effort.
The architecture is a sweet sweet revelation because it’s reminiscent of a pronounced simplicity imbedded in a colonial old soul complexity, of wood work and lifelike solid paintings and a few fun elements here and there to keep the cheery vibe of the pub going! Spread across three floors, each one has its charm for the diner, the drinker and the star gazer. Now that’s the beauty of the brilliant mind that designed this hub.
The food shines so bright that personally the whole bar aspect of this place faded away and all I could witness was how the flavours conquered with delectable notes of an excellently concocted menu.
Be prepared to be wowed with inventive twists on traditionalist dishes.
We started off with the most memorable smoked yogurt salad dotted with crunchy almonds, soft root vegetables and a delicate bite on my palate. Plain gorgeous. Keeping up the amp salad standard, came in the Almond Citrus Salad with Valencia oranges, feta and greens dressed in a sublime vinegarette, fresh and light I could have this every day of the week.
I ordered myself a glass of delicate sangria to help me wash down the battalion of starters that came next.
Dahi ke kebab were every bit gooey and godly as one would expect of a speciality Indian restaurant so you can imagine my happy amazement when I experience the perfect burst of creaminess on my palate.
Chicken Chorizo Croquettes with a soft cheese centre tasted like the top notch fried food that one would love with a drink.
The piece de resistance was the dal makhni shots with blue cheese naan.
Creamy rich dal makhni paired with probably the best piece of Indian bread I have tasted of flakey crust and pungent blue cheese neutralised with fresh chopped pineapple chunks. Divine is the only word befitting this dish.
Galouti kebabs shimmies up a riot of complementary textures and spices. Beautiful.
We decided to take on an empire with a rather indulgent affair of main course. The Shepard Pie and Mac & Cheese with bacon dust became the immediate targets of our raids, high on meaty goodness and so beautifully paired with the right ingredients, these were star dishes to take home to the parents.
Creamy Polenta with Mushroom Ragout was every bit a vegetarian’s dream for the immense flavour & complexity that was encompassed in one compact dish. Extremely silky and delicate.
The dessert platter has a taste of their signature sweet treats and I love how I wasn’t clobbered with sweetness, wonderfully balanced concoctions which assured a rather subtle happy ending comprising of a passion fruit cheesecake, banana cake with toffee sauce and a molten chocolate cake.
The dam of desserts burst asunder,filling my mouth with the sweetest of flavours.
Verdict: Chatter House combines all things wonderful that one looks for an evening out in the city.
A triumph delicious entry in Khan Market, it deserves a visit or many to experience the melange of magical flavours so well created by the chef which will ensure an even more intoxicating high from the crafty bar.
Cost/ person: Rs 1500
Will I visit again? Yes.
Unplug at the Courtyard in Connaught Place, New Delhi
