sukhmanisakhi 
Rating:4.5/5
Parallel has changed perceptions of what a modern Indian restaurant in New Delhi could entail.
Blown away by the modern design element that’s built on the idea of minimalism and a monochromatic idea of complexity in simplicity, there is a certain waft of warmness in this contemporary gastronomical space which is artisanal in design yet humble in its flavours.
As you sit down in this quaint tiny den bathed in happy bright sunlight in the day, be prepared to be seduced by the exhaustive documented menu which is a warren of melting pots and extremely inspired dishes.
I am positive about the fact that Parallel will be fondly rejoiced by those who can appreciate Indian food in all its exotic pride and those who have a mind beyond butter chicken and dal makhni!
Every dish on that menu is weaved deliciously out of traditional flavours but is presented in unconventional modernity. There is a certain victory when a menu delivers each and every dish well beyond your expectations.
Roast Pumpkin Soup with Kaffir Lime Prawn Roulade reminded me of a Tom Kha just in the beginning but it dissolved into a beautiful mystery towards the end of the slurp, extremely velvety with the right amount kick to it, almost left me begging for more of that gorgeous prawn bite which could have been served a wee bit more generously but hey, I am not complaining. The soup was washed down with Arugula and Spinach Salad with sherry vinegarette, extremely fresh with caramelised beetroot bits, walnuts and crunchy makhanas! This was just the beginning of the pleasantly startling pairings for our palate because the Koshambir with pulled chicken delighted us even further because it was raised to much beyond an indigenous Marathi salad.
Something as basic as Dabeli with nimbu leaf pav feels sleek and so refined with gorgeous tamarind and mint chutneys which elevate the bite to another level.
Kasundi Chicken Pav, perfumed with refreshing mustard combined tender grilled strips with soft chicken and pillowy pav in a delicious medley.
The Beetroot Bhaji tacos and Paunchy Pig tacos deserve a sonnet or two for being super inventive and delicious. The latter enveloped rather superlative rich pulled pork with marinated red onions in a thepla like taco but it was the former beetroot mess slathered with a yogurt sauce,that had my heart skip a beat with genius flavours and textures, it put my palate in extreme awe and confusion, a devastatingly delicious confusion that is.
Reinstating my faith in vegetarianism, came in the beetroot slider mounted with fries and salad and these little babies were a bomb! A hard core carnivore like myself found love in an unexpected green space and I much preferred these over the obviously seductive and rich lamb sliders.
These were followed by some more picturesque plates of decadence like the delicate Yellow Chilly Tilapia in all its tender flaky glory with a sublime sweet & sour sauce and baby grilled vegetables. Paneer Sukka came with a homemade flakey Lachha Parantha, such a homely dish, heartily accessible but more pristinely garnished than your hole-in-the-wall curry house. This was licked off even before I could decipher the beautiful play of spices in the rich masala.
53rd in 6th Chicken over Rice is inspired from the famous NewYork street food where diners go gagas over the simplistic plates of gorgeous chicken with rice and pita slapped with a bouncy béchamel. Parallel is serving just this in its decadent entirety with simple flavours that deliver soul satiation in the first bite!
The cocktail menu is just as enticing if not more but I didn’t have a chance to wash them down. The mocktails however had me crushing over their sweet sweet concoctions among which the Orange Passion and Moscow Mule are the perfect potions to sip on!
If all this beautiful descript hasn’t given you a foodboner, wait for the desserts which are pretty spectacular here.
Sea Salt Caramel is a gooey pudding with the right amount of sweetness and a lovely balance of texture with a sugar brûlée that’s always a pleasant experience to crack through. A subtle finisher to indulgence.
Textures is the standout dessert that ensures a seriously distended belly with a lot going on in one plate, much like a culinary Broadway, with sinful chocolate! .
Fresh mint, chocolate soil, fruit coulis, melted dark chocolate over another chocolate sphere encasing delicate chilled basil ice cream that appears when the hot ganache is poured over the chocolate sphere!
The dish is finished a le gueridon, poured over with a warm decadent chocolate sauce which transmutes the entire beauty into an inchoate chocolatey mess. it’s addressed with the complete silence of good eating
Theatrics, flavours, TEXTURES, on point and cheers to gaining a kilo or two after this magnificent tryst with flavours and uncontemporary Indian cuisine.
Verdict
Parallel is spinning a serious culinary sorcery in the kitchen space with literally everything except their ketchup being made in house to ensure freshness and quality of every element that is served on the table and each dish, however simple it may look on surface is a culmination of several constituents which are all assembled and created in the kitchen where the chefs are super cautious of providing starkly different and undistinguishable flavours and foodgasms in every dish and bite!
Parallel is all about passion and love for food and we can feel it!
Cost/ person: Rs 1500
Will I visit again? Yes.
