Ardor Restaurant & Lounge review: Central Delhi’s new party and dining spot!

Resham Sengar

The heart of New Delhi – Connaught Place – is usually bustling with enthusiastic shoppers, college-goers, a few lovebirds on the lookout for a cool hangout joint and of course, some serious food and fun connoisseurs. Given the fact that CP is one of the major restaurant hubs in the capital, it is often a task to zero in on a good place to eat and chill out with some good music thrown in. Luckily, we were referred ‘Ardor Restaurant & Lounge’ by a close acquaintance and we did drop in at the place to have a good time eating out during the weekend. ‘Ardor’ is a young standalone fine dining restaurant (at level 1) cum lounge and bar (at level 2). With quintessential Victorian interiors, ‘Ardor’ emits old world charm; thereby matching well with the English built CP. We were politely welcomed by the staff inside and we chose a corner window side table to enjoy our meal. Of the starters’ menu, we picked Banjara Seekh Kebab (veg), Mutton Seekh Kebab and Virgin Mojito to begin with. The waiter was quick in taking orders and in no time our starters were put on our table. We thoroughly enjoyed the delicious, succulent and melt-in-mouth Banjara Seekh Kebabs and the Virgin Mojito proved to be a good accompaniment with the grub. However, the Mutton Seekh Kebab could have tasted better. Thereafter, we ordered the main course – Penne Arrabiata and Chef’s Special Greek Pot Roasted Lamb with Orange Red wine sauce and Lebanese rice. There goes a saying that the food is first devoured by the eyes and then by the mouth. At ‘Ardor’, the Chefs completely swear by this old adage. The Greek Pot Roasted Lamb comprised a curry made with sliced mutton, Orange Red wine sauce and was mildly spiced. The Lebanese rise had a lovely aroma wafting out of it, thanks to the special herbs that went into the cooking process. On the plate were small pots (perhaps, of baked potato) stuffed with sweet corn. Overall, the dish fared very well except for the corn pots, which could have been excluded. The pasta recipe, on the other hand, was very likeable for its presentation and the fact that it was cooked with freshly made red sauce with appropriate herbs and spices lending the right flavour to the dish. The portion of both the dishes we had was enough for a single diner. To end our culinary sojourn on a sweet note, we asked the waiting staff to serve us matka kulfi but it turned out to be only a passable dessert. ‘Ardor’ is a great place for everyone. If your idea is to dine amidst quiet surroundings, check-out the restaurant area. Else go to the lounge area for a good dose of fun with great music, drinks and grub thrown in. Rating: 3.5/5 Price: A three-course meal for two: Rs 2,500 approx. (including taxes) Pros of Ardor Restaurant & Lounge: They have a lounge at Level 2 with a comfortable seating area at the terrace (a rarity at most places in the business) and a vast seating area inside the premises. The restaurant and the lounge are equipped with LCD TV screens for IPL lovers. Private seating areas are available on request. A must try recipe from the menu is the Chicken made in Jack Daniel’s whiskey. During a small conversation with the restaurant manager – Mr. Sundar Magar - we were told that their Daal Ardor is better than the one served at Bukhara, Taj Hotel. Ardor is a hit among foreign tourists and the fact that it is packed during lunchtime speaks volumes about its goodwill. The staff is always on their toes and cater to you with a nice smile. The place has a full-view of the live kitchen. Suggestions for further improvement: They can think about introducing more Indian dishes and desserts especially of the Indian variety. Address: N 55 to 56 & 88 to 89, Outer Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi Nearest metro station - Rajiv Chowk Metro Station (0.3 km), Barakhambha Road Metro Station (0.4 km)