Award-winning restaurant, Public Affair by Navneet Kalra, is situated in New Delhi’s bustling Khan Market, which is home to many social interactions in more ways than you can imagine. A few fellow food enthusiasts had told us about this hidden gem, so we decided to experience it for ourselves.
The Ambience
A quaint dark door is the entrance to Navneet Kalra‘s restaurant, which might be missed if one doesn’t look for it. In our case, we were looking forward to finding this dark door and the culinary heaven that it leads to. We felt a sense of mystery and excitement the moment we entered Public Affair. The underground theme went perfectly with it.
As soon as we climbed the wooden stairs we were welcomed by dim lights and happy music. We adjusted to the lights after a while, but the Lutyens-style charm of this prohibition era speakeasy immediately captivated us. We were lucky enough to be able to secure a spot on the beautiful terrace that evening, relishing the quaint setting.
Not only does the terrace offer a picturesque view, but it also has a fireplace and a Roman wishing well, perfect for those who appreciate the finer things in life. On the other hand, if you prefer a vintage buzz, the first floor offers a perfect setting with a little razzmatazz and graffiti. What’s more? For diners who don’t want to overtly publicize their dinners, the wine cellar offers a separate area for private dining.
The Food and Drinks – Navneet Kalra Style
The food and drinks at all Navneet Kalra restaurants never fail to satisfy – that’s why we like them so much. We envisioned a similar experience while visiting Public Affair. After all, Kalra had roped in Chef Augusto, a veteran in the New Delhi fine dining scene known for great panache.
The bar’s manager is Tenzin Lhagoe, who has a penchant for punchy cocktails. The bar serves drinks from the Prohibition Era in glasses wrapped in paper and fastened with ties. We ordered Income Tax, a gin-based concoction. What a great beauty it was!
A glance at the multi-cuisine menu revealed influences from South Asia, Peru and Spain.
We began our meal with the Quinoa A ‘La Espa*ola, which was made of fresh baby spinach, edamame corn kernels, goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, and mango in olive oil dressing. As a wash down, we ordered the Sidecar, which immediately put us in the mood for jazz.
Our next order was Tiradito A’La Augusto, a tangy dish made from yellowtail, cilantro, soy, microgreens, and Japan vinegar. We ordered Beetroot Textures for our vegetarian friends.
The carnivores in the group enjoyed the Bira Barbecued Chicken with Garlic Crostini and Deconstructed Chicken Tacos – great dishes if you just want something quick while catching up with friends.
The Teppenyaki Grill dished out some of the most delicious dishes we have ever tasted – especially the Salmon and Red Snapper with Asparagus served with fried rice.
As our visit was coming to an end, we finally ordered dessert. We ordered the Deconstructed Lemon and Meringue Tart. The tart came with dollops of meringue and lemon curd and lime slices along with breadcrumbs.
However, the most decadent of them all was ‘An Affair to Remember’, which was nothing less than a party in the mouth. With freshly baked bread, blue curacao caviar, vanilla ice cream, marshmallows, and chocolate sauce, this delightful combination is perfect for sharing.
Navneet Kalra‘s menu has so much to offer that we haven’t explored yet that we are anxious for a next visit. But one thing is for sure – one can’t help but partake in this Public Affair.
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