The Oudh - The Ashok

Pradeep Chamaria

7 years ago

5.0

We have a history of incredible food culture in terms of variety, richness, and regional influences. Whenever we think of rich royal food, the Awadhi cuisine, a spectacular symphony of taste and presentations comes first in mind. The taste and aroma of Awadhi food is unbelievable. Most of the dishes are incredibly rich and creamy, redolent with the fragrance of spices, and are delicately spiced, with cashews and raisins adding an unexpected depth to the taste of the curries. We also wanted to taste the cuisine of the nawabs and headed for The Oudh located in The Ashok hotel, a fine dining restaurant specializing in the elusive Awadhi cuisine. The moment we entered the restaurant we fell in love with the royal rich decor that boasts of beautiful paintings of Mughal kings and queens, classy furniture, and interiors in red and white theme accompanied by silver urns. The walls are decorated with 'minakari' art and 'jalis' (latticed screens) along with paintings and other marble work. The restaurant sprawls over a large area across the lush green lawns near the pool, with 2 PDR’s (private dining rooms) which offer full privacy to host family gatherings and high-profile lunches. The Oudh, formerly known as Darbar opened in 1995, offers an incomparable Nawaabi experience through an array of exotic dishes created by the bawarchis (chefs) and rakabdars (gourmet cooks). The menu has been crafted keeping in mind the visiting heads of states and dignitaries that the government hosts and food lovers from all over the world and is printed in eight different languages. Authentic kebas worth trying are Lehsoon Malai Tikka, Zeenat-e-Aab, Jhinga Mehrunnisa, Murgh Surkh Angaar, Nakhas ki Boti, etc. And for mains Nihari Gosht, Murgh Fatimi, and Oudhi Quorma which are paired with breads like Gilafi Kulchas, Sheermal and Warqi Parathas (an Awadhi flaky bread) and various rice preparations like Biryani and Pulao are worth trying. For vegetarians, Crispy Paneer Roll, Moth Ke Asharfi, Kache Papite Ke Kabab, Lazzez Subz Seekh, Tofe e Noor, Dahi ke Koftey, Gulnar Biryani, Nishatganj Ki Jhalfarezi, Paneer Hazrat Mahal, Khiley Phool, and Dal Oudhi, along with Oudh Breads are recommended Coming to our experience with the food and drinks; we were welcomed with a round of the Noor-e-Chashm mock-tail, a sweet and sour lemon fizz based mock-tail which left me refreshed and waiting for delicacies to be served. Everything in starters section tasted amazing. I specially loved the Tohfa-e-Noor with exemplary flavours. It was a dish made of cottage cheese sheets stuffed with a slightly sweet khoya fillings and rich nuts and topped with saffron. This incidentally is one of the signature dishes served at Indian PM's state banquets. The starters left me craving for the main course, even though I wanted to have a repeat of Tohfa-e-Noor. Maybe I’ll come back again just to relish the Paneer dish. In the mains, I was looking forward to the biryani dish, you see, how can one finish off an Awadhi main-course without some biryani. I tried the veggie biryani, Gulnar Biryani, which was opened right in front of me. Oh man, the explosion of aromas the moment the Dum was broken was exquisite. The rich, royal flavours of Awadh were truly represented in this dish and made me think – “There really exists a Vegetarian Biryani”. Desserts are an important part of an Awadhi meal. And here too, aroma plays an important role. The bread pudding Shahi Tukra, Milk dumplings -Khush Zaiqa, Malpua Rabri, Rasmalai, Awadhi style Vermicelli - Muzaffar, Sheer-e-Oudh, Qulifi Falooda are the ones to die for here. I normally don’t visit a food joint again, unless I have loved the food. And having relished a sumptuous lunch of Awadhi cuisine just like the way a Nawab would have, I am longing for a revisit to the Oudh and am surely going to be there again soon.

+22

Amy Hawkes

7 years ago

5.0

Very attentive and helpful service (but without being intrusive). Absolutely delicious food - really rich flavours. Always a bit quiet so more of a romantic meal than a group outing unless you want the place to yourself. But food makes it worth coming back every time.

Veeral Dewan

4 years ago

5.0

The food, service, ambience and the staff were excellent. We were a group of 12 people. It was an anniversary occasion. Had a great time.

Shalini Guglani

4 years ago

4.0

The restaurant was totally empty during lunch time. Its quite spacious & nice formal seating. We ordered for a vegetarian biryani, which was served with raita, onions & Chutney. We also ordered for a naan & shahi paneer. The breads are pretty expensive with royal regal names but at the end of the day is a regular butter naan. The paneer gravy was tasty & so was the naan. For dessert, we ordered for a kulfi, which was quite tasty. Overall good Ambience, nice service, prompt & courteous & delicious food. The good thing also is that we were ordering for 1 naan & 1 tandoori roti or a flaky parantha but the server himself suggested to order 1 since its big in size & since we were having biryani too. Biryani quantity was average. Ddnt have too many vegetables though. Raita was good & so was the chutney. One can have their meal relaxed & in peace. I am a blogger available on instagram as @the_food_date. https://www.instagram.com/the_food_date/

mahender

7 years ago

4.0

Having discovered its Buffet by a mere accident, I grew an instant linking to this destination. Since it is a chiefly North Indian cuisine, one would expect fairly mainstream dishes. They bring into the buffet loop new things every day, which makes the eating experience all the more fruitful. The Royalty ambiance coupled with the Classical music in the back-end is a bounty. The service offered by the personnel there is warm. The tables are adequately distanced and placed for every batch to have a fruitful conversation over supper.

natasha

7 years ago

4.0

I have been to The Oudh atleast ten times and i am still ready to have another meal there. Preparation is rich with dry fruits and cream. Murgh fatimi is totally smacking along with noor-e-chashma and barfili bahar. I have also had buffet once which was not so mughlai but good on its own. Service is good too. My gastrodar finds it damn good of a place.

Tanya Tyagi

7 years ago

4.0

This place serves royalty. I had a great time Here with my family. The staff is very courteous and they make sure you have no complaints. Non veg dishes are better than the veg ones. A good place to eat good.

Aditya Sharma

7 years ago

4.0

The largest Hotel area You will ever find in India I guess Amazingly Different restaurant located at basement/ground floor. Great food, Helpful Staff and amazing ambiance. Expensive but worth a visit.

Ishaan Arora

4 years ago

3.0

I visited this place with my friends for a reunion lunch. It is located on the first floor of The Ashok Hotel. Ambiance and music are good but service was pretty average. Oudh parantha was pretty meh. The portion size is good for one person

Aishwarya Menon

1 year ago

1.0

The ambience of the place gives a royal feel, apart from that the staff is indifferent and is just not interested in serving you!! The buffet lunch is exorbitant and the service they provide is hopeless , anything but royal. We had a 2 year old, we requested the staff for some papad & ghee, both of which was curtly refused. I haven’t seen any hotel wherein the Staff also starts serving themselves from the buffet before the buffet time closure, although I personally did not mind it, I have never seen this practice in any good hotel. The lunch buffet closes at 3 pm. At 3:02, our family started getting stared at uncomfortably by the Staff. All this for a tax exclusive price of Rs.2100 per person!! Please save your money and time for a better place! This place should just shut down ! Utter disappointment.