Orange Hara now in Saket

Three weeks. That’s all it takes to break all my noble new year diet resolutions. This time around, my downfall was caused by a lip-smacking Indian khana binge. When I walked into Select Citywalk this rainy Sunday, and saw it flagged with a zillion posters of the newly-opened Orange Hara (I’m a big fan of their original branch at Rajouri Garden), I knew the time had come for chicken tikka, creamy dal and crisp, buttery naan. Off I went, beau beside me, to begin my big fat tuck-in.

The restaurant turned out to be outside the mall actually (right opposite the exit near MAC and Clinique), and has a stylish fawn and ebony decor with red and white lamp accents, a nice change from your usual Indian ethnic chic. The menu was so vast that I had to order a spread of starters: Tandoori Murgh, in an amazingly tangy and cardamom-y marinade. Nimbu Machhli Tikka, in subtle, lemony flavours. Paneer Tikka which tasted like my grandma’s achaar!

The main course was a total fiesta, with a tender-as-can-be Mutton Roganjosh, a light and flavourful Paneer Butter Masala, a very subtle Kadhai Murgh, and of course, the homestyle, soul-satisfying Dal Makhani. The breads — the fiery Mirchi Paranthas, and the aromatic Keema and Garlic Naans — were excellent, too.

I’d just about sunk into my couch with a dramatic sigh of satisfaction, when the Chocolate Lava Cake came to the table. Warm, oozing liquid-centre chocolate cake with a cool bite of vanilla ice-cream got me all philosophical. Could life get any better?

Nah.

Orange Hara, 3-4, Ground Floor, Southern Park Mall, District Centre, Saket (next to KFC), Ph: 40597538/9. Liquor license awaited. Meal for two: Rs. 1,200 to 1,800. The original branch of Orange Hara is at TDI Paragon Mall, Rajouri Garden, Ph: 25161647/8. Liquor served.