fine dining

ANDHRA PRADESH

Tarun Tahiliani dressed up Aish much like he would dress a bride. You can make out his touch the minute you walk into this elegant restaurant at The Park Hyderabad with rich creamy interiors, old photographs in ornate frames, warm lighting and everything given that extra jazz by loads of mirrors that reflect the plushness around. The food is local and from rest of Andhra. www.theparkhotels. com/hyderabad

Should you choose to take indulgence one step further, you could book a private dining experience at Gol Bungalow at the opulent Falaknuma Palace. Candlelight and rich drapes make this terrace atmospheric. Tel: (040) 6629 8585

On the third floor of a dilapidated building is Urban Asia, with modern décor and Asian food—both of which come as a surprise considering the location. This is one of the better places in Hyderabad to try a variety of dim sums, and some innovative dishes such as Bamboo Fried Rice (yum).

Yellow Brick Road , or YBR as Delhiites know it, has been feeding generations of party-goers. Laidback chic, funky décor and food that has tasted the same over a decade(which is a good thing in this case) elevates this 24-hour joint from any ordinary five-star coffee shop. Taj Ambassador; tel: (011) 2463 2600

More popular for the parties at its club Love Hotel, Ai, meaning love in Japanese, is AD Singh’s ode to the cuisine’s popularity in Delhi. The sushi and sashimi platter is great and there are loads of other options including the delicate and flaky black cod.

If you like Japanese food, you probably like Korean too. Gung The Palace is fine dining of the real sort where the food and décor are both as near authentic as you can get this far from Korea. Green Park; tel: (011) 4608 2663

Set’z is a name we do not quite understand but it used to be called Zest and that went very well with this vast dining space with seven live kitchens serving Chinese, Northern Indian, Coastal Indian, Thai, Med, and Japanese. At Emporio Mall. www.setz.co.in

One of newer restaurants to enter the Qutub-view Club is Circa 1193, whose leafy romantic rooftop is the place to be. /

The latest one to enter the above mentioned club is Smoke House Room, offering modern European cuisine. At The Crescent; tel: (011) 2952 3737

Giving Bihari cuisine its place on the long list of haute cuisines from different parts of India is the very charming The Potbelly Rooftop Café and Kitchen in Shahpur Jat. Tel: (011) 4161 2048

When Indian Accent opened at The Manor a couple of years ago, people couldn’t stop talking about what they had done to the galawat ke kebab by stuffing foie gras in it. Blue Cheese Naan, Bailey’s Kulfi, Cheese Vada, the list of crazy combinations is endless and the result, fantastic.

The people behind the old favourite Flavours in Defence Colony have opened a lovely French bistro, P’tit Bar. www.ptitbar.in

Olive Mehrauli has survived many hassles over licences and many competitors to remain one of the finest dining experiences in Delhi. The food is Med, the Sunday brunch is one of the city’s best and there is no match for the atmospheric old haveli that adds drama to this chic set up.

Varq at Taj Man Singh plated Indian food for the first time and turned immediately popular. The idea of pairing tea with dessert is a real winner. Tel: (011) 2302 6162

The best European grills and sweeping views of the Delhi ridge are still to be had at old favourite West View at ITC Maurya. Tel: (011) 2611 2233

GOA

Looking pretty on the Baga-Calangute stretch is Fiesta, set in a Portuguese villa with manicured gardens. Don’t ask. Just order the thin crust pizzas, or the paella.

Café Mangii’s Panjim outlet is still fairly new and serves some mouthwatering pizzas. The décor is lively and friendly, and the starters and coffees are all delicious.

A Reverie , a lovely al fresco restaurant in Calangute, has jazz gigs on the weekend. The cuisine is global so you can have Wasabi Prawns or a very French Smoked Duck. Tel: (0)98231 74927

HARYANA

In The Oberoi in Gurgaon is the stylish Amaranta that serves coastal Indian food. The seafood is flown in daily in time for lunch so that may be the best meal to be had here. Tel: (0124) 245 1234

Jiggs Kalra first opened Punjab Grill in the Ambience Mall in Gurgaon three years ago and people are still talking about it. It has also opened in Saket’s Select CityWalk mall. www.punjabgrill.in

HIMACHAL PRADESH

History is your décor at Chail Palace Hotel’s dining room as you sample dishes like Chaah Meat (boneless mutton cooked in whey), Dadduwala Chicken Curry(chicken cooked with dried pomegranate seeds). Tel: (01792) 248 141

With lots of wooden panelling and chandeliers, The Restaurant at The Cecil has colonial charm and delicious European fare. Tel: (0177) 280 4848

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Wazwan at the Dal anyone? The private dining experiences that can be arranged by the very new Taj Dal View have definitely upped Srinagar’s fine dining options.

KARNATAKA

The grills and steaks at Graze are superb and the seafood is to die for. At Taj Vivanta; tel: (080) 6660 4444

anushka nadia menon PHOTOGRAPHER Bomra’s in Candolim has fab Burmese. Their Khao Suey is a must try

Whirring blades turn food into foam and meats lie in hot water for 12 hours, giving definition to slow cooking at Caperberry, which deserves a place here simply for being India’s first restaurant to offer molecular gastronomy. www.caperberry.in

Edo the Japanese restaurant at ITC Royal Gardenia, has a Robatayaki grill, a stone garden and, of course, sake. www. welcomzestlounge.in/edo.html

One of the best Med food options in the city is Fava at UB City. The food is excellent, the ambience even more so and the wine list is exhaustive. fava.in

Bangalore classic Karavali still has no real match. A courtyard under the canopy of a raintree, antique furniture and walls adorned with seafarer maps. This is seafood haven. At Taj Gateway; tel: (080) 6660 4545

Choose a table at the leafy outdoor area of Bon South and enjoy the rocking food from southern states.

MADHYA PRADESH

Relax Under The Mango Tree at Jehan Numa Palace in Bhopal where, around the ancient mango tree in the courtyard, you can enjoy Mughlai cuisine. www.

MAHARASHTRA

The all-white restaurant designed to look like a forest still remains but Tote on the Turf, at the Mahalaxmi Race Course, has become Neel. And going by the buzz on weekday nights, the new avatar is doing pretty well. The menu has more than 50 kebabs. Tel: (022) 6157 7777

We couldn’t leave out Wasabi by Chef Morimoto. After its renovation, the menu remains more or less the same save the addition of a chef’s table, where you can enjoy dishes that are not on the menu. At Taj Mahal Palace; tel: (022) 6665 3366

At Bungalow 9 in Bandra, enjoy fabulous grills and curries (world cuisine) without your conversation being drowned out by music. www.bungalow9.in

Busaba , the old Colaba favourite, has opened a branch in Lower Parel. Favourites like khao suey, momos and spring rolls remain on the menu.

The fairly new Ziya, Michelin-star Chef Vineet Bhatia’s restaurant at The Oberoi, serves Indian cuisine with a twist. Think Uttapam Lasagna, and Chocomosa. Tel: (022) 6632 5757

KOH , the Thai restaurant by celebrity chef Ian Kittichai, is where everyone who is anyone goes to have a fine meal. At the InterContinental Marine Drive; www.

A clutch of cooks from Hong Kong is believed to be the reason behind the success of Royal China in Bandra. Most Bollywood stars, corporate biggies and cricketers are regulars. Tel: (022) 2642 5533

In Pune, the al fresco Stone Water Grill is where the rich and the famous go for some great Continental food. www.stonewatergrill.in

RAJASTHAN

At the very atmospheric 1135 AD, the meal is as much about the experience of dining inside a fort as about the food. At Amber Fort, Jaipur.

Indique at Pal Haveli in Jodhpur is an al fresco terrace restaurant that offers gorgeous views of the city landmarks. Tel: (0291) 329 3328

Dining at Mehran Terrace is a romantic experience beyond compare, with the centuries-old ramparts of Mehrangarh fort as the perfect backdrop.

The Sunset Terrace overlooks the Lake Pichola in Udaipur. Enjoy the Rajasthani fare. Tel: (0294) 252 8016

TAMIL NADU

Prego’s Tuscan Brunch on Sunday is a riot and the restaurant itself is still rated as one of Chennai’s hottest tables. At Taj Coromandel; tel: (044) 6600 2827

The rooftop of the Taj Mount Road is home to the very charming Kefi, the Med restaurant that has excellent food and romantic outdoor seating. Tel: (044) 6631 3131

For Chettinad cuisine, Dakshin is still the best in the city, though the restaurant offers food from all the southern states. It has been rated one of Asia’s top 20 restaurants in the Miele Guide for 2011. Tel: (044) 2499 4101

WEST BENGAL

Casa Toscana , in a quiet leafy avenue overlooking the Dhakuria Lake, is a perfect place for a lazy Sunday brunch. Tel: (0)96741 55019

Giving good old Bengali cuisine an innovative twist is Bohemian, where you can find dishes like Grilled Hilsa with Cheese (oops) and Gondhoraj Soufflé. In Ballygunge. Tel: (033) 6460 1001