The new kid on the block, Delhi Aerocity has become a melting pot for business travelers from all over the globe. Akin to the inns of the medieval times, the hotels here are catering to a multi cultural clientele. Most of this clientele is well travelled and the margin for error with them has to be minuscule. Holiday Inn’s all day dining, Viva is one such place. With Executive Chef Pankaj Kumar having cooked all over India along with having international experience in Japan, Egypt and Jamaica, he understands his clientele’s needs to a point and lays out his creations in a perfect harmony to their taste buds
Serving up some delectable treats, their Chef’s creations explode upon your palate with a burst of flavours and keep you coming back for more.
The visual and olfactory extravaganza on entering the hotel is wholly due to the strategic way this hotel has been built with the all day diner opening straight into the lobby. Flanked by natural light and an al fresco design, Viva’s ambiance captures your eye with its strategically placed jars of pasta.
Moving onto the food, we start off with a Norweigian Smoked Salmon (INR 695). Perfectly smoked salmon rolled with sour cream and served with cous-cous & capers salsa and orange fillet. The amalgamation of flavours and textures on this one leaves you spellbound. From the smoky flavour of the salmon to the slight tang of the sour cream, from the earthiness of the couscous to the sprightliness of the oranges, the dish tugs at each and every one of your taste buds.
TheGilafi Seekh kebab (INR 795)is next on the gauntlet. All skepticism of a five star not being able to do a kebab properly are laid to rest as the first morsel hits the tongue. Soft, even flavours with hints of spices. This is one perfectly rolled kebab. Finish it off along with garlic chutney to further the romance.
Health conscious ones can have a go at their Greek Salad with lemon oregano dressing (INR 295). Lined with fresh lettuce and rocket leaves, the salad is filling but still impresses on your taste buds.
The Not so Health Conscious ones can have a go at heir Quattro Formaggi. A thin crust Four Cheese pizza, this is a pizza for the purists. Clean, minimalistic flavours of danish blue, mozerella, parmesan andcheddar, topped with cherry tomato & Asparagus
Moving over to the mains, we try out the Grilled Salmon Steak (INR 1095). An overnight marinated salmon steak in herb oil with creamy spinach risotto and chunky tomato sauce. Although Salmon impresses a lot, it’s the perfectly cooked spinach risotto that takes your breath away. Combine it with the chunky tomato sauce, a reminiscence from the hard lands of Sicily, this combination of rustic and modern is a delight to your senses.
But its their Non-Veg thali that hits the nail on the head. Delhi NCR has been flushed with vegetarian thalis and wannabe non veg thaalis with two rotis and a load of butter chicken. But this one is the mother lode of all. Sour tangy Andhra fish curry, creamy spicy Butter chicken, the royally flavoured nalli gosht with fall off the none mutton, a delectably palak paneer, a dal makhni which reminds you of your pind and a gujrati kadhi which reminds me of my Gujarati girlfriend… Need I go on?? Accompanied by pulao, achar, green salad, Indian breads, a dessert and priced at INR 995, Viva surely has a winner on their hands.
For desserts, have a go at their selection of decadently curated Shahi Tukda, Chocolate Mousse Cake, Caramel Custards or any of the innumerable mouth watering creations that lie before you.
With a lunch buffet priced@ INR1200 ++, dinner@ INR1500++and an alcoholic Sunday Brunch@ INR 2100++, Holiday Inn, Delhi Aerocity crushes it’s competition with a well traveled Head Chef at the helm, some impressive food and some typical Holiday Inn attention to detail.
