The experience of dining at Sakley's-The Mountain Café can be amazing if you don't like experimenting with your food, says Karan Bhardwaj
One simple reason why we chose to visit this new outlet at Greater Kailash area was its ‘hilly’ concept, which stood out among the other available options. The name Sakley’s: The Mountain Café sounded cool and to some extent, it lived up to its name. As you enter the place, wooden interior bathed in dim lights overwhelm you. Strategically located, overlooking an age-old peepal tree, the décor bears a rustic charm. Ceiling is made of chopped wood and a floor is embedded with pine cones. The country music in the background goes well with the décor which create an impression that you are sitting atop a hill. Though there’s no river flowing outside nor there’s rhythmic noise of water, Sakley’s managed to provide some serenity to senses. The big French windows and tables made from tree stumps add to the vintage feel.
The Sakley’s, which is now a chain of restaurants globally, was started as a patisserie in 1944 by a Swiss chef Salecheli in Nainital. After TC Rekhi took over, he didn’t change ‘Sakley’ owing to local sentiments attached to the place. “Till the 70s, it remained a pastry shop until the next generation introduced a café concept along with the bakery. The menu was limited to Continental, European and Italian. On public demand, we introduced fine dining in the 80s with Indian, Chinese, Mughlai cuisines onboard. As the bakery in Nainital continues to sell 60 kinds of pastries, the restaurant has been diversified. We have branches in Gurgaon, london and Delhi,” says Amit Rekhi, who is running GK’s outlet while his younger brother is heading charge in london.
Interiors are consistent in all outlets with minor modifications as per the space and guests’ requirements. The menu comprises a delectable mix of soups, salads, all day breakfast options, pizzas, pastas, sizzlers, steaks, sandwiches, burgers, hot and cold beverages and desserts. All the dishes are made from freshly picked ingredients and farm fresh vegetables. The classic favourites include the wolf mountain juicy chicken sizzler available to order with an option of variety of sides such as the garlic and parsley toast, homemade country fries, west country sauté vegetables and old-fashioned potato mash. The base of the sizzler can too be chosen from selections such as the Sakley’s original barbeque, lamb flavoured brown pepper mushroom or the traditional cream and cheddar cheese sauce. The vegetarian variant of the sizzlers is the extremely soft and well-cooked autumn leaves grilled cottage cheese steak best served with the tomato, garlic and oregano or the onion rosemary sauce. The extremely thin crust fresh dough pizzas and the farm-fresh jacket potato’s served with country style toppings such as baked beans and bacon bits are also nice.
But the visit to Sakley’s is incomplete without chocolate truffle pastry, a head-turner in demand for the last 50 years. With the right amount of fluff, it melts with every bite.