Newly-opened Fio Cookhouse & Bar at Epicuria Mall, Nehru Place, is an interesting hangout that doubles up as day café and an elite fine-diner by night. Navneet Mendiratta samples their unique European and contemporary Indian menu
Delhi is truly a foodie city and no amount of inflation is going to deter people from eating out. Such is their love for food that not only do people patronise their old favourites but also are keen to try out newer options making sure nobody feels left out. This could perhaps be accounted as best explanation for restaurateurs getting encouraged to open additional ventures with a completely new menu bearing no resemblance to the flagship eatery sans the fear of rejection.
Fio Cookhouse & Bar at Epicuria Mall at Nehru Place is one such new offering from the owners of Fio Country Kitchen & Bar at the Garden of Five senses. In true sense, save for the name connection, the place bears no resemblance to the Saket version. Very urban with more flexible timings to cater to the office going crowd, the restaurant offers a new perspective to a short meal out — one that can easily be converted into extended lunch or dinner at any point of time. And yes there is ample parking space to save you the trauma of finding one.
If there is any similarity, it is the efforts made by the promoter Vineet Wadhwa to ensure culinary passion is retained. The interiors are classy, no fuss and give you the feeling of space, instantly putting your mind to rest. Tall glass windows that look into a carefully designed, manicured open space extend the feeling of being detached from the concrete jungle the city so is.
The food is modern European and contemporary Indian, with dished tweaked to make them stand out.
As in the day, the restaurant turns into a café, the menu is more casual with lots of sandwiches and quick nibble varieties thrown in. Designed by Executive Chef Ravindra Choudhary, who understands the flavours well having worked with The Park New Delhi in the past, has attempted to induce an element of surprise and advantage of portions to keep the guests happy. Should you like what you just tried, the chef is only too happy to share the recipes.
The menu is largely no-fuss. Topping the charts are some contemporary and some classic, but both delightful soups and salads such as minestrone piemontese, thyme chicken and lentil broth, flamed feta Salad, cookhouse salad, Fio deconstructed ceaser salad and duet of smoked salmon salad to name a few. love your greens, go for cookhouse salad. It has all possible veggies you could think of with a dash of sweet in the form of fruits. It’s a meal in itself. Seafood lovers would appreciate the duet of smoked salmon salad. The salad is tossed just right to ensure you don’t miss out on the delicate flavor of salmon.
For the main meal you can choose from the small plate and big plate options depending on your hunger or plain number of friends. Though both the section list out impressive dishes, the most recommended are bruschetta garlic (I loved the flavours of juicy garlic cherry tomato confit for topping) spit fired grilled chicken, peri peri roasted vegetable panini, chicken chapli pocket, aubergine, zucchini asparagus parmigiano and olive crusted red snapper (another great preparation) among others.
For those who’d rather stick to Mediterranean, there is a selection of pizzas, pastas and risottos with interesting preparations as raviolo, spinach, ricotta and dates and risotto garden cress to name a few. Ah! And not to forget the drinks. The inhouse mixologists ensure that every one of their recipes is unique and has its own story. Ask for fruity flavours like berries and mango, trust me you’d end up asking for a refill.
The desserts are their other popular section. For one they taste divine and other they are beautifully served in specially imported jars. I was told the restaurant now has to refuse takeaway options for desserts till takeaway varieties arrive! Wondering which ones to try firstIJ Go for tiramisu jar, banoffee jar and Fio chocolate flan… yes, in that order.