Lucknow, a city which is walking briskly towards the modern world with rapid urbanization and infrastructure development, needs no introduction. It has a glorious past and owing to its 'tehzeeb', people have immense respect and great expectations when they visit this 'City of Nawabs'.
That's right, Lucknow is all about Nawabs, Kababs, Chikan and Chicken. And before this writeup starts to sound like a paid advertisement for the city, I'll jump straight to the point - the food. The old section of the city is a paradise for foodies - away from the New Lucknow's modern fine dining restaurants, cafes and clubs, it has some of the best and iconic eateries at dirt cheap prices. Dastarkhwan stands proud amount the best when it comes to kickass non-vegetarian food.
Dastarkhwan basically means a 'baithak' or something you sit on. In old times, the people used to spread a large piece of soft cloth on the floor for sitting and gorging on food.
The original outlet is located in a lane which is a nirvana for your olfactory senses. There are food joints on both sides of the road, each specializing in non-vegetarian Mughlai delicacies.
The best time to visit it is at the night when the atmosphere is vibrant and the people are flocking to grab a bite of their favorite food without biting their wallets off.
Dastarkhwan has no ambience, no air-conditioning and no hygiene, the seats and tables are plastic, the waiters are in a rush, there are people standing on your head - a typical street food madness which is only about one thing - piping hot food.
Most of the stuff is prepared on a huge skillet or 'tawa'. The menu is not very elaborate but whatever they serve, is a masterpiece.
The Chicken Kali Mirch, a dry item which is packed with rich spices, is a dish you will not be able to resist once you see it. It is tender, juicy, a bit oily and enough to fill your stomach and forget the main course. If you are not very adventurous (which I assume you are not, or then you would not be reading this blog) and want something more common, try their Roasted Chicken which is just as how it should be.
The Butter Chicken is probably the best I've had in my life. It is spicy yet sweet and piled with a heap of chicken pieces. The butter is smothered generously. The rich aroma and the beauty of the dish will make you lick the plate! It's that good! Talking of plates, make sure you wipe yours with a tissue when the waiter gives it to you. You cannot depend on these guys to clean the utensils with utmost attention when they are busy serving thousands of patrons daily.
Chicken Qorma is a queer dish. It has chicken pieces floating in a sea of a watery gravy and oil. It doesn't look tempting and the taste is something you'll acquire with time. I didn't like it much at first but after I tried it two or three times, I was bowled over by its unique flavor and the succulent chicken pieces.
Chicken Qorma is a queer dish. It has chicken pieces floating in a sea of a watery gravy and oil. It doesn't look tempting and the taste is something you'll acquire with time. I didn't like it much at first but after I tried it two or three times, I was bowled over by its unique flavor and the succulent chicken pieces.
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| Chicken Qorma |
Another gem is the 'ulte tawe ka paratha' which is something exclusive to Lucknow though I am not quite sure about its origin. It is prepared from fine flour or 'maida' on an inverted 'kadhai' like utensil. It is soft on the inside and a little crunchy on the outside which makes it a perfect companion for most of the non-vegetarian items. Alternatively you can go for 'rumali roti' which is thin and soft (hence its name) if your stomach desires something lighter.
The sheermal is another bread which is quite popular among the locals though it is something which you may or may not like as it is prepared from milk. Yes, milk. It is a little sweet and tender and has got a characteristic orange tinge.
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| Chicken Masala |
The Awadhi Pulav or 'Biryani' as the people call it, is quite different from the Biryani available elsewhere in India. Unlike its Hyderabadi counterpart which is heavy on spices and rich flavors, the Lucknowi Biryani is about aroma and mild spices. The chicken pieces are tender and the long-grained Basmati rice is cooked slowly in a closed container along with spices and 'kesar'. The beauty is that you will not see any spices in the Biryani but you will feel the flavor and the aroma. You may end up loving it or loathing it; totally depends on how you expect your Biryani to be. I personally love Both Hyderabadi and Lucknowi offerings but it is difficult to decide that which one is better as both are so different.
Their Kababs can give Tunday's a run for their money. They are loved by the locals here and some even find them to be better than Tunday's! Though I do not agree with those people. Tunday Kababi is in a league of its own and they undoubtedly serve the most amazing and authentic Kababs in the world. Period.
Not to disappoint the vegetarians, these people are generous enough to offer a Paneer Butter Masala too so that nobody leaves them with an empty stomach. Surprisingly, it is good as well!
They've got outlets in multiple parts of the city - Lalbagh, Gomti Nagar, Indira Nagar to be precise. These three outlets are air-conditioned fine-dining restaurants, suitable for families or people looking for ambiance or maybe some peace. Though, the oldest Hazratganj outlet, in its raw and original format, is the best among these to experience gastronomic heaven.
With people visiting this city just for relishing its food, it is quite difficult for them to pick out the best from the best. This particular restaurant should be in the top 3 places of your list. Undeniably, the Dastarkhwan name in Lucknow is as iconic as Tunday. One bite and you'll know why.
