Of gentle streams and white drapes

Birthdays are usually happy go lucky affairs. But I am quite stupidly sentimental about mine. Add to it that it was my first birthday after marriage and it was enough to almost drive my husband over the edge. The pressure of doing that something special was looming over him like a dark cloud...

The day finally arrived. For our evening out, he asked me to dress formal and hurried me out of the house saying we couldnt arrive late. To my delight, as he pulled into the driveway of Claridges hotel, I realised that he had done the impossible. He had booked us for dinner in what is slated as the most romantic restaurant in Delhi - Sevilla.


Sevilla is a tiny fairyland in the middle of Lutyen's Delhi. A wooden pathway leads you in, twisting and turning along, lined with lanterns on the side. A tiny stream is crossed with the help of a glass bridge and you can almost feel your heart stop. White drapes fluttering in the wind, gentle music in the background and the only other sound,the gentle tumble of the stream. Reminds me of Robert Frost's poem "The only other sound's the sweep, Of easy wind and downy flake". As you stand there and just marvel at the stillness, it is not hard to imagine why this is voted by HT CITY food guide and many others as the most romantic restaurant in Delhi.

We were seated in a cozy alcove and introduced to our waiter for the meal. A tad bit surprised when he announced that they only served mineral water, we could only choose between Himalaya and Evian. The choice was but obvious. Skipping the alcoholic drinks, we scanned the menu for starters. Our host suggested that we go for the day's special grills(Rs.450+tax) and we willingly agreed. The platter, when arrived looked a tad bit small but did not disappoint. 2 pieces of pepper encrusted salmon, 2 pieces of chicken and 2 prawns skewered and grilled to perfection with garlic. The chicken was uncharacteristically soft and seasoned delicately. Each tiny bite would fill the senses with a wonderous flavor.

As we moved on to the main course, and not being too hungry, we decided to go for the chicken breast stuffed with ham and chirozo (Rs.700+tax). The dish arrived in a platter with some sauteed baby potatoes and aubergine by the side. It was also accompanied by a thin crisy relative of garlic bread. The chicken itself was brushed with a light barbeque sauce. It did not sweep us off our feet but in its defense was above average.

All in all, Sevilla is the place you should go to for the ambience. The menu is exorbitantly priced though the food is good. But with so many choices in the city for good food, this is the place to go when you want to cut yourself away from the bustling life of Delhi. As for me, I had a great birthday and a wonderful surprise to thank my husband for.... but dont take my word for it, go check it out yourself.

Location: Claridges Hotel, Aurangzeb Road
Meal for 2: Rs.3,000 without drinks (starter + 2 dishes + 1 desert)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5