Diva, Greater Kailash 2, New Delhi Restaurant

Restaurant Name: Diva, Greater Kailash 2, New Delhi
Phone: +911141637858, +917827934131
Address: M-8A, M Block Market, Greater Kailash 2, New Delhi, India
Time: 12 Noon – 10:30 PM
Meals for two: Rs. 2,500
Cuisines: Italian, Pizza, Salad
Facilities: Home Delivery, Full Bar Available, All Day Breakfast, Indoor Seating, Table booking recommended, Romantic Dining, Wifi

It has been 21 long years since Ritu Dalmia established Diva at Greater Kailash II, and around eight years before that she opened her first-ever restaurant in Delhi. Since then, she has perfected her craft, appeared on television, catered for Indian weddings and international conferences in Italy, opened (and closed) several cafes that were frankly too far ahead of their time, written cookbooks, done travel and food shows, been outspoken on public fora about matters she holds dear and opened a modern Indian restaurant in Milan. In time and very gradually, she has moved from the Italian classics to a style of her own, where texture, ingredients that are readily available and the soul of Italian cooking combine skillfully and surprisingly. The other hallmark of a Ritu Dalmia menu is that no single part of Italy is sacrosanct above all others, so there could be three different elements from as many parts of that country in a single dish, though Sicily, where she learnt Italian cooking, continues to rule her heart.

Diva, Greater Kailash 2, New Delhi: Food

All about beets (₹580) is the best possible example of this lady’s approach to cooking. Golden and red beetroot are roasted, pickled and steamed served with ‘candy cane’ carpaccio, ricotta and horseradish.This is a best-seller at the moment. It showcases the colorful beetroots, highlights their inherent sweetness. Healthy, light, flavorful food is the new luxury. House-made tagliolini with fresh crab, chilli oil and fresh herbs (₹1,200) is a Sardinian specialty that hits the spot every time. It depends on the freshness of the crabmeat for its success, but whenever I have ordered it, it has been sensational, not least because crabmeat is rather rare to find in restaurant menus. Double baked mushroom souffle with a kale cap (₹690) was the vegetarian main course we ordered. The best part about it was that it was reheated in our modest oven at home without any apparent loss of texture or shape. It does require a seasoned restaurateur like Dalmia to have it on a home delivery menu, though. Seabass with an olive crust, almond sauce, accompanied with pumpkin caponata and baby carrots (₹990) was our choice of fish main course where the accompaniments are as delicious as the dish itself!

Plus & Minus:

All the dishes on the Diva menu appear to have been specially tested for delivery-worthiness.