Triple8, Khel Gaon Marg, New Delhi Pan-Asian Restaurant

Phone: 011 33105609
Address: B -103A, First Floor, Ansal Plaza, Khel Gaon Marg, New Delhi, India
Time: Today 12 Noon to 12 Midnight
Meals for two: Rs. 2,500
Cuisines: Thai, Vietnamese, Asian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean
Facilities: Full Bar Available

Triple8, Khel Gaon Marg, New Delhi: Decor

After having visited hundreds of restaurants and ploughed my way through more meals that I can count, at last, here is a restaurant whose food, wine list and interiors have exceeded my wildest expectations. Burgundy walls and upholstery, sofas to sink into, the kind of comfort that is seldom found outside a luxury hotel, Triple8 has hit the jackpot. Now, all they have to do is to hang on to Chef Vivek Rana and Chef Hiroshi Isomura and they could well laugh all the way to the proverbial bank. The restaurant and bar on two floors really does double duty as a dining space where the food gives the five star brigade a run for its money in the modern South East Asian space, and a bar.

Triple8, Khel Gaon Marg, New Delhi: Food

Triple8’s genius is in being able to effortlessly straddle the kitty party crowd and the serious gastronomes. Char siu ham and cheese spring rolls (₹ 425) is, at one level, a regular crunchy spring roll with melting cheese; at another, the miracle is that ham has been ‘roasted’ with char siu spices, just as fatty pork shoulder normally is. Five spiced goat brain tempura (₹ 425) is the Triple8 signature: brain — a seriously under-used ingredient — has been filled in a tiny wonton and gently fried till the outside is barely crisp and the inside is like molten pate. Highly recommended. Snapper fish banana leaf parcels (₹ 525) are a bomb of flavor and the three dipping sauces are redundant. The otak-otak chunks are marinated in basil, chilli and lime leaf and steamed till the fragrance hits the roof. Bacon rolled chicken liver satay (₹ 395) was a pleasant enough play on textures, especially with chunky peanut butter dipping sauce, but hardly in the class of the other dishes. Minced prawn sugarcane (₹ 435) was light, airy, flavorful and had been made with expertise. Do not miss it. The signature king prawns with garlic pepper served with fragrant rice congee (₹ 900) was one of the best conceptualized main courses of its kind: filling, hearty, yet dainty and flavorful.

Triple8, Khel Gaon Marg, New Delhi: Plus And Minus

A word about the wine list: every off-the-radar wine is here, for easy drinking or for pairing with the food. The selection of wines by the glass is, quite simply, the best in the city.