Samarkand

Sector 29, NOIDA

After being turned away from the Arun Vihar Officers Institute (it was 11pm) we turned towards Samarkand.

Let me be very honest here. I have a bias against places that serve chindian, pinglish and standard north indian fare. Being part of a group and hungry as hell, I didn’t have much of a choice but to follow everybody into the place.

I was due for a surprise.

The cutlery was clean and sparkling. The tablecloths were white and maroon and totally spotless, service was polite, wood panelled walls, the decor, while quintessentially punjabi (read ostentatious, shiny and overdone) was not over the top, christmas decorations were nice. I did feel the artificial roses at the table could have been real ones and the music perhaps a little more sophisticated ("tu cheez badi hai…"), but then let me not start whining, the place had already exceeed expectations.

The plates were laid. Wonder of wonders - they had been warmed! At this point I started looking forward to the food. The ever present pickled onions and pickles were placed on the table. I did miss the green chutkey + yoghurt that is normally there.

Coming to the food. We ordered Kadhai Chicken, Green peas in a thick green gravy, dal makhni, tadka dal, mixed rotis and some paneer. Don’t know because I didn’t do the ordering. Just sat and hogged like a good little glutton.

Let me now admit - The food was great! The service was excellent and overall the experience was wonderful. Though I don’t generally eat Indian out, if I do have to go Indian again, this is the place I’m going to hit. BTW: They serve alcohol as well.

Rating: 8.5/10
Meal for two: 400

-sid

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