Sidewok - Khan Market, New Delhi
By Sid • Jul 10th, 2008 • Category: Restaurants in Delhi, ReviewsAshwin and I decided to meet up midweek and yesterday seemed as good a day as any. Since I had had enough of western style food, the general consensus was either an Indian or a Chinese restaurant. Roaming around Khan market, we found SideWok.
If I were to choose a single redeeming feature at SideWok, it would be their manager - Rakesh Puri. He impressed us to such an extent, that (since they didn’t serve alcohol) we went elsewhere for our pint and came back here to eat, solely due to him.
The decor here is quite neatly done in a mixture of wood panelling, glass and brick. It could be a little less cramped, but once you’re seated it is quite alright. Have you ever been to some really good restaurants and wrinkled your nose at their toilets? For example, Golden Dragon Lajpat Nagar’s loos are cramped, dingy and stink! Not so at SideWok - *Very* well maintained and well designed - I was quite impressed.
The service is attentive, friendly and efficient. I asked for my food to be served a certain way and they ensured it was done so, down to the smallest detail. The manager was all smiles, suggestions and I found willing and polite answers to everything I asked… and I can be pesky at times.
Here’s where the experience starts to dull a bit.
We ordered Mizutaki Soup, Crispy Fried Sweet and Sour Pork, Mixed Meat Noodles and Vegetables in a Garlic Wine Sauce. While it came to the table exactly the way I asked, *nothing* except the soup met the mark.
The Mizutaki Soup was exellent, even though they used Koyadofu - a type of freeze-dried spongy Japanese tofu that I don’t care much for. The taste, textures and contents were splendid and I’d love to have it again.
The Vegetables in Garlic Wine Sauce was grossly overdone and the whole dish could be described as one step short of the mush fed to babies. The Pork was fried to the extent that it couldn’t be chewed, definitely wasn’t crisp and was in a sauce that was a couple of marks short of syrup (sweet!!!). The noodles would have been fine if the shreds of omelette inside it didn’t smell of burnt egg. None of the food matched the high expectations set by the decor and service. The food was more Delhi street Chinese than that you would expect in a restaurant.
I’ll say it again here - the soup was exellent. 
I don’t think I will be visiting here again, inspite of the wonderful people, service attitude and service.
Meal for two: INR 1300 | Alcohol: No | Credit Cards: Yes | Phone: 011-43587122 / 43587133
- Sid
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Sid is a self confessed food addict who likes cooking, writing and photography... and travel, if it gets him closer to a good book and interesting food.
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Well now, I think you should visit again in a couple of months time. D and I often do that and if the second time is the same as the first, we will let the management know why we will not be returning. We also let people know if we have really enjoyed the experience, that way they remember us and we have an even better time on the second and subsequent visits.
I have never knowingly eaten tofu…
BTW! I forgot to say anything about the Bakewell Pudding, D and I found it toothacheingly sweet but his daughter ate quite a lot! The underlying flavour though, was good. Thank you for bringing it.
Toni-anne.
That *is* probably the right thing to do, though based on the food I really don’t know if I’ll be up to it. I did leave feedback though. :-).
Guess a second visit is on the cards in a couple of months.
Yes, the bakewell pudding is quite, quite sweet - perhaps now my reasons for avoiding it initially are clearer :-). I do like it though. I hope you heated it in the oven before eating it. You’re more than welcome BTW.