New to Gurugram: Chef Amninder Sandhu’s Kikli from CP

Following the runaway success of Chef Amninder Sandhu’s Kikli in Connaught Place, she’s bringing it to Gurugram. Before there was a border, Lahore, Patiala, and Multan broke the same bread. Located on the first floor of the AIPL Masterpiece Complex in Sector 54, this 60-seater restaurant will be serving up the soulful odes to near-forgotten heirloom recipes of a larger Punjab that Kikli is known for. For over a decade, Sandhu has crisscrossed the region (and even Delhi), excavating recipes that survived the Partition. 

What to expect from Kikli, Gurugram

At the heart of Kikli’s kitchen is the hara, a traditional Punjabi cooking setup fueled by cow-dung cakes, for dishes like the slow-cooked malka dal. In fact, a similar flavour finds a playful home in the chuara chironji doodh soft serve. Gurugram’s Kikli promises satpura chaat dripping with khatti-meethi aloo di launji, chapli kebabs, nalli kachori, katlama, and chapli-spiced bites alongside less-known breads like the naturally fermented mushki roti and toonhi roti.

Sandhu is very clear about this not being mere nostalgia or a romantic tribute, which might be why butter chicken is not the beginning of any menu that Kikli produces. She prefers preserving pure technique and knowledge. From Patiala comes duggani pulao, for instance. As one expects from Chef Amninder, there are personal touches, including Atte Di Chiddi, a nod to the bird-shaped rotis her mother rolled during her childhood. 

Kikli: The space and the drinks

Designed by Ariane Ginwala, the interiors are said to be inspired by chowk-poorana, brass details, and vibrant Phulkari motifs. The bar programme by Jeet Rana and Chirag Pal, meanwhile, will have classic flavours like ganne ka ras, aam panna, and thandai are spun into bold cocktails available in Regular and Patiala pours… not to mention the cheeky tadka marke beer.

The details

Address: 1st Floor, AIPL Masterpiece Complex, Unit 2, Sector 54, Gurugram

Timings: Mon-Sun. Noon-3.30pm, 7pm-11.30pm. 

Price: ₹2,000 for two

Reservations: 7233999333