Anahita Dhondy’s guide to the best women-led restaurants in Delhi

Long before Italian food became Delhi’s default comfort cuisine, chef Ritu Dalmia took a gamble. Back when pasta usually meant Indian-ised macaroni, she introduced the city to ravioli, truffles, and the idea of Italian food done properly through her now-iconic restaurant, Diva. Anahita calls her the ‘OG mommy’ of the business – the kind of chef who made professional kitchens feel less intimidating, especially for women finding their footing.

Anahita first met Dalmia in the 11th grade, at a class she was hosting at her Khan Market café. At the time, cooking was still a question mark. ‘That meeting stayed with me,’ she says. ‘It helped me make up my mind.’ Nearly two decades later, the admiration remains unchanged. In fact, Diva recently turned 25, and the food is as consistent as ever. 

Anahita’s picks: She orders widely, but always goes back to the girella with lamb meat ragù, finished with gorgonzola and mascarpone butter. ‘Oh my god. I can’t even explain what that dish does.’

Price: About ₹3,500 for two
Address: M-8A, M Block Market, Greater Kailash II, New Delhi, Delhi 110048
Timings: 12.30pm-11.30pm. Daily.

In a city overrun with burgers, AKU’s by Chef Akriti Malhotra has over time become the spot if you like yours without the preservative overload. What started as a single Defence Colony outlet after Akriti returned from the Culinary Institute of America has grown into eight locations in under a decade without losing its grip on quality. And it’s the same reason why Anahita swears by their burgers: consistency through the day, whether you’re ordering midnight munchies or a mid-morning hangover cure. 

It’s a no-brainer, then, that she teamed up with Akriti on the limited-edition Bawa-G series – a Salli Boti–inspired burger with pulled lamb or jackfruit, Parsi spices, and crisp potato juliennes. ‘The dipping sauce served alongside is to die for, don’t miss it,’ she says.

Anahita’s picks: Her go-to is the Lamb Bro-G with bacon, an obsession that peaked during her pregnancy. ‘I could easily finish two. Chef Akriti definitely has a role in building my child,’ she says. The secret sauce, she insists, is the potato bun.

Price: ₹1,500 for two
Address: Multiple
Timings: 10am-11pm. Daily. 

Anukriti Anand, who runs Altogether Experimental (ATE), is younger than Anahita, but that’s never mattered. What has always stood out is how good she is with pastry. They first met years ago at a panel discussion, and then reconnected when Anukriti was working in the pastry kitchen at The Oberoi, Gurgaon. 

ATE came a little later, in 2019, when Anukriti opened the café with her husband and co-founder, Vicky Mandal, in Saket near Champa Gali. It quickly became one of those places people kept talking about, partly because the desserts were excellent, and partly because the team was entirely women. Anahita has eaten there enough times to know what it does best. 

The desserts are obviously very good, but the all-day breakfast, tacos and burgers are equally excellent. ‘I remember booking it out once for a big group,’ she says. ‘And the coffee was really good too. It’s the kind of place you go back to for the vibe as much as the food.’

Anahita’s picks: At the Saket outlet, Anahita never ever skips on ordering The Moooo – a cake with vanilla and strawberry. The flourless chocolate cake comes a close second.

Price: About ₹1,500-2,000 for two

Addresses
Saket: Khasra 264, Plot 2, 264, Westend Marg, Butterfly Park, Saiyad Ul Ajaib Extension, Saket, New Delhi, Delhi 110030
Meherchand: 88a, Meharchand Market, Lodi Colony, New Delhi, Delhi 110003

Timings: 9am-10pm (Meherchand) and 10am-10pm (Saket). Daily.

Amanda Bhandari’s someone Anahita has known for nearly a decade, dating back to their Olive Group days. Amanda was handling marketing at Serai, Anahita was at SodaBottleOpenerWala, and somewhere between service hours and shop talk, a solid friendship took shape.

So when Amanda opened Bombay Club at Dhan Mill, it felt natural that she called Anahita in to help shape the Bombay and Parsi dishes. Amanda’s strength, Anahita says, isn’t just marketing – it’s her understanding of food, sharpened by years of working and studying in Mumbai. More importantly, she’s always around: in the kitchen, on the floor, checking tables. ‘That’s a big reason the restaurant has been running so well for three years,’ Anahita says.

The kitchen, especially at the earlier location, was tiny, which meant being ruthless about what made it to the menu. Parsi food is slow, ingredient-heavy and demanding, so the focus was on dishes that could stay consistent day after day. 

Anahita’s picks: If you’re ordering for the first time, get the Keema Pav, she says – it’s got that unmistakable Parsi khatta-meetha note.

Price: About ₹1,500-2,000 for two
Address: Dhan Mill Compound, 100 Feet Road, SSN Marg, Chhatarpur, Delhi 110074
Timings: 9am-5pm (Mon-Tues); 11.30am-10.30pm (Wed-Sun). 

Plats is the kind of place you send people to when you don’t want follow-up questions, she says. Run by chefs Hanisha Singh and Jamsheed Bhote, Plats has been in her life for as long as it's been around. 

‘I don’t even need to look at the menu anymore,’ she admits. ‘I don’t care if it’s veg or non-veg – I’ve eaten pretty much everything there – but their charred broccoli deserves real respect.’ It’s also one of those rare restaurants that shows up just as well at home. Plats have fed more than a few of her house gatherings.

Anahita’s picks: She likes the non-alcoholic stuff – passion fruit iced tea, spiced apple fizz – over the cocktails. Heavy-hitter favourites include the Pork Cubano when she wants comfort and the Lamb Agnolotti (slow-cooked lamb, truffle potato) when she wants something richer. 

Price: ₹3,000 for two
|Address: C-51, Shivalik Rd, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110017
Timings: 12.30pm-11pm (Mon-Wes, Sun); 12.3pm-11.45pm (Fri-Sat).