Geetika Sachdev

It’s a known fact that every opening in Horizon Plaza on Gurgaon’s Golf Course Road comes with a certain price tag. You walk in already prepared for it. There’s also the other reality: restaurants here don’t always last. The spaces are swanky, the ambition evident, but not always matched by crowds. And with rents like these, well… it's a very tough game. Kimikai – Umami House (the team is clear about not wanting to be boxed into the ‘pan-Asian’ label) now takes over what used to be Ping’s Bia Hoi, one of the handful of spots I genuinely liked in Gurugram. So yes, expectations were automatically higher, even though I tried (and failed) to stay unbiased. Unlike most places here (glass façades and in-your-face signage) this one plays it low-key. From the outside, it feels like someone’s private space, but then again, this is Gurugram: exclusivity is the point. The more deliberately discreet it feels, the better the bragging rights.  Before I get to the dining room, a staff member points me to the alfresco. There’s a mix of high and low seating plus plenty of plants, which she calls Kimikai’s garden. Up until that point, I had assumed the name was just another pan-Asian filler you dress up later with a backstory. Turns out, Kimikai is a full-blown mythical vixen, and this is her territory. Well, well, well. I have… mixed feelings. Inside, it’s a fairly large space, and the storytelling hits hard. I’m told this is Kimikai’s ‘house’. It's a wooden-dominated space with mirrors, arte

This swish new spot in Sangam Courtyard’s quickly become the talk of the town, and I think it’s because it’s one of the more playful spaces to open lately. There’s digital art flashing in corners, a dining bar built for actual dining, and a gelato trolley that lets you assemble a dream sundae.  The thing with places like these is that if the food isn’t up to the mark, it just doesn’t matter how innovative the interiors are. The folks behind GRAMMIE seem cognisant of this fact and have steered clear of an overly complicated menu. The food leans European-meets-Mediterranean, with some standout fusion plates – the Chilled Sweet Corn Mousse with Granola Mix, for instance, and the Arangiri, which is a delightful mashup of arancini and nigiri. Standouts from the mains include the Crispy Duck Pizza. You’ve got everything here – coffee, cocktails, small plates, grills, pastas, pizzas and bowls, and fair warning, they’re pretty obsessed with pistachio: from the Pistachio Pesto Udon Noodles to the bestselling Pistachio Tiramisu.  Drinks get experimental too. There's Passionfruit and Vanilla or Lychee and Sesame. Sounds odd, tastes fun. Just go with it.

Le Cirque’s where you take your partner when they’ve got a promotion. Or if you want to propose. It has all the trappings of a tasteful, mind-bogglingly expensive date night.  The original 10th-floor location, of course, had a different kind of charm… spacious, alfresco seating, a bird’s eye view of Delhi – it was the works, back in the day. But I’ve got to say that the revamped space on the first floor, though much smaller, has its own pros. It’s much more intimate, for starters, and there’s not a lick of change when it comes to the quality of service or food. The Franco-Italian fare remains superb, though plates have veered more modern. An open kitchen sits at the centre of the main dining area, making for a nice hustle-bustle as you wait for your food.  The five- and seven-course tasting menus are the real draw. Fresh burratina, yellowfin tuna crudo, scallops with black truffle. The handmade pastas and risotto. Salt-baked portobello mushroom, paprika-crusted rock lobster. Come hungry.  Don’t forget that the wine list is easily one of the city’s best, so consider booking a personal session with the in-house sommelier to really go ham. From champagne and Old World legends to rare Coravin pours and expressive by-the-glass options, there’s something to elevate every course. Time Out tip: Don’t even think about skipping the crème brûlée. It’s an absolutely iconic Le Cirque dish. 

It’s almost unbelievable that a neighbourhood as busy as Shivalik hides a space this calm. French for ‘plates’, the restaurant’s the brainchild of chefs Hanisha Singh and Jamsheed Bhote (of the Tres, Shibuya, and EVOO fame) – and their singular love for fresh ingredients is what makes the food here stand out, on first impressions.The interiors, simple and restrained, refocus all attention on the large menu, which sports small, large, and sharing plates. That’s a tell-tale sign of a chef-led operation – the decor must never be allowed to detract from the food. Everything’s inspired by global flavours and executed with masterful technique here. Take the Thai-curried salmon and avocado ceviche, or the pillowy pork chorizo dumplings, or even the double tenderloin cheeseburger.While they do have cocktails on the menu, they could be done slightly better. Some, though, are fairly noteworthy: Sweet Heat (mango tequila, jalapeño and roasted chilli oil) and the Peach Please (gin, jasmine, peach sparkling tea, and a lemongrass-ginger cordial).Time Out tip: They nail the passionfruit and vanilla tres leches.