The World’s Best Airport might have just gotten its best restaurant, as Travel Food Services launches the lively and colourful Delhi Streat. Housed in the International Arrivals building at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, the restaurant can only be described as an elevated version of the quintessential dhaba, offering a menu that appeals not only to domestic flyers, but also international travellers seeking a brief slice of north India. The restaurant makes quite the successful attempt in capturing the sights, smells and sounds of India’s buzzing streets—as evident from the Punjabi music blaring from speakers as you walk in. The staff are cheerful and conversational, the service prompt and efficient, and the ambience quite jovial; the restaurant seems fun, a rainbow-hued oasis amidst the practical hum of an airport. Delhi’s Metro rail map adorns the bright yellow walls, interspersed with assorted road signs that are strung up in between. Rattan ceilings, brick walls, and open kitchens further refine the nostalgia of Old Delhi.
Divided into convenient self-service counters, Dilli Streat has a staggering selection of cuisines on display—be it the Anglo-Indian-inspired chicken burger, aromatic Lucknow biryani, or the South Indian snack corner that dishes out refreshingly light bites. A colourful chaat bar also brightens up the centre of the area. And did I mention there’s a separate counter to grab freshly made mocktails? In what’s probably a first for the airport, seating sections have iPads installed on the tables from where guests can place their order.
For those who fancy items beyond India’s borders, the restaurant also boasts a delectable pan- Asian menu, with kebabs, bento boxes, noodles, Tibetan fare, and more. While not the most authentic in terms of representation, their Indo-Chinese flavours do pack a punch.
Speaking about T3’s joint du jour, TFS COO Gaurav Dewan believes “…the menu showcases a diverse range of authentic and popular Delhi street food along with national and international delicacies.”
If the food served at their Thursday launch is anything to go by, the restaurant’s blend of India’s streets (with a sprinkle of fine dining) has already made for a winning formula. Particularly good items on the menu are the melt-in-your-mouth Chicken 65, a cheesy mushroom pizza, Tibetan momos, and a bright raspberry orange cooler. Trust us on this—the next time you’re in this terminal, replace your favourite popcorn chicken with a pakora or two.