Ambience Mall, Gurugram is a fun place to be any time of the year. But when you visit it around this time of the year, when Christmas is just around the corner and the new year is knocking at our doors, it is a whole different feeling. The entire atmosphere is electric and contributing to that festive fervour are the cafes and restaurants there. Located on the third floor of the mall, Dhansoo Café completely lives up to its name and manages to deliver an array of amazing dishes.
When we entered the café, we were instantly greeted by the very welcoming staff. The India vs Bangladesh test match was streaming on a huge screen and I took a seat to conveniently not miss the action. The place is cosy, with colours and décor that add to feeling of warmth and comfort. We began our meal with an assortment of bread and butter to go with it, while deciding on what cuisine should we treat our tongues to. Dhansoo has a very expansive menu that consists of Indian delicacies like butter chicken and street food favourites like bhel and kachori; from momo to salads to podi idli and from classic cocktails like the good old cosmopolitan to thandai.
We began by ordering a classic Caipiroska and a raspberry bass lemonade. The Caipiroska was a sweet and sour blend of raw canned sugar and lemon wedges with vodka as its base. It was a well-balanced cocktail that could be had with the heavy lunch that was about to follow. The lemonade on the other hand was a sweet refreshing drink, with honey and basil leaves adding to the flavour. While we were enjoying the drinks, we decided to try out the Indian classic dishes from the menu and so began our hearty lunch.
For the starters, we tasted the dahi ke sholey and the classic chicken tikka. Dahi ke sholey were soft from inside and crispy from outside. Topped with pomegranate seeds and served alongside some great dhaniya chutney, this vegetarian starter really lived up to the expectations. The chicken tikka was succulent, juicy and just the correct amount of spicy. We ordered the tikka on the recommendation of Chef Sushil and it really turned out to be the best dish of the day. The pickled potatoes that came with the tikka just added to the dish.
For the main course, we ordered chicken boti wala and dal makhani. I truly believe that the true test of a good Indian menu at any restaurant is how well their dal makhani is and Dhansoo passed the test with flying colours. Creamy, thick and delicious, the dal came with matar pulao (served in leaf bowls, that we really liked). Coming to chicken boti wala, the gravy was spicy, rich and perfect to go with the flaky lacchha paratha served with it. The portion size was big and by the end of the meal, we were comfortably full.
But as they say, there is always room for dessert and we decided to go back the memory lanes by ordering their signature dessert called Yaddon ki Churri. Chapati crushed, roasted in ghee with generous portions of sugar granules, the churri was served with rabri and kalakand, making it a very wholesome dessert. It was the perfect conclusion to an equally fulfilling meal.
So, if you are in Ambience Mall, Gurugram and want to enjoy a fuss-free, filling and fun meal with a warm and cosy ambience, Dhansoo Café is the place to be!