A hearth in the heart

Chews and views at Ignis in Connaught Place are all about fire and sunlight, but we landed to feast on cool moonlight and mild morsels

Chews and views at Ignis in Connaught Place are all about fire and sunlight, but we landed to feast on cool moonlight and mild morsels

A narrow staircase in the Inner Circle leads you to nirvana, if the full moon, Buddha in meditation and 50 soft flames in a row feel good enough to arouse the state.

Ignis stands for fire in Latin, but in Delhi, it stands for much more a panoramic view of the city's pulsating heart, Punjab-meets-Italy platters, and conversations that range from Preity Zinta's breakup to politics and Paharganj pyjamas. We took a corner table to centre in on the rest.
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Food

The moment you take a seat, mineral water pours in without questions on preferences and temperature.

There's always the option of asking for ice, they presume, and the view from the window keeps you captivated enough to not mind that bit.

Next, menus embossed in gold are rolled in, and you discover there's mostly frontier food in fiery flavours, interspersed with popular continental chomps.

Easy to read, easier to eat. Our Mexican salad (Rs 180) was fresh and spicy, and the Ghungroo Mushroom (Rs 220) managed to create sweet music on hitting the tastebuds.

In main course, the roasted chicken with lyonnaise potatoes and red wine sauce (Rs 290) proved succulent, the butter chicken (Rs 290) a tad too sweet, and the signature Dilli Paneer Curry (Rs 275) quite zesty.

A speck of dry brown on one of the shredded cloves that studded the garlic naan (Rs 70) met our eye, but its taste triumphed over the rest.
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In after-mains, our platter of three yogurt ice-creams (Rs 150) left us feeling happily dessert-ed, while the New York fudge brownie with walnuts and vanilla scoop (Rs 150) was heavy, yet heavenly. End of meal. Good deal.

Drinks

Dinners without drinks are always disappointing, but till the time the restro-bar gets its liquor license, you'll have to make do with less intoxicating, albeit healthier options the masala chhach (Rs 95), shikanji (Rs 75), lime soda (Rs 75) and fruity mocktails. We recommend the chhach, in particular.
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Ambience

Ever heard of Zen in the art of eating out? This place lives up to the spirit. Take a table in the far end if a buzzing CP under the peaceful moon is your idea of beauty, or, opt for a seat somewhere midway if feeding by Buddha's feet in candlelight is what pleases you.

There's an alfresco area, too, and the low ceiling makes the 75 seater appear even warmer. But, owner Manav Sharma holds a different view.

"In the end, you won't remember a place for how it looked or felt, but how good the food tasted." Most likely, you'll prove him wrong.