Enjoy Lucknowi raan at Salman’s fav eatery

The GUIDE checked out the latest Lucknowi eatery to set shop in the city and was bowled over by its delicious low-cal cuisine and sweetmeats dipped in honey

Salman Khan loves the Raan here and digs their Gajar ka Halwa, which he specially orders whenever he is shooting close to the city. So, if you are a die-hard fan of Salman and also enjoy authentic Lucknowi food, Deewan Saheb is the place to be. From Rogan Gosht to succulent Charminari Grilled Lamb to Gilauti Kebab, it's all here for the foodie at heart.

Ambience: The month-old restaurant at Dhole Patil Road boasts of tastefully decorated interiors, jharokhas (mirrors) with gilted edges and traditionally attired staff sporting Jamewar kurtas and Mojris.

We tried: The menu was exhaustive and took us a long time to decide. For those who enjoy their kebabs with a mug of beer, you have a variety of cocktails and drinks to choose from. You can also enjoy the buffet, which includes a spread of starters, main course and unlimited beer.

We settled for Murg Pur Luft (Rs 220), Nehari Gosht (Rs 270), Taftaan Roti (Rs 40) and Tandoori Roti (Rs 40).

Then began the long wait for almost half an hour before the food arrived. But it was worth it and the food passed the litmus test with flying colours. The Murgh Pur Luft is basically a melt-in-the-mouth form of Chicken Reshmi Kebab and we loved it. The Nehari Gosht was average, especially for those used to extra-spicy Mughlai food. Try the Taftaan Roti, which is soft and milky.

Proprietors Javed Khan (brother of musicians Sajid and Wajid) and restaurateur Cookie Singh admit that a lot of detailing and research has gone in the making of Deewan Saheb. And Khan adds that the food at the restaurant also ensures that there are fewer calories with no compromise on the quality or taste of food. "In fact, we try to use natural products as far as possible. For example- we use honey instead of sugar for the sweetmeats," he added.

We ordered for Phirni but settled for Jamun-E-Gul (Rs 100) since Phirni was not available. Khan, who is a self-confessed foodie, admits that he oversees the menu personally and experiments with various kinds of food. The portions are enough for two people, so if you have a huge appetite, you need to order a little more than the regular. But overall, the verdict is that Deewan Sahib is a heady combination of great ambience with healthy Mughlai food. Definitely worth checking out.

At: 192, Dhole Patil Road, next to Ganesh temple.
Open: 11.30 am to 3.30 pm and 7 pm to 12 am on week days and 11.30 am to 4.30 pm on weekends.
Call: 41040303
Cost: Buffet: Rs 275 (week days) and Rs 399 on weekends with unlimited beer and beverages.

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