When life gives you lemons, ask dadi to make nimbu achaar! And when restaurants ask for your kidney for a good ol’ North Indian meal then head straight to Rang De Basanti Dhaba (RDBD)! That’s the quirkiest urban dhaba in town serving wholesome North Indian dhaba-style food at reasonable rates in a vibrant and colorful (well, I meant literally!) environment.
Now, I had already reviewed this restaurant chain in the past, so why I am here again talking about it. Actually, the reason is simple; I quite support their endeavor to reach a greater mass! Recently they opened up a new outlet on the EM Bypass, which can also be called the nightmarish street for foodies. This stretch of EM Bypass is mostly populated (leaving out two or three places) with sleazy joints, shady dance bars, etc where you get everything apart from good food 🙂 Thank god RDBD came in like Hulk, or maybe Bhim (since we are talking about North Indian food here) to our rescue! 🙂
Now, I will be very serious and run through this review or else I might eat up your precious time and faith on my blog page! So, this new outlet is close to Arsalan (Ruby branch), so people now have a good alternative when they are done with the waiting time or cold hospitality at the biriyani giant’s abode! RDBD as always has done this outlet in an amazing vibrant way, every nook and corner reflects the funny bone of the designer/creator. The outlet has a huge glass wall facing the busy EM Bypass and it looks absolutely brilliant at night when you are passing by. It has a take-away counter and inside it has a huge dining area and it’s very spacious.
As you walk in, you are overwhelmed with the quirky young décor, which gets accentuated with the huge yellow-colored tractor close to the entrance! This particular outlet has rustic high ceilings and has an old edgy warehouse look. It’ll give you a feel that you are dining somewhere by the highway. Quirky Bollywood-inspired wall arts and quotes cover the place and give it the RDBD signature. And even the crockery speaks volume about the detailing and effort put in.
Coming to the food, this place serves awesome lip smacking dhaba food with a touch of innovation here and there. I am not sure if many does, but I love their Kolkata style chicken biriyani to the moon and back! Every time, I am at this place this is one set order for me. But yeah, I have tried out so many other dishes from this place as well.
Last time when I was at this new outlet, I tried out Dahi Kebabs, Mutton Seekh Kebabs, and Chicken Gilafi Seekh for the starters. In the main course, apart from the chicken biriyani I tried Hari Mirch Roti, Butter Naan, Mutton Roganjosh, Methi Chicken and Chicken Lababdar. All these were washed down with fizzy beverages like Nimbu Pudina and Rang de Cola. And yes, to satiate my sweet tooth I tried the Shahi Tukra, Phirni and Moong Dal Halwa.
Out of these, I feel few dishes need special mentions. So, let me start with Dahi Kebabs which I think is not so easy to prepare at home. It’s made of fresh and creamy hung curd. It has the right dose of spices and sweetness to suppress the sour flavor of the curd. In the end, it tastes tad sweet and super soft. It’s definitely a must-try item.
I’ll jump straight to the Methi Chicken as I really loved its taste; it was perfectly prepared and pretty subtle with an aroma of fenugreek leaves. The Mutton Roganjosh comes in next which has a topping of oil depicting the richness of the dish. It is truly rich in flavors. It has a tangy aftertaste and it’s pretty spicy and flavorful. I devoured the Chicken Biriyani with this side dish.
And yes, definitely try the Hari Mirch Roti, it is studded with chopped green chilies and tastes brilliant with a subtle side dish. Since it is well cooked, the chilies are not that hot so you can safely go for it. Both the taste and the looks are impressive.
Wash all these down with some Nimbu Pudina or Rang de Cola. Both these drinks are very refreshing with a touch of mint and a nice fizz. Rang de Cola has a dash of roasted spices in it that you will surely love. In the end, try the desserts and I quite liked the Moong Dal Halwa which was not overly sweet and pretty subtle.
The service was extremely warm, courteous and prompt. In fact, previously when I had visited their other outlets, service was never an issue at this place. This new outlet somewhat highlights the Punjab da puttar’s carefree highway lifestyle that city dwellers will surely love. Art and food loving Kolkatans will adore this outlet for its colorful new-age interiors and lip-smacking food. Rang De Basanti Dhaba surely promises a burst of flavors and happiness that many exotic food destinations fail to deliver!
- Address: 936/1, Laskar Hat, Opposite Fortis Hospital, Tagore Park, EM Bypass.
- Cuisine: North Indian
- Pocket Pinch: INR 800 for two
- Verdict: Recommended!
Cheers!
foodiedada 