Dine in the lap of nature

Food review

Standing in the middle of the Deer Park, Hauz Khas Village, the ambience of The Project is enhanced by the natural beauty and the sounds of the forest. One chamber of the restaurant is closed and a much larger area outside is in open air. In the evenings, large desert coolers from all corners save the customers sitting outside from the heat. Simple wooden chairs, large and small dinner tables laid out in the area shaded by swaying palm trees give the place a beachy look.

Food at The Project ranges from Italian, Continental and North Indian cuisine. A special mentioned needs to be made about Chef Devesh for dishing out delectable pork chops, which were not only a delight to the eyes but also fulfilling as a meal.

Bringing in the old traditional Italian cooking, The Project also accommodates a pizzeria build outside to serve fresh, piping hot thin crust pizzas right from the wood-fired oven. This traditional way of making pizzas adds a distinctive smoky, savoury flavour that cannot be reproduced in a regular kitchen oven. Also on offer are ‘dessert pizzas’ such as Caramel Apple Pizza, Nutella and Banana, Chocolate, Almond and Orange pizza, guaranteed to make you swoon.

Kebabs are one of the specialities here. The simple, succulent Double Kebab with minced mutton and chicken skilfully wrapped in skewers is served with desi hari chutney. Served hot, these kebabs will revive memories and taste of the kebabs you get at Jama Masjid food joints or Kake da Dhaba, and you will feel like wolfing down more from the list of 14, including vegetarian ones. A plate, priced at Rs 395, has eight pieces. If the starter options at the kebab bar are so delectable, undoubtedly, the others must be drool-inducing too.

The Chilli Garlic marinated in mint coriander, the Yellow Chilli Prawns are extraordinary starters. Ten yellow prawns sprinkled with black pepper and lemon juice, served with coleslaw might seem as ‘nothing special’, but bite into these and feel the juices burst in your mouth.

The Chicken Shawarma is not like a doner roll at all. The chicken, pickle, hummus and pita are given separately to the customer in a form of chicken, roti and salad, maybe simply to be different. The Project wins the customer’s appreciation not only for its delectable fare but for the effortlessness that shows in their food. For the vegetarians, the restaurant serves the Vegetable Aloo Dilnaaz, Paneer Tukra Makhni and Paneer Hara Bhara Kebab that are a treat to eat.

The dessert menu is not elaborate but each dessert will qualify as a signature special. The Chocolate Chunk Bread Pudding with strawberry cognac sauce and the Saffron Creambrule (vanilla flavoured with saffron sauce) is not something one will find everywhere in Delhi.

For drinks one must definitely go for the mocktails. The Mojito and Caipiroska menu is somewhere hidden in the large drinks menu, but one must not miss out on these. These drinks are like fruit salads with all the wholesomeness of fruits, the Watermelon and Mint drink and the Orange and Basil, come with large scoops of watermelon and chunks of oranges respectively. Metrolife advises you to binge on these till the last drop of melting ice.
FAQs

Table for two: Rs 1600
Hauz Khas Village