After an exciting, colourful, historical, meeting with friends and a culinary trip to Jaipur, the family ‘caravan’ moved on to Lucknow – a destination chosen only and only to do a food trail! Lucknow is more of a non-vegetarian food haven and while on-ground locals are loud, opinionated and brash (the taxi drivers of Jaipur & Lucknow made a stark contrast), it’s mystifying those mannerisms come off such exquisite taste, tongue lingering, strong fragrance and high-quality food. Here are six of our best food experiences at this city of nawabs.
1. Dastarkhaawn
The Dastarkhwan kebab platter with Kakori Kebabs, Galauti Kebabs, Seekh Kebabs and one boti curry has to be the best single dish we ordered at Lucknow. I just wish the spice level was slightly lower for kids to enjoy more. This is a must try item at Lucknow. Must -Must.
2. Moti Mahal
I start with desserts and standing outside this tiny snack eatery we had our share of unforgettable desserts. No matter wherever we went to have our meals, we came back to eat desserts here. My son Ishav Das, like me has a sweet tooth – he freaked out at this place. That the location was next to our hotel of stay, also helped.
3. Sepia at Hotel Renaissance
Sepia is an extremely classy dining place overlooking the city of Lucknow. Dining here at night with live music has its charm. Our hosts, Lata and Anurag Rastogi, got an array of dishes for us but the two dishes which am unlikely to forget is Warqi Paratha and Lagaan ki Boti.
4. Idrees Dhaba
Idrees dhaba is not for the faint-hearted. A tiny dingy untidy joint that even backpackers will struggle to enter. Yet it possibly serves the best yakhni pulao and mutton biriyani you would have ever eaten. The biriyanis we ate elsewhere paled in shadow on Idrees Dhaaba.
5. Levana Hotel
The hotel breakfast buffet was impressive and it did give us some unique dishes. Achari Idli is one I wouldn’t forget soon.
6. Mubeen’s (multiple dishes)
Since we stayed for only 48hrs (read: only 6 meals), there were many places we could not cover. So here’s list of what we could not cover and yet recommend to you:
- Basket Chat at Royal cafe
- Kachoris at Net Ram Ajay Kumar Mithai, Aminabad
- Sheermaal and Mutton Gilawati Kebabs at Tunde Kebab, Aminabad
- Biriyani at Lalla Biriyani
- Gulabi Chai at Nakkhas market
- Kulfi at Prakash Kulfi, Aminabad
Credits: People who guided or took me to the above eateries and experiences – Devdeep Sarkar, Anurag Rastogi, Lata Rastogi, Atul Mohan Srivastava.
