Nestled in a quiet corner on the bustling Jubilee Hills road in Hyderabad, is the latest watering hole, Farzi Cafe. After making its mark in other metros including Delhi and Bengaluru, Farzi manages to keep up the reputation in this city too.
Dining at this one-month-old cafe is quite a spectacle, thanks to the elements of molecular gastronomy. Mishti Doi, a dessert Bengalis swear by, is served on your arrival as a welcome dish, rewriting the food rules that we all know. Served with a layer of strawberry syrup, the dish has a melt-in-the-mouth quality about it and the sweetness quotient isn’t overpowering.
Vodka shot in chai
As we wait for our next dish, we sip on the Farzi Apple Formentino, their signature cocktail, presented with dry ice underneath it. This vodka-based concoction is fused with apple and topped with mint foam. Those looking for a bit of a desi touch can also try the Litchi Aam Panna and Farzi OK or their lemon tea served in a cutting chai glass with a dash of vodka in it.
Moving on to the starters, Dal Chawal Arancini has the familiarity of home-cooked dal chaawal morsels which are crumbed with papad and served with tomato salsa to recreate the Italian arancini balls in an epitome of fusion. Another attention-grabbing starter is the Black Sesame Chicken Tikka. Though the chicken pieces were succulent, it tasted ho-hum.
Around the world
Appam with Asparagus and Water Chestnut gravy? Yes, that’s a main course dish at this eatery. However, it is strictly for those who do not mind the distinctive flavour of coconut.
Another experimental entrée is Kadhi Chawal with Onion Rings. This one could definitely be your go-to comfort meal. Meanwhile, the meat lovers are in for a surprise.
The Chicken Tikka Masala and Naan stuffed with Cornish Cheese come in a quintessentially British telephone booth replica. “Chicken Tikka Masala is the national dish of England. So we serve it in a table-sized booth which is found across England,” shares Khilender Singh Rawat, the manager at Farzi. He adds that a special list of 30 dishes was created for the Hyderabadis. Among them, Shawarma Biryani and Haleem Risotto are a must-try.
Concluding the fantastic feast was the Rasmalai Tres Teches. This dessert which flaunts alternate layers of the rasmalai with the French carrot cake, dipped in saffron milk and topped with a sugar tuille will leave you wanting more.
Price for two: Rs. 1,800
— Palaparthi Srividya