Enjoy Delhi

You are looking at refurbishing your house, or you have bought a new apartment, and want to decorate it appropriately. Where would you go ? In earlier days, you would have explored the markets of Delhi, looking to get furniture made from those shops where you select the type of item, select the materials, make minor adjustments to the design, and then they make it for you. Similarly, you go to a specialist shop for getting curtains, for getting carpets, search for places with good matresses, and sundry other pieces. Similarly, if a friend or relative was getting married, you would have to search for a present – you can’t give everybody money in an envelope, after all, you have to show that you spent the time to get a good gift.
Well, where can you go ? You can go to a specialist shop such as @Home and look at the huge collection they have, and you might even find something that looks great in your home, but you had not really thought too much about it. You get curtains, beds, sofas, furnishings, bathroom fixtures, gift items, and many more such things.

Website: http://at-home.co.in/
Address: 28/3/3,
Site IV, Sahibabad,
Link Road Highway, (Dabur Mohan Nagar),
Ghaziabad – 201 010. India
This is located right next to the Bikanwerwala shop, so should be easy to find.

Location on Google Maps:

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Tel: 0120-4163632, 4163633
Email:ghaziabad@at-home.co.in
storemgr.ghaziabad@at-home.co.in

Store Timings – 11am – 9:30pm

Regular Delhi residents have their own favorite eating places staked out, and can make getting a place to sit difficult during the night and during weekends. Something similar happens to this Dhaba (and it is not a fancy place calling itself a Dhaba, but is an actual Dhaba with service levels not anyway comparable to a restaurant), where you know that people love the food if you find it difficult to get a place to sit during the weekends. As a result, you will find people getting food packed for a takeway. Also, like other Dhabas, if you need a place where the hygiene seems tip-top, then maybe this place is not for you.
However, the food is very good, and that is the reason why it continues to draw a large number of people on a regular basis. You want to get some good non-veg food, you are at the right place. Order some tangri chicken, or fish tikka, chicken tikka, tandoori chicken, mutton seekh kebab, and who can forget the butter chicken (a rich calorie laden food, but heavenly) and dal makhani. And the nans are hot, tender and great to eat along with these items. You will not get any alcohol at this place, but the food is great and very inexpensive.

Contact details:
Address: AB-14, Kamal Complex, Safdarjung Enclave, Delhi- 110029
Phone: 011 26100355 | 9868088961
Landmark: Opposite Safdarjung Club

Location on Google Maps:

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You need to go looking for some classy male stuff (and now also some classy female stuff) in terms of clothes. There is a function that you need to attend, and for which you need to look your best, or more importantly, your marriage has been scheduled, the cards have been printed, and you need to finally decide on your dress. Your fiancee will not hear of you wearing a western suit (does not match her colorful and elegant lehenga), and so you are deputed to get a sherwani or an Indo-western suit, along with the pagri, the jutis (shoes) and the safa. Where you do you ?
Well, you head to Vasari, a shop where you can get all these, along with Indo Western suits, some excellent kurta pyjamas, and so on. You go there, select what you want, get your sizes taken, and then get the finished clothes a couple of weeks later (in busy marriage season, you should estimate it will take 20-25 days).
Location and address:
Vasari
1. Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi
Phone: 011-46502812/13
2. Ajmal Khan Road, Karol Bagh,
Phone: 011-45033029
3. Rajouri Garden
011-41447378
4. Kamla Nagar
011-47042471

Location of Karol Bagh and Rajouri Garden stores on Google Maps

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Paras Hospital is one of the superior hospitals (a private sector hospital) located in Gurgaon. They also do the preventive full medical checkups that are now a part of modern preventive processes (find problems before the problem hits you).

Some of the specialties are:

Neuro Sciences
Joint Replacement & Orthopaedics
Mother & Child
Advanced Imaging Center
Paras Heart Institute
Trauma and accidents

In addition, they have the normal list of various departments as mentioned on this site (link)

Map to location of Paras Hospital in Gurgaon:

Contact Details:

Paras Hospitals, C-1 Block, Sushant Lok- Phase I, Sector-43, Gurgaon, Haryana 122002
24×7 Enquiry : 91-124-4585555
Emergency : 91-124-4585666
OPD Reception : 91-124-4585574 / 91-124-4585581
TPA / Corporate Desk : 91-124-4585571
Admission : 91-124-4585573
Cath Lab no. 91-124-4585333
Health Check Up Appointments : 91-124-4585580
HR Deptt. 91-124-4585603
Fax : 91-124-4585572
Blood bank: 91-124-4585500, 4585501

It was a relatively free Saturday today, after few last weekends, when we decided to have breakfast outside. We have thought about having breakfast out of home earlier as well but there were not enough (read good) options for that in Noida. In Dehli, there are better breakfast and brunch options for the weekends but traveling to them and that too empty-stomach is not a good thing to do for me:)

But I have read about this place in Sector 18 Noida, where they have good breakfast menu. So, we decided to check it today. The place is near Superstars and called ‘Café Style’. It is a new joint but has received good reviews wherever I have read about it. It is quite laid-back, spacious and ’stylish’. The first thing that you notice on entering the place is the whole concept. The sofas are comfortable and the chairs are more than spacious. The place is spread in two floors and they have some outside sitting as well. They have some old artifacts (mostly from UK of 50s and 60s) spread across these sitting area – a 1954 scooter, a 1962 car and more.

Since we were there for breakfast, we decided to stick to their breakfast menu only. The breakfast menu is available from 8 AM to noon and has well thought variety. There is a Punjabi style breakfast (Alloo parantha along with curd, pickle, butter and tea), a Mumbai style breakfast (Pao Bhaji along with tea), an English style breakfast (three egg omelette of choice – masala, mushroom, cheese, toast, salad), an Obama style breakfast (bowl of cereals with milk, fruit salad, sausages, croissant and choice of juice) or just plain old cornflakes.

We order one Punjabi style breakfast and one English style breakfast. All the preparations were well done – paranthas were not oily at all and appropriately stuff, toast were properly ‘toasted’, omelette was also wonderful. And this all topped with masala tea was wonderful. Overall, we had a good experience. We did not go further than the breakfast menu – something left for next time.

Contact Information:-
Café Style
K-1, Dharam Palace,
Sector 18,
Noida
Ph. 0120-4548472

Some months ago, in the heat of Delhi’s summers, I was in the CP and surrounding area and was looking for some good place to eat. Due to vegetarian people in company, we wanted to go to a place having good enough vegetarian options. Initially thought about going to TGIF but then figured out that TGIF at CP is closed. So, we went to QBA, in the middle circle (or is it inner – CP always confuses me).

The entry is quite hidden which is usual with most of the place in CP. You would search for the entrance, which is toward the rear of the block. You start walking in the dingy looking, narrow alleyway, almost tempted to turn back. But suddenly you would see the reception at the ground floor. Once you reach to the restaurant through lift, you feel a calm and soothing atmosphere inside – especially when are coming from hot Delhi summer outside. The place is in cool blue interiors with two levels and a terrace for sitting. The first level is more like a lounge with sofa sitting plus bar area while the second level is more formal sitting. The terrace would be a nice sitting option in the winters – to eat food and talk while the crowd at CP running underneath.

Food is not at all good – just okay. Although we were looking for vegetarian place but QBA did not turned out to be one . The prices are surely more than they should be. Although I was quite disturbed there by some socialite ladies discussing their families – mom-in-laws and all that (and disturbing our talks in between) but it was otherwise quite silent in the lunch time. They have live band in the evening which I have heard is also not very bad. We had very little food – mostly appetizers only.

I would certainly recommend the place to relax and enjoy rather than for the food. The sitting is relaxed, ambiance is cool and the space they have with them is awesome right there in the middle of CP.

Contact Information
QBA Restaurant & Bar
E-42/43, Inner Circle,
Connaught Place
New Delhi
Ph. 011-41512888

I have always been fond of Tex-Mex cuisine mostly due to lots of cheese in it:). I liked going to Ruby Tuesdays earlier but they just got their menu all wrong and when I saw that they have removed Chimichanga from their menu, I stopped going there. I recent times, TGIF Noida has been my favorite place to eat food and have beer.

TGIF is a chain of restaurants worldwide and the whole concept of having old artifacts, different assorted items, bar and sitting setup is more or less same at all outlets. The overall feel is like of a relaxed Friday’s evening when the work has finished for the week and you want to start weekend with some food and drinks. I really like the setup. The music is also not very much loud – one more thing which I like in an eating place. Overall, for me, a good place to go either with family or with colleagues. They have recently changes their menu – and Chimichanga is here now

Since I have been there a lot of time, I have nearly tried most of the stuff. My recommendation would be

For vegetarians – try ‘Grilled Pita Dipper’, ‘Fried Mac & Cheese’ or ‘Dynabites’ in appetizers. Try ‘Broken Noodles’ pasta or ‘Quesdillas’ or ‘Chimichanga’ as the main dish. Top it up with ‘Fridays Sundae’ – Vanilla ice cream topped with hot fudge, caramel sauce, nuts and cream. Yummy :)

For non-vegetarians – try ‘Chicken Fajita Nachos’ or ‘Three-For-All’ scheme where you get three appetizers in one serving. For main dish, try ‘Sizzling Chicken and Cheese’ or ‘Fridays Shrimp’.

The menu keeps changing and there would always be some offer at the Noida outlet since they are new and want to establish themselves. For example, they are currently having buy one and get one free offer on food and drinks both.

Contact Information
T.G.I. Friday’s
319-320 (3rd Floor),
Great India Place, Sector 38A
Noida – 201301
Tel: 120-4221 000
Email: t2238@fridaysindia.com

Shopping for ladies sarees or lehangas for the purpose of bridal wear can be difficult; you need to balance the need to wear something different from the common while ensuring that you do not pay the heaven for this; you need to have a dress that looks exclusive and incredibly beautiful while ensuring that you are not wearing something that is being worn by everybody in the same season. I have written about Apsara sarees earlier as well, but I wanted to update with more content, so writing a new post.
If the choice is to wear a heavy well decorated saree or lehanga, then you cannot just go to any other shop. Catch the Metro line between CP and Kashmere Gate, get down at the Chandni Chowk station and ask for Paranthe Wali Gali. Once you are inside, look for the eateries, and the main Apsara showroom will be right opposite. It’s not a very big place, and there are mattresses covered by white sheets on the floor, and you need to take off your shoes before you step on the mattress. The shop does not sell ladies suits.
A good lehenga can easily cost over Rs. 50,000 with prices going upto the lakhs. Delivery can take upto a month depending on the busy season. They accept cards, although most people pay cash.

The various locations are:

Chandni Chowk:

1980, Gali Paranthe Wali, Chandni Chowk, Delhi – 6
Phone: 23267767, 23286856

1386-87. First Floor, S. B. Sarafa Market, Chandni Chowk, Delhi – 6
Phone: 23911662, 23978410

Rohini:

Ring Road Mall (Behind Kali Mata Mandir), Deepali Chowk, Delhi – 4
Ph: 47085976, 27940693

Kamla Nagar:

80-D, Kamla Nagar, Opposite Roop Nagar, Delhi – 7
Phone: 23840260, 23846294

Laxmi Nagar:

9, Ground Floor, V3S Mall, Laxmi Nagar, Opposite Nirmal Vihar, East Delhi – 92
Phone: 24507185, 43073113

Sometimes, the quest for getting some fancy suits and dresses strikes a lady. Typically known as party wear type of suits, these are fancy salwar-kameez, or they may kameez with a churidar / pants. The embroidery is far more fancy than normal day to day, and they can look quite beautiful. One place where you can get such ones is called Tamanna De Boutique, and is located in 6 different parts of Delhi.

Shop No-72, 1st Floor, Ch. Kishna Chand Complex,
Jwala Heri Market,
New Delhi, Delhi
Phone: 011 25250320

46-Ub Jawahar Nagar,
Kamla Nagar, New Delhi,
Delhi
Phone: 011 41530901

B 1/3, Lal Quarter,
Krishna Nagar, New Delhi, 110051

72-75, First Floor, Paschim Vihar,
Delhi – 110006
Phone: 011 25250320

F-20, 1st Floor,
Crossriver Mall,
Near Karkardooma Court,
Delhi
Tel: 011 22306080

J-67, Shop No. 1,
Rajouri Garden,
New Delhi – 110027
Phone: 011 25161392

Actually, the Ashok Hotel is a landmark by itself, located next to the Prime Minister’s house at Race Course Road, next to Santusthi, and next to Nehru Park. Here is a link to a funny map from the F Bar site (link) that shows the map of Ashok Hotel with the roads next to it, as well as a map showing how to get to the F Bar inside the Ashok Hotel (link). Astoundingly for a place in Delhi, the site also has 360 degrees virtual tours that allow you to get a view inside the F Bar even if you have never stepped inside (link).
The F bar is fairly big (8000 sq. feet), being spread over many different levels, with some more exclusive zones such as the Fashion Lounge and the super, super exclusive Diamond Lounge for those who consider themselves the elite.
The F Bar is a franchise of FTV, and is a place where you can bump into famous personalities such as movie stars, fashion people, models, etc. You can also spot many industrialists over here. The place is very well decorated, with neon lights that are not tacky, instead giving a psychedelic environment, the one in which your feet start tingling and moving (and the Interiors have a steel black and white finish). The place plays different types of music, including many times bollywood remixes (you know, many people like remixes of Bollywood movies even though they would never admit to it).
Drinks are good, although as you move past midnight, the bar gets more crowded and it could take time to get a drink, and as you are already in an expensive place, you should assume that the drinks will also be pricey.
Address and contact details:
Price Range: INR 1200 upwards (entry costs are: Cover charges of Rs. 2000 for a couple and Rs. 500 for single women)
Address: The Ashok | 50-B Chanakayapuri, New Delhi, India
Phone: (91-11) 26110101

Some videos from there:

Clubbin at F Bar @ Ashok !!

FTV – F-Bar New Delhi

Location of F Bar in Ashok Hotel, Delhi, on Google Maps

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