ITP Indian Travel Places: Food, Travel, Tourism Business Events and Trade Shows
Restaurant Name: Noorani By Nihari, Sector 7C, Chandigarh
Phone: +911724802008 / +919888880404
Address: SCO 187, Inner Market, Sector 7C, Chandigarh 160011 India
Time: 12:00 Noon – 11:00 PM
Meals for two: Rs. 1,500
Cuisines: Mughlai, Biryani, North Indian
Facilities: Home Delivery, Takeaway Available, Indoor Seating
Noorani By Nihari, Sector 7, Chandigarh: Decor
Recently, in a clever marketing strategy, a well-known rice brand anointed July 3 as World Biryani Day. Not that it needed the attention, as it already is – in some form or the other – a globally relished dish. According to delivery aggregator reports, in India too, biryani has been the most ordered rice dish for several years in a row. And so, in the best of Pavlovian traditions, I too succumbed to the hullabaloo and decided to get me some biryani from Noorani. They’ve been around for several years, having started out as Nihari, a takeaway eatery (now closed) in Sector 8, specializing in Awadhi delicacies. They rebranded and moved sectors some time ago and offer both dine-in and delivery options now.
Noorani By Nihari, Sector 7, Chandigarh: Food
A padded-up menu, largely comprising non-vegetarian fare, also lists a handful of paneer dishes, the odd soya preparation, and the ubiquitous Dal Makhani, with halfa-dozen flatbread choices. On earlier occasions I’ve found their Murgh Malai Tikka makes for a delicious appetizer, as also a wholesome meal when combined with the creamy dal and a khamiri roti. The Butter Chicken had left me cold while one of their chicken biryanis (I can’t recall which one) was tasty in an unexceptional sort of way. This time I decided to give the meaty ones a shot and ordered a Yakhni Gosht Dum Biryani with a side of Burani Raita.
Plus & Minus:
The order arrived piping hot in a large round clay-pot sealed with wheat dough, and came with a tiny tub of burani raita. Good thing I asked for an extra portion, because it turned out to be rather tasty even though a tad watery. The minced garlic, roasted cumin, red chilli powder and salt were perfectly balanced. The biryani, garnished with barista and mint leaves, gave off the most amazing aromas when unsealed. Mildly spiced and flavorful chunks of tender boneless mutton generously lined the bottom, topped with long grained moist rice drizzled with saffron. The somewhat excess use of which I found kept the experience from being truly memorable.
