Ottimo At West View: ITC Maurya, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

Indian Travel Places October 16, 2022 Food Review 1,074 Views

Restaurant Name: Ottimo At West View
Phone: +919667661322
Address: ITC MAURYA, Sardar Patel Marg, Akhaura Block, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, 110021 India
Time: 7:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Meals for two: Rs. 3,000
Cuisines: European, Italian
Facilities: Wheelchair Accessible, Full Bar Available, Indoor Seating, Table booking recommended, Family Friendly, Valet Parking Available, Rooftop, Romantic Dining, Luxury Dining

Ottimo At West View: About

Ottimo Italian Right on the rooftop of ITC Maurya, the large open terrace looks out onto Delhi’s prized green belt which you can feast your eyes on during daylight. After nightfall, having no lights (thank goodness for that!) there’s nothing much to see out of the lovely large windows of the restaurant, except for darkness, but for the sense of space, privacy and romance that Ottimo gives you, it is a grand choice for a special occasion, including a romantic one. There is usually a guitarist cum crooner in one corner, but the music (western hits of yesteryear) never goes beyond a comfortable decibel level, so you don’t have to shout to make yourself heard. On Sunday afternoons, Ottimo’s lunch buffet is said to be the last word in elegance plus value for money. Friends have told me that just the antipasti counter groans with gracious unique view treats to please every palate.

Food:

The amuse bouche of that day was beetroot spaghetti with goat cheese mousse and apricot puree. Imaginative, great presentation, excellent juxtaposition of flavours: goat cheese mousse and apricot. Don’t pass up the antipasti or starters, which garner the lion’s share of any Italian chef’s imagination. For first course, I chose tortellini with slow-cooked chicken and ricotta on porcini consommé (1550). It is an antipasto that has been created for the Indian market with so many diners uncomfortable with eating red meat: in Italy, chicken is never combined with pasta and tortellini is simply another kind of pasta! For main course, I had gamberi imperiali alla Livornese (2150) feature king prawns, cooked with parsley, cream, tomato and capers. This is probably the version especially tweaked for this restaurant, because Livornese sauce contains no cream; only olives and capers are mandatory. Ottimo used to have an Italian mentor-chef. Perhaps, now that COVID is behind us, a replacement can be expected. My own main course was pleasant enough, but my table companion hit the jackpot with trancio di merluzzo con salsa alle acciughe e polentina morbida (₹2150). A satisfying chunk of cod was napped in a sauce made of milk flavoured with anchovies and cooked in polenta. It broke several (Italian) rules but was a masterpiece of unusual flavour.