ITP Indian Travel Places: Food, Travel, Tourism Business Events and Trade Shows
Address: Radisson Blu MBD Hotel, L2, Beside Centrestage Mall, Sector 18, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301 India
Time: 24 Hours
Meals for two: Rs. 4,000
Cuisines: Continental, North Indian, Italian, Mediterranean
Facilities: Breakfast, Full Bar Available, Valet Parking Available, Wifi, Buffet, Serves Cocktails, Smoking Area, 4/5 Star
SXVIII: Radisson Blu, Sector 18, Noida: DECOR
A few years ago, as I sat in the open-plan coffee shop of MBD Radisson, an aggrieved guest was complaining about how S-XVIII could possibly qualify for a five-star tag. If the same guest visited today, he would not need to ask that question. The interiors have been given a glamorous touch, the rather cramped area has been made far larger and salmon-pink curtains lend a touch of luxury, along with vases at the full size windows. S-XVIII takes its western food very seriously: both Oriental and Indian food is available at other outlets in the hotel and this is the only one that serves western food, primarily Italian. So, while you can order sandwiches and salads, do remember that the risotto and grilled salmon are worthy of a specialty restaurant in a rather surprising location: Noida. There is a lunch and dinner buffet plus an a la carte menu which I ordered from.
SXVIII: Radisson Blu, Sector 18, Noida: FOOD
Fennel infused seafood soup (Rs. 550) was served in a glass soup plate where a prawn, a dainty portion of fish and half a scallop nestled till the server brought a jug with stock to pour into the soup plate. Just the generous quantity of seafood was enough to make the soup price-worthy, and the stock would have been the icing on the cake, if it had the scent and flavour of seafood, both of which were lacking. My riso al granchio (Rs. 1,350) turned out to be a whole soft-shell crab deep-fried and placed atop the risotto. The dish depended on how the risotto was cooked and I was relieved to note that it was cooked perfectly al dente. My companion had ordered tuna Niçoise (Rs. 925). Usually served in Delhi restaurants with canned tuna, this was a radical departure: the fresh tuna had been cut as if for sashimi and torched on the four sides, then laid on one side of a dish, with the lettuce, croutons and boiled eggs as in the classic way. Best of all was my pan-seared pink salmon (Rs. 1858) which was full of flavor, had a crisp skin and was moist within.
SXVIII: Radisson Blu, Sector 18, Noida: PLUS AND MINUS
Even the coffee here is way better than average. It helps when the general manager has a chef’s background.
