Tuesday, August 02, 2011

La Piazza at The Delhi Hyatt

Bread at La Piazza Hyatt DelhiThe Hyatt Regency hotel in New Delhi has been around for a long time. I have passed by this hotel so many times when I lived in New Delhi - but eating at five-star restaurants was a luxury I afforded myself only infrequently during those days. Having now stayed at this hotel, I can say that the restaurants are far better here than the rooms. And La Piazza is definitely one of the better Italian restaurants I have eaten in.

La Piazza in DelhiFrom the people eating here during peak dining hours, I could see this restaurant was popular with the locals. The trattoria style restaurant caters to a variety of people - from the serious foodie to the conservative Indian diner who restricts himself to pizzas and pastas.

La Piazza in DelhiDesigned to look like a village square with a large open kitchen on one side, the interiors exuded a warm casual feeling. The tiles on the floor and the pots and pans hanging around all added to the ambiance.

Potato Gnocchi at La Piazza DelhiI ordered an Italian red wine to go with my Potato Gnocchi. The gnocchi was lovingly prepared - oh so soft and melt-in-your-mouth. I followed with a grilled chicken wrapped in ham. This too was amazing with its cheesy interiors and robust, salty ham wrapping coming together splendidly.

Incidentally, gnocchi has existed as a traditional Italian pasta from a very long time. Said to have its roots in the Middle East, the Romans introduced this dish during the expansion of their empire into North Africa. In those days, gnocchi was made from semolina and eggs. Potato gnocchi is a far more recent culinary innovation. Apparently red potatoes make the best gnocchi.

Grilled Chicken wrapped in bacon in La PiazzaAll-in-all, La Piazza is a great place for a business dinner, a good time with family or even for a quick bite of pizza and beer. Service is fast and efficient and the place stays busy but not crowded through the evenings. Try this place if you are in the mood for Italian food in New Delhi.

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