RESTAURANT REVIEW: CHERI ONE QUTUB

For the romance (and the Sunday brunch)

This restaurant is so damn pretty I want to forgive it all its flaws. And that’s easy since Cheri mostly gets it right.  



The Mutton Shawarma

LOOKS LIKE

 Cheri has a dreamy courtyard, gilt heavy indoors and a beautiful billowy terrace - so you can pick what suits your mood. Though so close to the main road the trees shield Cheri and give it a secluded villa feel. The large windows, pristine white walls and profusion of plants continue the villa theme. Cheri makes me wish I was really, really wealthy and could just buy the place and move in.

Who doesn’t want a wood fire oven in their courtyard?



From the Salad Bar

 TASTES LIKE

I’ve been to Cheri twice and the photos you see here are from their Sunday brunch. Most of the food is very good and it would be unfair to not mention the Wasabi Cream Cheese Lychees and the bread counter with accompanying dips, pestos and preserves. The a la carte menu is sort of generic continental with pastas, pizzas, grills and salads. The buffet menu is wider with shawarmas, grills and many kinds of delicious bite sized finger food type things.



Love taking photos of bread

There were a few non starters at the buffet though – the mutton shawarma and the pasta were inexcusably bland and undercooked. I’m willing to make concessions to the extent that buffets are made up of hits and misses but I have two concerns. First, even if it is a buffet Cheri gets the complicated things right like the Tiramisu and Chicken Hearts on Bruschetta (yes, chicken hearts) so not being able to grill mutton shawarma or mucking up the pasta is just silly. Second, what about when you order a la carte? At those prices Cheri can’t afford to go wrong with a relatively basic Pappardelle Pasta (Traditional Lamb Ragout, Eggplant Caviar, Parmigiano Reggiano).

I’m criticizing out of love. If Cheri could fix these little blips, the place would be superlative.



Lychees with Wasabi Cream Cheese

 FEELS LIKE

The staff is friendly and helpful as you would expect in an establishment of this caliber. Be prepared for expensively dressed, heavily perfumed patrons here.  



How pretty is this place?! It's ridiculous.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Should you go: Go for a romantic dinner or for the really enjoyable Sunday brunch

Vegetarian Options: Yes

Liquor License: Yes

Smoking Area: Yes

Address: 1501 Kalka Das Marg, Mehrauli

Phone: +91 8800480048, +91 8130891002