Sohum Sutras: Food Review: Artusi Ristorante e Bar

Yesterday, I was invited to do a review for Artusi in Greater Kailash-2, Delhi. First and foremost, because of my personal tastes and likes and because of the readership of this blog, the only reviews we do are of A+ restaurants in the city. The ones that have earned great reputation amongst the discerning clients. Artusi totally met our expectations and is worthy of my review.

Oscar Balcon is an Italian. He is well travelled, food and wine lover. His wife, Gurpinder Balcon, and he run the place. It is their bran child. They are food and wine lovers. It is their first enterprise. He was a banker. He had lived in all continents of world. The food served in Artusi is from region called, Emilia Romagna. They have 2 Italian chefs from the same region. The region is famous for home made pastas. More than 40 types of pastas served in the restaurant. They use best ingredients. Specially best flour from Italy so that the guests get the same final product.

When I went there yesterday, there were many Japanese people sitting. I must also add they were very loud, noisy and ill mannered Japanese (I always thought Japanese are very soft spoken, polished and well mannered. I must be wrong). Anyways, I was told that they have 90% Indian clients and 10% foreigners. The place is frequented by elite and discerning clients who are well traveled and are looking for good food. It is a serious fine dining place with basic décor. It gives you a feel of cozy, homely place in a nice neighbourhood. It is a quality restaurant and supposedly to be the best Italian restaurant in town. Light music played in background and one could easily enjoy dinner and healthy conversation over wines and food. The place is packed most of the times.

We started with Prosecco- Della casa (dry). Ca Del Doge. Rs.675/-

We were served a bread basket with sun dried tomato, olives and extra virgin olive oil.

They have a nice extensive wine list which is a passion of Mr. Oscar. All their wines are Italian.

To start with, we had Tomino- Toma is round shape. It had cheese seasoned 3-6 months. With assorted mushroom and truffle oil-. It is one of their signature speciality. Rs.680/-

Aaah! It was heavenly delicious. Cheese mushroom...life could not be better. Must try.

We also ordered a salad from their menu called Ferro. It has rocket leaves, goat cheese, pear, grapes, raisin, pine nuts. Fine vinegar balsamic and extra virgin olive oil. Rs. 590/-

It had extremely nice and delicate taste. You could enjoy different flavours. None of the ingredient overpowered the other. It was just right, just the perfect salad.

Then I got a small portion of two vegetarian pastas and my friend similarly got 2 portions of non vegetarian pastas. Mine were Raviolli- stuffed with ricotta, spinach, served in butter asparagus and sage. Priced at Rs. 820/-

My first dish is called Raviolo agli asparagi. It was delicate in taste with yummy cheese. The only thing I could say about both by dishes were- YUMM.

My second dish was Triangoli alle verdure cotte. Priced at Rs. 790/- These are triangle shaped pasta pockets filled with roasted and spiced vegetables in fine tomato sauce in peperoncino and garlic. It is green in colour and I found it to be the best.

Notice the big smile on my face. The dish looked and smelled so good. Heavenly.

People come here for authentic Italian food. They are famous for their hand made pastas and imported ingredients. They do not change anything to suit Indian palette. Rather, they are proud to keep it very authentic.That is what has earned them many returning customers. Every ingredient is highly quality controlled. Chef checks everything. They prefer not to suggest the dish than doing a bad one.

My friend had these two non vegetarian dishes:

Tagilatella al ragu priced at Rs. 890/-, is hand made noodles from the Emilia Romagna set in minced pork meat sauce.

Cappellaccio Carbonara priced at Rs. 890/- Hand made hat shaped pasta filled with cheese. Served in traditional carbonara sauce with eggs, cream, grated cheese, bacon and ground pepper.- start with this. If you like bacon, this is the dish for you. Both the dishes were excellent and highly recommended for your choice in non vegetarian dishes.

We were served Sangiovese Villa Giulia with food. This red wine is excellent with pasta. It has very balanced tannins. Must try with your food.

The General Manager there, Aman Choudhry was extremely helpful in guiding us through our food and wines. He speaks Italian fluently as he has stayed eight and a half years in Italy. If you are allergic to gluten, the restaurant ensures you gluten free food. From kitchen till table- from chefs till servers, they are trained about gluten free food. In fact, they do take care if you have any food allergies. Very few restaurants in Delhi offer this.

Next I ordered Risotto e Caponata. It is priced at Rs. 890/-. It is diced vegetables, fresh tomatoes, pine nuts and raisins stewed in sauce with slightly sweet and sour notes on a bed of classic Carnarali rice Risotto alla Parmigiana. For vegetarians, the options are pastas and risottos. But I must say both their options are delicious...ammm heavenly. It just melted in the mouth.

You have many more options for non vegetarians- fish, meat, pork, lamb chops, etc. My friend ordered Truffled Scallops priced at Rs.1380/- pan seared in vodka sauce served with cauliflower puree topped with crispy parma, ham shards and black tarruto butter. It tasted excellent and we do recommend it.

The other options could be Snapper, sea bass, salmon, gamberoni/ jumbo prawns, lobsters.

With this we had Albizzia Chardonnay Toscana. Frescobaldi - year 2013 White wine. Italian food is never complete without wine. You must savour good wines from their collection with your food to get the complete enriching experience.

Artusi is small and cozy. It has capacity for 48 covers including the bar. They have kept it small and authentic. When people are celebrating, the place can become loud and noisy but it definitely has most amazing Italian food which is hard to find even in Italy today because of the increasing costs of the ingredients.

For desserts, we chose Panna Cotta ai Fichi e le Mandorie priced at Rs.820/-. It is their signature dessert and is eggless. It is accompanied by sweet figs and almonds. We also had Pere al vino rosso con sarbetto al limone priced at Rs.880/-. It is baked pears macerated in delicious red wine and creamy Italian lemon sherber. Both the desserts are the yummiest ones I have ever had. They are insanely good.