Mia Bella is another new entrant in the crowded Hauz Khas Village. But with a terrace as well as indoor sitting which offers panoramic view of the lake, it has an edge over many of the others that operate in the market.
Even the lights that are put up to beautify the tomb are worth watching from here. The only thing which bothered me was that I had to climb almost four floors to reach the restaurant. But the climb proved worth it.
As it was drizzling I opted to sit inside. Once comfortable, I asked for the menu card and went through the extensive list of delicacies. As it’s the second innings of Bhanu Nehra, its owner, after the success of De Villa in the same vicinity, I was sure that the food would be worth a try. Being a barbecue lover I was tempted after seeing a whole section dedicated to Braai, which is a form of spit grilling. My carnivorous instincts instigated me to skip the soups and salads and move straight to the Braai appetisers.
What could have been better than a spit grilled peri peri chicken to start with? For me peri peri is the mother of sauces; it goes well with any kind of grill. Spicy chicken was very good and oozing with juices. Imported Mediterranean chicken souvlaki was also cooked well with the Mid Eastern spices. But the Brazilian churrasco turned out to be my favourite starter. Worcestershire sauce gave the sausage a kick of flavours.
Even the Australian spit roasted shell prawns had that divine seafood aroma intact with the flavours. Bulgogi, thinly sliced chicken marinated in cumin and Schezwan pepper, was good too but lacked the seasoning. It blended well with the kimchi serves alongside.
I also opted to try their fully loaded pizza and surprisingly found it better than many of its counterparts. It was a nice thin crust pizza topped well. A burger freak can also opt for their burgers as they are made in a true American style with lots of meat and cheese. Somebody looking for a hardcore Indian section of grills will not be disheartened, as Mia Bella also has a tandoor section serving tikkas and burrah kababs.
The mint mutton shank was the only letdown but it can be ignored in comparison to the rest of the dishes. In desserts, Mia Bella has some good cup cakes, pies and homemade ice creams to choose from.
Meal for two: Rs.1000