Taking over a marquee spot in the otherwise dead-at-night South Ex, Circus celebrates the playful nature of ordinary things. Shivkaran Singh’s latest baby has done so well since its opening in summer 2016, that by winter (as this guide was going to press), older cousin Smokey’s also gave way to a smaller outpost in Cyber Hub. The original is spread across three floors with distorting carnival mirrors, crazy chandeliers hanging from a high ceiling, and big-tent style stripped walls. There’s even a terrace with bougainvillea shrubs and an upper observatory deck offering breathtaking views, while the GGN venue packs in the same energy within one madhouse room. You can park yourself on community style high tables, makeshift seating across the DJ console that can be cleared for a dancefloor or comfy couches next to a long bar. Even the attentive servers are dressed differently with no uniform as such, except quirky headgear. Capturing nostalgia with an emphasis on fusion, start off with the Masala Gang - ramladdu, aampanna, imli, anardaana, kala khatta - spiked with vodka. The potent but wonderful mixes will take you back to school, albeit with an adult addition. The Clown’s Pride does its name justice as a refreshing blend of Earl Grey, fresh mint and lime with JD; but the Circus Kalakhatta LIIT tasted of store-bought mix and had a peculiar pink colour. If you’d rather be a straight shooter, the drinks menu is great VFM. The sense of whimsy also creeps into the food menu with nibbles like the tangy Howrah Jhalmuri and succulent Gilafi Chicken Tikka, but for more substantial fare, don’t miss the Classic Vada Pau laced with fiery red chutney or the Andhra Mutton Pau that will blow you away with its interplay of flavours. In terms of music, this carnival goes all out with commercial hits on weekdays and gigs on weekends, so keep your ears and eyes open for the next big show!
Critic reviews are anonymous and all bills are paid by them.
-Review by - Marryam H Reshii
South Extension has just acquired a brand new restaurant.
ATMOSPHERICS
What used to be China Doll has now become Circus, but there could not be a greater difference in the décor. Circus is exactly as its name suggests, with the drama and excitement of a real circus tent. There is a rooftop table that gives a near panoramic view of that part of the city, an open terrace, a large seating area with dramatic lights overhead and a narrow gallery with standing room only which is unique in the restaurant world. South Extension is notable across South Delhi for not having an exciting restaurant scene; one hopes that Circus will buck that trend. Certainly, the valet parking, dedicated elevator, plethora of seating options and low prices are all certain to catapult it into the limelight. The best part is its easy informality: families with children and the hip crowd both find their own space under the big top.
TABLE TALK
It was a master stroke to have done snacky meals with a slightly nostalgic appeal for most of the menu which is over 300 items long. I suppose that it is a trial and in six months, the slow movers will be lopped off. Hawrah Jhalmuri (Rs 125) is a close enough approximation: like most other items on the menu, it is not trying to aim for spot on authenticity, but for easy eating at pocket-friendly prices. Like Palak Patta Chaat (Rs 175) and Mumbai Kanda Bhajiyas (Rs 190), it is a pleasant re-creation of street snacks that we have all enjoyed in other cities. After that, and the brilliant masala gang – four flavours from the street that have been translated into small bottles of cold drinks: Ram Laddoo, Kala Khatta, Anardana, Imli, Aampanna (Rs 150) that can be drunk as they are or mixed with Domestic Vodka (Rs 150), the rather formulaic soup and salad section comes across as rather tame. The pizza section saves the day with Achari Mutton (Rs 410) and Chilli Paneer (Rs 300) and the Bombay Sandwich (Rs 195) warms the heart. It takes a Shiv Karan Singh to have a section called dhaba Chinese on a restaurant menu, most of which is brilliant.
PLUS AND MINUS
The only foreseeable glitch is the valet parking at lunch time.
Must Try: Chicken Pakoda, Andhra Chicken Curry, Aate Ka Halwa
Ratings: Food 3.5, Decor 3.5, Service 3
Critic reviews are anonymous and all bills are paid by them.
Jugmug Thela brings the first edition of their Christmas celebrations for you to munch on pure and organic goodies, and basically laze around in the nippy Delhi winter with soulful music filling the air. Some of the Thelawalas to surf through include – Mahabelly, Meraki, Caara, I Say Organic, Cheeni Kum, Canteen, Artistree, PaperJewelz, Wood Talk, Go Spiff, Artfeat Designs, Animal, People Tree, Jugaad and Jugmug Thela.
With all things green, red and organic, celebrate Christmas this year with a blend of fund and health, as the Christmas Farmers Market is in town. Make your way to the garden area outside the West Gate entry, where you will find a whole range of fresh local produce from farms, organic spices, sauces, pickles, herbal beauty products, cold pressed juices, fair trade coffees, healthy treats, artisanal cakes, handmade soaps, Christmas gifts and so much more! So bring a big shopping bag along and fill it with home grown brands by 20 – 25 indigenous farmers.
Crowded roads lit up with rows of bulbs, the sounds of dhak and resonating chants, the smell of incense burning in dhunachis, people dancing away in a state of trance – pujo fervour is not limited to Bengalis. With pandals across the city giving a platform to various kinds of talent and countless food options, the four-day long celebrations evoke more than just religious sentiments. Here’s our time tested list of things you must not miss, if you’re planning to go pandal hopping in Chittaranjan Park, from Shashti right down to Navami.
Co-operative Ground Durga Puja
Popular for its unique and well-researched themes, this year, the Co-operative Ground Durga Puja Samity is showcasing Akaal Bodhon – the untimely evocation of goddess Durga. The outer structure of the pandal represents a lotus, while the inner panels bear the story behind their theme, using recycled products. Spend the evening of Shashti (October 7th) listening to Indian fusion and sufi music by popular folk singer from Kolkata, Arkadeep Mishra, while chomping on some Fish Orley – batter fried fish from Bijoli Grill or maybe the Mutton Seekh Roll from Ghalibs.
Band performance: 8 pm onwards
Navapalli Puja Samity
Situated inside Pocket 40, this pandal is exactly 2-minutes away from the popular Market No. 1. Using the theme Gram Bangla this year, the committee has tried to give the pandal the feel of a village. With focus on using biodegradable and environmental-friendly material, they have made the mandap using husk and dead bamboo. Navapalli will be hosting various artistes from Kolkata as well, but hasn’t disclosed the details as of now. You can, however, participate in the Sankhadhwani competition, and flaunt you conch shell-blowing skills, on Saptami (October 8th). Hop across the road to Raju Dada’s Singing Tree Tea Shop for some typical Kolkata style chaa and adda, and don’t miss the Double Mutton Rolls at Gopal da’s while you’re in the vicinity.
Competition Timings: Noon onwards
Mela Ground Durga Puja
One of the biggest pujas in Chittaranjan Park, the Mela Ground Durga Puja Samiti is celebrating its 41st year with Ancient Bengal as the theme, by using unique elements from rural Bengal throughout the pandal. Moving beyond the traditional singing competitions, Mela Ground is hosting a Karaoke Championship this time. Sing popular numbers along with the finalists of the championship, or just soak up the festive energies of Ashtami (October 9th) evening here. In case you wish to participate in the championship, you can appear for the prelims on Sunday (October 2nd) from 3pm onwards. Just remember to carry the track you want to sing on a CD or pen-drive. While the committee has avoided bringing any popular food stalls this year, due to the rush it generally encounters, you can always walk down to Market No. 2, which is 5 minutes from Mela Ground, for some Fish Egg Wrap with Mustard Mayo – a unique American version of the Bong favourite at the newly opened Dogs Wiches.
P.S: Karaoke prelims are open to those aged 15 or above. Call or send message to 8860090585 to register.
B-block Durga Puja
With so much attention being paid to eco-friendly festivities, the B-block Puja Committee has picked Natural as their theme. Designed by 25-year-old architect Sudipto Barua, all the products used to build the pandal are natural and include jute, bamboo, dried grass, coconut fibre ropes etc. The entrance of their pandal resembles two conch shells and the interiors are in sync with the theme. Drop in here on Navami (October 10th) for some modern Bengali music by Delhi-based band, Jharna Dhaara, and don’t forget to pick up something to much on from the neighbourhood’s very own food truck, Irish Castle.
Band performance: 8.30pm onwards
Images Courtesy: Ayandrali Dutta
Privee
Awarded by The World’s Finest Clubs, Priveé has been offering the most unique, luxurious topnotch events to all modern-age clubbers of New Delhi. Spread across more than 10,000 sq. ft. of magnificence, Priveé boasts to be the feather in the crown of Delhi’s nightlife.
By breaking mainstream nightclub stereotypes, Priveé’s endeavor to bring the international party vibe to the capital has been extraordinarily loved by the city that never sleeps - week after week. With global veteran artists like - Captain Hook, Marshmello, DJ BL3ND, Quintino, Guy Mantzur, Dave Seaman, PigDan, U-Recken Funkagenda, to name a few; the club has left no stones unturned to outshine the Underground Electronic Music Scene in India.With Deep Underground Sounds, Futuristic Visuals a Mind Bending Dance Floor, the best way to experience the essence of Priveé is to tune into the frequency feel its pulse.
To sum it all up, offering what no one else does with an unparalleled excellence, Priveé grows to match the expectations of a world class nightclubbing genre by hosting the finest parties in town, every week starting Wednesday through Sunday.
Address : Privee’, Shangri La’s Eros Hotel, Ashoka Road
Contact : +91 8287202020
Farzi Cafe, CP
The word “Farzi” can have many connotations, but at Farzi Café, it’s all about “creating an illusion” with its cuisine. From the creators of acclaimed culinary destinations like Masala Library by Jiggs Kalra, Pa Pa Ya, MasalaBar and Made in Punjab, Farzi Café is best described as a gastronomic experience, amalgamating traditional global cuisine with regional influences while retaining the essence of local flavours. Established with the aim to bring Indian cuisine back ‘in-vogue’ for patrons of all ages, Farzi Café, with its high energy ambiance and revered new age live performances, across regions, is considered a benchmark in contemporary Indian dining. With an eclectic mix of new age artists and fusion bands, Farzi Café offers the best platform for established as well as upcoming talent in the field of music, and has truly redefined the bistronomie dining experience.
Address : Level 1 Block E- 38 39, Inner Circle, Connaught Place
Contact : +91 9599889700 / 1
Timings : 12 Noon – 1:00 AM
Kitty Su
Kitty Su has made the city witness most unparalleled music by hosting some of most renowned DJs from all over the world. From Hardwell, Steve Aoki to Zedd, Carnage, Dannic and many others, Kitty has offered it all to its party lovers, since its day of inception.
Kitty Su has been awarded as the ‘Best Night Club’ in Delhi by Times Food and Nightlife Awards for three years consecutively and it is the only nightclub from India to be featured in DJ Mag under the Top 100 Best Clubs around the World.. After the successful venture of Kitty Su in Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh markets, the next step is to take Kitty Su to The Lalit Hotels in Kolkata and Bangalore.
Kitty Su adorns the theme of music, fashion and champagne offers the party dwellers four different rooms, all playing their own music and thanks to acoustically well done set up, they do so without interrupting into each other’s space. The new merchandise of Kitty Su along with an enhanced look, sound system, new food beverage menu were launched during the 5th Year anniversary celebrations of the club. Kitty Su also plays a vital role in bringing equilibrium to the thought process of people by motivating them to eradicate discrimination on the basis of gender and couples of the same sex.
“Kitty Su stood the test of time and completed 5 years of its operation in August this year. Kitty Su Mumbai and Kitty Su Chandigarh celebrated their first year anniversary and we are only getting started. The last few years have shown us that we are here to keep making bigger things happen at Kitty Su and will continue to do so.” says Keshav Suri, Executive Director, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group.
Depot48
Depot48 brings together original live music, contemporary World inspired cuisine a curated bar menu in an acoustically treated space. Depot48 is popular for its American-Mexican dishes, and boasts of an impressive assortment of burgers, quesadillas, tacos, grills and undoubtedly the best waffles in town! Their extensive line-up of gigs this month includes the likes of Tajdar Junaid on the 17th, Peter Cat Recording Company on the 23rd and Frisky Pints on the 30th. While ‘Artistes Unlimited’ will be playing some contemporary music on Christmas Eve, ‘River’ will be playing some Indie music on Christmas day to bring in some Christmas cheer. You can be sure to have a blast with ‘The 4-AF’ playing Afro-Beats, Hip-Hop RB on New Year’s Eve while you sip on their delicious, heady cocktails.
Address : Level 2, N3, N Block Market, Greater Kailash 1
Contact : +91 11 4508 1948
Here is the complete list of Best Venues for Gigs in Delhi NCR:
