Pippal is an upscale yet kid-friendly restaurant offering Indian cuisine from all over the subcontinent. Each dish is labeled with its state of origin, and the menu spans flavors from North to South and East to West. The most memorable dish was the Live Chaat Tray--one of the cooks came to our tableside and started dolloping housemade sauces on a plate including yogurt, mint chutney, tamarind chutney, chaat masala, and dhokla cream. He then layered on papdi crackers, spinach pakora, crumbled dhokla, and topped everything off with sev, pomegranate seeds, salli (crispy potato strips), and another layer of sauces. The showstopper was the liquid nitrogen yogurt that came on top, a mass of crumbly, shattering pieces of sublimating yogurt! This artistic dish reminded me of the iconic dessert served at the Michelin-starred Alinea in Chicago--a piece of edible artwork constructed right at the tableaa--but the masterpiece here was even better, as it featured the best of Indian street food--each bite was crispy, sweet, tangy, spicy, and savory, all at the same time!
Starting down the rest of the extensive menu, the Chakri Paneer from Lucknow was a roll made of a sheet of paneer wrapped around a spicy, creamy, and herbaceous filling of spinach, malai cream, saffron, coriander, and cashew. From the large plates, the East India Butter Chicken from Kolkata came with generous chunks of boneless tandoori chicken in a creamy tomato gravy topped with magaj (melon seeds) and chili oil; the Mango Alleppey Fish & Prawn Curry from Kerala came with a grilled salmon fillet and three prawns in a creamy coconut curry with a tangy accent from mango; and the Laal Maas from Rajasthan was tender bone-in goat in a spicy red curry. But my favorite entree was the Himalayan Jungli Mushrooms, a bowl of chopped wild mushrooms served with a foamy mushroom puree with a deep, umami aroma similar to that of truffle!
All the entrees went nicely with the Bread Basket, which came with eight tandoori flatbreads including garlic naan, lachha parantha, pudina (mint) parantha, beetroot roti, makki (corn) roti, bajra (millet) roti, and missi (atta and besan) roti. Each of the flatbreads had a different color and texture, though their flavors were all neutral (making them perfect for pairing with the curries).
Since I came to Pippal for my birthday, the waiters came out with a free dessert (a scoops of vanilla ice cream), lit a sparkler, and sang happy birthday! Overall, the service, atmosphere, and presentation were all highlights, and I also loved the proud showcasing of regional Indian dishes. The only downside was that the menu prices were egregiously expensive for the portions, especially the large plates and the breads. This is definitely a place to come for the experience or for a special occasion. read more