Brothers Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra have, with their latest venture, Romeo Lane, firmly put North Delhi on the nightlife map of the National Capital Region. Before, Cirrus 9 at the Oberoi Hotel made rooftop bars in Delhi fashionable, the Luthras had opened Mama’s Buoi, catering to the student population of Hudson Lane, a live music venue that has been packed ever since it opened. But with Romeo Lane, a vast, multi-level restaurant and terrace bar, they have taken things up a notch or two.
As Delhi evenings become pleasant, there is nothing better than to be under the sky, sipping cocktails, grazing on food, with a gentle breeze blowing and great music in the background; and Romeo Lane, ticks all the boxes and hits the right spots.
The vibe : Reminiscent of the rooftop bars of New York, Romeo Lane was buzzing, even on a Sunday evening at the start of the Navratras. It’s young, it’s sexy and it has a chilled out vibe, where you won’t be judged on how you’re dressed.
Do try : Most things. As they are open from 11 a.m. (until late), they offer a dedicated breakfast menu which is highly recommended — their waffles are scrumptious as are their breakfast bowls. For lunch and dinner they have a long list of appetizers. Their BBQ wings were delicious — crisp on the outside and juicy inside; the Crispy Mushroom Dynamite Bao was exactly that, dynamite. Great spice although I would have preferred the bao itself to be lighter. The Butter Chicken Pao Bhaji is perfect for those of us Dilli-wallah’s who need that one mouthful of the Mughali favourite when we go drinking. They also serve a variety of pizzas that are thin, crispy, and have great toppings.
For the mains, again, a large selection of “international”, oriental and Indian food. The Railway Fish Curry was full of flavour and the fish delicately cooked. The Guchhi (Kashmiri morel) Pulao, served with raita and a Dal Makhni Shot, was fragrant and light.
Their desserts had all the crowd pleasers: brownies, cheesecakes and red velvet cake. The Brownie Quesadilla was the best of the lot, a gooey brownie, wrapped in a chocolate tortilla with vanilla ice cream and nuts.
Skip : Despite have a long menu with multiple cuisines, there was nothing that I disliked. If pushed, I would say, skip the apple salsa gol gappas. The gol gappas were a little too thick although they remained crunchy.
Go with : A date, your friends or colleagues.
Space bar : 6,500 sq feet, indoor seating for 98 and an expansive outdoor terrace
How much : ₹2,000 for two (excluding drinks)
Getting there : 13, Third floor, Sham Nath Marg, Civil Lines. Located next to the Civil Lines metro station (Yellow Line), use the metro, go with a chauffeur or use your favourite ride sharing app. Never drink and drive.