Café Dali — Restaurant in Delhi

The overall experience was a 3.5/5 which is disappointing because the place does not entirely live up to the marketed standards and we were hoping for a 5/5 at the price point. The fettuccine truffle was dry and lacked deep umami flavours, underwhelming. The Maine lobster ravioli, prawn risotto and chicken ravioli were good but again not excellent, we've had better Italian at other restaurants in the vicinity. I have to appreciate the bread - garlic bread and pesto were outstanding , bread was light and pesto was beautifully flavorful. The place is lit up elegantly with the candles but tables are rather close by and some parts of the dining experience were not pleasant because we're huddled close to loud neighbours and acoustics of the small space make the conversations sound like loud banter! Slightly short staffed as the few 2-3 servers were running around catering to tables and also guarding the entry , although they were all very polite and served us well. Overall at this price point , the experience did not match up to the expectations being set up so one must choose wisely before trying too hard to get a reservation. The reservation experience was a bit silly as the call attender kept forgetting to send the pre payment reservation link despite reminder calls but it was finally done and time of reservation was...

My children were recommended Cafe Dali by their friends and we made a dinner reservation for the 7.30 seating.

The restaurant has a classy and formal atmosphere accented with candle light and a lovely selection of wall art.

The restaurant is still i the soft launch phase and the formal opening is on 9th Feb, hence the lack of a full bar license.

We were served by Pramod and he was polite and attentive.

We ordered the Ravioli alla Tratufo, Bracon Prosciutto, Rigatoni alla Vodka, Lamb Bolognese Arancini, Pisa Pepperoni and the Diavolo Pizza !

The overwhelming opinion was that the Pizzas were absolutely outstanding and stars of the evening !! The dough was perfectly prepared resulting in a airy light crust and just the right amount of pizza sauce and cheese. Great quality pepperoni and Chorizo made for a most exquisite and indulgent experience !! The Diavolo Pizza could most definitely find a place in the main menu rather than the winter menu !

The Ravioli was tasty, but we felt that the Ravioli filling lacked a bit of flavour, though that was made up by the porcini and truffle sauce ! Bracon Prosciutto was ok, and the Lamb Bolognese Arancini was excellent!

We capped off the evening with a double helping of yummy Tiramisu !!

Overall a fantastic evening and dining...

I’ve visited Café Dali, Lodhi Colony, many times and often ordered the Margherita pizza. On one visit, what they served was not a Margherita, it came topped with arugula leaves and parmesan shavings. When I pointed this out, the waiter insisted it was indeed a Margherita, claiming they “experiment” with it. This is surprising for anyone who knows the dish.. I’ve had Margheritas at some of the best pizzerias in the world, from L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele to Gino e Toto Sorbillo in Italy, and the recipe has never changed: San Marzano tomato sauce, basil, and fior di latte.

On my next visit, I ordered it again - this time, it arrived in the correct, classic form. When I asked the manager about the earlier incident, he smirked and replied, “That’s Pizza Ferrara, you’re confusing it with Margherita. Margherita is classic and simple.” The arrogance and contradiction were staggering - first, a waiter tells me they experiment with the Margherita, and now the manager acts as if I’m the one confused.

For a restaurant charging premium prices, this mix of inconsistency, poor product knowledge, and condescending service is unacceptable. It’s the kind of pretence that hides behind a forced accent and faux expertise, but can’t...