Jaffer Bhai's Delhi Darbar — Restaurant in Mumbai

Jaffer Bhai's Delhi Darbar, often hailed as the "Biryani King of Bombay," is a culinary gem that has been delighting non-vegetarian food enthusiasts for decades. Renowned for its extensive array of Mughlai dishes, this establishment has firmly cemented its place in Mumbai's rich tapestry of gastronomic destinations.

Ambiance and Service

The restaurant's ambiance is a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary elements, offering a comfortable dining experience that caters to both families and individual patrons. The staff is courteous and attentive, ensuring that guests feel welcomed and well-served throughout their visit.

Culinary Offerings

Jaffer Bhai's Delhi Darbar boasts a menu that is a testament to the rich flavors and traditions of Mughlai cuisine. Among the plethora of dishes, several stand out for their impeccable taste and popularity:

Mutton Biryani: Often referred to as the signature dish, the Mutton Biryani features long-grain basmati rice cooked to perfection, layered with tender pieces of mutton infused with aromatic spices. The harmonious blend of flavors ensures that each bite is a delightful experience.

Chicken Tikka Biryani: This dish combines the smoky flavors of grilled chicken tikka with the fragrant layers of biryani rice, resulting in a symphony of tastes that is both rich and satisfying.

Dabba Gosht: A unique preparation where tender mutton pieces are slow-cooked in a mildly spiced gravy, garnished with egg and crispy salli (potato sticks). This dish offers a delightful texture and flavor profile that is both comforting and indulgent.

Butter Chicken with Rumali Roti: The creamy and mildly spiced butter chicken pairs exquisitely with the soft and thin rumali roti, making it a favorite among patrons seeking a classic Mughlai combination.

Mutton Korma: This dish features succulent pieces of mutton simmered in a rich, spiced gravy, offering a depth of flavor that is both robust and aromatic.

Chicken Seekh Kebab: Minced chicken blended with spices, molded onto skewers, and grilled to perfection. These kebabs are juicy, flavorful, and serve as an excellent appetizer or accompaniment.

Chicken Malai Kebab: Boneless pieces of chicken marinated in a creamy mixture, resulting in a tender and mildly flavored kebab that melts in the mouth.

Firni: A traditional rice pudding dessert that is creamy, mildly sweet, and infused with the delicate aroma of cardamom, providing a perfect end to a hearty meal.

Shahi Tukda: A rich dessert made from fried bread slices soaked in sweetened milk, garnished with dry fruits, offering a royal finish to the dining experience.

Customer Feedback

While many patrons have lauded the restaurant for its flavorful dishes and generous portions, some reviews indicate inconsistencies. For instance, a customer mentioned that the mutton in the biryani was undercooked and the butter chicken was overly oily. Another review highlighted that despite the high prices, the food quantity and taste did not meet expectations, and the packaging was subpar. However, many loyal customers continue to praise the establishment for its signature dishes and rich culinary heritage.

Conclusion

Jaffer Bhai's Delhi Darbar remains a cornerstone in Mumbai's Mughlai dining scene. While it's essential to be aware of occasional inconsistencies, the restaurant's legacy and the plethora of flavorful dishes it offers make it a worthwhile destination for those seeking authentic Mughlai cuisine. Whether you're a long-time patron or a first-time visitor, the rich aromas and tastes promise a memorable...

If the review asked to score my experience I would give negative points.

This review is as far as I can go to reach out to people and advise them to be aware of what they are served and what they ingest. I went there for my birthday to celebrate and left feeling uncomfortable and utterly shocked and disappointed.

The staff was the most unprofessional kind I have ever seen. WAITERS OF A HIGHWAY-SIDE DHABA ARE WELL-BEHAVED THAN THOSE HERE. The staff kept giving us stealthy looks, gossiped something amongst themselves pointing at us and kept giggling over the same even when they were aware that we could see them giggling and gossiping about us. Absolutely disgusting thing to do to your guests in the hospitality industry.

The staff was unaware of the differences between the various gravies. Just saying red gravy, yellow gravy is not the description of the dish. People working in the culinary-field must be aware of ingredients and the various taste profiles.

We ordered chicken manchow soup, mutton seekh kabab, chicken banjara with roti and garlic naan and finally biryani. The overall taste of the food was good. Compliments to the chef.

Since we were full we asked them to parcel pack the leftover biryani. When we opened the container on reaching home, the quantity of biryani in the container was much much less than what was leftover. The rice was mushy and not at all fluffy, long grained like the one in the restaurant. The meat in the container was definitely not chicken and suddenly there were a lot of potatoes in it. It could have been someone else's half-eaten leftovers for all we know. This is so gross and pathetic and shame in the name of hospitality and humanity. I guess this is why the staff was giggling and gossiping amongst themselves. They must be taking pride in having successfully fooled us. Shameless people.

To add to it the seating is extremely uncomfortable. The chairs dip when we sit on them lowering our height. So you have to extend your hands much more to reach the plate. At one point the arms begin to ache, disturbing the whole eating experience. When they charge so much for the food and spend so much on the lights, decor, interiors then why not on comfortable seating?

For a big name like 'Delhi Darbar', the experience was probably worse than street food.

I repeat:...

Our visit to Jaffer Bhai Delhi Darbar was quite disappointing, primarily due to the lack of maintenance and the subpar quality of food. To begin with, the seating arrangements were uncomfortable the chair cushions were in poor condition, and we had to request a replacement. Moreover, the chairs were not properly cleaned, which is something the management should address as a priority. We started our meal with Manchow Soup, which was quite good. However, when we ordered Paneer Crispy as a starter, we were surprised to learn that such a common dish was not available on their menu. Instead, we were recommended Paneer Tikka, which we agreed to try. Unfortunately, what arrived was deep-fried paneer, excessively oily, and simply garnished with garlic crumbs to add crispiness. It was far from what we expected. For the main course, we ordered Triple Schezwan Fried Rice, hoping for a better experience. However, after our prior disappointment with the starter, we informed the staff that if the main course was not up to the mark, we would need to escalate our concerns. Sadly, the dish did not meet our expectations. When we expressed our dissatisfaction and requested a resolution, the staff initially refused to take back the dish, insisting that we either pack it or leave it. This level of customer service was shocking, especially coming from a well-known establishment like Jaffer Bhai Delhi Darbar. After some discussion, we decided to settle the bill for the soup and starter and left. While I understand that Jaffer Bhai Delhi Darbar is renowned for Mughlai cuisine rather than Chinese food, my concern is simple if a restaurant includes Chinese dishes on its menu, they should ensure a decent standard of preparation. A reputed establishment should maintain quality across all offerings, rather than serving poorly made dishes.

Overall, this experience was quite disappointing, and I hope the management takes necessary steps to improve both food quality...