Delhi House Cafe — Restaurant in Manchester

Visited DHC on a Sunday afternoon for lunch with 3 friends. 2 of us were experienced with Indian food and had clear ldeas of what constitutes 'good' or 'authentic'...2 less so.

The place itself is very pleasant...situated in the Corn Exchange building opposite the Arndale Centre and Printworks. The Corn Exchange has a big central atrium area with several restaurants located around it. This allows you to choose a table 'inside' the restaurant or 'outside' in a terrace area...which is still all inside but gets the benefit of lots of natural light through the glass atrium roof in the daytime.

So that's the good stuff. Unfortunately it all goes downhill from here....

Firstly...the prices at DHC are much higher than you would pay for Indo/Pak food anywhere in Mcr other than maybe Dishoom or Asha's. I knew this before visiting as I looked at menu...but i do believe that these prices can be justified if the dishes served are of higher quality and execution.

Unfortunately...at DHC the prices were high and the standard of the dishes was at best average and at worst...not good.

As a group we ordered the following;

Pani puri Tandoori lamb chops Lamb seekh kebab Paneer tikka Chicken tikka Lamb shank nihari Desi chicken curry Chicken biriyani

The pani puri, paneer tikka and Chicken tikka were decent but the tandoori lamb chops and lamb seekh kebab were very average. The thing that really annoyed me however was the pricing.

For 3 small/thin lamb chops that you can get in every Indo-Pakistani place in Mcr for around £8...DHC charged a whopping £17!!!!

At that price I expected to receive 3 thick lamb chops (which is not the standard at most places) or 6 regular thin chops. £17 for 3 thin lamb chops is...in my opinion...daylight robbery!

The same applied to the lamb seekh kebab...not only was it average in flavour, it cost around £13 for 3 small pieces when you can get the equivalent anywhere in Mcr for half the price.

Nevertheless I reserved judgement for the mains...and this is where it got even worse.

Lamb shank nihari at DHC is priced at £22...again almost double what you can get it for at a lot of other places. But when the dish came out and I tasted it...it had no resemblance to how a nihari should taste!

For reference...a nihari is a slow braised lamb or beef dish from Pakistan which has a unique blend of spices...predominantly fennel and black pepper (plus maybe 5 or 6 more)...which give it a very particular flavour. There are regional variations to the dish but if you have tasted a proper nihari you will always recognise the taste.

I have made and eaten countless variations of nihari all over the world...Mcr (there are some places that make amazing nihari here), London, Dubai, Delhi, Lahore...even Singapore and Malaysia...so I think I know what I am talking about when it comes to this dish.

Anyway...this nihari was NOT A NIHARI.

It was a decent lamb shank curry but it wasn't what was I or my other nihari fan friend wanted or expected...so I mentioned to the waiter that I wasn't happy.

A few minutes later the manager came to our table to ask if we were OK and I explained all the above. His response - while polite - was laughable.

He told us that the nihari we had in front of us was totally authentic and it was made with a blend of 32 herbs and spices!

Now here's my issue. No nihari on Earth is made with 32 herbs and spices. I'm a pretty experienced cook when it comes to Indo-Pakistani food and I can probably list around 40 herbs and spices that I know are used for every single dish I am familiar with!!!

If you took 32 of these and put them all in 1 dish you would create a monstrosity that would be inedible.

Anyway...I didn't like the nihari...and the desi chicken curry was just a bog standard chicken curry in a spiced tomato-based sauce. I don't know what made it 'desi' at all but I wasn't going to complain again!

The chicken biriyani was good...but not enough to make up for everything else.

I won't be going back to DHC. Its average food at a price that simply isn't justifiable for...

Nestled in the heart of Exchange Square, Delhi House Cafe boasts an inviting ambiance that mirrors the warmth of Indian hospitality. As a seasoned food enthusiast, I recently had the pleasure of savoring their delightful offerings, including the Moradabadi Chicken Biryani, Butter Chicken Naan Pizza, and Lamb Seekh Kebab.

First on the table was the much-anticipated Butter Chicken Naan Pizza, and it did not disappoint! The amalgamation of classic Italian and Indian flavors was a triumph. The soft and flavorful naan bread served as the perfect canvas for the rich, creamy butter chicken topping. The balance of spices and succulent chunks of chicken were a treat for the taste buds, leaving me craving for more. This innovative creation was indeed a highlight of the meal.

Next up was the Lamb Seekh Kebab, which lived up to its reputation as a classic favorite. The kebabs were beautifully spiced, exuding aromatic flavors with every bite. The tender and juicy lamb, expertly grilled, was an absolute delight. Though somewhat familiar, the dish showcased the chef's skill in refining traditional recipes, resulting in a satisfying and enjoyable experience.

Moving on to the Moradabadi Chicken Biryani, it proved to be a solid choice. The fragrant rice was cooked to perfection and carried the essence of carefully chosen spices. Tender pieces of chicken were intermingled throughout, elevating the overall taste. While the biryani was enjoyable, it didn't quite achieve the same level of excitement as the previous dishes. Nonetheless, it remained a satisfying and comforting option.

In terms of service, the staff at Delhi House Cafe were friendly and attentive, enhancing the overall dining experience. The ambience was relaxed, making it a great place to unwind and enjoy a flavorful meal.

In conclusion, my visit to Delhi House Cafe at Exchange Square was a pleasurable experience. The Butter Chicken Naan Pizza stood out as a creative fusion of flavors, while the Lamb Seekh Kebab and Moradabadi Chicken Biryani both satisfied the palate. With its inviting atmosphere and delectable dishes, Delhi House Cafe proves to be a promising destination for anyone seeking a taste of Indian cuisine in the heart...

Went to this restaurant on my Birthday with my mum and her friend we are punjabi too and i have to say that this is one of the worst restaurants we have ever been to. I ordered the Lamb Nihari which was over powered by cinnamon and black pepper. Mum and her friend are veggies and the veggie option was so limited and when the Dhal Makhani came it was lukewarm and the Karahi Paneer had a very burnt kashmiri mirch taste which was hurting the back of our throats. With the lamb nihari it says you get a moti roti which is basically a thick piece of English bakery bread with Kasoori methi on top which was like eating hard hay on bread absolutely awful combination of textures and flavours in the mains. The aloo tiki and Gajar ka halwa were the only two things were about a 5 out of 10. The owner Mr Lamba also being punjabi was seating all other ethnicity people but brown at the front of the restaurant. We smiled at him and his son a few times to say hello and just generally have a chit chat but sadly they chose to ignore us and throw their heads down and walk past several times. At the end my mother actually went over to him to say hello as we always do that whenever we go to any restaurant and only then did he decide to speak. Not very humbling being a server of food. On top of that the prices the restaurant charges are ridiculous considering the food is tatsteless and not even presented well. I rather go elsewhere such as Tamatanga and pay decent money for some tasteful well presented food. The waitresses were also rushing us and clearing our plates before we had even finished our starters which was really frustrating. Id advise Mr Lamba to train his staff or get some external team to come and help him train the staff. Add more flavours to your food other than black pepper, cinnamon, kashmiri mirch maybe look at lime lemons coriander garlic ginger green chillies fresh tomatoes. With maybe some MDH masalas In addition the prices you xharge for such small menu and not well presented definitely need to be revised . In addition the fly issue tou have too definitely needs to be looked into. Realy disappointed with this place it is far from authentic...