Sept. 12, New Delhi: Mumbai’s Nom Nom, Delhi has opened in a huge 11,000 sqft with a capacity of serving covers of 170 guests, with a Private Dining Room, al fresco dining in the garden, as well as a Chinese Tea Lounge in the Verandah. The décor centers on a Dragon swirl which curls till the ceiling like the tail of a dragon and offers private tables across varying levels.
Yet another Chinese restaurant, you might ask? Apparently this one will be different. Says Dharmesh Karmokar, the owner of the restaurant and an alumnus of IHM Mumbai, “We intend for Nom Nom to create new benchmarks in Asian cuisine. Nom Nom’s menu has dishes from Yue, Chuan, Hui, Lu, Min, Su, Xiang and Zhe style of cooking from among China’s 23 provinces.” The name Nom Nom is derived from the eating sound that the mouth makes.
At the tasting, maybe because it is the first day, the dishes range from average to good. The chicken black pepper is competent but lacks the peppery punch. The wasabi prawns have the hit, and are a wonderful combination of the zing from wasabi, the sweet crispness of the juicy prawns, and the crunch of the batter. I would have enjoyed it much more if the dish had been served piping hot. The Pattaya chicken is spicy and tangy and the pork spare ribs could do with a little more depth in the sauce.
The challenge going forward for the restaurant is to establish itself at the Ashoka, also called Delhi’s babu hotel, and not really known for its gourmet offerings. I am sure the menu will come together in the future to provide an innovative Chinese experience.
Address: The Hotel Ashoka, Diplomatic Enclave, 50B Chanakyapuri, New Delhi | Telephone: 011 26110101
