As I reach Diggin café situated opposite Gargi College in the upscale locality of Anand Lok in south Delhi, the sky is overcast and threatening to rain. The café’s open-air section with benches and tables and a bounty of flora and fauna provide the perfect seating for its indoor seating which is comfortably air-conditioned and has oodles of natural light seeping in. This looks like a perfect place for a cozy date. The feel of the café is that of laid back elegance. An overcast sky is an icing on the cake.
But it is not just the setting that impresses. As a reviewer, rarely does one come across a meal where each dish that one tastes is delightful. Today is one of those days. I meet the enthusiastic owner of the café Digvijay Singh Bedi, an alumnus of the London School of Economics, who has come back to set up his dream – a café that he considers an extension of himself, starting with the name Diggin which also happens to be his own pet name. The cuisine is Italian (his favourite) and the dishes on the menu are all that he likes. The café caters to the residents of the area and the students of Gargi College who are presented with a cheaper menu on presentation of a college identity card.
Once seated I start the tasting session with Diggin special salad (Rs185) with lots of lettuce, fresh green apples and roasted beets complimented by the sharpness of feta cheese and with a mint infused honey and chilly dressing. The salad is refreshing and light, as all salads should be. From the starters menu I choose bacon stuffed chicken legs topped with pine nuts and screed with an agrodolce (sour and sweet) sauce (Rs 225) which has mince of bacon and chicken stuffed inside. With the skin intact, the whole dish is a kind of a supremely enjoyable sausage.
Ham and Swiss cheese sandwich (Rs 325) is made on freshly baked sourdough bread with mustard and mayo dressing and is a meaty bite. One of the most popular dishes around is the pizza being served straight out of a wood fired stone oven, and I decide to try a half and half pizza (Rs 345) with half the pizza being mushroom and feta one, and the other half a delicious yet unique combination of pepperoni with pesto and tomato base, and mozzarella cheese. The base of the pizza is cooked perfectly, and this is one of the better pizzas I have had in NCR.
From the mains, I decide to try a perfectly cooked pan seared fresh sole fish (Rs425) with a tangy lime, green beans, fennel, almond and citrus orange salad as able accompaniments. The vegetarian ravioli filled with spinach, broccoli & ricotta cheese blend (Rs 325) served in the classic arrabiata sauce is handmade and delicious. I end the meal with cool, creamy and fruity frozen blueberry yoghurt (Rs 75), a nice end to a good meal.
Diggin café has many things going right for them. The place has great vibes. The food I tried was flawless. All they have to do is to be consistent, and this place will be a great place to hang out in.
Ratings (out of 5)
Food: 4.0 | Ambience: 4.5 | Service: 3.5 | Overall: 4.0
Price: Rs 1300 for two | Alcohol: Yes | Credit Card: Yes
Address: Anand Lok Shopping Centre, Opposite Gargi College, Anand Lok, New Delhi | Phone: 011 40800081, 011 40800082
