Al Jawahar, Matia Mahal Bazaar, Opposite Gate No.1, Jama Masjid, New Delhi
Warmth, cleanliness and bright lights are what greet you as you walk through the doors of Al Jawahar at Matia Mahal Bazaar, Jama Masjid. First of all, this eatery is legendary. It is said they were inaugurated by India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
In addition to this, the other story claims that when Panditji dropped by for a meal they changed their call signs to Al Jawahar. Therefore, we do know that the name does have something to do with Pandit Nehru. Well apart from the name fame, if you are here, you are in for a treat of a lifetime.
To get to the restaurant, one has to jostle through the incredibly congested Matia Mahal Bazaar. However, getting pushed around to get to it is totally worth it. This is a place is for epicureans. It offers a culinary pleasure for foodies that can be compared to nothing else. Sadly, we don’t get all this in Gurgaon.
Even though the best-known food outlet in Matia Mahal Bazaar is Karim Hotel, Al Jawahar’s rankings are climbing up rapidly.
I have been a sporadic visitor here after abandoning Karim’s quite a while back. One doesn’t get the same feel for food at Karim’s any more. The hospitality and quality of food have both deteriorated. Al Jawahar’s food & hospitality are surely superior.
Al Jawahar is a must-have experience.
Three of us strolled in last evening to gorge on some of Al Jawahar’s juicy seekh kebabs (they are priced by piece) and curries. We had to wait a bit since their upper section was closed and the lower one didn’t have a table to spare. However, the wait was totally worthy of the food we bit into.
Our lip-smacking food order comprised of Kaleji Gurda, Palak Gosht, Dal Fry and some of their amazing Khamiri Rotis right from the tandoor. The gluttony was carried on homewards with an additional order of Chicken Jahangiri, Chicken Mughlai, Mutton Korma and more of their seekh kebabs.
I didn’t even think about adding inches to my girth this one day. Here, succulent chunks of tender meat in a copious sauce make every bite a moment to remember.
As we ate there was an unlikely though resounding silence between us. It was the food on our table that was doing all the talking. In the end, we mopped up even that last drop of the delicious kebabs and curries we savoured. It was a meal truly fit for Kings.
To Sum-It-Up: Al Jawahar will remain my favourite place to eat some great food in the walled city of Shahjahanabad. I’d recommend it to anyone wanting to try out some authentic Old Delhi cuisine.
Matia Mahal Bazaar, Opposite Gate No.1, Jama Masjid, New Delhi
Open from: 7 AM to 12:00 Midnight
Happy hours: No
Phone numbers:011 23261341; 011 23264126
Vegetarian: No :)
Cuisine: Mughlai/ North Indian
Bar: NO!
Loo on premises: Yes & Clean
Air Conditioning: Yes
Credit Cards Accepted: No
Do they deliver: No
Takeaways Offered: Yes
Host Parties at Venue: No
Parking: Street side/ Around Jama Masjid
WiFi: No
Live Music: No!
Television Screening: No
Outdoor Seating: No
Smoking Allowed: Yes! Street side
