Biplob Ghosal and Kamna Arora
“Hola. Cómo estás?,” a waiter in traditional Mexican attire – cowboy hat, gun and boots said, as he welcomed us.
With growing anticipation, we entered the restaurant called Rodeo. Our common friend, a celebrated gourmand, had said, “If you are a Mexican food lover it might be a good idea to quickly head for Rodeo - the first authentic Mexican restaurant opened in India in 1994.”
“Having food at Rodeo is a memorable experience! The theme, décor, dress code, lights, the ambience – everything is based on the Mexican culture and above all the food will drive you crazy,” he said. We had considered his praise to be a little exaggerated until we visited the restaurant.
Believe us, the Tex-Mex food being served in the heart of New Delhi was nothing short of scrumptious! Master Chefs Sergio Snyder and Roberto Treves from Mexico have authenticated all the Mexican recipes served there. In fact, we came to know through the course of our meal that corn flour and chillies have been imported from Mexico to provide foodies with the original taste of Mexico. Not just that, every food item such as nachos, tortillas or salsa was not machine-made but hand-made.
Eager to taste the Nachos Mexicanos Vegetariano, we ordered it first. The tasty home-made tortilla chips were topped with refried beans, salsa mexicana, and cheese. If you are a non-vegetarian, you get your choice of non-vegetarian assortment of toppings as well.
As our main course dish, we ordered Fajitas. The soft flour tortillas were filled with our choice of filling and were served with grated Montre Jack cheese, sour cream and Salsa Mexicana. Rodeo provides a wide range of fillings for Fajitas, such as seafood, chicken, lamb, tenderloin or vegetables.
For non-vegetarians, Chicken Barbacoa was a great option. Marinated chicken barbequed over wood coals was being served with cabbage, onions and salsa.
We came to know that, Rodeo offered a great variety of martini, tequila, margarita, sangria, wine, and Mexican special beer. For mocktail lovers, exotic Southern Belle and Savona Fuzz are great options. The Rodeo bar was unique in its architecture as it had mock saddle seats - perfect to have a lovely chat over Strawberry Margarita or Senorita Margarita.
We were told that one could also enjoy happy hours at Rodeo from 3:30 pm-7:30 pm. Within that time, 50 percent discount is offered on all Indian beer and cocktails. Buffet includes Italian and Continental food, besides Mexican. One can try out Lasagne, Spaghetti, Chicken Steak, Tequila Salmon Steak, Grand Marnier Casserole, Murg Malai Tikka, and Paneer Tikka.
We were spoilt for choice when it came to desserts. We tried out delicious Honey Lemon Madeleines and savoury Hot Chocolate Pudding filled with chocolate liquid served with vanilla sauce, or Californian split. We enjoyed the delicious Mexican dessert while soothing music played in the background.
The waiter told us that the restaurant often organises live singing shows to entertain customers. Besides the Mexican delicacies, the restaurant also offers a wide range of mouth-watering Indian dishes.
As we came out of the restaurant, we had similar thought running in our minds. “Although there are a profusion of good restaurants in the city, Rodeo truly stands out.”
About RodeoTimings: 12 noon – 1 am
Price Guide: Happy hours (1 maincourse dish and 1 drink) – Rs 700 per person,
Otherwise 1 maincourse dish and 1 drink cost Rs 800 per person
Payment Options: Cash, Visa, Mastercard
Ambience: Cozy, Buzzy, Relaxed
Styles: Sit down
Suitable For: Business lunch/dinner, Private lunch/dinner, Family
Address: 12-A, Connaught place, New Delhi
The MGF Metropolitan Mall on the 3rd floor, Gurgaon
Website: http://www.rodeostar.com
For reservation: Rodeo CP (011-23713780/81), Rodeo Gurgaon (0124-4012198/99)
First Published: Saturday, February 27, 2010, 09:35
