Legend (and the restaurant’s website) has it that Ciro’s Pomodoro, which opened last week at the N Block Market in GK 1, was once a stand-alone Italian restaurant in London with lots of celebrity clientele that expanded to the US, Eastern Europe and now Delhi. Certainly, the evidence of high-flying clientele is in full display at the restaurant, with framed photographs of Mr Ciro and his famous buddies lining the walls. If you like your salad dusted in star-power, this is the perfect restaurant for you.
Rolling in dough
On the night we visit, the staff—an attractive Latvian manager and hot Czech hostesses—are friendly and knowledgeable. They steer us towards boozy margaritas (no wine!) and a starter of lonza tonnata, slivers of pork topped with creamy sauce and capers, a bit too rich for our perhaps-peasant tongues. We much prefer mozzarella triangles, breaded and burly, best slathered with spicy tomato dip; and soft, flat chilli cheese bread that we assume is part of a complementary basket but shows up on our considerable bill. Warning: Ciro’s Pomodoro will burn a hole in your pocket.
Pizzas are up next, with each pie named after a celebrity. We go with the late Patrick Swayze’s choice of Quattro formaggi, a perfectly thin crust on which four different cheeses dance. Also we get shanks of lamb on a bed of saffron risotto: the risotto is pitch-perfect but the meat chewy, even as it falls off the bone. Up until now, the vegetarian fare at Ciro’s is the true star.
Cutie patio-tee
In between mains and dessert, a rock cover band begins to play, clashing with the restaurant’s jazzy interiors. Giving up on conversation, we wander up to a lovely balcony area where the music is muted, but since they’re still setting up, no food service is available here yet. Also, as a surety, they ask for a credit card before we go up the stairs. Trust issues?
We end our evening with a deliciously light panna cotta, soft vanilla pudding served with a smear of chocolate sauce, which teamed with our still-strong margaritas makes for a good end to our meal at what is certain to be Delhi’s new trendy place.
Getting there: 1, N-Block Market, call 41731035, meal for two with cocktails approximately Rs 5,500.
