Sorrento @ Shangri-La’s – Eros New Delhi – A Haven for Italian food lovers

May 4, 2016
3,658 Comments

The newly opened Sorrento in Shangri-La
spells magnificence beyond compare. Located in the heart of the hotel, towards
the end you first enter Grappa, a bar which ensures you enjoy the finest liqueurs and
devour their mouth-watering hors d’oeuvre.

It was a Monday afternoon that day when I took
my cousin for lunch at Sorrento. The restaurant manager welcomed me with a warm
smile and escorted me to a table for two. So while waiting for her at
Grappa, the hospitable staff served me Sangria that went well with the hors d’oeuvre. 

As I looked around, I admired the full length windows that displayed the well
manicured garden. Grappa is beautifully designed with architectural
nuances that reverberates you as you gradually loosen up in the cascading spell
of the soothing music.

The server arrived with the first set of starters. We were served Bruschettas in
three different toppings that were different from the usual bruschettas. The first
one had seasonal tomato, basil and rocket salad, while the second one was
covered with Roasted chicken, wild mushrooms, parmesan snow.

But I fell in love
with the third one that comprised of oven roasted squash, sage, goat cheese
crumble.  The next starter that followed was
the Fritos. The lightly fried wild mushrooms were complimented with olives,
pickled chili with blue cheese dip. It was perfect.

After the scumptious hors d’oeuvre, we were escorted to Sorrento,
where Chef Luigi Ferraro, the versatile Italian chef welcomed us with a warm smile. The well traveled chef introduced me to the fine flavors of the authentic
Italian meal that made me fall in love with Italian cuisine.
The highlight of Sorrento is the
open kitchen, where you can watch the performance of maestros in disguise who
craft exotic dishes to please diners. Eating here is as much a theatrical
as a culinary experience. Sorrento boasts of fresh in-house doughs to make the
finest pizzas.

The flooring at Sorrento display
Italy’s artistic finesse that creates a visual treat to the senses. The comfortable
chairs give comfort and relaxation, while the soothing light transcends you to
mini Italy.

The ample space makes for a cozy
dining experience for couples or a big family gathering. The large windows, square
tables, comfortable chairs and soothing music create an elegant moment, with a
hint of decadence that makes you forget the world outside.

While I was admiring the
beauty of the restaurant, an assorted platter of fresh breads with a garlic dip
was served – a succulent start indeed.

Before the antipasti, I enjoyed a
chilled glass of fresh watermelon juice. The mildly sweet drink cleansed the
palate, and primed the taste buds for the main course to follow.

The first set of antipasti consisted
of Fagottini – the highlight of the review that stole my heart. Unlike other pastas,
this one was made with ricotta and lemon, from the Amalfi coast.  The profuse use of herbs delighted the taste
buds. It occurred to me that pasta can be spicy, active and playful.

The pizzas that were served to us
were the Neapolitan Pizza and Pepperoni pizza. Made with Buffalo mozzarella,
basil pesto, cherry tomato and shaved pecorino, the Neapolitan Pizza is
definitely a good spin on the conventional rubbed pizzas.



 The Pepperoni pizza on
the other hand was hard to identify but succulent to eat.  We also loved the Black Cod: Lardo wrapped
with olio negra, nuts and roasted forest mushroom.

It was gone in a few seconds
and satiated us to a level impossible to express. The dish showcased innovative
flavors and textures, but simmered down in comparison with Fagottini that had
the right balance of herbs and sauces.

The sweet nothings came in the
form of Mount Vesuvius. The Hazelnut chocolate cremeux, almond biscuits, cocoa
soil, raspberry sauce intermingled to create a masterpiece that melted in my
mouth. For a minute I was transcended to another world.

Sorrento presents a modern take
on regionally inspired Italian cuisine featuring a fine collection of Italian
gems that is served with a sophisticated service.

Italians love the simplicity
of their staple food and I believe Sorrento has surely succeeded in keeping up
with the spirit of authentic Italian food.

Address:
 
19, Ashoka Road, 
Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001
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