'Up North' brings forth a glorious portfolio of cuisine traversing across the upper tier of India to give the real and authentic taste of the traditional food from Punjab and allied regions. It was a wondrous experience as what you get to consume is hard core staple food as being eaten in the rustic villages cooked also in local style but amidst a serene rooftop atmosphere in a city down south such as Chennai. The whole concept is to feel the flavours of the North which is so rich yet diverse. You get the feeling of being transported to Amritsar and treating yourself to a typical heavy 'Dhaba' style meal in all it's true colours.
The menu here is a simple slider. It's a one pager comprising of all the dishes in many unique avatars. They have a truck load of varieties of Dal and they are tweaked and suited according to the requirement. Panneer, Aloo and few other options are also immense and come in various forms of potpourri.
I was here on an invite to savour a handpicked meal comprising some of the best of the best of Up North. I began with a refreshing ginger based mocktail which was ideal for this heat. Next up was the tomato dhaniya shorba. This was light and garnished with coriander and you could feel the essence of the flavour hitting on every spoon. It also beautifully set up things for the lavish feast to follow.
Then it was time for the starters which were simply spectacular. A veg platter was served comprising of multani panneer, malai panneer, peshawari subz kebab, bhutiyaa de kabab and bharmi aloo. Virtually each of them contested with one another for top stakes and I thoroughly enjoyed the royal aromatic taste lingering in the mouth. The multani panneer was a rectangular chunk with a red paste and so rich. The malai panneer melted waftly in the tongue. Peshawari kabab was super soft and minced with veggies. The bhutiyaa de kabab added a slight sweetness by being tangy and the bharmi aloo was a total show stealer with exotic english vegetables slathered generously on the layer of potato. It was such a delight gorging on all these starters.
When I felt the starters were top notch, the main course literally took my breath away. It was flowing like an avalanche and absolutely delectable in taste. The Bharmi Aloo kulcha was just stellar and in the curries almost every gravy stand alone took the cherry. I immensely enjoyed the Maa Ki dal which is slightly different from Dal Makhni made of kidney beans, rajma and black lentils. Seldom have I ever tasted such a lip smacking dal. The Aloo dum made in true blue punjabi style was another winner and so was the kadai panneer which was infused with just the right amount of spices to give the perfect punch. The Aloo Bhukhara kofta added the sweet touch and sarson ki saag brought about the regal flavours of spinach. The other roti's viz missi/makki roti, lachcha paratha etc were also well made and went jocularly well with all the fabulous gravies. The pan biryani also hit the bulls eye with each morsel being full of flavour and so yummy to have just as a stand alone dish.
And then it was the finale in the form of Nungu ice cream made in nitrogen style. This was a remarkable dessert presented in a cooling pan with pistachio soil, macaroons, banganaballi mangoes and frozen berries. It was a beautiful blend of sweetness and crunchiness and with the smoke of the chilling effect of Nitrogen looked very appealing. It was a surreal way to end the meal which only kept getting better and better till the final finish.
The service was spot on. I was amazed with the knowledge possessed by the waiter who seemed to know about the items from the menu in and out. That was very impressive and definitely aided in the eating experience. I must also mention about Chef Amandeep Singh who personally took time off and engaging me as I was uncovering a ravenous experience. He shared lots of interesting tit bits about the cuisines of the Northern Frontier which was very informative. The rates are not discussed as the visit was over an on the house. The ambiance gives a very calm, peaceful and languid feel. Overlooking the entire city with the winds blowing across and dishing on sumptuous creamy Punjabi food, you really can't expect for more.
Overall, it was a fascinating experience. I've always had a penchant for North Indian cuisine and after dining at 'Up North', the appreciation and love for Punjab, it's culture and food went up a further notch higher in my eyes. If you want to try true blue local authentic punjabi cuisine with all it's richness and heritage, 'Up North' is the best place to head to.
The menu here is a simple slider. It's a one pager comprising of all the dishes in many unique avatars. They have a truck load of varieties of Dal and they are tweaked and suited according to the requirement. Panneer, Aloo and few other options are also immense and come in various forms of potpourri.
I was here on an invite to savour a handpicked meal comprising some of the best of the best of Up North. I began with a refreshing ginger based mocktail which was ideal for this heat. Next up was the tomato dhaniya shorba. This was light and garnished with coriander and you could feel the essence of the flavour hitting on every spoon. It also beautifully set up things for the lavish feast to follow.
Then it was time for the starters which were simply spectacular. A veg platter was served comprising of multani panneer, malai panneer, peshawari subz kebab, bhutiyaa de kabab and bharmi aloo. Virtually each of them contested with one another for top stakes and I thoroughly enjoyed the royal aromatic taste lingering in the mouth. The multani panneer was a rectangular chunk with a red paste and so rich. The malai panneer melted waftly in the tongue. Peshawari kabab was super soft and minced with veggies. The bhutiyaa de kabab added a slight sweetness by being tangy and the bharmi aloo was a total show stealer with exotic english vegetables slathered generously on the layer of potato. It was such a delight gorging on all these starters.
When I felt the starters were top notch, the main course literally took my breath away. It was flowing like an avalanche and absolutely delectable in taste. The Bharmi Aloo kulcha was just stellar and in the curries almost every gravy stand alone took the cherry. I immensely enjoyed the Maa Ki dal which is slightly different from Dal Makhni made of kidney beans, rajma and black lentils. Seldom have I ever tasted such a lip smacking dal. The Aloo dum made in true blue punjabi style was another winner and so was the kadai panneer which was infused with just the right amount of spices to give the perfect punch. The Aloo Bhukhara kofta added the sweet touch and sarson ki saag brought about the regal flavours of spinach. The other roti's viz missi/makki roti, lachcha paratha etc were also well made and went jocularly well with all the fabulous gravies. The pan biryani also hit the bulls eye with each morsel being full of flavour and so yummy to have just as a stand alone dish.
And then it was the finale in the form of Nungu ice cream made in nitrogen style. This was a remarkable dessert presented in a cooling pan with pistachio soil, macaroons, banganaballi mangoes and frozen berries. It was a beautiful blend of sweetness and crunchiness and with the smoke of the chilling effect of Nitrogen looked very appealing. It was a surreal way to end the meal which only kept getting better and better till the final finish.
The service was spot on. I was amazed with the knowledge possessed by the waiter who seemed to know about the items from the menu in and out. That was very impressive and definitely aided in the eating experience. I must also mention about Chef Amandeep Singh who personally took time off and engaging me as I was uncovering a ravenous experience. He shared lots of interesting tit bits about the cuisines of the Northern Frontier which was very informative. The rates are not discussed as the visit was over an on the house. The ambiance gives a very calm, peaceful and languid feel. Overlooking the entire city with the winds blowing across and dishing on sumptuous creamy Punjabi food, you really can't expect for more.
Overall, it was a fascinating experience. I've always had a penchant for North Indian cuisine and after dining at 'Up North', the appreciation and love for Punjab, it's culture and food went up a further notch higher in my eyes. If you want to try true blue local authentic punjabi cuisine with all it's richness and heritage, 'Up North' is the best place to head to.
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