Dum Pukht – By ITC Maurya Hotel – Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

We were staying at the ITC Maurya for the IEC general meetings and made a reservation at the restaurant. I am not a fan of lentils but having them here, they were incredible. I was told that they simmer for 48 hours in ghee. It was impressive watching as they made the naan by hand and then putting it into the tandoori oven. The lines of people waiting each night to get a reservation is unreal. It says a lot about the food.

This is a place that I have been frequenting since I was quite young. I haven't been for over a decade so when I was visiting Delhi, I was looking forward to it. The hotel lobby looked the same. It brought me back to my childhood. We started with beer and fresh lime soda. We then ordered the raan, chicken Malai kebab, fish kebab, couple of their famous dal, and a variety of naan, pudina parantha etc. Overall the food was fabulous! The fish tikkas were not as flavorful. We told them after we paid and the they took it really well and they said they would let the chef know. We ended the evening with delicious phirni and kulfi. Both were delicious

Bukhara is one of Delhi’s legendary dining spots - rustic charm, live kitchen, and food with a reputation that precedes it. It’s an experience, though not without its flaws. Food (4/5): The Daal Bukhara is rich, creamy, and iconic. Murgh Malai Tikka was a huge portion, perfectly cooked. Bitter Naan (closer to a lachha paratha hybrid) was tasty, pudina paratha average. Kulfi was a sweet end. Papads were inconsistent, some overcooked. Ambience (4/5): Rustic vibe, elegant decor, hanging copper utensils, and the live kitchen view made it unique Seating (3/5): Padded stools and benches instead of chairs. Authentic hand-eating encouraged, though may not suit everyone Service (2.5/5): Reception was the low point - the lady at the desk hardly smiled. First impressions matter, and this needs fixing. Food service was slower than expected because it was full house Booking Experience (2.5/5): Calls went unanswered. We took a gamble with a walk-in and got lucky, but the process is frustrating given its popularity Overall: Bukhara is a must-visit for its legendary dishes and ambience, but service and booking ease really need work. Best reserved for special occasions.

I am giving overall 3 star rating due to below reasons 1. They force you to go for fixed menu, instead of ala carte so that they can generate maximum revenue per table. This is enethical practice, we should have an option to select either options as they are provided by restaurant. 2. The service is very slow, it takes multiple reminders and followup to order drinks and other things. If u r charging and exorbitant money (around 10k per person), u should deploy a dedicated waiter per table. 3. The sitting arrangement is very uncomfortable, they gave stools and benches. Moreover they have literally placed a table and chair in every possible space available. One of our guest was not able to even sit properly because his knees were touching the table due to less space. 3. Some of the good items are average, like mutton raan, which is part of fixed menu. If u ask them to replace it with some other mutton items, they charge extra for that. Since u r charging 8k plus taxes already for fixed non veg menu, why u don't give options to choose the dishes, specially they are part of your fixed menu. They god fame and and now they are misusing that market position in order to maximise their revenue, while completely ignoring the customer care and sevice. You can't run such business just on the fame for long time.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An Amazing Stay with Incredible Food! This hotel is absolutely fantastic. From the second we arrived, the staff made us feel like VIPs. They were so friendly and attentive, always there when you needed something but never in the way. The hotel itself is beautiful—it feels luxurious and peaceful the moment you walk in. Our room was super comfortable and spotlessly clean. Now, the food... oh my goodness, the food! It's the real highlight here. We tried the famous Bukhara restaurant and their dal and kebabs totally lived up to the hype. It was easily one of the best meals we've ever had. The breakfast buffet was also huge, with so many delicious Indian and international options. Everything about our stay was just first-class. It's definitely a splurge, but worth every penny for a special occasion. We can't wait to go back