Gulati

Gulati is one of the best-known restaurants in Pandara Road Market in the heart of New Delhi, a place that has drawn diners in search of North Indian food for decades. The restaurant started in 1959 as a modest dhaba and has grown into a large, professionally run restaurant that has long been a landmark of the area. It reopened with new interiors in 2013 and continues to be busy; a second branch operates in Gurugram.

The menu covers North Indian, Mughlai and tandoori cooking, with a dedicated Hyderabadi section for which chefs were brought in from Hyderabad. The butter chicken is the dish most people come for, and the dal makhani is another favourite; a version called Shahi Dal Makhani was once rated the best in the capital by Eating Out magazine. From the Hyderabadi menu, try the biryani, murgh handi or paneer Hyderabadi. Dahi kebab and Kashmiri dum aloo are good vegetarian choices, and the special fruit cream is a traditional way to finish.

At lunchtime a buffet with a menu that changes daily is a good way to sample a range of dishes. The restaurant also runs periodic food festivals, including a Navratra menu with fasting-friendly vegetarian dishes during the Hindu festival, and themed festivals of kebabs, biryanis and tawa cooking.

Expect a busy room full of families and groups, especially at weekend lunchtimes and in the evenings. Booking ahead or arriving early helps. The food is rich, so sharing a few dishes across the table is the best approach. Prices are moderate to high for North Indian food in Delhi, in line with its fine dining positioning.

Gulati suits families, groups and visitors who want classic North Indian restaurant food in a comfortable setting, and it is a reliable choice for a first taste of butter chicken in the city where it became famous. Vegetarians have plenty of options.

Pandara Road Market lies a short drive from India Gate and Khan Market, so dinner here follows naturally from an evening walk along Kartavya Path. A July 2024 kitchen fire was brought under control within an hour with no injuries, and the restaurant was again welcoming diners in 2026.