As one of the country’s most influential restaurateurs, Zorawar Kalra’s perspective on food is shaped by both legacy and reinvention. As Founder and Managing Director of Massive Restaurants and the force behind brands such as Farzi Cafe and Masala Library, Kalra has spent over two decades engaging with Indian cuisine, ranging from street-side classics to globally benchmarked dining rooms. His recommendations, when asked during an exclusive conversation with Robb Report India, prioritise clarity of flavour, cultural continuity, and places that understand hospitality as a lived experience.
What follows is Kalra’s personal list of must-try culinary experiences in India that he considers foundational to understanding how the country eats today.
Old-School Icons That Never Miss
Al Jawahar, Delhi
“Go for the mutton korma,” Kalra advises. Located steps away from Jama Masjid, Al Jawahar represents a lineage of Mughlai cooking that has remained largely unchanged for decades. The gravies are deep, the spicing restrained, and the technique unapologetically traditional. This is food that celebrates inheritance over reinvention.
Dum Pukht - ITC Maurya, New Delhi
Often cited as one of India’s most important luxury dining rooms, Dum Pukht, for Kalra, is “a masterclass in patience and restraint.” The Awadhi technique of slow-cooking sealed pots is executed here with near-monastic discipline. Dishes like the dum pukht biryani and kakori kebab exemplify why the restaurant remains a reference point for fine Indian cuisine globally.
Jai Hind Lunch Home, Mumbai
“One of the most honest seafood experiences in the country,” Kalra says. A Mumbai institution, Jai Hind Lunch Home is revered for its clarity of flavour and respect for produce. From pomfret fry to prawn gassi, the kitchen’s confidence lies in not overworking the plate.
Indian Bars Doing Original Work
PCO, Delhi
Understated and technically rigorous, PCO helped reframe what a contemporary Indian cocktail bar could be. Its focus on classics, precision, and quiet innovation resonates with Kalra’s belief that credibility in hospitality comes from consistency rather than spectacle.
Cocktails & Dreams Speakeasy, Gurugram
A pioneer of India’s modern cocktail movement, Cocktails & Dreams laid the groundwork long before mixology became fashionable. For Kalra, its significance is historical as much as experiential, a bar that shaped an entire generation of bartenders and drinkers.
Regional Indian Restaurants Worth a Pilgrimage
Nagarjuna, Bengaluru
“Nagarjuna is an education,” Kalra notes. Known for its uncompromising Andhra meals, the restaurant delivers heat, balance, and depth without dilution. The thalis, served with unwavering consistency, are among the clearest expressions of regional Indian food in a commercial setting.
Kismoor, Mumbai
Often overlooked, Kismoor occupies a rare space in Mumbai’s dining scene. Its Maharashtrian repertoire, from thecha to slow-cooked meats, feels deeply personal and culturally intact. Kalra describes it as “soulful,” a restaurant driven by instinct rather than trend.
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