Was It Worth Waiting An Hour Outside A New-York Style Pizzeria In Delhi?

Was It Worth Waiting Outside A New-York Style Pizzeria In Delhi For An Hour

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Well, long lines outside Delhi’s restaurants are now commonplace. However, I rarely find myself standing in these lines, whether outside the city’s best gelataria or the best benne dosa makers. I plan my visit for a day and time when finding a spot is easier. And the stars have mostly been in my favour.

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Too soon to speak.

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My visit to the city’s most talked-about pizzeria was different. It was on a Friday night, 11 pm. Food lovers’ favourite time to flock to eateries across the city. And NYNY was no different. Twenty more people were waiting before me.

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On a different day, I would have skipped and dined at the next best restaurant. But I had heard so much about the eatery in question that I chose to stay, hoping the pizza slices there were worth the wait.

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I won’t recommend visiting because it is where everyone is headed, but because dining here is an experience that draws you away from the city’s noise and places you in a different kind of pace that can either be exhausting or rejuvenating. For me, it was the latter; the strongest draw is the vibe, and you will know your answer only when you visit.

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When opening a pizzeria in Delhi, you are running the risk of being compared with legends like Leo’s and Galaxy that people have been loving for years. I’m sure the owners were aware of this. And as diners, you can’t help but pitch a pizza against another. I did the same.

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And the slices at NYNY weren’t among my top three in Delhi. In my top five? Maybe.

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The menu is compact. For slices, there are four vegetarian and two non-vegetarian options. Large, 18-inch pies are cut into large slices and served on paper plates to diners. Isolating the cheese variant, I opted for the sundried tomato and pesto slice and the shroom pie.

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The former won by miles. Kalamata olives and sundried tomatoes on a thin slice, layered with NYNY’s in-house tomato sauce, were topped with stracciatella.

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The shroom pie, however, was disappointing. The mushrooms were not well marinated, and they came off as bland. Nothing to go back to.

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Beyond the pizzas, I went for both the vegetarian sides. I enjoyed the Goat cheese croquettes more than the garlic knots. For non-vegetarians, the prawn crackers are promising, while the chicken wings are a safe bet.

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NYNY also offers a range of tea and coffee options for you to pick from. There are only two mocktails: a virgin mojito and a zero- proof picante. Well, at NYNY, cocktails over mocktails would be my choice.

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There are more cocktail options than slice options at NYNY. While many would propose this as a spot to arrive after drinks (at Soda Shopp or Painkiller, which are only a few metres away), I would pitch it for cocktails, since they are one of the strongest draws here.

I am currently in my gin era, and NYNY’s Gin & Juice paired gin with apple juice and honey ginger. Each note made itself visible on the palate with every sip. Even the Bergamot Noir with Jagermeister and Earl Grey tea, mint, and lime was quite refreshing. The bartender also suggested the Mix Berry Affair. The cocktail paired wine with gin and apple-and-orange juice. Lip-smacking with the pizza.

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If not for the drinks or the slices, come for the vibe. “To feel alive and young, come to NYNY.” This could easily be their tagline. The compact space was pulsing with energy when I entered.

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In one corner was a chef performing pizza acrobatics, and in the other were bartenders shaking up cocktails faster than people were sipping. Projected on one of the walls was the music video for “Beat It” by Michael Jackson, and slices were landing on your plates faster than you or I could imagine. While NYNY is different from a pick-and-go New York-style pizzeria (it does not allow takeaways), it is Delhi’s version of it.

To be fair to other pizzerias in Delhi, NYNY is not doing anything magical and tectonic with its slices. Most are average. However, I would recommend visiting for the cocktails, though not as a post-drinks spot. They are doing a good job with their cocktails. But the vibe is what makes it stand out. To feel young and alive in Delhi, NY, is worth a visit.

Address: G – 15, Hauz Khas Market, Kharera, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, Delhi 110016

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Price for two: INR 1,600

Timings: 12 pm – 12.30 am

​Read more: The Street Is Coming Up As Delhi’s Most Coveted Dining Address