The Salt House on Shakespeare Sarani is a chic bistro, restaurant and club rolled into one, spread across 7,000sq ft and split into three sections. Owned by Prachi Saraogi and Saloni Jhunjhunwalla, the women behind gourmet bakery label Kaos, the menu focuses on European cuisine with a contemporary twist.

The courtyard: Open-air, white furniture, a live performance podium and lots of greenery. The rooftop Courtyard has a relaxed mood. It’s a place where you would want to catch up with friends over a glass of Bellini, or probably do nothing except soaking it in. “It’s a simple, classy, timeless, all-day place. Overall, there is a monochromatic feel but the texture of the material stands out. So black, grey and white are dominant colours. If needed for a private party, all three zones can be  made to look like one big place by moving the glass sliders,” said Ipsit Patel, who’s designed The Salt House. We loved the concept of the Planter Wall that’s lined with pots of pak choi, cabbages and other herbs — to be plucked fresh and used in the dishes!

The glass lounge: Clutter-free furniture. Wooden flooring. Blackish grey walls made with Kadappa stones. A clear view of the sky above. Speakeasy-themed bar.... If you are thinking of a sundowner or a private party, the fully air-conditioned Glass Lounge ticks all the boxes.

The cafe: Located on one side of the Courtyard, this section is for you if you prefer quiet and want to talk your heart out over a meal. The 55-seater dining space has a bar and a view of the rooftop and the open wood-fired pizza kitchen.

“We realised that the city didn’t have a morning-to-evening place where one could work or meet friends over great food. The space suits varied moods and we plan to make it more special with live performances and art,” said business partners Saloni (left) and Prachi (right) with chef Auroni Mookerjee, who was associated with Cafe Zoe, Mumbai. The Delhi-ite is the main man behind The Salt House menu.

NOMNOM

Mutton and Bacon Ragu with Pappardelle is an upgrade on the lasagne. “This is almost considered the Italian grandma of Sunday dish,” said the chef. It’s lighter than the usual lasagne and the sauce, made with mutton and bacon, is a modified version of Bolognese sauce.

Tortellini in Country Chicken Broth is all you need to savour if you are in for non-spicy food. “A simple dish that comes with a lot of heart and flavour”, according to chef Auroni, this dish draws inspiration from the good ol’ wonton soup at Tangra and has a burst of Italian flavours. The delish broth (non-vegetarian version) is light and made with country chicken; the handmade tortellinis are fresh and soft.

How many times have you sighed when you saw a fancy dessert picture on Instagram? It’s time to say hi to Berry, Doi & Kaos Granola Parfait — the most colourful dessert on the menu. Served in a bowl with Mishti Doi, it has fresh berries (strawberries, gooseberries, blackberries and blueberries) and Kaos’s healthy granola, with some liquid nolen gur served on the side. Drizzle it on top before digging in!

Have it for a Sunday brunch or just like that, a classic Eggs Florentine is always a good choice. We loved how the eggs were poached perfectly, the hollandaise sauce had the right amount of creaminess, the asparagus was wilted the right way and the English muffins were not overtoasted. You can also have local greens instead of asparagus.

The regular Whisky Sour is Lemon Sour on the menu here. Reason? The use of Italian lemon, instead of lime, that helps in making this classic cocktail sweeter, fruity and light with robust flavours.

Crunchy and healthy sum up Fried Brussels Sprouts, Feta & Anar.  Brussels sprouts (look like baby cabbages!) are peeled and roasted/fried first, followed by a tossing in a dressing of lime, olive oil, pepper, paprika and a pinch of salt! Feta cheese, pomegranate and pine nuts are sprinkled on top. The key to the super crunchy sprouts — they need to be well-dried before frying.

Aromatic and millennial pink in colour, the Pomegranate Rosemary Sangria is stirred with Chenin Blanc and is a perf choice if you prefer your tipple refreshing. You can also try their signature Gondhoraj & Tonic.

Saloni and Prachi’s love for healthy drinks reflects on the menu. From freshly-pressed juices (apple-beetroot-carrot-lime-and-ginger; carrot-orange-celery-and-ginger) to delicious smoothies (like Berry Banana and Greek Yogurt; Nutella Banana, Chocolate ice cream Milk) and coffees — they have it all! We loved the Espresso & Tonic.

Text: Pramita Ghosh
Pictures: Pabitra Das