New Delhi: At its heart, ITC Maurya’s just-opened restaurant, Avartana is about elevating Southern Indian food to a fine dining experience, where the mosaic of the spread goes far beyond the traditional and enters the territory of contemporary fusion cuisine. Imagine stir-fried chicken served with fluffy buttermilk mousse and crispy curry leaf tempura; or steamed sea bass plated with fermented gongura (leaves) emulsion and butter rice; or even asparagus and coconut stew infused with turmeric, served on a bed of idiyappam; even the raw mango pudding comes with a lit ghee candle that is edible; while the tomato rasam—one of the best you ever tasted—infused with coriander leaves comes in a martini glass. It is something that you would have never imagined about South Indian cuisine. Showcasing the use of nine spices including cardamom and star anise, among others, every ingredient used in Avartana is sourced from southern India. Hence, every bite or every sip is a celebration of the spices and unique flavours of the South, designed for the international palate.
Even the cocktail menu is full of surprises, with ingredients such as mango and Guntur chilli among others helping stir up a fine mix of drinks.
The Avartana in Delhi is the fifth in the chain, with the flagship being the one at ITC Grand Chola in Chennai. There is one Avartana in Sri Lanka as well, at ITC Ratnadipa in Colombo. In 2024, Avartana has featured in “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant List”. Avartana provides a “guided degustation menu”, where the servers explain every detail about the food that is served to the visitor. The restaurant provides five set menus—Anika, Bela, Jiaa, Maya and Tara. While Anika is a 13-course menu, Jiaa has 11 courses, while Tara is an exclusively seafood menu.
Speaking of Avartana, Anil Chadha, Chief Executive, ITC Hotels, says: “Passion drives us to create and serve the best in hospitality. We are delighted to bring in the fifth Avartana to the capital city of New Delhi. Having earned coveted accolades and charmed food connoisseurs worldwide, Avartana has elevated culinary artistry inspired by the rich southern Indian cuisine heritage infused with progressive, innovative techniques. Bukhara, Dum Pukht and Avartana bring iconic dining experiences at ITC Maurya.”
This 54-seater restaurant is open for dining from 7 pm to 11 pm and is a magnificent addition to the national capital’s fine dining landscape.