Restaurant Review: Avartana, ITC Maurya

When Avartana, ITC Hotels’ fabled ode to reimagined South Indian fine dining, arrived in Delhi last year, expectations were sky-high. After all, its Chennai flagship had already earned a near-mythical reputation. One year on, Avartana at ITC Maurya stands tall in the Capital’s competitive dining landscape, proving that innovation, emotion, and precision can indeed coexist on a single plate. Its new Sunday lunch experience is a perfect reason to head there and another reminder of why this restaurant continues to captivate Delhi’s discerning diners.

Atmospherics

Set atop ITC Maurya with sweeping, almost meditative views of the green ridge, Avartana’s setting is instantly transportive. The 54-seater space including a private dining room for 10 feels intimate yet expansive, thanks to its interplay of warm lighting, clean lines and a contemporary sensibility. The design mirrors the cuisine itself: modern but deeply rooted in Southern heritage. Rustic earthenware, ornate steel cutlery and elegant glassware lend a tactile richness to the table, while the interactive kitchen adds a touch of theatre. As sunlight spills across the room on winter afternoons, the restaurant becomes a serene perch over Delhi ideal for lingering lunches.

Food

Avartana’s Sunday nine-course tasting menu is where imagination truly unfolds. Each dish feels like a conversation on the plate, an interplay of ingredients, textures and emotions. The French Pressed Tomato Rasam sets the tone with familiar comfort delivered through a contemporary lens. The stir fried chicken, cauliflower crunch and Uthukuli chicken showcase the kitchen’s ability to balance bold flavours with intricate finesse. A delicate bottle gourd preparation paired with bright plum chutney surprises with its subtlety, while the shrimp dumpling that is soft, aromatic and gently fiery pays homage to comfort food with elevated artistry.

Dessert arrives as a fennel pannacotta crowned with angel-hair caramel, both fragrant and texturally delightful. The cocktail menu, Avishka, is equally compelling, infusing South Indian spices into imaginative, beautifully balanced concoctions.

Plus & Minus

Avartana remains one of Delhi’s finest restaurants—innovative, polished and memorable. The Sunday lunch is a perfect winter indulgence, combining stellar food with one of the city’s most tranquil views. For an experience this immersive, most diners will find it well worth it.

Avartana, at the Rooftop, ITC Maurya, Sunday Lunch, 12.30 pm to 2.45 pm, Price: introducing a nine-course tasting menu priced at ₹3750 plus taxes per person. Dinner from 7 pm to 11 pm; Contact: 011-26112233, 9818056607; Alcohol Served, Credit cards accepted

Must try: Nine course tasting menu, cocktails

Food 4.5, Service 4.5, Decor 4.5

This review was published in Delhi Times, The Times if India