The Indian Night Buffet at Deori Showcases Stunning Regional Indian Cuisine

Deori, the Indian restaurant at Hyatt Hyderabad, Gachibowli underwent a total refurbishment and a facelift recently. The Hyatt team under the leadership of Mr. Gopinath Gopalan, GM has been constantly upgrading their services and offerings ever since the first day I walked into this beautifully landscaped hotel last year. Set amidst sprawling green acres, the Hyatt has one of the best, manicured gardens in the city, making it an ideal hotel for outdoor events and dining with plenty of Al Fresco areas.

Deori, the Indian restaurant which was already well known for its authentic regional cuisine in Gachibowli area has further been enhanced. The moment you enter the place, striking artwork on the walls catches your attention. The new tableware and fabrics have been chosen with great care. I am told this was entirely the effort of the hotel staff, without using any interior designer. There is a profusion of typical Indian colours everywhere and yet there is a contemporary feel. They have also started a very lavish Indian Night buffet bringing regional Indian cuisine in a glossy avatar.

On one wall you see a bright and appealing pickle bar, which is a way of showcasing the stellar pickle making skills of Indian women. Almost every household has its favourite set of pickles and the woman of the house traditionally made these pickles according to the season, in bulk. These carefully guarded jars of merriment were sent over to friends and relatives who couldn't make some of their own. It was good to see this typical Indian tradition kept alive at Deori.

 

Rajasthani mirror work table runners and earthy artefacts prepare you for what would be in the offing in the buffet. If the long salad and appetiser counter is anything to go by, we are in for a treat. Delicious pachadis, papads and pickles with chaas served in ethnic manner certainly rouse your appetite. The fragrant aroma of curry leaves crackling with mustard seeds can declog all the senses. The live stations outside ensure you have a fresh supply of the choicest kebabs, tikkas and tandoori rotis and naans.

The colourful Pickle Bar

Chef Anand, who has always been very dedicated and creative, has really pulled out all the stops this time, in this buffet. In the soups the Murgh Badam ka Shorba for non-veg and Tomato Rasam for veg set the right mood.  In the starters one can have choices such as Tunde ke Kebab, Hariyali Murg Tikka, Achari Paneer Tikka and Kavipoo Varuval( crispy fried cauliflower).  In main course, particularly enjoyable were Mutton Sukka, Kothmir Guddu Curry(Egg Curry with plenty of coriander), the Bisi Bele Bhaath, Sarson ka Saag, Gurda Kaleji with Kulcha, Dal Makhni. The Pumpkin Poriyal had a delicacy rarely found in buffets and the Methvikura Pappu( local fenugreek and lentil preparation) was dearer to me than Dal Makhni(I am a Punjabi , btw and I am kinda bored with Dal Makhni).

Mutton Sukka

Poornam Elaiyappam

The range of breads was totally awe inspiring-Kashmiri Naan and Kuttu Paratha adding a lot of variety to the regular Indian breads.

After the exceptional main course, how better could the dessert get? Lo and behold, the Deori has an all new 'Mithai Ghar' of its own. This specially set room was like a treasure trove of exquisite Indian mithai such as Jalebi, Boondi ke Laddoo, Sandesh, Khaja, Thevar Rabri, Malai Chamcham and more. The Papaya Halwa was something unique I tried for the first time. The Adai Pradhaman was the perfect end to the meal. Not only is this Mithai Ghar a part of the Night Buffet, but you can also buy exquisite Indian sweetmeats on retail here in natty little designer boxes. These authentic and pure sweets would make perfect gifting items, rather than giving insipid and spurious chocolates or cakes.

In the weeks to come classical music and dance performances will further enhance the experience. Priced at Rs. 1199/+ taxes, this Indian Night Buffet is worth every penny as the homestyle cooking showcasing the best of North Indian and South Indian cuisines, leaves you satisfied and sated. The cyclic menu will ensure that overtime you go there, you will find something new on the menu. The Hyatt team has gone that extra mile to make a truly enchanting Indian meal experience with ingenuity and creativity!