1911 at The Imperial, New Delhi: Where the Grandeur Almost Outshines the Food

Address: 1911, The Imperial, Janpath, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001

Timings: 6:30 am - 11:30 pm

Cuisine: All-day dining — North Indian, Continental & global, with seasonal festival menus

Best For: Special occasions, heritage dining, festive brunches

Alcohol: Yes 

Please confirm current timings, menu, pricing and reservations directly with The Imperial before your visit.

Here's a confession most of us South Delhi people won't make easily: we go to certain restaurants as much for the room as for the menu. We've eaten well enough, often enough, that ambience alone rarely impresses us anymore. And then there's 1911 at The Imperial — a place so magnificent that, for once, the surroundings genuinely competed with what was on the plate.

There's something unmistakably regal about everything at The Imperial, and 1911 distils that grandeur into a single room. The name itself is a small history lesson: 1911, the year Delhi became the capital of the country. Where else do you get to revisit that momentous year over dal makhani and biryani? The restaurant wears its heritage proudly, and it suits it perfectly.

A Room That Makes an Entrance for You

You reach 1911 by walking past Nostalgia, its neighbour, where the walls are lined with posters of twentieth-century Hollywood stars — a name that, honestly, would have suited 1911 just as well. Then you arrive, and the welcome begins before you've said a word.

Two suspended vases trail carnations across the entrance, and stewards in crisp Redcoats greet you in a style meant to transport you back over a century. It's theatrical in the best way, and they very nearly pull it off. The space is brightly lit, thanks to massive three-piece chandeliers — a striking contrast to the deliberately moody Nostalgia right beside it. Even the furniture has a story: cane pieces brought in from Thailand, which your steward will proudly want you to remember.

And the stewards are the real charm here. They know everything about 1911 — its history, its significance, even the multicoloured oblong glasses on your table — and their genuine delight in sharing it is something you don't see often. That pride is part of the experience.

The Food: Royal Setting, Generous North Indian Soul

A small heads-up for the serious eaters among us — the serving bowls run on the dainty side, so order with appetite in mind. That aside, the kitchen delivers.

The dishes worth ordering:

• Paneer Tikka — perfectly marinated, with an interesting, mild pungent note. It's even better scooped up with the charred onions and capsicum it comes with. A confident start to the meal.

• Dal Makhani — gloriously, unapologetically buttery. This is comfort food done the way a grand hotel should do it: rich, slow-cooked and deeply satisfying. A genuine highlight.

• Butter Naan — soft, blistered and made to soak up every last bit of that dal. Simple, but exactly right.

• Kumbh Hara Pyaz — the one slight stumble. The mushrooms felt a touch undercooked and the seasoning leaned heavy. Not bad, just outshone by everything around it.

• Vegetarian Biryani — the undisputed star of the evening. Fragrant with kesar that rises to meet you with every spoonful, it tastes like 1911's own creation — the best of Lucknowi, Hyderabadi and beyond, blended into something quietly spectacular. Order it without hesitation.

You may notice there's nothing especially "1911" about the menu itself — but when the food is this good, does it really matter? And if you happen to visit around Easter, the restaurant turns on the charm with an elaborate brunch buffet: global lamb and seafood, an extensive spread of cold cuts, and all the festive trimmings, served in those royal interiors with that signature British, laid-back ease.

The Verdict

1911 is a splurge, and it makes no apology for it. This is a dress-up, mark-the-occasion, soak-in-the-history kind of place — not somewhere you wander into on a whim. What you're paying for is the full experience: the chandeliers, the Redcoats, the carnations, the proud stewards, and a kitchen that turns out genuinely excellent food underneath all that ceremony.

For a crowd that values heritage and occasion as much as a good meal, 1911 hits the mark on every front. Go when you want the evening to feel like an event — and let the grandeur do its thing.