Sam’s Café – Desi Dilli Videsi Fare

Jo chahiye woh mil jaega. Welcome to Pahar Ganj! Bang opposite the New Delhi Railway Station, this is Purani Dilli at its best. Keeping you company (along with thug retailers) are firangi backpackers looking for cheap lodges and selling even cheaper deals. Deals that can get you anything and everything.  Italian, French, German, Russian, Greek, Belgian, Turkish, Lebanese, Argentinean. You name it you get it. The choice is yours so is the risk and the prices are negotiable.

Nestled in the streets and by lanes of Pahar Ganj are a number of restaurants serving cuisines from across the globe. They cater primarily to the thousands of international tourists who flock Pahar Ganj. And also a select DU audience which enjoys fine food and is willing to explore and experiment for a good meal. Years ago a bunch of Stephanian friends and I happened to find ourselves at Sam’s café and ever since I have climbed the stairs regularly to this roof top garden restaurant.

Located on the Main Bazar Road of Pahar Ganj, Sam’s Café is a short walk from both the NDLS station and the Ramakrishna Marg metro station. If you get lost ask for Hotel Vivek – www.vivek hotel.com – which is the parent hotel housing Sam’s café on its terrace. As you enter the hotel via its patisserie, you are greeted by a wide range of pies, croissants, cakes, muffins and the likes. While these are scrumptious enough to be meals in themselves, keep them waiting till dessert time. An old and creaky but usually working lift will take you to the roof top where a splendid view and truly global crowd awaits you.

If you have read unto this point waiting for me to talk about exquisite food then stop because Sam’s café is about the experience. The setting and ambience contribute as much to your delight as the food. The view of Purani Dilli is beautiful especially during early evenings. You are in the centre of all the hustle bustle and yet far away from it. A windy day makes the roof top experience surreal and more so if you are smoking stuff rolled slyly under the table (like you could easily do in the days before the 2005 bomb blasts). These days the restaurant has become stricter but they do serve hukka and the pros amongst you would know what to do next.

The food in itself is good in parts. Can’t expect more when you have the same cooks cooking Indian, Italian, Chinese, Continental & Israeli. To start off, the cheese balls are heavenly and cheesy as they should be and the avocado salad is interesting. From the drinks menu you can try the refreshing mint juice or the yummy mango/banana lassi. The pizzas are average and pretty bland but the lasagna is absolutely delicious. Stay away from the falafel and also the Indian food which just isn’t meant for the desis. My carnivorous friends tell me that the meat balls, steak (not the sub standard veg sizzler) and schnitzel are worth a try too. Don’t expect good service if you are Indian because their prime business comes from firangis. Their waiters strongly believe in the maxim ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ and will ensure that your food comes late without fail.

Choose your food carefully and you will enjoy your meal at Sam’s café. Otherwise the view, the ambience and the crowd are anyways there for everyone to enjoy. Haven’t tried ever but you might also get lucky. To gather the required courage stop by at Chandni Bar which is on the way if you are coming from NDLS. That place has incredibly cheap alcohol, babu type crowd and live ghazal to get you into the mood. However, avoid it if you are under age or unable to speak Hindi because they might just fleece you for every rupee in your wallet.


If for nothing else, Sam's Cafe is worth a try because the whole of Dilli can't offer good Italian and Continental food at their prices. Where else can you host a birthday bash of 25 plus people and get away with a tab of under six grand.