Idris ki biryani: I'd rather not
Gunday is amovie with a cult following. It will never make any greatest, best of or even "quite average" lists. Yet it has a loyal fanbase. Sometimes you never know why something attains the popularity it does. Salman Khan's acting and driving skills are at par, yet he is able to deliver hits each year.
None of these thoughts were running through my head on a winter Sunday in Lucknow. Having already experienced some great food, hospitality and the famed Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb we looked forward to another mustn't miss Lucknow institution that every travel blogger worth his salt has chronicled.
Idris is a place you'd miss unless you're being guided by someone in the know, or Google Maps. Its a little brick structure with tin-roof extensions to the front and side. The seating area is little more than three benches arranged in the shape of a Pi that will always seat way more than they were originally built for. We walked in, and the place was quite full. After 10 minutes of waiting, we managed to capture seats and ordered their signature dish - a half mutton biryani each.
First things first, Idris ki biryani is a misnomer. Its not a proper biryani, more of a pulao that's been cooked in the broth of the cooked meat. There is no waiting time time as the dums are permanently cooking batches of the stuff. The biryani is served with a plate of onions and a bowl of gravy.
The biryani smelled quite decent but the rice was undercooked and underflavored. The meat was cooked through and was quite flavorful but not enough to set off the disappointing rice. Adding the gravy helped but what's biryani without rice done well.
A half-plate costs Rs. 110 each and each plate is just enough for one person. The seven of us had walked in with much anticipation but the look on everyone's faces said it all. Disappointing. We had come with empty stomachs and hopeful hearts and were leaving with a void in our heart and a tummy full of rice that needed cooking. Maybe we had come on an off-day. But one can only judge from experience. Avoid Idris, maybe if you don't visit you can keep the hopes and dreams of the biryani lover in you alive.
None of these thoughts were running through my head on a winter Sunday in Lucknow. Having already experienced some great food, hospitality and the famed Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb we looked forward to another mustn't miss Lucknow institution that every travel blogger worth his salt has chronicled.
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| The cooking area is not winning any awards |
Idris is a place you'd miss unless you're being guided by someone in the know, or Google Maps. Its a little brick structure with tin-roof extensions to the front and side. The seating area is little more than three benches arranged in the shape of a Pi that will always seat way more than they were originally built for. We walked in, and the place was quite full. After 10 minutes of waiting, we managed to capture seats and ordered their signature dish - a half mutton biryani each.
First things first, Idris ki biryani is a misnomer. Its not a proper biryani, more of a pulao that's been cooked in the broth of the cooked meat. There is no waiting time time as the dums are permanently cooking batches of the stuff. The biryani is served with a plate of onions and a bowl of gravy.
The biryani smelled quite decent but the rice was undercooked and underflavored. The meat was cooked through and was quite flavorful but not enough to set off the disappointing rice. Adding the gravy helped but what's biryani without rice done well.
A half-plate costs Rs. 110 each and each plate is just enough for one person. The seven of us had walked in with much anticipation but the look on everyone's faces said it all. Disappointing. We had come with empty stomachs and hopeful hearts and were leaving with a void in our heart and a tummy full of rice that needed cooking. Maybe we had come on an off-day. But one can only judge from experience. Avoid Idris, maybe if you don't visit you can keep the hopes and dreams of the biryani lover in you alive.
Yo poor little prince! Biryani is meat n rice cooked together.. blog about food only if you are open to tastes beyond what your mom cooks for u
ReplyDeleteIt is common now-a-days to see restaurants using their heritage only to serve mediocre food and Idris is no different. There are many places across India serving much better Biryani than that of Idris. In my honest opinion I would say it is over hyped
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