G. Kalyan Kumar

An October evening spent at CELONA in the Select City Walk Mall in Saket, South Delhi, under the Explorer's Sundowner program for a select audience has been a great experience. I was aware of the high buzz among food and mall shoppers in Delhi about Celona’s vibes. The trip helped to glean some nice impressions about Celona’s standout ambiance, interiors, menu, and service. I could see, the passion to match the standards of upscale casual, fun dining restaurant bars in Western cities.

This new world-cuisine restaurant in New Delhi is part of the Essex and Café Tesu management and opened in March this year. The USP of Celona is classic snacks and handcrafted drinks with a focus on a calming atmosphere. Celona is an offshoot of the Essex House Hotels and Café Tesu. The legacy has powered Celona to make a mark as a member of the club of diners and bars in the capital, with dishes suiting all tastes, more so in the Mediterranean section.

The multi-cuisine menu ranges from comfort dishes like wood-fired pizzas to appetizers, with plenty of options to choose from for more upscale dishes like sushi and tacos. It comes in vegetarian and non-vegetarian categories and is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The interior is tastefully done and evocatively communicates the vibe. It has been imaginatively designed by Jatin Gupta and Poulomi Dhar of Design Ethics Studio, bestowing the interiors of Celona's earthy colors with the soft power to transport diners to a comfortable realm to relax.

The cluster of overhanging masa bell lights creates a lovely spectacle and special lighting. The walls are perfectly covered with specially designed terracotta tiles, known as Chinese mosaics, adding more value to the dining experience.

In the words of the articulate marketing manager Naina, “The name Celona reciprocates the holiday spirit of Delhites and their passion to enjoy a wider platter of culinary pleasures.” Indeed, for me, the name Celona lent an immediate resonance to famous eateries with similar name tags in Spain, Singapore, and Thailand.

My personal note about my experience at Celona dining has been taking the starter with a low-intensity beer before digging into the choicest items from the large menu of Chef Aman Jaiswal. The Celona team’s effort to deliver authentic yet innovative dishes was well expressed in the menu, and the service staff on the floor kept the customers entertained. In the Asian mains, I enjoyed the fried rice with vegetable stew just before the desserts. For starters, I moved to tasty sushi plates and tacos.

The unique range of non-vegetarian momos needs special applause. Shrimp Khow Suey, Tempura Shrimp, Chicken Gyoza, Goan Chorizo, and Pasta Soups too. In the diverse offerings, a variety of homemade soft drinks, fun mocktails, delicious milkshakes, and "Celona"-flavored soft drinks stood out.

Fizzy pops are real charmers in a slew of flavors, such as Kala Jamun, Masala Orange, Cotton Cosmo, and Watermelon Mint. The effort to honor the culinary aspirations of all age groups and tastes was apparent in the selection of dishes. The finale was a smashing dessert with delicious biscoff, whose taste lingered for hours after leaving the restaurant.

One factor that works in Celona's favor is the backend integration with the famous Essex Farms, which is the main part of the management.

Located near IIT New Delhi, in South Delhi's Hauz Khas area, Essex Farms has a legacy of many decades and is a vibrant space to spend quality time, relax, and enjoy great food and drinks. A treat at Celona is worth the time for friends and family as a culinary journey into all sorts of dishes and drinks with a load of nice memories.

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