Since Smokey’s opened in Delhi’s GK-II area about a year ago, it has been as influential as every other iconic restaurant in the city. Not only is it famous for its smoke-infused food and cocktails, its flamboyant hospitality and vibrant ambience is what bringstrue connoisseurs back to this restaurant. Restaurateur and owner Shiv Karan Singh walked us through the journey of this now-beloved Delhi haunt. Here are the excerpts from the interview.
Shiv Karan Singh: I feel today every place has to be for everybody, kind of a feel good factor. Smokey’s is more than a restaurant; it’s an activity space where people can engage and have a great time without pinching their pockets. Yes of course we want everybody to come but I want everybody to remember me for my food more than anything else to be honest.
One look around the restaurant’s lofty wood and brick decor and you can guess the type of food they serve. From American style barbeque steaks to grills; this restaurant has something to satiate all kinds of palettes.
Shiv Karan Singh: I love all my food, my steaks, yes I love my steaks and I think what we offer is a very different palette of things whether it’s from the European to the little twist of the Indian taste. So I think we guys must be the one of the first ones to start with burger sliders and burger hot dogs, we do a lot of steaks, we do a lot of good fish; we have ‘red snapper’ we have ‘John Dory’, we have three or four different types of steaks which we offer which is quite known amongst the people out here.
The entrance of the restaurant is decked with a shot bar and the side wall is decked with coloured arty bottles. Smokey’s takes pride in the innovation they’ve introduced into the preparation of their cocktails.
Shiv Karan Singh: So we’ve used the smoke element with the liquor so we have a lot of smoke based cocktails out here. Whether you call it a smokey martini, a lock stock, old fashioned, all these are very new with lot of smoke with wood being used with a lot of things infusing together. My personal favourite cocktail here is the ‘smoking lock stock’ which is a vodka based cocktail thatI love, and then John does a ‘Johntini’ its a single malt cocktail which is one of my favourites out here.
Where: Plot 2, VIPPS Center, Masjid Moth, Greater Kailash (GK) II, New Delhi
Must Try: Cocktails – ‘Lock, Stock & A Smokin’ Barrel’ and ‘Burn Bourbon Burn’
Food – ‘John Dory with Smoked Shimla Chili’ and ‘Slider Dogs’
Cost: Rs.2,000 for two (approx including alcohol), taxes and charges extra
Opening hours: 12 Noon to 1 AM (All days of the week)
Serves Alcohol: Yes
Outdoor Seating: No
Delivery: Yes
