By Rupali Lamba
On a Tuesday evening, New Friends Colony Market was teeming with chaotic activity. We got a moment’s respite as we ascended the stairs to Yum Yum Tree {YYT}, but once inside, we were confronted with a lot more activity and noise. It was loud and frenetic, so loud that my father chose to stay silent through most of the night {he doesn’t like to yell- just to be heard}.
Tuesday is sushi day at {YYT}. The package includes unlimited sushi and alcohol, a bowl and a dessert {of your choice from a few options} for Rs. 899++ *.
We were seated by the conveyor belt, and I was delighted that this phenomena had arrived in the Homeland! A sushi conveyor belt or ‘sushi-go-round’ is a method of service where fresh sushi gets to diners straight from the kitchen via a mini conveyor belt that passes by the tables. All you have to do is pick up the items that you want and let the rest move on to the next diner.
The set menu included four vegetarian and four non-vegetarian varieties of sushi. There were ebi {prawn} tempura rolls, spicy tuna rolls, tiger rolls {with crab meat and salmon}, salmon Nigiri, Asparagus tempura rolls, spicy cucumber rolls and mushroom futomaki.
Beef Bulgogi & Chicken Yakitori
Both tempura rolls– the prawn and asparagus were lovely. The tempura batter was fresh and crisp and created a delicious contrast with the texture of prawn and rice and asparagus and rice respectively. The tiger rolls and salmon rolls rarely reached us– due to the aforementioned conveyor belt- but were good in a basic way. Steer clear {literally!} though, of the tuna rolls- they were of a dubious consistency.
To sample a couple of dimsum dishes that are considered to be YYT’s speciality, we ordered a char siu pork puff and duck dumplings. The ‘puff’ looked like a kachori, the pastry around it did not justify its title – it was like a bomb – thick, hard and extremely heavy to eat. This dimsum happens to be my favourite- ideally light and delicate with countless layers of crisp pastry- but the one here wasn’t upto mark. The duck dumplings, however, were little bundles of surprise. They were packed with strong deep flavours without being heavy.
Salmon Nigiri
For our main ‘bowls’, we ordered the beef bulgogi, chicken yakitori and a seafood glass noodle salad. The bulgogi was the highlight of the night – perfectly cooked and balanced, taking me back to college when Korean food was our staple diet. I was transported to dark and dingy electricity saving times when my Korean friends cooked delicious meals in large pots and we sat around a lamp or two and dug in ravenously.
The yakitori was nice and juicy, possibly the best I have ever had but the seafood salad was disappointing. It was extremely spicy thus, inedible. I have a low tolerance for chilly so I gave the salad the benefit of the doubt and passed it onwards and upwards to those who have higher thresholds. But no one could eat more than a bite. Naturally, we asked the manager to address this hot issue, but he casually dismissed our request suggesting we weren’t used to spicy food– so, it wasn’t just the salad that left me at a loss for words.
After polishing off the bulgogi {which as it turns out, was everybody’s favorite}, we ordered dessert, opting for the chocolate mousse and mango trifle. The chocolate mousse, was as fool-proof as chocolate desserts usually are. The mango trifle on the other hand, should be re-christened ‘mango cream’. That is what it was– a dollop of mango flavoured cream, with no elements of trifle in it whatsoever.
Our Verdict |
Tuesday nights at Yum Yum Tree are perfect for when you want to eat and drink with your friends at an extremely reasonable price. The menu is very well planned– there’s something in it for everyone. Whether you want to do shots, drink beer or sip on a cocktail, crave salad, meat or carbs– head there for a pocket friendly albeit loud Tuesday night.
Where | Yum Yum Tree, 1st Floor, Community Centre, New Friends Colony, New Delhi {Ph. +91-11-42602020}
*Update | prices have ever since been revised; the deal for unlimited sushi & cocktails is now at INR 1100++
